PADAYA! Abra Trade & Tourism Expo

Visit us at SM-Megamall, Megatrade Hall 1, February 25, 26 & 27, 2011. PADAYA!

This is the very first expo of the whole province of Abra in Manila. The strong support by our Governor Takit Bersamin & all the provincial staffs, the DTI-Abra headed by our DTI Director Arell Bañez and all DTI-ABRA staffs, and all the municipal mayors & LGU's. A success for our province, GO ABRA!

All products from the 27 municipalities of Abra. Grab your supplies of Organic & indigenous rice from the rice terraces of the mountains of Abra, Cordillera chains. Discover many bamboo & wood furniture with modern and original designs from wood carvers of Abra. Hand-woven textiles/fabrics by weaving experts and naturally dye from different parts of our province. Discover many tourism sites that ABRA has to offer. Unpolluted places with very warm hospitality of the Abreños.

And of course, our very proud PAMORA's ABRA FREE-RANGE CHICKENS. The first & only free-range chicken products available in the market with the highest quality of real free-range chicken. With the 11 years of existence, not only it is grown free-range in Pamora Farm & other municipalities of Abra, it is the only free-range chicken that has been dressed in a state of the art poultry dressing plant that complies all regulations of the government agencies and exclusively dressing only free-range chickens!

CHEFS ON PARADE 2011

CHEFS ON PARADE... Ultimate Asian Showdown... 

Star ingredient...Pamora Free-range Chicken!

PAMORA Free-range Chicken...

Listing the indgredients...

THE JUDGES!


Participating Asian Countries...

Thailand

 Singapore

Philippines

Malaysia

Indonesia

THE FOOD

Thailand

Singapore

Philippines

Malaysia

Indonesia

2nd Runner-up... Malaysia!

1st Runner-up... Thailand!

 WINNER! 
THE PHILIPPINE TEAM!

Surely they know how to cook "Pamora" free-range chicken

Pamora Farm's Mr. Gerard Papillon with Chef Sau del Rosario of Bistro Vert

 With Chef Jean-Pierre MIGNE of TULOY Foundation

With Chef in Black Emmanuel Stroobant from Singapore
and
GM of Century Park Hotel Chef Philippe Bartholomi

9TH NATIONAL BEEKEEPING CONVENTION & FARM VISITS

Last week, February 2-4, I spent 3 days at Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) in Lucban, Quezon for the 9th National Beekeeping Convention. I was personally invited to attend and learn about beekeeping by a friend from BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry). The weather was cold in the province of Quezon. The first time in my traveling experience that I haven't brought along a jacket. Luckily I had my shawl, as always a handy one :), a new year gift from Mara Pardo de Tavera, our president of OPTA. 

I have learned so much about beekeeping industry and will soon re-launch our beekeeping in our farm. I am now a member of BAPI (Beekeepers Association of the Philippines, Inc.) yehey!

My body felt the coldness of the weather, mountain's breeze, but my heart is over flowing with warmth ambiance and interaction with the people of the beekeeping industry. Most of them are also from Ilocos and Cordillera region. Some came from Visayas and others are all the way from Mindanao :) I had a great experience that I will surely treasure :)

During my stay at SLSU, I visited a nearby farm, the Costales Natures Farm, located in Majayjay, Laguna. It is some 15 minutes drive from SLSU. Had an organic breakfast with the owners, lovely couple Ronald & Josie Costales. Again, cold weather but with warm welcome and wonderful company.

Costales Nature Farm produces' organic vegetables, pork and free-range chickens.

After the breakfast at Costales Nature Farm, went back to the convention at SLSU, and at night, I slept at  the farm of Jonathan & Marilyn Polistico, located in Liliw, Laguna. Some 30 minutes drive from SLSU.

It was great to visit them and share our experiences in the free-range poultry concerns :)

Final farm visit at day 3 of the beekeeping convention, the "Pueblo Organic Farm" of D.A. Secretary Procy Alcala, located at Pagbilao, Quezon. Almost an hour drive from SLSU-Lucban. The attendees of the convention, (we are about 100 plus) enjoys the picture taking!

AN IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE TO SHARE

VETERINARY and TRAVEL/SHIPPING PERMIT... Where is it?

Last year, November 24, 2010, I got the replacement of the 182 day-old layer chicks for the mortalities we got last December 7, 2009 from the 700 day-old layer chicks imported from Dominant CZ.
Q - What I look for from the delivery man after counting the chicks in the box?
A - The Veterinary Certificate and Travel/Shipping Permit from Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).
None! The delivery man simply said "I don't know that... Our office (supplier) didn't give anything..."

Yes dear free-range chicken growers out there, at the height of alarming scares with the A-H5N1 (Avian Influenza) and other avian diseases, a veterinary certificate that the chicks they are giving us are of good health condition and free from any diseases, and the travel or some refer to as shipping permit are two very important documents you should look for from your supplier. Any supplier, weather a poultry supply or a respectable veterinarian knows it very well, not just an ordinary note  that says "RECEIVED IN GOOD ORDER AND CONDITION".

BUT, this incident I have experienced, from a supplier to Pamora Farm for the last 2 and half years, is somewhat unbelievable! For the last 11 years we've been doing the free-range chicken production, we have learn our lessons and experiences, that even costs us very much. Our farm is located in Abra. From Manila to Abra, we have 3 quarantine checkpoints...
One in Tarlac; One in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; and one at Ilocos Sur-Abra boundary. Each of quarantine checkpoints look for travel documentations. No travel document may even result to confiscations!

Since I have learn my lessons through experience for the last 11 years and a little over :), I have prepared a simple certification, should the delivery man fail to provide me a veterinary & travel/shipping permit. I will just let him to sign the certificate I have prepared so my drivers traveling to Abra have document to support our traveling of said chicks... The delivery man refused to sign and said he was ordered by their office not to sign anything... No responsibility from supplier's part?... Not a good at all!
Where's the veterinary certificate and travel permit then? Tsk Tsk Tsk...
Calling the attention of Bureau of Animal Industry!

What I did, I just put a note in the certificate that "refused to sign".
For the record, it was distributed on the quarantine check points we passed on our way to Abra.

Dearest fellow free-range chicken farmers, always look for veterinary and travel permit from your supplier, traceability is very important and assurance too that you are always given a good quality chicks!