Samu't Sari: Conversations With Mimi

Do you believe in the saying "rice is life"? Rice is important to many people's diet. In fact in the Philippines, there is an organisation called International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) solely dedicated to improving rice for human consumption. Our guest, Ms Aileen Garcia is a Development Communication (DEVCOM) Practitioner who is the manager and project coordinator of the ""Healthier Rice" and "Golden Rice" stakeholder advocacy project, helping to get multi-sector support for this new, enhanced and nutrient-filled variety of rice. I chatted with Ayie to understand her role in the process and what "healthier" rice means for us.

A former teacher and pre-school director in the Philippines now managing 3 educational centres here in Australia -- what a big leap! It all stems from his passion for learning, teaching and educational leadership. Get to know Dr Lemuel Toledano, his journey into the educational sector in Australia and his philosophy in education and educational leadership and management. Great sharing for those who also want to pursue a career here in the same pathway has Lemuel did.

What a delight to have met albeit virtually "Kapinoy" Arlan Fajardo, currently anchor and host of the radio show/online-show "Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo (PAPT)" here in Melbourne Australia. The show is co-hosted by Mr Walter Villagonzalo (whom we have invited in a previous episode).

So simple and humble, this radio host is a veteran broadcaster in the Philippines, but when he moved to Australia, he spread his wings not only to go back to broadcasting as his passion, he is also a devoted Couples For Christ (CFC) member, founder of Rizal Day of Victoria, and has won awards for his community service on top of doing his day job!

In this episode, Ka Arlan talks about why he loves "giving", and serving in various contexts, and how the radio show helps Filipinos as well.

What a joy to have interviewed Mr Jose San Juan, one of the Founders of MAYANI -- an organisation that links farmers to their customers through their online platform (https://mayani.ph/pages/about-us). It is a more modern take to e-commerce focusing on moving farmer's products such as vegetables to reach its target market -- something that over some time now has been one of the difficulties faced by farmers, how to ensure that they can sell their produce at a fair price to a market that is hungry to buy what they have to offer.

Here comes Mayani, with a vision that started for a small group of farmers in Western Batangas, now being able to provide B2B agri-product solutions to multinationals, and still growing!

Find out what they do and how they help farmers, giving us hope that there is still a lot going for Philippine agriculture. And obviously if you want to become a part of this e-commerce concept, get in touch with the team from Mayani or email [email protected]

n this episode, Mimi interviewed Ms Shirley Custodio Gesalta, a chemical engineer based in Melbourne, Australia, who shares her journey in the engineering field from the Philippines and how she landed a very good role in Australia. She also shares her personal plans and goals and why this made her enter an online business that she believes will "retire" her and her husband sooner so that they can enjoy most of their life and to achieve financial freedom.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And because we would like to help out in spreading awareness around this matter, Mimi invited Carol Dado Nieto (first interviewed for her story about working in a male-dominated field of architecture in Season 1).

Check out Carol's story of determination and faith. This episode is relevant to every family member, whether you are the woman, or you have a mother, sister, aunt, cousin and a friend who is unsure of getting tested, or still unsure about what they feel within their bodies. Take this opportunity to share the video to all the people that you love. We need to be empowered with information, and through this story, may we be able to help you out.

Ghandi Toledo is an IT Professional for the past 30 years. He attended various computer trainings in Hongkong, Beijing, Washington DC, Manchester UK, Shenzen China, and in Nagano Japan. He is working in an export/manufacturing company in Lipa City, Batangas. Ghandi and his wife Jen are active members of their parish and volunteers to conduct Pre-cana seminar for couples before their marriage in their parish church.

In this episode, Ghandi shares his specific strategy to implement a plan leading to his goal of gaining financial freedom. He is an advocate of financial literacy and he follows his strategy so that he minimizes debts and come up with a savings plan.

Get to know how Ghandi does this.

This is one episode that will tug at your heart strings. Sean Luke Dado, a business man and coffee grower in Benguet, also a dad, grandad and husband to Hazel, lost the love of his life in 2020 due to COVID-19. His COVID-19 story is one of the early cases of COVID-19 that affected the majority of his family members. Their experience went viral last year, having been broadcasted both on TV, radio, and via social media in the Philippines, and even had international exposure as his story caught on. Hazel, Sean's loving wife's story had touched a lot of lives, and Sean became an advocate for sharing his lived experience, hoping to educate the public about COVID, and how important it is to look after family and loved ones since then.

A year on, I had the very precious privilege of catching up with Sean, to get to know how he is coping currently and what he is busy with after such a life-changing event brought about by COVID-19.. Join me in this episode of love and life, and to hear it from the man himself, to share his COVID -19 true story.

Have you ever met a microbiologist? Do you even know what a microbiologist is? A microbiologist is a scientist who studies how very small organisms create such big impact on the world. And boy what a privilege to interview Dr Lhen Parungao Balolong. She is currently a Professor of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology at the Department of Biology

and a University Scientist serving as the Associate Dean for Research and Public Service of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila.

In this episode we talked about how science and microbiology is field open to all, and no longer a male-dominated profession. We also talked about the practical aspects of her research, in particular how they help advocate for disease prevention and environmental monitoring, such as for HIV and even COVID!

Listen to this interview as we try to dissect Lhen's world,, and break it down for you to make it simple and for you to appreciate the importance of microbiology in our every day life....

Kitty is a passionate health care worker, who is also passionate about her advocacy of better health and living through essential oils. She is always looking for ways to help others. She believes in the saying that "be the change that you want to see in the world."

Please tune in to Kitty's very inspiring story about how she helps others through her profession and through her essential oils expertise.