Chit Juan talks with Chef Jam Melchor about the vital role of the Slow Food Youth Network in preserving Filipino culinary heritage. Chef Jam shares how he started the network in the Philippines, his efforts to engage young people through partnerships with schools, and his participation in global food sustainability events. The conversation also explores the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement and its influence on national policies like Proclamation 469.

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Jam Melchor is the founder of the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement, a non-profit movement dedicated to the preservation of the Philippine culinary heritage and gastronomy. He also started the Slow Food Youth Network Philippines which is part of the global Slow Food International, an organization that promotes sustainable change in food system towards good, clean, and fair food.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• The origins of Slow Food Youth Network in the Philippines
• Collaborating with schools to boost youth involvement in slow food initiatives
• Chef Jam's global participation in food sustainability events
• An introduction to the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement and Chef Jam’s motivation behind it
• The role of the movement in the creation of Proclamation 469 - Filipino Food Month
• Chef Jam's efforts to reinforce Pampanga's status as the culinary capital of the Philippines

QUOTES:

• There are a lot of available roles whenever we conduct World Disco Soup Day, from the organizing committee to the implementing committee. There are so many roles that they can be a part of. - Chef Jam
• I saw your picture on the wall and I said, wow, among all these great chefs of the world, here you are a young Filipino chef and you're in the walls of the University of Gastronomic Sciences. - Chit Juan
• I'm doing a lot of local promotions more than the international, but if by chance, of course, I'm all out, but definitely kailangan mas malakas yung promotions within the country. - Chef Jam
• Whenever you come up or do something, make sure merong gravity at merong kang mai-impact. Whether it's a person or a group or a sector or just a brand guy, doesn't really matter. - Chef Jam
• There are mentors, but there are also good mentees. This is not to be like a mutual admiration society, but you know, Chef Jam, the reason why I want you to share these experiences is that it doesn't take “age”. It doesn't take masters in this and that, but it takes just that curiosity that I think you have, plus the love of country. - Chit Juan

LINKS:

• Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement
• Slow Food Youth Network Philippines
• Chef Jam on Instagram

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Chit Juan sits down with Dr. Jabez Flores to explore the transformative world of permaculture. Dr. Flores shares the story of what sparked his passion for permaculture and provides insights into its core principles, highlighting how it stands apart from natural, organic, and regenerative farming. The conversation also touches on his views on hydroponics, and how his expertise in mapping and drone operations supports his advocacy.

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Dr. Jabez Flores is an environmental scientist specializing in landscape ecology and agroecology. His interests lie in projects involving earth observation and drone mapping for scientific research in biodiversity, environment, agriculture, and climate change. He is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Philippines Open University.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Dr. Jabez’s journey into permaculture
• Understanding permaculture principles
• Promoting permaculture to the public
• Dr. Jabez’s take on hydroponics
• Comparing permaculture with natural, organic, and regenerative farming
• Using mapping and drones in permaculture advocacy
• Dr. Jabez's journey from coffee enthusiast to agricultural entrepreneur

QUOTES:

• Permaculture is founded on three ethics, so it's Care for the earth, care for people, and fair share. So, basically every detail of your design is anchored on those three ethics. - Dr. Flores
• The quality of the food that we're growing is a reflection of the environment that we are in. So, once we are able to make that clear connection between what we eat and our environment, it will make people care more. - Dr. Flores
• Patterns on the landscape reveal patterns of human behavior. - Dr. Flores
• I think it's a natural trajectory for scientists to eventually become entrepreneurs because we invent things, we develop things, then eventually turn it into a business. - Dr. Flores

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Check out Dr. Flores’ website to find all his social media and other links.
• Permaculture Research Philippines

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Chit Juan hosts an interesting conversation with Emil Climaco, who reveals his journey into the world of Stingless Beekeeping. Learn about the differences between Stingless Bees and European Bees, and discover the various types of bees found in the Philippines. Emil also discusses the valuable by-products of beekeeping beyond honey, offering tips and strategies for successful beekeeping. Explore the essential role of pollination in farming and get expert advice on how to select the best wild honey. Perfect for aspiring beekeepers and honey enthusiasts alike, this episode provides a deep dive into the world of bees and their vital contributions to agriculture.

