Reverence for Life in Verses
Dr Abe V Rotor
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
How Safe is the Food you are Eating?
Self-Administered Test (True or False, 30 items)
Dr Abe V Rotor
We have no control on the safety of the food we eat in canteens and restaurants.
1. Food contains natural chemicals that are essential for growth and health which include carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and vitamins. But some foods contain potentially harmful natural toxins.
3. Cassava should be harvested after one year in the field. Over mature tubers contain more of the toxin.
4. Remove the entire bark, and wash the tuber thoroughly. Cut into pieces and boil. When the pot starts to boil, remove the cover. This allows the cyanogas to escape.
5. Bamboo shoots (labong) contains a certain amount of hydrogen cyanide, like cassava it should be cooked well with the pot open to allow the gas to escape.
6. Seeds of apples and pears, and the stony pit or kernel of apricot and peaches contain a naturally occurring substance called amygdalin. Amygdalin can turn into hydrogen cyanide in the stomach causing discomfort or illnesses.
7. Nicotine in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is among the most poisonous substances in nature. Extract of the poison from a single stick of cigarette can instantaneously kill a person when injected into the bloodstream.
8. Cacao (Theobroma cacao), like coffee contains caffeine, so that moderation is required in its consumption.
9. Ricinin in castor bean (Ricinus communis)is very poisonous, for which reason the use of castor as laxative has been stopped especially among children.
10. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) contains natural toxins called glycoalkaloids. The levels are usually low but higher levels are found in potato sprouts, and the peels of potato.
11. Aflatoxin is a substance produced by a fungus, Aspergillus flavus, that grows on harvested crops like corn, rice and copra that are not properly dried and stored.
12. It is all right to eat cooked potatoes that has a bitter taste because this is just varietal, and not due to the presence of the natural toxin glycoalkaloids.
13. Today most plastics are made from petrochemicals (crude oil and natural gas), although they can also be produced from corn and other biomasses.
14. Plastic is a compound that is indestructible, even when it is melted the compound gas that is given off is very harmful to our health and environment - it weakens the ozone layer.
15. Because most plastic is produced from oil, and the world is gradually running out of oil, scientists are now developing plastics that are made from vegetable oil and other organic matter.
16. Bioplastics are designed to be composted, not recycled.
18. We are now beginning to be more concerned with polluting our body with the harmful substances from plastic, rather than polluting the environment.
19. Heavy metal toxicity is occurring far more than we would ever expect, and we pick up the toxic metals principally from those that we produce and throw into the environment.
20. All heavy metals are harmful to the body.
22. Lead (Pb) is most common of the toxic metals which we pick up from paints, plastics, cosmetics, batteries, gasoline, insecticides, pottery glaze, and soldered metals. It can be picked up also from plants that absorb the element such as kangkong.
23. The use of Cadmium has greatly increased lately. One can pick up this toxin metal from discarded cadmium batteries, soft drinks, cigarette smoke, seafood, rubber, motor oil, pesticides, and plastics. Cd can cause chronic fatigue syndrome, hair loss, high blood pressure, arthritis, kidney stones and impotence.
24. Mercury (Hg) which can be obtained from amalgam tooth filling, the absorption of which into the body is increased with smoking of cigarettes, drinking of hot liquids, gum chewing, acidic saliva or the grinding of teeth at night.
25. Hg affects the brain, heart, kidneys, and endocrine glands, and because it is cumulative in the brain and neurons, causes depression, memory loss, tremors, anemia and heart attacks. It is very difficult to get rid of.
26. Aluminum can be found in old cast aluminum pots and pans, cans and foils. Certain amounts can be picked up from drinking water, antiperspirants, baking powders, feminine hygiene products, milk, and the like, accumulating in the skin, bones, brain, and kidneys - which can lead to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
27. Uranium is a radioactive element that disintegrates eventually into lead. So why worry with the meltdown of the nuclear plants in Chernobyl Russia and three-Mile Island in the Us?
28. Nickel can be picked up from kitchen wares, coins, dental fillings and batteries. But these can accumulate in the bones, kidneys, liver, lungs, immune system and the brain, and may cause genetic damage and cancer.
