Philippines As Steering Force In A Significant Stride to Agricultural Sustainability of Papua New Guinea (Conclusion)

Conclusion:

As I personally witnessed the stakeholders’ morale that is utterly contagious and buoyant in spirit on this divine occurrence which is parallel to them as their future, I couldn’t help but to wander myself…  This is it?  Yes, this is really really really it!  This is how “development” transpires to people.  This is how the trickle down effect of inclusive growth is actually unfolding to the mass of the people.

It is so moving how the success of this project will provide opportunities for locals and stakeholders to develop their unused land through sustainable rice farming.  The fact is, they are very much aware of these changes.  And that is basically where the embodiment of Development Communication is, the shifting of mindset.   The slowly evolving of their personal perception from being disenfranchise to being “empowered”.  Big word, forsooth! Yet, this is what I bore witnessed disentangled before my eyes.  Empowerment radiates from the successful harvest of the first ever hybrid rice in Papua New Guinea with the immense help of the Philippines Agricultural experts and technology, trail-blazed by the Philippine Ambassador. 

Through this project, stakeholders will be taught, will learn, and without averseness, will turn out to become a better version of themselves more than what they perceived themselves to be.  Through this project, they will realize the authentic meaning of hardwork, and they actualize it.  Then they will pass this self-value to their children, and to the children of their children.  Hence, an alleviated economic life for them.  A life that struggles no more for food to consume.  

It is so inspiring to witness how His Excellency Ambassador Tejano, not only that he’s been one of the brilliant minds and steering forces to spearhead this project, but in furtherance, he committed himself to this journey.  His cultural competency living in the country for 12 years, is equally admirable and noteworthy.  He speaks English accent the way Papua New Guineans do when communicating to the locals, and speaks regular English when talking to expatriates.  Hence, exemplified qualities of a true agent of development. 

During our travel going to and back from Gabadi, by dint of my random questions to the Ambassador, we’ve touched so many topics in various socio-political, and even personal matters that I love to share on my succeeding articles.  The Ambassador being approachable, like what Naomi (one of the staffs in Gabadi) said, “He seems to be an ordinary guy,” and they weren’t aware he is an Ambassador.  They said he is easy to deal with, I’ve got no different personal experience speaking with the Ambassador.  

On the course of our early conversation, Dr. Tejano asked me what I am taking up for my Masteral.  I said “Sir, I am taking Development Communication,” by which I quickly followed as DevCom being an unpopular course, by explaining of what DevCom is.  “Development Communication Sir, is about utilising the tool of Communication to foster social change,” I defined.  Through which he continued as I vividly remember, “Ah, you mean like a Communication Specialist who are task to change and persuade the mindset of the grassroots with open eyes, and to bring about development from its downfall direction.”  A response so vigorous that left me in awe.  I’ve stumbled upon people who are actually into the practice of development like health practitioners, extension workers, social workers, etc.  However, the way that Dr. Tejano articulated it, and deciphered the exact true meaning of Development Communication without my furtherance, my heart were instantaneously filled with so much joy, and I nearly bursted into tears.

Now, as I was writing this article, I figured out why the reaction.  Myself, being a self-affirmed emotional person and whose highly sensitive with other people’s feelings and needs, that is why DevCom is like a custom fit course for me, had realized, that during that brief DevCom exchange with the Ambassador, his eloquent thoughts about development had inadvertently contrived me a sense that development is “REAL” and not just a product of our ambitious idealistic imagination.  He made it sounded like development is “TANGIBLE”, and within arm-reach.  As I caught sight of the Ambassador who was personally reaping the grains, laboring, and working at the farm, hustling hard to coalesced this project, he just made me unleashed the complete equation in my mind.  That development is REAL and TANGIBLE, through PATIENCE, PERSISTENCE, and PERSPIRATION, indeed, the unbeatable combination for success.  A legacy that he will surely leave behind when his envoy duties are over here in Papua New Guinea.

I was dwelling into this wishful thinking, that I wish my classmates in DevCom had witnessed and being inspired the same.  Or better yet, I hope the whole Benguet State University were here for this remarkable experience of a lifetime.

Allow me to end this article with partial yet meaningful quote from the Ambassador, during his interview by television media practitioner at the harvest, 

“Let this project be the catalyst to bring Kai-kai (food) to every table of the 

               people of Papua New Guinea.”

