Rice crisis and babymakers

Episode on April 8, 2008 Thursday late night after Saksi Grain of life Report by Maki Pulido The family of Tess lives in poverty. They survive just by eating rice. A meal for them normally comprises of salt or sugar sprinkled on rice. To them, to have fish on their plates is luxury. Tess’ husband is a farmer. With the present rice crisis, their primary food is threatened. The pitiful condition of farmers is said to be a reflection of the forgotten agriculture sector in the country, the reason behind the rice shortage problem. Much has been said about the issue including the government’s denial that there is an ongoing rice shortage. But the root cause of the problem has yet to be tackled thoroughly. This Tuesday, get to the bottom of the issue and find out why our nation is counting rice grains when it was once an exporter of rice. Babymakers Report by Jiggy Manicad Like any other city at night, the streets of Manila are filled with lights and music from many businesses. But in some areas, the colorful face of the city hides and sustains a different kind of industry. Some girls leave their baby dolls to care for real ones in their wombs as they are impregnated for a fee by foreigners wanting to have kids. Learn about the business of babymaking in the city.

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Butil ng buhay Ulat ni Maki Pulido Isang kahig, isang tuka ang buhay nina Aling Tess. Kadalasan, kanin ang kinakain nilang mag-anak, kuntento na sa asin o asukal na ibinubudbod. Magsasaka ang asawa ni Aling Tess. Pero nakalulungkot na sa napababalitang krisis sa bigas, maging ang kanin na kanilang pangunahing pagkain, may banta pang mawala. Ang masaklap na kalagayan ng mga magsasaka ay sumasalamin daw sa napabayaang sektor ng agrikultura sa bansa na siyang ugat ng sinasabing kakulangan ngayon sa bigas. Marami nang nasabi sa isyung ito kabilang na ang pagtanggi ng pamahalaang may rice shortage. Ngayong Martes, isa-isahin ang mga dahilan sa gitna ng sinasabing krisis sa bigas sa bansa. Palahian Ulat ni Jiggy Manicad Kakaibang sigla ang dala ng isang lugar sa Maynila paglubog ng araw. Ngunit sa likod ng naka-eenganyong kasiyahan, kakaibang uri ng industriya ang sinasabing dito’y nagaganap. Ilang kababaihan ang nasasabak sa gawaing kakaiba sa kanilang edad. Kapalit ng pera ay nagpapabuntis sila sa mga dayuhang nais magkaanak. Mala-industriya nang masasabi ang gawaing ito. Bukod sa mga nagnanais magkaanak, maraming iba pang taong sangkot sa kalakal na ito. Tunghayan ang negosyo ng palahian sa lungsod.