29. Arsenic is obtained from cigarette smoke, laundry detergents, beer, seafood and drinking water. It can cause headaches, confusion and sleepiness. At large amount Arsenic can damage the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Arsenic is classified semi-metallic, like selenium.
30. Barium, Beryllium and Chromium are not classified as toxic metals, besides they occur in insignicant amountsa in the environment.
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature - School on Blog
Lesson: Safe food is primordial to food security
We have no control on the safety of the food we eat in canteens and restaurants.1. Food contains natural chemicals that are essential for growth and health which include carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and vitamins. But some foods contain potentially harmful natural toxins.
2. Among the most common crops that yield natural Hydrogen Cyanide is cassava (Manihot utilissima) mainly in the bark of the enlarged roots.
3. Cassava should be harvested after one year in the field. Over mature tubers contain more of the toxin.
4. Remove the entire bark, and wash the tuber thoroughly. Cut into pieces and boil. When the pot starts to boil, remove the cover. This allows the cyanogas to escape.
5. Bamboo shoots (labong) contains a certain amount of hydrogen cyanide, like cassava it should be cooked well with the pot open to allow the gas to escape.
6. Seeds of apples and pears, and the stony pit or kernel of apricot and peaches contain a naturally occurring substance called amygdalin. Amygdalin can turn into hydrogen cyanide in the stomach causing discomfort or illnesses.
7. Nicotine in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is among the most poisonous substances in nature. Extract of the poison from a single stick of cigarette can instantaneously kill a person when injected into the bloodstream.
8. Cacao (Theobroma cacao), like coffee contains caffeine, so that moderation is required in its consumption.
9. Ricinin in castor bean (Ricinus communis)is very poisonous, for which reason the use of castor as laxative has been stopped especially among children.
10. Potato (Solanum tuberosum) contains natural toxins called glycoalkaloids. The levels are usually low but higher levels are found in potato sprouts, and the peels of potato.
11. Aflatoxin is a substance produced by a fungus, Aspergillus flavus, that grows on harvested crops like corn, rice and copra that are not properly dried and stored.
12. It is all right to eat cooked potatoes that has a bitter taste because this is just varietal, and not due to the presence of the natural toxin glycoalkaloids.
13. Today most plastics are made from petrochemicals (crude oil and natural gas), although they can also be produced from corn and other biomasses.
14. Plastic is a compound that is indestructible, even when it is melted the compound gas that is given off is very harmful to our health and environment - it weakens the ozone layer.
15. Because most plastic is produced from oil, and the world is gradually running out of oil, scientists are now developing plastics that are made from vegetable oil and other organic matter.
16. Bioplastics are designed to be composted, not recycled.
17. Environmental advocates are calling for bioplastic production based on renewable crops (such as native wild grasses) grown without chemicals. Bioplastics could also be developed from agricultural waste – which is not yet a ripe or proven technology.
18. We are now beginning to be more concerned with polluting our body with the harmful substances from plastic, rather than polluting the environment.
19. Heavy metal toxicity is occurring far more than we would ever expect, and we pick up the toxic metals principally from those that we produce and throw into the environment.
20. All heavy metals are harmful to the body.
Predators such as the squid accumulate toxic metals from their preys.
The three most common toxic metals are lead mercury and cadmium, while the most dangerous and common radioactive element is Uranium.
22. Lead (Pb) is most common of the toxic metals which we pick up from paints, plastics, cosmetics, batteries, gasoline, insecticides, pottery glaze, and soldered metals. It can be picked up also from plants that absorb the element such as kangkong.
23. The use of Cadmium has greatly increased lately. One can pick up this toxin metal from discarded cadmium batteries, soft drinks, cigarette smoke, seafood, rubber, motor oil, pesticides, and plastics. Cd can cause chronic fatigue syndrome, hair loss, high blood pressure, arthritis, kidney stones and impotence.
24. Mercury (Hg) which can be obtained from amalgam tooth filling, the absorption of which into the body is increased with smoking of cigarettes, drinking of hot liquids, gum chewing, acidic saliva or the grinding of teeth at night.
25. Hg affects the brain, heart, kidneys, and endocrine glands, and because it is cumulative in the brain and neurons, causes depression, memory loss, tremors, anemia and heart attacks. It is very difficult to get rid of.
