MASIPAG Farmer-Leader and His Family Bags Bayaning Pamilya Award

Another MASIPAG farmer bagged the coveted Bayaning Pilipino Awards, Family Category, for 2006. Ernesto Doroteo and his family won the regional awards and qualified to be a grand finalist in the national competition last July 16, 2006.

His family was chosen for their valuable contribution and continuous efforts to uplift the educational status of the Dumagat, a group of indigenous people, in Brgy. San Jose, Antipolo City.

Tatay Erning, as he is fondly called by the Dumagats in his community, is not only a dedicated former-chieftain and member of the community but a MASIPAG farmer-leader as well. He first heard of MASIPAG in 2003 when a Japanese NGO called I-CAN Foundation sponsored an exposure-trip to the MASIPAG Back-up Farm in Nueva Ecija in 2003. One of the participants was very pleased with the program and related it to his friend who happens to work with Tatay Erning's community in the highlands of Antipolo.

After an orientation and several more visits by MASIPAG, their organization called MASAKA, an acronym for Malayang Samahan ng mga Katutubo headed by Tatay Erning, joined MASIPAG. Their trial farm is located at Tatay Erning's ½ hectare farm where he also plants M115-1R for production.

His undying desire to help and increase the level of awareness of Dumagat's about sustainable agriculture led him to other Dumagat community in Montalban and lowlanders of Teresa, Rizal and plans to expand to the other tribes near his community.

related links:

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jul25/ente2.htm