Simple Life Matters

PHL exports 35 tons of aromatic, black rice to Dubai. With rice self-sufficiency in sight, the Philippines after 40 years will once again export rice, initially comprising of 35 metric tons (MT) of aromatic, long-grain, and organic black rice bound for Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Secretary of Agriculture Proceso J. Alcala, who led the ceremonial send-off at the Manila Harbor Center yesterday (May 6, 2013), said the event is historic as it ushers in a new era in the country’s rice industry and the agriculture sector, in general. “Ang okasyong ito ay makasaysayan at patunay lamang na kayang-kaya ng ating mga magsasaka ng makaani at maka-export ng kalidad na bigas patungong ibang bansa [This occasion is historic and indeed proves that Filipino farmers can produce and export quality rice to other countries],” Secretary Alcala said. As the country is set to achieve rice sufficiency by end of this year, he said it is prudent to start eyeing the export market, particularly f...

President Aquino PROCLAMATION NO. 494 DECLARED THE YEAR 2013 AS THE NATIONAL YEAR OF RICE AND DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO LEAD ITS CELEBRATION.  Proclamation No. 494, s. 2012 MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES PROCLAMATION NO. 494 DECLARING THE YEAR 2013 AS THE NATIONAL YEAR OF RICE AND DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO LEAD ITS CELEBRATION WHEREAS, the government aims to attain rice self-sufficiency by 2013; WHEREAS, part of the strategy to attain rice self-sufficiency is intensified information campaign and social marketing to enjoin producers, consumers, and policy­makers to help achieve the said goal; and WHEREAS, a sustained and nationwide campaign to boost farmers’ morale and motivate them to adopt technologies to further improve farm productivity and encourage the general public to be responsible rice consumers are necessary to complement the government’s efforts to achieve rice self-sufficiency. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BE...

Does White Rice cause Diabetes? According to the report from AFP, Health researchers said on Thursday they had found a troubling link between higher consumption of rice and Type 2 diabetes, a disease that in some countries is becoming an epidemic. Further work is need to probe the apparent association and diets that are notoriously high in sugar and fats should remain on the no-go list, they cautioned. "What we've found is white rice is likely to increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, especially at high consumption levels such as in Asian populations," Qi Sun of the Harvard School of Public Health told AFP.