26. Aluminum can be found in old cast aluminum pots and pans, cans and foils. Certain amounts can be picked up from drinking water, antiperspirants, baking powders, feminine hygiene products, milk, and the like, accumulating in the skin, bones, brain, and kidneys - which can lead to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
27. Uranium is a radioactive element that disintegrates eventually into lead. So why worry with the meltdown of the nuclear plants in Chernobyl Russia and three-Mile Island in the Us?
28. Nickel can be picked up from kitchen wares, coins, dental fillings and batteries. But these can accumulate in the bones, kidneys, liver, lungs, immune system and the brain, and may cause genetic damage and cancer.
29. Arsenic is obtained from cigarette smoke, laundry detergents, beer, seafood and drinking water. It can cause headaches, confusion and sleepiness. At large amount Arsenic can damage the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Arsenic is classified semi-metallic, like selenium.
30. Barium, Beryllium and Chromium are not classified as toxic metals, besides they occur in insignicant amountsa in the environment.
There's no substitute to freshly caught fish from a known source.
Answers:
False: 8,11,17,20,27,30
16, (T) The plant-based material will actually contaminate the recycling process if not separated from conventional plastics such as soda bottles and milk jugs.
30. F. Barium is found in soaps, ceramics, paper, plastics, textiles, dyes, fuel additives, rubber, paint and pesticides; beryllium is alloy metal processing; and Chromium from chromate compounds.
Monday, December 11, 2017
A Guide in Entrepreneurship
A Guide in Entrepreneurship
“When we take away from a man his traditional way of life, his customs, his religion, we had better make certain to replace it with SOMETHING OF VALUE” - Robert Chester Ruark, Something Of Value
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog
When Ford, Carnegie and Rockefeller et al, began to generate wealth, the questions of ethics arose. To become enormously rich through moneymaking business inevitably raises questions about values. To many, progress means material wealth. The business ideology of a modern free world, man’s material progress is far from a threat, but rather a promise of a new age - “a time of fulfillment when everybody would have enough of everything,” in the words of Charles W. Ferguson who epitomized Dewitt Wallace.
The philosophy of Philanthropy, the legal Neo-Robin Hood of recent times, has saved the face of the rich businessman in the eyes of a critical world. That to continue accumulating wealth is not bad as long as that wealth is “given away” to benefit mankind.
I may have transgressed a little from the topic, but the defense I would like to point out is the essence of not only giving away the wealth one accumulates in business, but more importantly the duty of an entrepreneur to treat well his constituents particularly the employees, as he accumulates wealth. Equitable compensation precedes philanthropic purpose. It is of course the most ideal to blend both values.
Ruark, the author of “Something of Value” said “ If a man does away with what is good custom and tradition, he must first see to it that there is something of value to replace it. But enterprise is also prospective. It envisions a concept that is ahead of anyone’s thinking, and of today’s conventions. It is a laying down for the future a work that can be done today. Henry Ford industrialized America with his vision of a people’s car. John F. Kennedy saw the future of space science to serve mankind. Satellite communications today, a multi-million dollar electronics business, has revolutionized the world, linking the peoples of many nations.
We conceptualize even the ordinary. Like l
ocal resources that can be tapped for maximized utilization. Local talents can be at par with the Western’s. it is looking ahead, thinking deeper and organizing well that enable us to arrive at a concept and subsequently putting it to use. For the business administrator, this is priceless tool.
These are rules that guide a prospective entrepreneur so that he is not only successful, but his efforts should be made truly relevant to the community in which he is a part.
1. Build an independent enterprise – Call it “ empire building" but it is better than to be a subservient to a boss. Be the boss like the accountant who became a partner of an auditing firm.
3. Innovations have price to be paid. Do not let people pay them for you – If you recommend fertilizer use, be sure that the ones who get the most benefit are the users - farmers - and secondarily the manufacturer and distributor.
4. Preserve tradition that holds values – Do not discard old things for new ones. But if you do, just like what Ruark advised, “ there must be something of value to replace it.”
5. Look ahead but through concepts that are implementable – It is not always true that if you use your imagination, necessarily you must think modern. Be indigenous, if you can.
6. Benevolence and philanthropy are ethical leverages to wealth getting – But if you give part of your wealth, be sure there is absolutely no condition that negates altruism.
