STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan - The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I (ATI-RTC I), in partnership with Daniel Maramba National High School (DMNHS), successfully conducted a seminar on Brown Rice Day with a theme ”Quality Rice. Quality Life.” last November 9 at the DMNHS campus. The activity was participated by over 600 students and senior high school teachers. This seminar is in line with the month-long festivity of the National Rice Awareness Month, which is celebrated every November of the year.

Present during the activity was Dr. Jocelyn Junio, Assistant Principal of DMNHS. In her message, she gave her utmost gratitude to ATI-RTC I for selecting DMNHS as the avenue of the yearly campaign. “This seminar is very timely and necessary to our students for them to know the health benefits of brown rice. After this seminar, I expect them to be more responsible in consuming rice,” Dr. Junio said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rogelio Evangelista, Center Director of ATI-RTC I, encouraged the participating students to consider taking a degree in Agriculture as the demand of agricultural extension workers is getting high. “Ang age bracket kasi ng ating magsasaka ngayon ay 56 years old above. So kinakailangan talaga natin ang suporta ng ating millennials para sa ating agriculture sector sa bansa. Hindi kasi bumabata ang magsasaka bagkus bumabata pa at sana hindi na tayo umabot sa puntong wala na tayong magsasaka,” Dr. Evangelista stated. He also emphasized that taking up Bachelor of Science in Agriculture will not lead them to farming alone. Instead, they can be farm managers and trainers.

Moreover, a brief lecture and presentation on Brown Rice was delivered by Ms. Lea Astrude Santiago, owner and manager of Our Farm Republic, and a Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) of Mangatarem, Pangasinan. In her discussion, she highlighted the health benefits of brown rice compared to white rice. “Ano bang nakukuha natin sa white rice? Puro carbohydrates. Wala nang nutrients. Nagpapataba na lang tayo. Sa brown rice, kinokontrol nito ang ating blood sugar level, pinoprotektahan pa ang mga may asthma, at nakakatulong din ito upang maiwasan ang mga heart diseases. Mataas ito sa fiber kaya talagang napaka-sustansya. So why ignore brown rice?” Ms. Santiago emphasized.

Part of the seminar was giving away of Brown Rice Champorado and Lemongrass Iced Tea with Calamansi to all the participants. DMNHS students and faculty got to taste the Champorado, which was one of the specialties of Our Farm Republic.

The activity was indeed a great start in patronizing brown rice.