From Mustard Greens to a Movement: How a Baguio Farm School Won Asia’s “Healthiest School” Title and Became a Beacon for Food Security

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

BAGUIO CITY — In the crisp mountain air of Happy Hollow, a quiet revolution is taking root — one that blends the wisdom of the soil with the promise of a healthier tomorrow.

Happy Hollow National High School (NHS) has just been crowned Asia’s “Healthiest School” in the 2025 AIA Outstanding Healthy Eating Awards, edging out 15 other contenders from powerhouse countries like Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam. The school’s triumph is more than just a trophy and a US$15,000 (₱840,000) prize — it is living proof that when a community nurtures its young through agriculture, health, and shared responsibility, the harvest is nothing short of transformational.

And at the heart of this victory is Project O.R.G.A.N.I.C. — “Offering Resources of Growing Agri-product and Nutrition in Community” — an ambitious program that has turned classrooms into gardens, and students into stewards of sustainability.

Seeds of Change in the Highlands

Recognized in 2024 as an official farm school by the Department of Education (DepEd), Happy Hollow NHS has embraced organic agriculture not as an extracurricular hobby, but as a lifeline for food security. Here, lessons aren’t confined to textbooks; they’re dug, planted, watered, and harvested.

Under the guidance of Teacher Aries Busacay, 168 Grade 12 students in the Organic Agriculture Production (OAP) track have learned to grow mustard greens (mustasa) using organic methods and even recycled materials — a resourcefulness that turns waste into nourishment.

“This is about teaching students how to live happier and healthier,” Busacay says, looking over neat rows of leafy greens that will soon find their way into local kitchens.

But these students aren’t just farmers-in-training. They’re mentors. Older batches teach younger ones, ensuring that knowledge, like seeds, is passed on. Parents, barangay officials, and nutritionists all play a role — from backyard gardening to feeding programs, from planting workshops to nutrition seminars.

The cycle is complete: the school grows the food, the community consumes it, and the students gain the skills — and TESDA NC II certification — to carry these lessons into their futures.

A Blueprint for President Marcos’ Food Security Vision

For Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Happy Hollow’s achievement is not an isolated triumph, but a model to be replicated nationwide.

“Patunay itong Project O.R.G.A.N.I.C. na kapag nagtulungan ang paaralan, magulang, at komunidad, kayang buhayin ang tradisyon ng agrikultura at sabay nating mapaunlad ang kalusugan at kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,” Angara said. “Inspirasyon ito sa ating layunin na gawing katuwang ang mga paaralan sa pagpapatupad ng food security agenda ni Pangulong Marcos.”

The data is already speaking: BMI records show reduced malnutrition rates among students. Engagement in school activities has soared. Practical skills are being forged alongside a culture of sustainability.

The Legacy of Farm Schools

The farm school model isn’t new. It is rooted in the vision of the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara, who championed Republic Act No. 10618, the Rural Farm Schools Act, to merge agricultural training with secondary education.

Today, under Sec. Angara’s leadership, there are 156 farm schools across eight regions in the Philippines, providing technical skills, entrepreneurial training, and an appreciation for the land.

“Sa mga farm school, bukod sa pagtatanim, hinuhubog natin ang bagong henerasyon ng mga lider sa agrikultura at negosyo,” Angara said. “Kapag marunong ang kabataan sa produksyon ng pagkain, teknolohiya, at pangangalakal, mas maganda ang kinabukasan ng ating mga komunidad at mas tiyak ang seguridad sa pagkain ng bansa.”

A Lesson for Asia

The AIA award is given to schools that redefine what it means to promote health, active living, and environmental responsibility. Happy Hollow NHS did not just win by growing vegetables — it won by growing a movement.

It’s a movement where young Filipinos see farming not as a relic of the past, but as a vital skill for the future. Where schools are more than places of learning — they are seedbeds for resilience, innovation, and community pride.

From a patch of mustasa in Baguio’s highlands, Happy Hollow NHS has cultivated something far greater than crops. It has cultivated hope — the kind that spreads, takes root, and one day, might just feed an entire nation.

UP MSI to Establish PH's First Coral Cryobank Facility for Coral Restoration

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Coral reefs, often called the "rainforests of the sea," are vital ecosystems facing unprecedented threats from climate change and human activities. The Philippines, a country at the heart of marine biodiversity, is now home to a new, dramatic effort to save its coral reefs from the brink. The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) is establishing the nation's very first coral larvae cryobank facility, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at boosting coral restoration.

This project is not a solitary effort but part of a larger regional collaboration. Dubbed "Coral Conservation Capacity Development in the Coral Triangle: A Cryorepository Network for Coral Larvae," this initiative unites research institutions from the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Together, they are creating the first-ever network of coral larval cryobanks in the Coral Triangle, a region renowned for its rich marine life.

At the heart of the Philippine team is Dr. Maria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez, the lead researcher from the Interactions of Marine Bionts and Benthic Ecosystems Laboratory (IMBIBE). Dr. Baria-Rodriguez emphasizes the long-term vision of this endeavor: "It's not just about preserving corals today, it's about building a foundation for future research and reef restoration that can benefit generations to come". Her laboratory's mission is to strengthen the country's ability to protect its coral biodiversity.

