Ingenuity in the Service of Others

The Philippines experiences yearly typhoons; and these often do not come down to 21. As it is an archipelagic country, water is everywhere. When storms come, many areas get flooded, which is often aggravated by man-made activities. Most of those vulnerable to floods are the poor families who mainly rely on the government for aids.

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Realizing this scenario, an eco-architect designer, Mr. Ed Guevarra with his creative mind and caring heart cannot contain the reality of these people’s hardship. This results to his idea to innovate a rescue boat in times of emergencies.

He thought of an easy-to-assemble, inexpensive boats made of PVC water drums and PVC pipes. The idea was that each family must have one boat since it can carry six (6) people. Driving the boat is manageable as it has plastic oars made from PVC as well.

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He does not simply sell his boats; he empowers the people how to build their own boats and how to use them through training sessions he himself conduct.

Not only that, because many Filipinos in this country do not know how to swim, he teaches how to make life vests made from cheese cloths and empty water bottles. It takes just a few minutes for one to learn how to swim with this.

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The boat can run on water steadily and securely.

Flashback on Farm Experience

Not too many years ago when I visited the farm of eco-architecture designer, Mr. Ed Guevarra upon invitation of a good friend.

His holistic farm started in March 1990 on a small scale in Barrio Mangayao, Bayambang Pangasinan - (150km) north of Manila. It’s a two-hectare integrated and organic farm carefully planned and functionally used. It’s a very organized and ecologically-balanced self-sustaining farm.

It has herbs, vegetables, areas for recreation, some farm animals, spirulina growing vessels, biogas power generator, natural swimming pool (no chlorine) and native huts for guests accommodation- a farm in its rawness in an ecologically-balanced environment.🌾🌺🏝🐤

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His farm can be a venue for teambuilding and retreats. Students of different nationalities come here to experience a sustainable rural life.

I remember talking to him during the visit. He is a man so refreshing to talk to - full of ideas, inspiration, wisdom and knowledge that mainstream media do not offer.

Hearing his stories and his dreams was inspiring. He talked about his intentions to help his neighbor farms turn to organic farming and to educate them how to do it. Despite of good intentions, not everyone liked his idea. However, he remained steadfast to fulfill his dream. So he then kept moving forward.🙂

What I learned about Ed is that nature and humans must complement each other. Fundamentally, humans must learn the wisdom of the natural world. Rather than people altering the natural make up of it, we should work in harmony with its inherent beauty so that the natural flow of life arises within us and around us bringing which henceforth bring healing, protection and vitality to the world as a whole.

Thanks for taking time to read.🌈🌞

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FILIPINO TRANSLATION

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Paglikha Upang Tumulong sa Iba

Ang Pilipinas ay nakakaranas ng taunang bagyo;at kadalasan ang bagyo ay hindi bumababa sa 21. Dahil ito ay arkipelagong bansa, ang tubig ay natatagpuan kahit saan. Kapang dumararating ang bagyo, maraming mga lugar ang binabaha at lumalalala eto dahil sa kagagawan narin ng mga aktibidaded ng mga tao. Karamihan sa mga nababaha ay mga mahihirap na kadalasang umaasa unang una sa tulong ng gobyerno.

Sa nakitang sitwasyon, si eco-architect designer Ginoong Ed Guevarra na may malikhain at may magandang puso ay hindi maatim and reyalidad ng kahirapan ng mga tao. Dahil dito, sya ay lumikha ng pansagip bangka sa oras ng kagipitan.
Naisip nyang gumawa ng madaling gawin at di mahal na bangkang pansagip na gawa sa PVC drams at PVC na tubo. Bawat pamilya, ayon sa kanya ay dapat merong isang bangka dahil kaya nitong magkarga ng anim na tao. Madaling i-maneho ang bangka dahil meron din etong plastic na sagwan na gawa din sa PVC.

Hindi lang nya basta ibinebenta ang bangka;binibigyang kapangyarihan nya ang mga tao na gumawa ng sariling bangka at tinuturuan nya sila kung paano eto gamitin.

Hindi lang iyan, dahil maraming Pilipino ang hindi marunong lumangoy, nagtuturo rin sya na gumawa ng salbabida na gawa sa tela ng keso at plastic na bote na walang laman. Ilang minuto lamang, makakalangoy na ang gagamit nito.

Ang bangka ay lulutang sa tubig nang matiwasay at ligtas.

Pagbabalik-tanaw sa Karanasan sa Bukid

Binisita ko ilang taon na rin nakakalipas ang bukid ni eco-architecture designer, Ginoong Ed Guevarra dahil na rin sa imbitasyon ng isa kung mabait na kaibigan.

Ang kanyang ‘holistic’ na bukid ay nagsimula noong Marso 1990 bilang maliit lamang sa barrio Mangayao, Bayambang Pangasinan - (150km) norte ng Maynila. Eto ay dalawang ektarya na integrated at organikong bukid.
Maayos at kapaki-pakinabang ang pagka ayos at plano nito. Balanse at organisadong self-sustaining na bukid.
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Meron mga hebal, gulay, lugar ng libangan, ilang hayop, spirulina, biogas power generator, natural na lugar ng languyan (walang chlorine) at bahay na katutubo para sa mga bisita.

Ang kanyang bukid ay maaring pagdausan ng teambuilding at retreats. Ang mga estudyante na may iba’t ibang nasyonalidad ay nagtutungo dito upang maranasan ang sustainable na buhay sa barrio.

Naalaala ko pa ang usap namin noong ako ay bumisita roon. Nakakatuwang kausap -punong puno sya ng mya ideya, inspirasyon, karunungan at kaalaman na hindi makikita sa mainstream media.

Nakakapukaw ng damdamin makinig sa kanyang mga kwento at pangarap. Binangggit nya ang kanyang kagustuhan na tumulong sa mga kapitbahay nyang magsasaka upang gawin nilang organiko ang kanilang bukid. Ngunit kahit maganda ang kanyang intensyon, hindi lahat ay nais ang kanyang ideya. Sa kabila nito, itinuloy nya ang pagsasakatuparan ng kanyang pangarap.🙂

Ang natutunan ko kay Ginoong Ed ay ang kapaligiran at mga tao ay dapat magtulungan. Importante na matutunan ng mga tao ang karunungan ng mundo. Imbes na pinapalitan ng tao ang natural na kondisyon ng kapaligiran, tayong maga tao ay dapat itugma ang ating mga galaw ayun sa natural na ganda upang ang likas na takbo ng buhay ay mamutawi sa atin at sa paligid natin na siyang magbibigay ng kagalingan, proteksyon at kalakasan sa mundo nating ginagalawan.

Salamat po sa oras na ibinigay ninyo sa pagbasa nito.🌈🌞