  {"id":17934,"date":"2023-04-17T19:55:09","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T11:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pcaf.da.gov.ph\/?p=17934"},"modified":"2023-04-17T19:55:09","modified_gmt":"2023-04-17T11:55:09","slug":"the-beauty-of-losing-battle-and-breaking-barriers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2023\/04\/17\/the-beauty-of-losing-battle-and-breaking-barriers\/","title":{"rendered":"The beauty of losing battle and breaking barriers"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_17935\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17935\" style=\"width: 1800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17935 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2771.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2771.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2771-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2771-1024x693.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2771-768x520.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2771-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2771-500x338.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17935\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mercy shows PCAF GAD FPS team the herds of rabbit for meat source.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the African Swine Fever (ASF) was first reported in the Philippines in 2019, the local hog industry, both commercial and backyard hog farmers, did not realize that the incident would have its impact beyond numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a conversation with one of the rural women leaders in Cagayan Valley in March 2023, the 黑料网 Gender and Development Focal Point System (GAD FPS) sat with Mercy Andres-Biala as she shared her journey in ASF recovery and empowerment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNoong nabalitaan namin na isa-isang namamatay yung mga alagang baboy dito sa amin sa <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Manuel,<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> natakot talaga kami,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mercy recalled the time when cases of ASF were first confirmed in their town in Isabel, Cagayan February 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later that year, Mercy and her husband, Rodgier, saw some circular red spots or lesions in some of their pigs. Although part of their livelihood, she considered the herd as part of their family, especially the sows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In just a short time, they witnessed how their pigs manifested symptoms of ASF. Some of them could barely stand and eventually died in their pens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In one of the research findings published in a journal called Frontiers in Veterinary Science, researchers found out that Filipino farmers form significant attachment to their pigs, and that the depopulation effort of the government in response to ASF had a \u201cdeep and emotional impact\u201d on the farmers.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17936\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17936\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17936 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-1024x758.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-768x569.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-1536x1137.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-2048x1516.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2859-500x370.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17936\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rabbit sisig is one of the best sellers in Biala\u2019s farm. Behind Mercy are empty pigpens now covered in green net for biosecurity.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span>From having one of the biggest piggeries in San Manuel, Isabela, Mercy and Rodgier <\/span><span>culled and buried<\/span><span> their 84 fatteners, 16 hybrid sows, and more than 100 piglets, as advised by the Department of Agriculture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHanggang ngayon, naririnig ko pa rin yung mga iyak ng mga baboy ko. Hindi lang namin sila alaga, parang pamilya kasi sila ang nagbigay sa amin na kabuhayan,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mercy shared as she hold back her tears.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the incident, she would visit the piggery at the back of their house, now with empty pig pens and unusual silence in the area. She would just stare at the clean panels, feeders and waterers not knowing what to do next.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Mercy Andres-Biala: Daughter. Wife. Mother.<\/b><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17937\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17937\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17937 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-1024x688.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-1536x1032.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-2048x1376.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2974-1-500x336.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17937\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mercy with Jewel, Champy the aspin, Mark, and husband Rodgier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a daughter of a farmer, Mercy, who originally hails from Gamu, Isabela, dreamed of having her own farmland. She wanted to be like her father and knew that she needed to access information and knowledge to attain her dream.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She took up an agricultural technology program in Isabela, where she also met her husband, Rodgier. After completing the two-year program, Mercy briefly worked at <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Isabela Experiment Station in Gamu.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Admittedly, Mercy knew then that she would not be able to attain her dream with the salary she was making. So just like her friends and neighbors, she went to Hong Kong to work as a household service worker at the age of 18.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNalungkot ako na kailangan kong pumunta sa ibang bansa para magtrabaho pero alam ko kailangan kong gawin iyon,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mercy continued.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For 15 years, Mercy served as a household worker to a British-Chinese family. During those years, Mercy and Rodgier, now an agricultural technician, married and had their first born, Rome Jewel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rodgier also helped Mercy to invest her hard-earned money in livestock farming and rented farmlands in San Manuel. Mercy also used her day-offs to attend training in meat processing in Hong Kong.