(Words and Photos by Radel Llagas)

Regional Gawad Saka (RGS) Technical Committee Chairperson for Outstanding Corn Farmer Avelita M. Rosales together with her Vice Chairperson Rolando P. Quasay and committee member Eleonor de Jesus went to Tiaong, Quezon and Calamba, Laguna on May 15, 2018 to meet with the nominees of the respective provinces for Outstanding Corn Farmer Category for the Regional Gawad Saka Search 2017-2018.

The said committee interviewed corn farmers Adelino D. Ojos (Tiaong, Quezon) and Cenon L. Javier (Calamba, Laguna) to assess not only the veracity of information indicated in their respective scrapbooks but also to know their stories, demeanor, and passion for agriculture.

According to Committee Chairperson Rosales, all nominees are of equal footing before them (the Committee) and they will make sure that all nominees from the provinces are visited to conduct the validation face to face.

Nominees from Teresa, Rizal, Pablito G. Bautista, and Sto. Tomas, Batangas, Potenciano A. Rivera, are set to be visited on May 16, 2018 and May 17, 2018, respectively.

Rosales said that the committee will finish field and table validation until May 18, 2018.