DR. EMIL: Undaunted by the challenges of promoting modern farming through PhilSCAT agro-machinery
“TIME IS GOLD” is perhaps, one of the most exploited sayings, but practicing it requires discipline and the will to live by a principle of simply being “on time”. But to the chief of the PhilSCAT Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization Division (AEMD) Dr Emmantrel V. Sicat, it’s a conviction that he strictly puts into practice.
I’m really time-conscious and I’m very strict in terms of outputs,” Dr. Sicat admits.
AEMD assistant division chief Engr. Nolasco Dalangin affirmed that Dr. Sicat is really a stringent boss in terms of submitting outputs on time. “He edits our reports very well and wants everything to be organized,” he said.
Surprisingly, Dr. Sicat is not just strict at work but also amazingly witty. He never runs out of jokes and is a consistent funny bone in crowds especially during gatherings and travels. His humor makes him one of the most-sought-after lecturers on farm mechanization during PhilSCAT field days. He is often described as an animated speaker because he would tell anecdotes during lectures and even acts them out. His style does well in encouraging participants to lend him their attention.
CHALLENGED BUT NOT SWAYED
In one of the field days for the demonstration of PhilSCAT agricultural machinery in Zambales, Dr. Sicat encountered a farmer who offensively asked about the quality of the China-made machines being demonstrated. Although the question had a malicious intent, Dr. Sicat nicely explained that not all China-made products are inferior in quality especially their farm machinery.
“While promoting our agricultural machines such as the mechanical transplanter and the combine harvester, we met inappropriately philosophical farmers who have negative attitude toward China-made products,” Dr. Sicat said, “What we do is explain to them that most of the farm machines used by farmers in China are also made there. Their hand tractor, which is the backbone of their agriculture, is, in fact, China-made.”
He even adds that before the PhilSCAT machines are demonstrated outside, they undergo performance evaluation based in the Philippine Agricultural Engineering Standards.
Although sometimes offended, Dr. Sicat remains unwavering to his commitment of doing his purpose in the field, sharing what he knows and not to spar scepticism by those who fall short of ‘believing. “The more people ask questions and the more I answer back, I feel happier.”
Being the chief of AEMD, Dr. Sicat already anticipated ahead the challenge of how to reach more farmers to become aware of the benefits of PhilSCAT agricultural machinery.
“I tell farmers that I am not speaking in front of them to sell a product. I tell them that we at PhilSCAT are just trying to give them more alternatives to make rice farming an easier source of livelihood. After giving them sufficient information on the benefits of farm mechanization, it’s already up to them whether they would like to adopt the technology or not,” Dr. Sicat said.
The picture is like this: labor in traditional practices vs. ease in mechanized farming. This is what Dr. Sicat would always make farmers visualize in their minds, and the rest is for them to decide whether they would choose an easier trade or not.
Dr. Sicat believes that with mechanization, although it will take time for adoption, life of farmers will be easier. “If you modernize farming, you do things more efficiently. Eventually, farmers become more productive. We just have to convince them that they really need these [farm machines].”
GREATEST FULFILLMENT
“My greatest fulfilment is raising my daughter,” Dr. Sicat said as he smiles and in his eyes, anyone could see a proud father.
His wife, Ma. Christina, who also finished agricultural engineering and has a Master’s degree in Management, also regards their only child, Christabelle Eunice, in the same way. Christabelle finished BS Accountancy in Central Luzon State University and now 23 years old and happily works at the Financial Accounting Services of the Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte., Ltd. in Makati City. She speaks of her father with so much love saying that Dr. Sicat is a very loving father, a good provider, and a prolific teacher.
Among his other fulfilments, Dr. Sicat finished his BS Agricultural Engineering degree also in CLSU in 1980 but passed first the licensure exam for agricultural engineers in November 1979.
His first job was as research assistant at the CLSU Research Office under Dr. Rodolfo Undan. After two months, he was pulled to the teaching pool as Instructor I at the College of Engineering. He then pursued his master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering as scholar under the CLSU-FORD Foundation in CLSU and Ateneo de Manila where he took up units in Social Development. He finished his master’s in 1990 and his doctorate in 1997.
Studying while working was a feat itself Dr. Sicat recalls, “It was hard but I am a kind of person who always prepares for things. I’m so thankful I was able to finish my studies.”
Being successful in his career as a university professor, holding other positions such as chief of the University Security Force and counterpart expert at PhilSCAT, you wouldn’t think that Dr. Sicat’s childhood dream wasn’t really to be an agricultural engineer but to be a soldier. Maybe that’s the reason why he has a military-like discipline for timeliness and order.
“It really makes me happy when things are orderly done. They say that the youth are idealistic; I say that I am no longer young but I am still idealistic,” says Dr. Sicat.
Although he never thought that his career would be inclined to teaching, he said, “I was later on thankful that I am because I was able to give without losing anything. I am also happy that I get to share the things I know to others. It’s like giving a drink to those who are thirsty of knowledge”.
To Engr. Kristal Mateo, Dr. Sicat’s former student and now staff of AEMD, says, “He is a prolific teacher. He explains lessons well and our classes with him are never boring. He has always a joke to break an otherwise mind-draining discussion of technical topics.”
UNFORGETTABLE
If there is one unforgettable experience Dr. Sicat ever had at PhilSCAT, it would be during PhilSCAT occasions such as anniversary and Christmas celebrations particularly during sports festivals. “I really enjoyed occasions when we are altogether, united as one big happy family,” Dr. Sicat said.
This is also what he will miss most about PhilSCAT and its staff. But he is certain that PhilSCAT needs a second phase of its Technical Cooperation Program because there is still a bulk of work that should be accomplished in the promotion of PhilSCAT machinery. He also said that it has not yet reached areas where mechanization should be started.
To the people whom he worked with and had known him better, if ever PhilSCAT TCP Phase II will not be realized, Dr. Sicat is surely one of the bosses not to be forgotten.
