Elementary School, in Brgy. Bazal, Maria Aurora, Aurora. The program began with an invocation and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem, participated in by the teachers, parents, and pupils in Grades 4-6.

Ms. Geraldine Panlilio, Officer-In-Charge of Felipe R. Valdez Elementary School, delivered the opening and welcome remarks. In her message, she extended her gratitude to the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) – School of Agricultural Sciences for conducting the training. In her remarks, she emphasized the role of organic inputs in improving soil fertility and supporting environmental sustainability through organic waste recycling, and how it will help them improve their school garden.

Following this, Ms. Chenie Mae T. Bibon, Extension Coordinator of the School of Agricultural Sciences, delivered her message. She encouraged participants to actively engage in the activity, highlighting that organic inputs are essential for improving soil structure, boosting nutrient retention, and serving as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers. She further emphasized that they represent an effective and practical approach to managing household and school waste, contributing significantly to a greener environment. She concluded by noting the convenience of the process, reminding participants that the necessary materials are often readily available, just “around the corner.”

The technical session was facilitated by Ms. Roselyn C. Salenga, ASCOT-Bazal Instructor, who served as the Resource Speaker. The participants of the training were Grade 4, Grade 5, and Grade 6 pupils, together with their teachers and parents. Ms. Salenga discussed the topic of Organic Inputs (Organikong Input), which are natural, plant, animal, or soil-derived materials crucial for successful organic gardening. The core principle of this method is to “fertilize the soil, not the plant” (Patabain ang lupa hindi ang halaman). The key goal of using organic inputs is threefold: to provide nutrition to the plants, improve soil quality (as seen with Vermicast and Compost), and offer natural pest control (such as with Oriental Herbal Nutrient or OHN). The advantages highlighted include being safe for health and the environment, offering low cost, and utilizing readily available materials. The specific organic inputs detailed during the session included: Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), which promotes faster growth, earlier harvest, enriches soil, and strengthens plant resistance; Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), which enlarges and sweetens fruits, and promotes flowering; Fermented Fish Amino Acid (FAA), which acts as a complete fertilizer, contains root hormone, intensifies green color, and speeds up compost decomposition; Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO), which are beneficial microbes for plants and odor control in livestock areas; and Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN), which primarily functions as a pesticide and enhances plant growth.

She then discussed the specific materials required and the detailed procedures for handling the organic inputs. This was immediately followed by a productive hands-on demonstration in which pupils, parents, and teachers actively participated. The collaborative effort was highly successful, enabling the participants to produce samples of Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ), and Oriental Herbal Nutrients (OHN) using the materials they brought.

The activity concluded with expressions of appreciation from the teachers and parents for the valuable knowledge shared by ASCOT through the School of Agricultural Sciences. A photo documentation session followed to commemorate the successful conduct of the training. The program officially ended at 05:00 pm.