Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

High Class Milkfish

Some fish consumers have asked me to share with them my idea how to choose a good quality bangus (milkfish) available in the market. I generously gave them the limited information I have on milkfish.

To my readers who may have the same question, I like to give you a few tips in selecting milkfish (bangus) for your dining table.

First, smell the fish. Open its snout. When it has objectionable smell, the fish is not fasted and therefore the intestine is filled with feed which reduces its quality. Do you like to eat malodorous food?

This kind of fish may have been raised in landlocked fish farm like in the lakes. Milkfish requires rigid water management, but it is not possible to institute water management in the lake because it has neither entrance for clean water nor exit for polluted water. Only rain water drops on the lake and water decreases by evaporation and percolation only.

Since natural feed like plankton cannot be produced in the lake, the fishpen operator feeds the fish with manufactured feed. Fish grown on this manner is saturated with antibiotics and other chemicals. To grow natural fish feed, the water depth must allow sunlight to penetrate in the water.

Second, in case the fish is raised in the fishpond, just see the gills. When the gills are filled up with mud, the fish was harvested by total draining of the fishpond. The milkfish dies in the mud.

Third, examine the body of the milkfish. When 1/3 or more of the scales of the fish are removed, there was fish struggle which adversely affects its taste. This kind of fish maybe a stolen fish.

Finally, it maybe best to examine the intestine of the milkfish. When the intestine is empty of feed and clean, this indicates proper method of harvesting using the catching pond and allowing the fish to die in ice water. This will make the fish vomit its blood. Hence, freshness of fish is extended.

BLACK OUT

In behalf of the Fernandez – Villorente family, I apologize for the absence of light during the celebration of the "First Year Journey To Heaven" of their beloved Dr. Florencia F. Villorente on Saturday afternoon, October 15 in Badio, Numancia, Aklan.
It was about 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon while Rev. Father Josue Escalona was celebrating the Holy Mass in the Badio Chapel when light went black. When the Holy Mass ended, it was still black out. The dinner party continued in the Villorente residence in Badio. It was a candle light party.

But "though we walked in the valley of darkness, we feared no evil for God was with us".

To our guests, we sincerely beg for your forgiveness for the inconvenience experienced. It was our fault, we did not realize our electricity supplier in Aklan is not reliable.

Next time, if ever there is gathering at home, I must have a back up lighting equipment like electric generator, flashlights and gas lamps. In case electricity supplier fails, that often happens, there is alternative source of light.

To those who attended the affair, please accept our sincere "Thank You".

WHO TELLS TRUTH

In the Aklan Provincial Capitol, there is now a big problem regarding the officials and employees relative to the defaulted loan repayments to the LBP. Listening to the exchanges of words during the 35th SP regular session between the Provincial Accountant and the Provincial Treasurer, I believe someone is telling lies. /MP