Rice Paddy Art News

Rice paddy art honors Batac hero
Bringing the valiance and vigor of the Ilokano amid the pandemic, the Mariano Marcos State
University (MMSU) features General Artemio Ricarte in its fifth rice paddy art being established
today, August 18.
In collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute – Batac Station, University officials,
faculty, students and Ronald M. Rigonan, curator for the Ricarte National Shrine joins the ceremonial
transplanting in the demonstration farm located southeast of the University Twin Gate overlooking
the Ferdinand Edralin Marcos (FEM) Hall.
“This year’s rice paddy art resembles our resilience and resolve as we brace this pandemic”, MMSU
President Shirley C. Agrupis, said. General Ricarte was chosen as the fifth feature of the paddy
canvass to highlight heroes from the province, with Batac being the home of great leaders.
Graced with his presence the Former MMSU President and current senior technical adviser of the
Department of Agriculture Dr. Santiago R. Obien, graced the event with an inspiring message.
‘We demonstrate again the value of rice by having this art and we relate this to the nationalism of
Ricarte, rice should be part of our nationalistic attitude because we cannot allow other people to
produce our staple food’. As he persuaded the crowd that rice is an existential item and a moral one
that the Filipino’s should be aware of.
Chief Science Research Specialist and R&D coordinator of Philrice Mary Ann Baradi represented the
Philrice by saying a few words “It is just one of the collaborative projects of the Mariano Marcos
State University and PhilRice. This project aims not only to showcase rice science and technologies
that can increase rice productivity but also to encourage our students to take agriculture”
“Out of 8th branch stations of PhilRice only PhilRice -Batac and MMUU is doing this Paddy Art
planting aside from the PhilRice Central Experimental Station.”
“This year’s paddy art raises not only our appreciation to innovation in the agriculture sector, but
also raises our awareness to our history, our roots, and our culture”, Extension Director, Dr. Marilou
P. Lucas, added.
General Artemio Ricarte is a Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-
American War who is renowned for his strong will for refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the
American government. He is regarded as the Father of the Philippine Army and the first Chief of Staff
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He is also a teacher, holding a Bachelor of Arts from Colegio
de San Juan de Letran and a teacher’s certificate for primary instruction and he served as principal of
the San Francisco de Malabon Primary School in Cavite. He is also a soldier, having served as
Brigadier-General of the Magdiwang Faction and the chosen Captain-General by the Tejeros
Convention under Emilio Aguinaldo as president.
MMSU-PhilRice’s Paddy Art started in 2018 as a showcase of agricultural breakthroughs and

innovations, encourage youth to take up Agriculture and allied courses, and bolster agri-tourism in
the province. In 2018, the paddy art featured Ferdinand E. Marcos, former President of the Republic
of the Philippines, and the founder of both MMSU and PhilRice; former First Lady and second district
Congresswoman Imelda R. Marcos in 2019; Dr. Santiago Obien, the first Executive Director of the
Philippine Rice Research Institute and former President of MMSU, in 2020; and Don Mariano
Marcos, FEM’s father, in 2021.
IR 1552, a purple variety, will be used as the ‘paint’ in rice field as the ‘canvass’. PSB Rc 82 and NSIC
Rc 222, both high yielding and highly preferred inbred varieties will be used as green variety. Experts
from PhilRice processed the image using the 3D anamorphosis technique to allow the image to be
seen at a certain angle.
For five years now, the public anticipates the Technology Viewing of the paddy art a month after its
establishment and during the Farmers Field Day nearing the harvest season as a showcase of the
improved agricultural production practices of the University.
This year, more and more members of the community are envisioned to visit the agri-tourism area
with the resumption of classes this coming August 22, 2022 for the new academic year.

Rice Paddy Art News

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Rice paddy art honors Batac hero

MMSU-PhilRice’s Paddy Art started in 2018 as a showcase of agricultural breakthroughs and

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