Philippines As Steering Force In A Significant Stride to Agricultural Sustainability of Papua New Guinea

“Development emanates from people,” uttered in low-key yet with strong conviction, and nearly visionary in manner.  These are the dominant and resounding words from His Excellency Ambassador Bienvenido Tejano, Ambassador of the Philippine Republic to Papua New Guinea, whom I’m more than privileged, grateful and honored to be an inclusion and witness an event that is discerned to be beyond the bounds of possibility to consign into oblivion, the very FIRST harvest of hybrid rice here in Papua New Guinea wherein seeds and technology are ALL imported from our country, the Philippines.

It instituted as a final exam requirement this semester for Production of DevCom Materials subject at Benguet State University - Open University in relation to my course of Masters in Development Communication.  We were tasked by Atty. Carino our lecturer, who by the way I perceived to be language par excellence in reference to his writings, to search a government institution and find out the latest development news involving Filipinos here in Papua New Guinea.   It was no brainer.  The Philippine Embassy in Port Moresby is the rightful office where in all likelihood I can derived sources of developmental programs Filipinos are associated with in this country.

With no attempt to waste time came the first business day after that online meet with our lecturer, I phoned the office of the Philippine Embassy right away and asked for a viable face to face interview with H.E. Ambassador Tejano.  It was uncertain initially as the schedule of the Ambassador is packed, and so I was told by the soft-spoken and accommodating Miss Bing, the Ambassador’s secretary, that my request is not possible to be granted between the time frame sought.  The ambassador is bound to fly back to the Philippines for speaking engagements before the end of the month.  I was balked with despondent as foremost reaction for the apprehended missed opportunity.  However, I insisted with a voice that is almost sounded like crying, that “Mam Bing, I badly need this interview, final exam ko po ito, at alam ko pong malaki ang contribution ng Pilipinas sa Agricultural sector ng Papua New Guinea.  My school’s (BSU) heart and core is all about agriculture, and they will be more than delighted to learn about these developments.  Mam, this is beyond words in significance, I hope kahit 30 minutes lang po na interview ay mapagbigyan po ako ni Ambassador.”  On which she replied that she will try her best but to no guarantee.  We ended the conversation in an option that if time is of constraint for the Ambassador, I suggested that in lieu of a face to face interview, we can instead resort to email interview where the Ambassador can reply during his spare time by which she agreed.  Except that at the back of my mind, I was devising the idea that after that day, I will personally walk-in the Embassy with no prior appointment, and just standby there until I chance with the Ambassador.  And perhaps, a strong probability of interview will be acceded.

As I was flicking on my computer those questions that I wanted to solicit from the Ambassador, disheartened and all, two hours after my conversation with Mam Vienna, my phone rang.  I knew it was her, as I’ve seen the landline number of the Embassy.  My eyes glistened with a thought that my pleading will finally be accorded.

Mam Bing delivered me a news that until now, I’ve been trying so hard to chase back to my senses if it really emerged to me.  She said, “You should get ready in 15mins, the Ambassador wants you to come over with them to Gabadi where the first harvesting of hybrid rice is bound to happen today.  He said, you can come with them for your school requirement, so be ready to be picked up.”  There was a quick pause, before I succeeded to find my words.  Bursted with excitement I said “Sige po, saan po kami magkikita?”

I just brushed my teeth, evaded time to shower, changed to my most comfortable tee and Roxy slippers as Mam Vienna told me to be in most possible comfy wear as it is a farm to visit, packed my digital and video camera, grabbed my phone, notebook and pen, and begged our mechanic Kuya Nelson to send me by car to a nearby supermarket where I will be fetched.  A black Land Cruiser with diplomat plate checked in the meeting place, after few minutes of waiting.

It was my first time to ride a Land Cruiser.  The diplomat plate, made that first ride to be even more special.  Kuya Eric, the personal assistant, a friend, and a chauffeur to the Ambassador is more obliging.  He calls me “Jo” (short for Joan), by which have instantly transversed me to a feel of being welcome.  Kuya Eric asked me to sat in front passenger seat.  The Ambassador was sitting at the back on his phone, but as soon as I ingress the vehicle, the Ambassador greeted me with complete warmness.  I extended to the Ambassador as we shook hands, my utmost and sincerest appreciation for the invitation, and for allowing me to be at one in this conspicuous event, for him as the Ambassador, for me as a querying student, and for Papua New Guinea as a developing nation.  It almost didn’t surprise me that the Ambassador has no bodyguards.  It was only the three of us who travelled.