Accents
Pushing the frontiers of aquaculture
The frontiers of the unknown -- specifically in aquaculture -- got a push with the installation of the new SEAFDEC/AQD (Aquaculture Department) Chief, Dr. Joebert Toledo, July 7. The AQD main station in Tigbauan, Iloilo was in a holiday mood. Employees, old and new, guests from the industry, aquaculturists, fishers of all stripes, and government officials converged to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of an institution reputed to be the "Mecca of aquaculture." And rightly so.
Aquaculture entrepreneurs have sought and fruitfully applied SEAFDEC technologies that had been published in international scientific journals thus earning for the research institution a respected stature in the international scientific community. A quote from Dr. Toledo's anniversary address highlights how local recognition preceded AQD's reputation in foreign shores: "[S]ince 1987, over 100 of AQD's published papers have been recognized as best publications by DOST through the Elvira Tan Memorial Awards, by DA-BAR, [and] by the National Academy of Science and Technology..."
Memories rushed in to this retiree watching the flags of SEAFDEC member countries unfurl under a bright sun. Where before there were five when I started working at SEAFDEC, now eleven were fluttering, holding a promise of a better future for their people: Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Laos.
In the programme, four AQD Chiefs, predecessors of Dr. Toledo, came up nostalgic about their experiences. Dr. Roger Juliano remembered the budget problem that is even a more pressing problem the new Chief is facing now. He said he was impressed how "Everybody looks new and young." To Dr. Flor Lacanilao, "Money is not the cause of performance but performance anew can get money." He proved to be an activist for research, stressing that "There is no alternative to science and technology for development. Philippines without science cannot be saved." Dr. Fred Santiago, himself a seasoned researcher, recalled some brewing "colorful" problem among the staff -- as it was then during his term compared to the most serious recently. Dr. Tom Flores reminisced some party days, some good times when employees got more benefits, and seemed happy and contented. All those even as under their watch, they oversaw AQD pushing the frontiers of aquaculture -- putting up with, narrowing, confronting the challenges of the unknown.
After the turbulence in its management during the past two years, the research institution could not have chosen a most fitting 33rd anniversary theme: "SEAFDEC/AQD unites for a quest: responsible and sustainable aquaculture development" which the new AQD Chief very well expounded in his installation address. I say, Hail to the Chief! Dr. Toledo is indeed a pride of our town, Oton. Joebert (let me namedrop my town mate at this point) closed his speech enjoining everyone to cooperate: "My vision for a more transparent and direct involvement of AQD's highly capable technical staff in the concerns of the aquaculture industry will be a positive step to a better working relationship. Let us take away animosities, heal the wounds of divisions and instead focus our efforts as a team on the task to be done. In doing so, the achievement of food security and jobs in the countryside will be within reach."
Visiting AQD on its anniversary day was a happy reunion of sorts -- exchanging experiences accumulated in the intervening years, reminiscing, laughing with fellow retirees, the soon-to-retire, the resignees, the die-hard young and young once, and the back-again in a kind of Second Coming (!). I missed many--Drs. Reli Coloso, Arnil Emata, Weegee Garcia--among the best and brightest--certainly science's loss if they would choose to abandon research. I was in the heart of mainland America when placid AQD was rocked by complaints. The sparse e-mails I received from friends described the atmosphere to have become "very acrimonious" as never before.
The sea behind the sprawling SEAFDEC compound has stopped raging, to use a metaphor. As in the course of all human events, after conflicts have died down, personages from both opposing camps will have to ask themselves whether or not in the thick of the protest they had overstepped the margins of ordinary decent behavior.
(Comments to lagoc@hargray.com)