These are some concepts as guide to a successful enterprise. Good luck!
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Refined salt and how it is made the old way.
Dr Abe V Rotor
Nagtupakan and San Sebastian are two villages (barangay) of San Vicente (Ilocos Sur) famous in making refined salt – salt as fine and white as refined sugar, you can mistake the two. This is how the native folks do it with a very old technology.
First the salt field is “irrigated” during the day by high tide coming directly from the sea, but instead of being drained in the succeeding low tide, the floodgate is closed trapping the seawater which leaves a crust of salt on the salt field. This is repeated to enrich the harvest.
The salt crust is “cultivated” by hand or with bullock using a light harrow to scrape the topsoil which contains the salt crust called ati’. The gathered ati’ is piled on the field or stored in a nearby shack for future use, thus allowing salt making even during the rainy season.
This is the process proper of extracting the salt from the crust. The crust is placed in a trough made of long wooden planks which looks like an oversize coffin. The bottom is lined with a layer of rice hay and a layer of sand on top of it. This serves as filter. Seawater is poured into the trough containing the crust to dissolve the salt. The solution is filtered leaving behind the silt and clay. The filtrate which is a high concentrated salt solution is collected at one end of the trough. This is called inna, from which was derived the terms ag-inna, referring to the process.
The inna or filtrate is “cooked” in the open in large iron kettle under low fire. More filtrate is added as it evaporates to increase the yield. The salt is turned regularly to prevent the formation of crust at the bottom and to hasten cooking. Just like in the final stage in cooking rice, the in salt yield is allowed to dry completely.
The salt product is placed in a large bamboo basket for tempering, allowing the salt to become mellow (like wine). During this stage the salt attains its true fine texture, whiteness, and dryness.
Salt making with this indigenous technology is now a dying industry. Ironically it is in the endangered stage of a craft that earns its place in the list of tourists’ attractions. There are reasons why the industry is dying and these are as follows.
• High cost of production
• Dwindling supply of firewood
• The younger generation would rather go other jobs, or pursue careers
• Product competition – commercial salt, local and imported, has flooded the market.
• Advanced technology such as solar desalination of seawater has replaced traditional processes.
• Water pollution has rendered many salt fields unsuitable for this industry.
• Comparative profitability of other industries like prawn farming, seaweed farming and fish cage culture have replaced the industry.
If you happen to go up north, visit the indigenous salt making villages, seven km west of Vigan, and find out for yourself which is salt and which is sugar just by looking at these two similar products in all their fineness and whiteness.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Legacy of the late NFA Administrator Jesus T Tanchanco
Legacy of the late NFA Administrator
Jesus T Tanchanco
Dedicated to the late Jesus T Tanchanco, "Father of the National Food Authority" (Administrator, National Grains Authority and National Food Authority, 1971-1986) on his birth anniversary today.
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature School on Blog
Dr and Mrs Abe V Rotor exchange pleasantries with former NFA administrator Jesus T Tanchanco (right) during the last homecoming of former NGA-NFA employees in 2012. It was the last meeting of our group with this great man.
1. Live in the present. Live today.
2. Forget the mistakes of yesterday. Yesterday has gone forever.
3. Stop criticizing yourself and stop criticizing others.
4. Yearn for self-improvement.
5. Hold on to your self-respect by appraising yourself honestly.
6. Learn to listen to others. It helps remove bias from your opinion.
7. If you have a goal, reach for it.
8. If you make a mistake, try again.
9. Don't be timid in conversation.
10. Exercise your imagination creatively to achieve success.
11. Do one thing at a time. Shoot for one goal at a time.
12. Believe in the Providence not for luck but blessings.
Author (center) poses with former NFA Administrator and Mrs Jesus T Tanchanco, ) after the awarding ceremonies. Business Incentive and Development Award (BIDA) on the cottage industry of producing basi wine. Basi can be compared with the world's best. Basi passed the European
Standard for Port, Cherry, and Champagne (Food Development Center)
Benito Rulloda - My Hero
Defying the Sweet Call of Death
A sincere expression of gratitude to Mr Benito Rulloda for saving the author from drowning at sea.
