There is a sad reality that all of us must learn to accept: COVID 19 has paralyzed our economy and almost emptied our coffers to the point that between now and the next two years, we cannot and should not expect much from our government.

As a people, we have two options.

One is to feel sorry for ourselves, sulk in one corner and cower in fear.

The other is to muster courage, take calibrated risks and start rebuilding our economy from the ground up.

This is the time to bring back the "Bayanihan" spirit, that beautiful Filipino tradition of helping one another perform a task.

As a farm boy, I saw how farmers in my town would work as one team to plow a fellow farmer's fields together.

After that they moved to another area to plow and plant on an agreed schedule.

It's a tradition called "Tawili" and the only incentive for the farmers was a sumptuous lunch of "Lauya," a recipe made up of mongo, young jackfruit and meat.

Work was completed faster and it fostered very close relationships among the farmers.

In the face of this crisis, let us relive this beautiful tradition of helping one another.

Let us offer whatever little help we could to help those who produce food for this country.

Agriculture is our only hope of immediate economic recovery and I could only pray that our economic planners who pushed for importation will have realized this by now.

I have made my little contribution to this advocacy now by lending a small and old backhoe to a group of farmers in Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon so they could build access roads and water impounding.

I will ask my other friends to join me in this advocacy.

Those who have spare machinery and equipment like small bulldozers, bucket loader and graders could join us in this effort.

Hwag na muna tayo umasa sa gobyerno at hirap na sa pondo.

Tulong-tulong muna tayo at ipakita natin doon sa mga nagpabaya sa agrikultura na mali sila.

Sa panahon ng kagipitan, mga magsasaka pa rin ang ma-aasahan!