Aggie Ps Talk Season 7 continues to feature empowered women. Episode 2, aired last September 28, brings us two great ladies who are successful in their respective fields. They were Dr. Ma. Veritas F. Luna, an educator who advocates the reduction of home food wastage and Ms. Rowena P. Rivadeneria-Globio, an entrepreneur whose leadership has enabled a local family business to resonate and became one of the most sought after enterprise in the agri-food business. 

To formally start the program, Dr. Lotis E. Mopera, Director of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) hinted on what to expect in the day’s webinar. She also expressed hope that the speakers will bring educate the participants and liberate their minds into empowering their lives as women and men as well.

“Food for the Soul: Warming the Home Against Food Wastage”

Dr. Luna is currently the Chancellor of Education of the Center for Culinary Arts in Manila and the pioneer in professional culinary arts education and training in the country. Her presentation focused on “Food for the Soul: Warming the Home Against Food Wastage.” 

Dr. Luna emphasized that women are not only homebodies, instead, women play a crucial role particularly as gatekeepers of food in the home both for production and consumption. Hence, it is necessary to empower women.

Dr. Luna also explained that healthy relationships, enjoyable physical activities, and a fulfilling and satisfying career help feed our heart and soul. These things, she said can satisfy our deepest hunger, a hunger of fulfilling life. She further said that through the components of the concept, we can actually  zero in on reducing food waste in the home.

Dr. Luna also introduced the concept of “Green Chefmanship” which inculcates the formation of an attitude framework and an ethical framework for conserving, if not preserving, the environment through best kitchen practices. Lastly, she shared ways to utilize leftover food, trimmings and food surplus and provided food preparation ideas that the viewers can try at home.

“Banana Chips: A Bunch of Happiness in a Pack”

Sharing her family’s experience on how a thriving enterprise has found its niche in the agri-based industry was Ms. Rowena P. Rivadeneira-Globio, manager of Three Sisters Banana Chips, who presented the topic titled, “Banana Chips: A Bunch of Happiness in a Pack.”

Three Sisters Banana Chips, located in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque, aims to provide a healthy snack for all ages. Hence, their products have neither preservatives nor artificial flavors. They also customize different banana chips flavors like unsweetened, less sugar, salted, coated with coco sugar, and dipped in honey. Currently, the Three Sisters Banana Chips enterprise distributes its products in the six towns of Marinduque, in the provinces of Quezon, Batangas, Laguna, and some cities in Metro Manila.

With a PhP500 start-up capital, Ms. Globio shared that the family has decided to engage in banana chips making since there is locally available raw materials, it requires low capital, and it has limited competition in the province. Meanwhile, Ms. Globio attributes linkage with different government agencies like DOST, DTI, and LGUs as facilitating factors in the improvement of their production process and in coming up with a good quality product to reach a wider market. 

As food for thought she emphasized that in extremely difficult times, it is not always the strongest that survive, it is the most adaptable that do. With resilience to the challenges of the pandemic, with adversities turning into opportunities, and with compassion with its employees, they were able to withstand the test of times. Truly, the Three Sisters Banana Chips has brought joy and happiness in a pack.

Closing the day’s webinar was Dr. Ma. Josie V. Sumague, Head of the Food Microbiology Division of IFST. She emphasized the big role of women in education and food business and enjoined everyone to prevent food wastage by being creative in order for our agricultural produce to have added value through innovative food product development and food processing .

Watch the video through this link: youtube.com/watch?v=LFJRIITyQ4Y

(IMGesmundo)