GUEST BIO:

Emil Climaco is the proud owner of CHEFerd's farm, the first in the CALABARZON and the first in the Philippines to be a PGS organically certified stingless bee farm. CHEF stands for the four principles of Organic Agriculture (Care, Health, Ecology and Fairness). Emil focuses on organic soil amendments and bees and has been a beekeeper since 2016. He is currently the President of SIPAG Pagsanjan (Samahan ng Industriya ng Pag-gugulayan), Secretary of SIPAG Laguna, and also one of the Core members of SOIL (Samahan ng Organikong Idustriya ng Laguna).

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Emil Climaco’s journey into beekeeping
• Understanding Stingless Beekeeping
• Valuable by-products of beekeeping beyond honey
• Stingless Bees vs. European Bees: Key differences
• Bee species in the Philippines
• Successful beekeeping strategies
• Pollination’s role in farming
• Choosing the best wild honey

QUOTES:

• “The byproducts of these bees number one is honey pero sa totoo lang, ang economic value ng honey ay mababa lang sya. If you compare it to making value added products, for example, honey soap, then concoctions like propolis spray, propolis serum. So, there is honey, there is propolis, and there is pollen mainly dito sa stingless bees.” - Emil Climaco
• “Stingless Bee is very manageable siya and very minimal yung pag maintain.” - Emil Climaco
• “I encourage everyone to go into beekeeping kasi nagkakaroon ka ng advocacy na dapat mga kapit-bahay mo hindi mag-spray kasi ang survival ng bees mo ay dependent sa kapit-bahay.” - Emil Climaco
• “You have to be sustainable, both environmentally and economically. Environmentally, you have to care for our planet and also the people. And economically, of course, we need to earn from the things that we love to do for the environment.” - Emil Climaco

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Follow CHEFerd’s Farm on Facebook and Shopee.
• How to Test if Honey is Pure, Adulterated or Fake [video]

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Chit Juan chats with Dr. Kathleen Apilado about her advocacy for artisanal salts in the Philippines. Discover what inspired Dr. Apilado to champion local salt farmers and how she supports them through initiatives like salt mapping. Learn about her involvement with Slow Food Manila and the Slow Food Youth Network Philippines. Dr. Apilado also sheds light on the ASIN Law, its origins, and its impact on the industry. Finally, find out what you can do to help support local salt farmers and promote sustainable practices.

GUEST BIO:

Dr. Kathleen Apilado is the Dean of the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Jose Rizal University. She holds a degree of Doctor in Hospitality Management from the Philippine Women’s University & a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Perpetual Help Laguna, and Bachelor of Science in Hotel Restaurant Management at Lyceum of the Philippines University in Manila.

Dean Apilado is also recognized for her leadership skills and active collaboration with local government units and private sectors for cultural and tourism, and sustainable development goals initiatives, her passion for helping and preserving the culture of artisan sea-salt and helping the salt farmers has reached top international hotels and restaurants for support.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• What motivated Dr. Kathleen Apilado to champion artisanal salts in the Philippines.
• How Dr. Apilado assists local salt farmers through innovative practices and resources.
• What salt mapping is and its importance in the local salt industry.
• Dr. Apilado’s involvement with Slow Food Manila
• What the ASIN Law is
• How you can support local salt farmers

QUOTES:

• “I want this information to be disseminated to my kids. So when I was eating, I was wondering - my kids need to know what they are eating.” - Dr. Kathleen Apilado
• “It's good that we support local, but unfortunately for our artisanal salt farmers, the livelihood, the thing that they produce, it became illegal for them. So, their livelihood was cut. They're producing, yes. And then, the salt that they produce, it doesn't reach the market anymore.” - Dr. Kathleen Apilado
• “Having the ASIN law, it's good that we support local, but we need to focus also with our salt farmers. We need to save them.” - Dr. Kathleen Apilado
• “In the food industry, they say that you only need three things, salt, fat, and fire. And, that really makes the difference in having good tasting food.” - Chit Juan

