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Lancheros donate vegetables to man’amko
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Posted on May 22 2006
Farmers in the CNMI played Santa early with a donation of some $400 worth of vegetables to the man’amko yesterday morning at the Aging Center in Garapan.
The donation, attended by scores of man’amko and farmers represented by NMC CREES agricultural consultant Sid Cabrera, agriculturist Ben Borja, and Division of Agriculture director Donald Flores, was particularly apt, with May being Mes Lancheros (Farmers’ Month) and Mes Man’amko (Older Americans Month),
Freshly picked tomatoes and winged beans jostled for space with succulent-looking snake gourds, string beans, bitter melon, okra, and eggplants, all threatening to spill onto the floor of the Aging Center with their ripe, juicy goodness.
Speaking on behalf of the man’amko, Jess Pangelinan extended the CNMI elderly’s thanks to the farmers, saying, “The lancheros have always been good to us.”
Office on Aging director Howard Macaranas also praised the lancheros and disclosed plans of the office to buy more produce from local farmers.
Walter Manglona, programs coordinator, said some of vegetables would be set aside for this Thursday’s picnic by the man’amko to Mañagaha Island, while the rest would be distributed to the man’amko to take home.
Agriculturist Borja assured that the vegetables are safe for consumption as they have all been properly washed to remove any residue of pesticides.
NMC-CREES’ Cabrera said this is the fourth year running that the lancheros have been donating vegetables to the man’amko and they plan to continue this tradition in years to come.