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercy knew that she needed to go back to the Philippines to make up for lost time with her husband and daughter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTulad ng maraming<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> overseas Filipino workers, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alam kong kailangan kong bumawi sa anak ko at sa asawa ko. Mas naalagaan ko pa ang pamilya ng ibang lahi kesa sa sarili kong pamilya. Ilang beses na rin akong nagpaalam pero nakikiusap sila lagi sa akin na mag-<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extend pa (ng contract),\u201d she narrated, remembering how her employer was considerate to her requests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She also said that up to now, they are still in constant communication and have been updated on their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the help of her husband, she started a piggery business and a farm. She wanted the farm to be close to their house so she could spend more time with her growing family, especially since they have a new addition to the family, Mark Romer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>What is next? From piggery to rabbitry<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17938\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2923-1-500x333.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the ASF incident and all was lost, Mercy saw an opportunity to stand again by trying something new.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mark, her then nine-year-old son, became fond of rabbits. He watched educational videos about rabbits and how to take care of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17940\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-1024x693.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-768x519.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-2048x1385.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2949-1-500x338.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHindi po tulad ng ibang animals, ang rabbit ay madaling alagaan at pakainin. Madali rin po silang paramihin,\u201d <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shared the now 11-year-old lad.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercy also shared that the first batch of rabbits was purchased using Mark\u2019s own money he saved through a local cooperative. Two years ago, Mark asked his parents to pick up 16 rabbits that he had ordered from a rabbit farm in Pangasinan, which is about seven hours away from Isabela.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to a piggery which makes roughly 50 thousand pesos a month, the rabbitry contributes 15 thousand pesos to their family\u2019s monthly income.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercy took the challenge to shift from growning pigs to rabbits. In the Philippines, many disapprove of having rabbits as an alternative meat source because of the belief that rabbits are domesticated as pets only.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a statement, DA encouraged farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and ASF to support the production and distribution of rabbits for meat consumption and livelihood. Former DA officials also promoted rabbits as a healthy substitute for pork, highlighting the short growth cycle of the rabbits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although new to her, Mercy braved the unknown rabbit hole and used social media to promote various products and dishes she can make with the meat.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17947\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1564\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-1024x626.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-768x469.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-1536x939.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-2048x1252.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2864-500x306.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17948\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-1024x591.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-768x443.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-1536x887.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-2048x1182.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Rabbit-dishes-500x289.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIba ang <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rabbit <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">namin na <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for pets, h<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">indi sila malaman. Iba rin ang rabbit namin na<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for meat source. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nagluluto ako ng iba\u2019t-ibang ulam na gamit ang <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meat ng rabbit <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at pinopost ko ito sa <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">social media,\u201d Mercy explained.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She would post photos and videos of rabbit recipes and use social media to promote and market them to nearby areas. Aside from rabbit meat, she would also post her products like banana chips, chicharon, and fish balls made from mushrooms, and other produce from her poultry and fish ponds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercy proved that she can overcome challenges by involving her family in the agri and fishery industry. As a farmer, she wants her children, Jewel and Mark, to know that farming is fun and profitable.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She braved the challenges to make major decisions and interventions for her family, farm, and now, her community and fellow women in agriculture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>A father\u2019s advice: Create your own path<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17943\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ISAT-days.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"788\" height=\"484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ISAT-days.jpg 788w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ISAT-days-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ISAT-days-768x472.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/ISAT-days-500x307.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercy\u2019s father, the late Marciano Andres used to say <em>\u201caramidem dagiti ibagbagak ngem han mu tuladen amin nga aramid ko\u201d.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These words hit Mercy realizing she can follow one\u2019s advice but not exactly the action. It goes the same way in agriculture.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Madalas nating naririnig o nababasa yung <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">comment <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">na \u2018sana<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> all\u2019. