Bio-Search for organic-minded

You have until tomorrow to see, taste, smell, and touch organically-made animals, agricultural products, scents and medicines at Bio-Search 2002 at the Philippine Trade Training Center. More specifically, you can go shopping for meat from organically-fed chickens and swine, pills for diabetic persons, cigarettes for those who want to stop smoking, vegemeat, soaps and teas, fresh herbs, rice raised without chemical fertilizers, fruit juices and concentrates, shampoos and skin and hair care products, herbal pillows, ube powder, honey and live bees. You can have aromatherapy and wellnews profiling service sessions, and attend seminars on homeotoxology, electro-acupuncture, massage and geriatric care, bio-harmony. You can learn to cook from the food preparations of chefs from the St. Benilde College. Today’s recipe is Pan Fried Maya Maya with Coconut Sauce and essence of curry and sautéed with Chinese cabbage. Featured cook will be Francisco Lichauco Jr.

In essence, you go to the trade fair organized by CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) at the Philippine Trade and Training Center for things to calm and enrich body and spirit and fortify hopes for some entrepreneural project.

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This afternoon’s sessions at the PTTC lobby are a cooking demo by Bert Clemena of the Philippine Herb Society (1-2 p.m.), followed by sessions on anti-oxidants, homotoxicology and homeopathy and acupuncture and Q-Gong. Tomorrow there will be cooking with herbs, herbal soap/candle-making, and herbal liniment and ointment preparations. There will be sessions on export certification and inspection requirements for organic produce, herbal product licensing, and phyto-personal care and phyto pharmaceutical product licensing programs.

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The booths are interesting colorful displays of expertise and ingenuity. Booth 93, that of Katutubong Pilipino Foundation, Inc., features organic fertilizer made of coir dust, sunflower leaves, herbal body and laundry soaps, recycled paper. On display are sample fabrics dyed organically. KPPFI was organized through the efforts of former First Lady Amelita Ramos and Patis Tesoro, KPFI president.

Booth 61, Tobee’s Apiary, is owned by Ramon "Tobee" Tamayo, a PMA graduate and Baguio native, who has been helping the government establish community projects for rebel returnees.

Ecowise, or Booth 92, is headed by Dr. Nonoy Zuniga, and is into environmental waste management. Product technology is US-sourced but product is of local manufacture. "Enzyme Breakthrough technology" allows enzyme to turn trash into fertilizer in 20 minutes.

Coming from the Agrarian Reform community in Quirino are products that look like driff flowers but are actually made from leaves. Sen. Loren Legarda-Leviste stopped by the booth to look at this novel product that TEDA helped develop.

SRM Herbal Products, which is based in Janiuay, Iloilo, is selling herbal pillows.

Right next to SRM is the Herb Society of the Philippines booth whose herbs — rosemary, sweet and Thai basil, tarragon, etc. are grown by Herbal FACTS and Domini’s Farm. Look for the booth of Organic Producers and Traders Association (OPTA), which sells fertilizers, juices, the wonder-crop yakon, and fresh vegetables.

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"Concert Nights at the Old Wall tonight will feature traditional Chinese and Filipino dances at the Puerta Real Gardens on Gen. Luna st., Intramuros, Manila. Featured performer is the PCHS Dance Troupe, the performing arts group of the Philippine Cultural High School, the country’s oldest Filipino-Chinese secondary school. The troupe has received accolades from audiences in Beijing, Xiamen and Guangzhou. "Concert Nights" is a cultural project of the Department of Tourism in cooperation with the National Commission of Culture and the Arts. Concert starts at 6; admission is free.

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Soroptimist International of Quezon City will install its new officers and directors June 26 at the Manansala Hall of the Manila Galleria Suites. Mayor Sonny Belmonte of Quezon City will be keynote speaker. To be installed are Amar Torres, president; Bechay Ledesma, president-elect; Zeny Maranan, first V.P.; Rorie Arnaiz, 2nd V.P.; Emily Duterte, recording secretary; Rosie Suntay, corresponding secretary; Giny Jugo, treasurer; Cathy Villacastin, assistant treasurer; Toots Viray, p.r.o.; Thelma Ortiz, club delegate, and Nany Encarnacion, club parliamentarian. Dolly Flores, governor of Soroptimist International of the Philippines Region, will be the inducting officer.

Soroptimist International is a worldwide organization for women in management and the professions and seeks to advance human rights and the status of women through its various programs of service.