Tinolang manok, pineapple glazed ham, crispy pata, beef stroganoff with broccoli, embutido, adobong baboy, and mechado; these were some of the tasty home-cooked meals served at Binahon Agroforestry Farm (BAFF) lately. My family and I went there on a short notice and we had a great time after the farm tour since the lunch didn’t disappoint!

It’s been a while that I have been telling my older brother and sister who’s who among the Learning Site (LS) partners of ATI-RTC X. Among the 40 Learning Sites, BAFF stands out as one of the bests.

Awful. Disgusting. Horrible. These words best describe such when our olfactory faculty is assaulted by the overpowering smell of durian. I was still in elementary when the said fruit was introduced and it took some considerable amount of prodding for me to take the first bite.

I hardly can remember the time I became aware with the significance of food. Before, I eat only when I am hungry or when I need sustenance to make it through the day. Meal time was just a matter of stuffing my face without really enjoying the meal being served.

“Tabangan nato ni’ng imong course dai aron mahipno ug makahatag og tabang sa buot makat-on sa pagpananum og ubi, “ (let us work hand-in-hand to make this course in place so that it will facilitate those individuals who wanted to learn in ubi production) Nanay Dolfa had said.

It's almost the end of 2017 yet our cups are still filled up to the brim. Not that we haven't accomplished any because we are in step with our workplan. But if we closed one door, another opens and not just one.

What keeps us going and hopefully, not dragging ourselves to the finish? Let me share some observations.

We are paid. This needs no explanation. As one extension worker said, "I am happy because I am paid to serve".

I was given the opportunity to visit FITS (Farmers Information and Technology Service) centers and farms of our Magsasaka Siyentistas (MS) for the search for the best and the outstanding. I wasn't an evaluator but I forced myself to observe and to notice like someone examining the evidence.

My attention over the "small stuff" supplied me the insights why they are outrunning the rest.