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Farmers have twice the reason to celebrate this Kadayawan Festival. In further recognition and support for the growing number of small-scale organic producers, the City Agriculture Office, along with local farmers’ groups and non-government organizations is launching the Davao City PGS, a coalition supporting the practice and implementation of participatory guarantee system (PGS). The PGS is an alternative product certification system more beneficial and appropriate to local and smallholder organic production.

Faces lit by torches, indigenous Ayta people from various remote areas in Central Luzon performed an indigenous ritual near the gates of the Department of Agrarian Reform on Sunday where progressive groups converged in preparation for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) prostests on Monday. The ritual, which offered the blood of a chicken to Ayta deity Apo Namalyari, was intended to ask for protection and guidance before they join the SONA protests. The ritual also placed a curse upon the President. “He will find himself increasingly alone, isolated and hated,” Edwin Danan, Secretary-General of Central Luzon Ayta Association (CLAA) said.

“We are hanging red, blue and white ribbons, colors of the Philippine flag, to remind the Filipino people that, foremost, our loyalty is to ensure the welfare of the Filipino people. This is to defy the call of Malacanang to wear yellow ribbon,” says Rev. Sol Villalon, convenor of Church People’s Alliance Against Pork Barrel (CPAPB).