“All rise!“As this phrase echoes through the four walls of the court, everyone is expected to stand up. Lawyers are trained in law school to stand up whenever the professor comes in. The act of standing up becomes automatic, a habit, even without anyone shouting: “All rise!”
Now, it’s “All Rice.” The headlines these past days have been all about rice. I know rice, and not simply because I don’t feel satisfied eating without rice, just like any Filipino. I also know that the Philippines was a major producer of rice, which is probably the reason why the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) — the world’s leading rice research and training center — is based in the Philippines. I understand global trade, but I don’t understand how massive importation of rice, while at the same time neglecting domestic rice production, could result in self-sufficiency. I know that there’s a present problem with rice production and supply, and some have gone to the extent of labeling it as a crisis. I fully understand that the Philippines has become one of the world’s top IMPORTERS of rice. I don’t know exactly what went wrong. Continue reading here.
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by Joselito Basilio
06 Apr 2008 at 13:02
Salt used to spark war in the ancient times. Now it’s rice. People might rise because of rice crisis we are facing.
By the way, your new theme is very good. I don’t remember where did I see those two hands. The two hands are legally relevant though; they are the implements of the crime of rape by sexual assault and acts of lasciviousness.
by batang buotan
07 Apr 2008 at 12:31
Another factor that we need to look into is the growing population. We can increase the yield per hectare of rice. We must also look into the growing population of rice-eaters.
by pcvf17
09 Apr 2008 at 16:54
I concur with the article. We just last week on our departure from Sydney to Manila last April 5, My spouse was asked by the custom officer in the airport, “What’s inside the BOX?…… Rice?”
I whole world is laughing at us Filipinos, and this is all because some of the Leaders of the this Land thought they have the divine right for corruption!
by kuma
16 May 2008 at 09:42
I’m not sure about the whole picture in the philippines. I only visited the country once and took a tour around the sugar cane growing industry there. I know rice and its rising price has caused riots and protests in philippines, so is everywhere else like haiti cameroon etc. we’re faced with increasing world population and increasing demand for food and more natural disasters that hamper food production. to topple that up we have biolfuels that take away food to be fed to people’s mouths.