Under a bamboo roof

Within the Republic of the Philippines, on Luzon Island, to the south of Manila, there is a Province called Cavite. Within the boundaries of Cavite and to the eastern portion of the Province there is a town known as Silang. My wife Marlyn and I had the privilege of living within the boundaries of Silang, Cavite Province, for a period of three full and enjoyable years. We had moved from the riotous mayhem of Cubao, Quezon City, National Capital Region, to the relative peace and quiet of a small barangay (village) within the eastern portion of Cavite Province.

This move from concrete to soil was jointly decided as we both came from what is termed ‘Provincial Areas’ in our respective first home centres, me - Australia - Marlyn - the Philippines. With a modicum of an agricultural bent and a willingness to learn, we both were looking for an element of self-sufficiency in our new home. So after our move I drew upon my connection with Columban Fr Shay Cullen of PREDA (Olongapo, Philippines) looking for an introduction to some like-minded folk in our ‘new’ region.

Fr Shay pointed me in the direction of Fr Dominic Nolan and Fr Francis Carey, both long term Columban Missionaries to the Philippines and both from Victoria, Australia. As I am an Aussie, although from Queensland, I jumped at the chance to introduce myself to these men. We met Fr Dom and Fr Frank in late 2010 and found, to our surprise, that they operated (amongst other commitments to Columban Missionary work) a centre known as CELL (Centre for Ecozoic Living and Learning) within the confines of Silang, Cavite. We found CELL to be an oasis of green vibrant natural growth and beauty only a hop, skip and a jump from our new home.

So in the early part of 2011 my wife and I attended a seminar at CELL on Sustainable Agriculture which was geared towards the Philippines. Over a week we were introduced to some significant options for produce production, organic farming, recycling, composting, worm farming and small plot agriculture. Additionally, the seminar incorporated a daily spiritual element to our activities.

My personal favourites over the week were the Chicken Tractor and Worm Farming. Marlyn, who definitely has a far greener thumb than me, was more into Square Foot Gardening and the Recycled Water Fish Pond and Vegetable Garden Combo.

The education at CELL is open to one and all who have an interest. Even on our seminar we had a range of attendees that included Philippine farmers, Local Government Officers, a professional singer, remote villagers and university students. CELL has a full calendar and every month a consistent and busy schedule educating the people of the Philippines and in particular the students of today.

Schools, Universities, Religious Missionary Orders, interested and aware locals from all over the Philippine farming community plus government officials form the steady stream of CELL trainees, all educated in Sustainable Agriculture. A local private school (The Cavite Institute) is incorporating CELL training into the school curriculum. CELL is alive and well but naturally could do with a greater level of support from the wider international community.

To me, the whole environment that is CELL encapsulates recognition of the beauty of our world and the need for humanity to sustain, nurture and grow with nature. CELL acknowledges the requirements of the human population to survive but encourages, trains and exposes all who care to visit or attend the essence of sustainability. I believe we humans are one of many elements that make our world and we as the dominant species, with God’s help, are responsible for the gifts that we have been given. In my assessment of the CELL experience, CELL recognises these issues and works to educate or, in many cases, re-educate all who care to hear the message that is spiritual sustainability.

The inspiration, knowledge and skills that Marlyn and I gained from that one seminar continues to this day to strengthen our attitudes and beliefs regarding Sustainable Agriculture. The learning we underwent has promoted and confirmed a personal change in our attitudes so that in our own small way we may be assisting in the reduction of environmental damage.

And it is our intent to ensure that our young son is also educated with the wisdom that we absorbed from the genuine people that make CELL. For it is the next generation and all that follow who will ultimately carry the gift of sustainability.

The CELL Staff, in particular Riza T. Gemanil and Benido A. Corotan, CELL Patron, Elin Mondejar, along with Fr Dom and Fr Frank not only became friends but co-conspirators in spreading the word on CELL and the spiritual steps that can be incorporated into Sustainable Agriculture. We regularly visited CELL over those three years when we were near neighbours, not only to remain abreast of progress and changes within CELL and the updated training but to purchase some of the organic vegetables produced there.

A thriving healthy garden is kept in trim by the skilled hands of Benni and assistants. The worm castings provided an incredible boost to our own vegetable garden. Many times on our visits we also had the privilege to interact with Elin who is not only the Patron of CELL but the owner of the rent-free land that is CELL. The continued support of Elin provides a very significant and critical part of the framework that enables the concept and the reality of CELL to survive.

CELL may appear as a small cog in the wheel of life, but let it be known that CELL punches well above its recognised weight. For CELL quietly, yet persistently, since 1999 has opened the minds of many to the options that are available for sustainable environmentally protective agriculture and in so doing has combined spirituality with agriculture. It is people like Fr Dom, Fr Frank, Elin, Riza and Benni, to name but a few of the tireless workers and supporters, who are opening the doors in the minds of humanity to the world that is Sustainable Agriculture.

And it is all done under a bamboo roof.

Paul Kaye and Marlyn now live in Queensland.  We thank them for this article on CELL.

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Read more from The Far East, September 2014