Miss Philippines Earth Joy Barcoma pushes for farmers’ dignity

January 14 ------ Reigning Miss Philippines Earth Joy Barcoma sheds her comical persona to speak up about farmers’ welfare, a plea that has earned the support of many netizens who voiced their agreement with the beauty queen’s position.

The sustainability consultant and event host shared a social media post from “The Breeder’s Eye” showing an aging farmer population, along with a call for a younger generation of farmers. “We must first dignify farming and not romanticize it as sacrifice alone, but recognize it as skilled, essential, and nation-building work,” Barcoma wrote in her caption on a post she made on Tuesday morning, Jan. 13.

Tapping her more serious persona, something that has already been on full display on many occasions in the past, the beauty queen raised several concerns that have been burdening the farming and agricultural sectors in the country. “If we want young people to choose farming, then it should be a livable profession, one that offers fair income, security, access to land, technology, education, and dignity. Because feeding the nation should never mean living in poverty,” Barcoma said.

Known for her hilarious social media posts and witty clapbacks online, the beauty queen affectionately called “Jusa” has also been using her voice to speak about various problems hounding the country, such as corruption in government. And while some pageant fans condemned her decision to be vocal about social injustice, Barcoma enjoyed the support of many others who encouraged her to continue her fight.

On a comment to her recent post that touched on farmers’ access to land and education, she replied, “We have to aim more than that, po. Farmers should also be able to till their OWN land while getting support from the government. Better farm to market roads, no middlemen, up-to-date farming technologies.” She also agreed with another comment and said, “we should aim for a future where being a farmer is also something that children aspire to be, kahilera ng mga doktor, teacher, lawyer at iba pang propesyon.”

Source: inquirer.net