Why rice awareness must be a year-round commitment

As National Rice Awareness Month (NRAM) draws to a close this November, the message it carries must not end with the turning of the calendar.

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For a nation where rice is more than a staple—where it is comfort food, cultural anchor, and the economic pulse of millions—awareness should not be seasonal. It must be a daily habit, a discipline, and, increasingly, a moral responsibility.

Rice has always been central to the Filipino identity. We measure hunger by the availability of rice, and we judge leadership by whether ordinary families can afford it. A good year for rice means fewer worries for the poorest households; a bad year—whether from typhoons, drought, or rising global prices—ripples painfully through the entire population. Thus, rice is not just food. It is also a yardstick of governance, social equity, and national resilience.