The project's initial focus is on pocilloporid corals, which are known for their fast growth and quick reproductive cycles. These "weedy species" are often the first to recolonize damaged reefs, making them crucial for accelerating reef recovery. However, their sensitivity to climate stress, such as coral bleaching, threatens their long-term survival.

The cryopreservation process involves collecting larvae from hatchery-monitored pocilloporid colonies and storing them in liquid nitrogen for future use in restoration efforts. To prepare for this monumental task, a capacity-building training session on cryopreservation techniques like vitrification and cryobanking was held in December 2024 at the UP MSI Bolinao Marine Laboratory. The training, led by Dr. Chiahsin Lin from Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University and the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium (NMMBA), equipped the IMBIBE lab's research assistants with essential skills. A follow-up training was conducted in February 2025 at the NMMBA to further enhance technical skills and regional cooperation.

One of the research assistants, Ryan Carl De Juan, has already achieved a significant milestone, successfully cryopreserving early-stage coral larvae during initial trials. The team is now working to increase the number of cryopreserved larvae from various target coral species. The ultimate goal is for the IMBIBE laboratory to establish the first coral larval cryobank at the Bolinao Marine Laboratory, led by Dr. Baria-Rodriguez.

This project extends beyond pocilloporid corals. The team plans to adapt cryopreservation protocols for other coral species and develop advanced tools, including a fourth-generation laser-assisted warming device and cryojig system. This ambitious undertaking is a race against time, a desperate bid to preserve the genetic heritage of the Philippines' coral reefs before it's too late. The establishment of this cryobank is not just a scientific achievement; it is a beacon of hope for the future of the oceans, a tangible step toward ensuring that these vital ecosystems can be restored for generations to come.

Plastics Treaty Negotiations at a Crossroads: The Fight to Put Human Health First

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Geneva, Switzerland – In the glass-walled conference halls of the United Nations complex, the future of our planet—and our bodies—is being debated sentence by sentence. The Plastics Treaty negotiations, scheduled to conclude this Thursday, August 14, have reached a pivotal moment. While more than 80 countries have thrown their weight behind a groundbreaking proposal to protect human health from the toxic chemicals embedded in plastics, a small but powerful bloc of oil-producing nations is using procedural maneuvers to slow progress to a crawl.

The stakes could not be higher. Plastic production is projected to triple in the coming decades. Without bold, binding measures, the invisible chemical threats leaching from plastics will continue infiltrating our water, food, air, and even our bloodstreams.

A Proposal with Teeth—And Global Backing

The proposal—championed by Switzerland and Mexico—calls for nothing less than global controls on hazardous plastic chemicals. It envisions a dedicated article in the treaty (Article 3) that would:

Establish a list of “chemicals of concern” in plastics, updated as science evolves;

Ensure transparency and traceability, so manufacturers and consumers know exactly what toxic substances lurk in plastic products;

Create legally binding global obligations, ensuring that commitments aren’t just promises but enforceable requirements.

This approach mirrors the successful models of the Stockholm Convention and Basel Convention, which have proven that international cooperation can indeed tackle dangerous chemicals.

For the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), which has been a constant presence in the negotiations, this proposal is a lifeline—not just for ecosystems, but for human health. Yet, they stress it must go further, regulating plastics throughout their entire life cycle, not just in the final products.

Obstruction in the Halls of Power

While most nations agree that protecting human health is non-negotiable, a handful of oil-producing countries see the treaty as a threat to their petrochemical-driven economies. Using the consensus rule as a weapon, they have stalled discussions, forcing delays that could water down or derail ambitious measures.

IPEN has called for procedural reforms—already used in other global environmental agreements—that would allow voting when consensus proves impossible. Without these changes, a minority can continue to block the will of the majority.

Voices Left Outside

Equally troubling is the exclusion of vital perspectives. Scientists, Indigenous Peoples, labor advocates, and community leaders—many from regions already suffering the worst impacts of plastic pollution—have been denied meaningful participation due to closed-door sessions and inadequate facilities.

Pamela Miller, IPEN Co-chair and Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, is unequivocal:

“The Treaty deliberations must be open and accessible to include these voices who know first-hand how toxic plastics can affect human health and the right to a healthy environment we all deserve. We stand committed to hold negotiators accountable for a Plastics Treaty that achieves the health protections we all need and deserve.”

The Mandate Is Clear

As negotiations enter their final days, IPEN’s message to delegates is sharp and urgent: Remember the mandate—to end plastic pollution and protect human health and the environment throughout the full life cycle of plastics.

Yuyun Ismawati, IPEN Co-chair and Co-founder of Nexus3 Foundation in Indonesia, warned that without decisive action, the crisis will only deepen:

“As plastic production is forecast to triple in the coming decades, the only way to meet this goal is through limiting plastic production and controlling toxic plastic chemicals. A meaningful Plastic Treaty is urgently needed to resolve the plastics crisis.”

The World Watches

The coming days will decide whether this treaty becomes a historic turning point—or a missed opportunity. Will the health of billions outweigh the interests of a few? Will transparency and accountability prevail over secrecy and obstruction?

If negotiators rise to the challenge, the Plastics Treaty could become one of the most significant public health and environmental victories of our generation. If they fail, the cost will be measured not just in polluted rivers and dying wildlife, but in the silent, accumulating poisons inside every human body.

The clock is ticking in Geneva.