RESOURCES:

• Dr. Apilado on Facebook and Instagram
• Dr. Apilado in Jose Rizal University
• Slow Food Manila on Facebook
• ASIN Law

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Chit Juan dives deeper into the challenges of making sustainable food choices and provides practical tips to overcome them, even if you don't cook. Learn the importance of planning your meals, from breakfast to dining out, and discover how to make mindful and sustainable eating decisions. Chit shares insights on selecting quality ingredients, navigating restaurant menus, and even choosing the right coffee.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Importance of planning meals
• Overcoming challenges in making sustainable food choices
• Tips for mindful eating if you don't cook
• Choosing healthier options when eating out

QUOTES:

• “They always say, you know, you eat breakfast like a king, you eat lunch like a prince, and you eat dinner like a pauper. It's something like that. Breakfast for me, you know, if there was an advocacy on making everyone eat breakfast, I'd be there because I think it's the most important meal of the day.” - Chit Juan
• “People often encounter these challenges because they reason out that they don't cook. But for me, not being able to cook is not a reason not to eat well.” - Chit Juan
• “If you're invited to a restaurant for a meeting, you can be nice and not be snobbish about it, but look at the better choices. So being good and green is also learning to adapt to situations or changing the situation in the future.” - Chit Juan
• “Anything we don't know about that we consume or imbibe could be the cause of a lot of discomfort. So, again, I don't want you to be a snob, but I want you to know to be mindful.” - Chit Juan

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Chit Juan discusses the importance of making sustainable and mindful choices in our daily lives, starting with our food. She emphasizes the significance of knowing where our food comes from and the benefits of buying local produce. Chit also urges everyone to be mindful of their food choices and to appreciate the journey of food from farm to table.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Benefits of making mindful choices in eating
• Challenges people face when making healthier food choices
• Good and green tips for mindful eating

QUOTES:

• "Part of being green is also reducing the movement of goods or logistics. So we spend less on transport and more on the food." - Chit Juan
• "It's very disheartening to know that some people actually are not aware that these local fruits are endangered because we don't see them anymore. You know, we always see imported fruits, but there is a lack of appreciation and education for local produce." - Chit Juan
• "You can also open your mind to understanding what is organic, what is hydroponic, and what is natural. Natural farming, organic. So people are overwhelmed sometimes with all this information, but actually if you sit down and think about it, our ancestors were actually doing organic ways." - Chit Juan

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In the debut episode of the Good and Green Podcast, host Chit Juan explores the essence of being "Good and Green." She shares the inspiration behind creating the show and offers a glimpse into what listeners can expect to learn in future episodes.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• Chit Juan's back story
• What being good and green means
• What inspired Chit Juan to create the Good and Green podcast
• What listeners can expect to learn from the Good and Green podcast

QUOTES:

• "Being good, like I said, is being practical, but leaving the world as a nicer place than when we found it. And green is really about doing practical things that will make the planet a nicer place to live in." - Chit Juan
• "Our goal is really just to get more people interested in how they can help save the planet. Like we said, carbon footprint, carbon sequestration, it doesn't mean that just because we're counting carbon, we're saving the world already." - Chit Juan

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• Subscribe to the Good and Green Podcast and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
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• Follow Chit Juan on Instagram.
• Follow Chit Juan on Facebook.
• Connect with Chit Juan on LinkedIn.
• Subscribe to EchoNews on LinkedIn.
• Visit EchoStore for eco-friendly and all-natural products.
• Got questions or feedback about the episode? Email us at goodandgreenpodcast@gmail.com.

Welcome to the Good and Green podcast!

The Good and Green Podcast, hosted by sustainability advocate Chit Juan, delves into the realms of food, lifestyle, and culture. The show aspires to encourage and empower the youth, entrepreneurs, and policy makers to live a more sustainable lifestyle by sharing practical and innovative ideas, eco-friendly solutions, and inspiring stories from changemakers driving positive change in the world.