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">May mga pagkakataon tayo na sundin ang mga <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">advice <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tips <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">na nakikita natin sa <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">social media <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pagdating sa<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> farming. G<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amitin natin itong mga <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">advice<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> na ito para kumita at gumawa ng sarili nating <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, hindi yung susunod lang tayo sa kung ano ang ginagawa ng iba,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> she added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from promoting crop diversification and product differentiation, Mercy also encourages women in agriculture to be involved in decision-making and to have a voice in various discussions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMy dream is to have gender equality in terms of access to programs, projects and opportunities, not only in agriculture <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pero sa lahat ng aspeto<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Katulad ko, pangarap kong magkaroon ng sariling lupa pero hindi naging madali ang pag-abot ko sa pangarap na ito dahil sa<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lack of opportunity,\u201d she added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from equality and access, she also mentioned that women in their community need capacity building to be empowered in everything they want to pursue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSa pamamagitan ng pagla<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-live at pagpopost <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ko<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (on social media), I get to see comments on how I encourage them to venture in agriculture and in rabbitry,\u201d Mercy said, noting that she will soon expand their farm and will employ additional workers, preferably from the women organizations that she is also part of.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17950\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-1024x722.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-768x542.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-1536x1084.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-2048x1445.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Bialas-farm-500x353.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She added that more women should join the Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFC) because they can be updated on the programs, projects, concerns and issues in the industry. This information can help them solve problems like irrigation, farmland registration, and possible market for their produce and products, among others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from being a woman leader and agripreneur, Mercy is also the MAFC San Manuel Women Sectoral Representative. She aspires to be an example in their municipality that women can also participate in decision-making and participatory governance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSa kabila ng mga nangyari, napagdaanan namin iyon <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">because I am motivated by my husband, my children, the community <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at ang mga kababaihan na kagaya ko na pwedeng guminhawa sa buhay dahil sa mga oportunidad,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> she added.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17951\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17951\" style=\"width: 812px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-17951 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Mercy-Biala-with-Usec-Panganiban.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"812\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Mercy-Biala-with-Usec-Panganiban.jpg 812w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Mercy-Biala-with-Usec-Panganiban-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Mercy-Biala-with-Usec-Panganiban-768x566.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Mercy-Biala-with-Usec-Panganiban-500x368.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 812px) 100vw, 812px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17951\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mercy and Rodgier (right) pose with DA Senior Usec. Domingo Panganiban (2nd from left) and Isabela Municipal Agriculturist Ruben Santos (center) during the awarding of the Outstanding Rural Women award in Nueva Ecija. (Photo from Mercy Biala&#8217;s Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mercy realized that losing a battle is not truly a defeat. It allowed her to dive into an unknown route, create another path, and eventually break barriers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-17953\" src=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1995\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-1024x798.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-768x599.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-1536x1197.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-2048x1596.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/IMG_2662-500x390.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from her rabbitry, fruits and vegetables, mushroom, banana, fish pond and other sources of income, Mercy just had her six piglets delivered. She is ready to try again, hoping for the best. <strong>|JC<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the African Swine Fever (ASF) was first reported in the Philippines in 2019, the local hog industry, both commercial and backyard hog farmers, did not realize that the incident would have its impact beyond numbers. In a conversation with one of the rural women leaders in Cagayan Valley in March 2023, the Philippine Council<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2023\/04\/17\/the-beauty-of-losing-battle-and-breaking-barriers\/\"> continue reading&#8230;<!-- : The beauty of losing battle and breaking barriers --><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":17852,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[404,474,1180,812,810,27,977,1306,1308,1309,1307,39],"class_list":["post-17934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-african-swine-fever","tag-asf","tag-cagayan-valley","tag-empowerment","tag-gad-fps","tag-gender","tag-isabela","tag-mercy-biala","tag-rabbitry","tag-rural-women","tag-san-manuel","tag-womens-month"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.3 - 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