TOFARM captures lives of Farmers through Music

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After successfully putting the spotlight on the lives of the Filipino Farmers at the ToFarm Film Festival, Universal Harvester continues its advocacy of recognizing the inspirational stories of the agricultural sector with the first ToFarm Songwriting Competition.

“What started out as a program to give recognition to the hardworking farmers has now evolved to different layers that form our main advocacy for agriculture," says Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc.

“ToFarm was first crafted as a program to help award those in the agricultural sector whose hands and feet, hearts and minds have been dedicated to provide bountiful feast for the whole nation. But then we thought it would be more meaningful if the much needed call to recognition for this industry is extended to the public,” she adds. 

This is an opportunity that Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc. took advantage of as she continues her quest to creating awareness and recognition for her advocacy in the agricultural sector. To find a voice through song and to use music to gain recognition for our hardworking farmers and other workers in the similar sector this is the mission of the first TOFARM Songwriting Competition.

The TOFARM Film Festival last year where six stories highlighting the tribulations and triumphs of our farmers and similar workers in the sector were made, Universal Harvester Inc. now ventures into another medium to give more hype and meaning to their push for agricultural revolution.

“The TOFARM Film Festival, we harnessed the power of the cinematic arts to present the lives of our dear farmers and kababayans in the agricultural sector. Now, we are utilizing another field of art, which is music. Music is a universal language and we Pinoy are musical people. Filipinos are born with an innate talent in music. Our music are written from the heart in both lyrics and tune as we portray lives and everyday experiences through songs. Our songs contain and express our ambitions, dreams, emotions, frustrations, struggles and successes. With the musical compositions that we will harvest in the first TOFARM Songwriting Competition, we hope to discover musical wonders that would highlight the diligence, hard work, perseverance, resilience, tenacity and optimism of our farmers” - Dr. How explains in front of media at the launch event held at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel.

The opening of the Songwriting Festival was held last September 10, 2016 at the Mactan Function Room of the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. 

Heading the announcement during the launch are Dr. Milagros How, Executive Vice President of Universal Harvester lnc., Project Director Rommel Cunanan, with Luchie Roque, Trustee and former Program Director, National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Jed Balsamo, resident music director of Ballet Philippines, Olivier Ochanine, former music director and conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and members of media present during the launch.

Guided by its theme, “Planting the seeds of change,” the First TOFARM Songwriting Competition is open to all Filipino amateur and professional songwriters. 

Different song genres are encouraged and suggested, but not limited to:

• Folk/Acoustic
• Rock
• Jazz
• R&B
• Country
• Pop
• Inspirational
• Fusion

The following requirements must be submitted on or before NOVEMBER 18, 2016: 

• Duly accomplished Application Form
• Copy of a valid ID with specimen signature of the applicant (including co-applicants, if collaboration) indicated thereon
• Song Entry in mp3 format labelled with the title and the contestant’s name or pseudonym directly on the CD 
• Lyric sheet (in English/or in any Filipino language Pilipino line-by-line translation, if applicable) two (2) hard copies and one (1) copy in pdf file in the Song Entry CD

Criteria in choosing the song entries are quality of composition, lyrics and its originality.

Nine (9) Finalists will be chosen by the TOFARM Listening Committee. Results shall be announced on DECEMBER 5, 2016 through print media and website announcements. Each of the nine (9) finalists will receive a certificate and P40,000.

From the finalists, a grand prize winner, 1st runner up, second runner up and the People’s Choice will be chosen during a special live concert happening on February, 2017.

Aside from the trophies, the grand winner will receive P300,000 cash; the first runner up, P200,000 cash and the second runner up P100,000. The People’s Choice award will also receive P75,000.

Entries may be sent via courier or postal mail to: TOFARM SONGWRiTlNG COMPETiTiON, TOFARM Secretariat 10th Floor, Harvester Corporate Center, 158 P. Tuazon St. corner 7th Street, Cubao, 1109 Philippines or via email tofarmmusic@gmail.com

TOFARM 2013 launched and seeks more outstanding farmers to recognize nationwide

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The Search and Award for “The Outstanding Farmers of the Philippines” is a program of the Junior Chamber International Philippines (JCIP) and the Universal Harvester, Incorporated. JCI Philippines is the same highly respected organization that brought “The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM)” and “The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL).”

As its goal is  to foster steady increase of youth venturing in the agriculture sector, invigorating investment and scientific advancement to achieve sustainable food supply, TOFARM 2013  seeks more outstanding farmers to recognize nationwide.

The Philippine Jaycees (JCI Philippines) and Universal Harvester, Inc. (UHI) launched its second consecutive search for outstanding Filipino farmers today, March 14 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati in the prestigious recognition program for the most noteworthy achievers in various categories of the farming sector.

Revived last year to acknowledge the increasingly important role that the farming sector has played in boosting the economy and to inspire more young people to turn to agriculture as a livelihood, TOFARM 2013 wants to identify more unsung heroes in the fields, seas and urban areas from North Luzon to Southern Mindanao.

The nationwide awards program will cite best practices of public and private entities engaged in traditional or modern farming and includes fisherfolk, animal raisers, cooperatives, farm communities, organizations, scientists, the academe, LGUs and public employees, as well as business entities in rural and urban areas.

This year’s TOFARM has added a new category – the Woman Farmer – in the annual search. “This is to recognize the growing number of women who have carved names for themselves in various agricultural fronts and who have brought recognition to the country through their individual or collective endeavors,” said Rommel Cunanan, TOFARM Project Chairman.

Another important goal of the program is to foster the steady increase of youth venturing into the agriculture sector. “This is a really rewarding and lucrative field, and if our youth are really the hope of the fatherland as Dr. Jose Rizal said, they should go into farming to ensure the steady flow of generations who will ensure us of adequate and sustainable food supply,” Cunanan added. 

JCI has partnered with Universal Harvester long term to make sure that farmers continue to be motivated towards excellence and that they receive the recgnition that they deserve. “Universal Harvester through its Executive Vice President Milagros Ong How has been tireless in its efforts to support farmers and educate them on ways to have better yields and results. We are both concerned about the improvement of conditions for the farmer and better urban-rural relations through a keener understanding of agricultural concerns,” said Ryan C. Ravanzo, JCI President.

For her part, UHI’s Mrs. Milagros Ong How said “TOFARM 2012 only scratched the surface in identifying farmers with best practices and extraordinary achievements. In TOFARM 2013 we want to explore new territories and discover other achievers who have not yet been recognized for their contributions to our country. This year, we want to widen the search to include outstanding women farmers. This is probably why we are launching TOFARM 2013 on International Woman’s Month.”

A progressive Filipino company, UHI was established in 2003, is involved in the direct manufacturing, local distribution and exportation of a number of world-class quality fertilizers.

TOFARM will give out 12 awards this year, seven in the individual category and five in the group category. 

These are : Farmer, Fisherfolk, Livestock, Agri-Entrepreneur, Young Farmer, Agricultural Innovator, Urban/City Farmer and Woman Farmer in the individual category; and Agriculture Cooperative, Family Farmer, Local Government Unit, Agriculture Initiatives and People’s Choice in the group category.

The nomination period for Outstanding Farmer candidates begins in March and will end on September 2013. Validation and Judging of nominees will take place in, while the Awarding takes place in December.

Nominations may be submitted as hard copy or sent online to www.tofarm.org Nomination forms may be downloaded from the website.

Visit also their https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tofarm/398415996887341?fref=ts