Every one, I believe, has a personal hero in his life. Disregarding grave danger this hero unconditionally takes upon himself a risky decision to save others who are helpless in a crisis.
Dr Abe V Rotor
Wall mural painted by the author from a scenario of death calling at the bottom of the sea, as he saw it. Author's residence, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, 2010
To really live you must almost die,
The song goes for the daring and bold;
It was night time then and I was young,
And the friendly moon was growing old.
Why should death come knocking on the door,
When peacetime is friendliest to the free?
And I, young and restless for adventure
Loafed under the stars and creaseless sea.
A line in hand waits the fish to bite
By an old Coleman's flickering light
That draws the small fish, then the prize
Catch - the biggest fish in all my life.
And it is! But neither fish nor prize
I got. I was on fire and fell overboard
Sucked by the current in the dead
Of the night and I prayed hard, Oh Lord!
And I kept swimming with all my might,
Strong in will and spirit and heart,
But time was running out, alone and weak
I saw death like a beautiful art.
I saw the sun of the night shining
Among corals and weeds and fishes;
I heard the mermaids sweetly singing,
And saw smiling, familiar faces.
Time's eternity, when all is gone.
Emptiness freedom without ceiling;
Beauty's transient and soon bygone,
When one gives in to death's calling.
A most familiar face met my eyes;
He raised my arm and we made it sure
To swim together, calm and trusting ,
To the anchored boat and to the shore.
That face was deep brown and roughly hewn,
Weathered through time by rain and sun;
An angel on earth and among the throng,
A simple man, sincere friend, unsung.
Who makes death meek, its sweet calling
Lying deep in the depth of the sea;
More than all, and biggest pearl to have,
He's the angel of humanity. ~
Based on a true story, an accident at San Fernando Bay, La Union in 1976. The hero and angel referred to is Benito Rulloda. The poem is dedicated to him for his valor and true friendship. With deepest respect and gratitude. AVR.
A sincere expression of gratitude to Mr Benito Rulloda for saving the author from drowning at sea.
Every one, I believe, has a personal hero in his life. Disregarding grave danger this hero unconditionally takes upon himself a risky decision to save others who are helpless in a crisis. Dr Abe V Rotor
Wall mural painted by the author from a scenario of death calling at the bottom of the sea, as he saw it. Author's residence, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur, 2010
To really live you must almost die,
The song goes for the daring and bold;
It was night time then and I was young,
And the friendly moon was growing old.
Why should death come knocking on the door,
When peacetime is friendliest to the free?
And I, young and restless for adventure
Loafed under the stars and creaseless sea.
A line in hand waits the fish to bite
By an old Coleman's flickering light
That draws the small fish, then the prize
Catch - the biggest fish in all my life.
And it is! But neither fish nor prize
I got. I was on fire and fell overboard
Sucked by the current in the dead
Of the night and I prayed hard, Oh Lord!
And I kept swimming with all my might,
Strong in will and spirit and heart,
But time was running out, alone and weak
I saw death like a beautiful art.
I saw the sun of the night shining
Among corals and weeds and fishes;
I heard the mermaids sweetly singing,
And saw smiling, familiar faces.
Time's eternity, when all is gone.
Emptiness freedom without ceiling;
Beauty's transient and soon bygone,
When one gives in to death's calling.
A most familiar face met my eyes;
He raised my arm and we made it sure
To swim together, calm and trusting ,
To the anchored boat and to the shore.
That face was deep brown and roughly hewn,
Weathered through time by rain and sun;
An angel on earth and among the throng,
A simple man, sincere friend, unsung.
Who makes death meek, its sweet calling
Lying deep in the depth of the sea;
More than all, and biggest pearl to have,
He's the angel of humanity. ~
Based on a true story, an accident at San Fernando Bay, La Union in 1976. The hero and angel referred to is Benito Rulloda. The poem is dedicated to him for his valor and true friendship. With deepest respect and gratitude. AVR.
Catching Butterflies on a Wall Mural
Catching Butterflies on a Wall Mural
Living with Nature Center
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur
Dr Abe V Rotor
Catching butterflies, wall mural by the author
Imaginary butterflies - white, blue and redattract these kids, more than flowers do;a game of the right and left brain compared;imagination reigns, letting reason go.~
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