By Eva C. Visperas 

 

LIFE goes on after retirement for Mr. Westly Rosario, media’s favorite for fishery topics whose knowledge and mind work like an encyclopedia.

He remains active, his experience still expanding, his knowledge generously shared to anyone willing to learn fishery.

Those in the media in Pangasinan who cover fishery industry know Sir Westly. Ang dami niyang alam and he makes fishery an interesting topic.

We had written many news stories about activities and projects of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan when he was its chief, that he had some enlarged, framed and displayed in his office. Andami niyan, mga 127 siguro pero pinili ko lang mga yan, he said.

These were testaments to his work.

I had written about fish ambulance, fish condo, fish cemetery, golden bangus, mosquito fish as defense against dengue, tilapia as romantic “Valentino” fish, gloria tilapia named after a former president, among many others.

Today, he put up a small fishery world, his version of urban aqua farming, in his yard. It even has a small store that that greets visitors, where there are some interesting examples available that could interest would-be agri-fishers.

I’ve been planning to visit him in his urban aqua farming but I never got around to do it, until colleague Yoly of PDI phoned me and asking if I’d like to join her for her interview with Sir West, while Typhoon Egay was preparing to dump heavy rains in Pangasinan and other Northern Luzon areas on Wednesday.

With dark clouds hovering us, off we went to his place. Yoly was ahead of me as she was already in downtown area when she phoned me while I was still in my hometown Binmaley.

Amidst intermittent heavy rains, we were welcomed by a wooden signpost: “Urban Aqua Farming. Tuloy Po Kayo.”

Sir West talked about his retirement project: an intensive culture of fish in canvass tank, azolla culture, bio fish fertilizer organic, plants of different kinds like pandan, guava, sweet potatoes, kangkong and kamias. And Wes Café, his favorite spot while drinking coffee (almost similar to a popular brand),

I saw familiar BFAR projects he introduced when he was still its center chief in Dagupan, too. There were the aquaponics and hydroponics and the fish condo.

He is also now into aquarium fish propagation, raising red tilapia, Pangasius, giant gourami.

“Why don’t you harvest them? They’re already big,” I said. But he jokingly replied, “Bakit, hina-harvest mo ba ang kaibigan mo?”.

There are also ducks, native chickens, baboy damo in his farm. Some of the greens he plants there are fed to these animals and to other fishes in his urban aqua farming so in a way.  He has a sustainable environment.

There are also some noteworthy quotes posted around, one of which reads: Practice rather than preach. Make your life an affirmation, defined by your ideas, not the negativity of others. Dare to do the level of your capability then go beyond to a higher level.” That was from Alexander Haig.

But what motivated him to go into this? Now retired from his long years in government service, Sir West (as we call him,) said: “For a senior citizen, ito na yung pinaka-relaxed. And shi-ne-share mo whatever experiences (you had). Yung mga dati kong tauhan, mga FB friends ko dumadalaw, humihingi ng advice.”

Oh well, Sir West is one who is only not generous with his knowledge, but he shares his idea of urban aqua farming, free of charge.

It is his way of giving back and to encourage young people to go into fishery.

His simple libangan (pastime) is a world of agri-aqua simple techniques anyone willing to learn can adopt. Such is his burning passion to do it. It is there in his heart.

Visit his place (free admission) in Barangay Tapuac, Dagupan and unlock Mr. Westly’s knowledge.

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