MANILA, Philippines ? Natural, sustainable, earth-friendly. That?s essentially what organic products are, not only in substance but in the production process. As such, they become safer and healthier.

The market for organic products, both locally and abroad, has grown rapidly over the past few years. The burgeoning awareness on the need to preserve the environment and the ecological balance and the pursuit of healthier lifestyles through natural food have encouraged the development and production of organic products in the country.

Notes Paciano Reyes, president of Better Country Community Corporation?s (B3C), which grows and markets unpolished rice varieties: "The idea is to produce crops using processes that promote sustainability?by building the soil structure and maintaining a balanced nutrient-rich environment in which plants, animals, and microorganisms can grow together harmoniously.?

Similar "earth-friendly" products are what Ana Kamila Gutierrez-Niguidula wanted to offer when she opened in 2001 Bodyfood, an Antipolo-based all-natural skincare company.

A BS Biology graduate of UP Manila, Niguidula was sidetracked from a medical course to the production of organic bath and body products.

When organic chemist Dr. Mike Turvill, a British national, and his Filipina wife Catherine Brillantes-Turvill opened Nurture Spa, they wanted to make sure that the products they were using were of top quality and would enhance the treatments they provided their clients. So they came up with Spa Essentials, a company which now supplies aromatherapy products to spas and cosmetic companies in the country and abroad.

Not surprisingly, most local companies that produce organic goods are also into advocacy work or community involvement.

Says Niguidula of Bodyfood: "We strongly support the trade of products and raw materials by indigenous communities." The honey in their products, she cites, is sourced from the Mangyans in Mindoro.

For Village Handcrafters, a manufacturer of handmade abaca paper and natural soaps, a key objective is to provide livelihood for its church members and other impoverished communities within the city, while using its profits to support pastors and outreach activities like a community clinic.

Foreign missionary Ed Landry and his wife Janet began the handmade paper venture in their backyard and expanded it into Village Handicrafts, reveals administrative director Fernando ?Dong? Laureta.

Colon cancer survivor Ricardo Navis, Jr., president of MGSK Health Products, readily acknowledges that vegetable noodle manufacuring is very much in line with his faith orientation. A Seventh Day Adventist, Navis has been inspired by his religious practices to venture into the manufacture of "food that would be good for the body," like noodles made from pechay, malunggay, yakon, spinach, carrots, among other vegetables.

Health is an equally motivating factor as religion, B3C?s Reyes adds. The company?s unpolished rice in three colors (gold, red and black), which is marketed as Gilded Grains, is far superior in nutrition, flavor and texture, to polished varieties.

All organic manufacturers admit that quality does come with a price?but also with a guarantee.

?Organic materials are more expensive to work with,? admits Niguidula of Bodyfood, whose prices range from PhP130 (for the peppermint lip balm) to PhP1100 (for the 250 ml bottle of skin relief butter). She adds however that there?s also the assurance that they use only the best ingredients. "We don?t scrimp on the materials, especially when it comes to purity and quality," she says of their products that include hair oil, eye pillows, peppermint lip balm, cuticle conditioner, butt-om butter, body massage bar, skin-relief butter, by-the-beach body and massage oil, lemongrass bug-bite balm.

Their earth-friendly methods also jack up prices, says Village Hancrafters? Laureta. Their company produces abaca paper through pressure cooking rather than chemical treatment, he explains. The paper is then crafted into journals, guest books, memo pads, all occasion cards in different sizes, gift tags, albums, scrap books, as well as for wedding and debut invitations.

Although the steeper prices limit their customer base, Laureta observes that they have brought in customers "who also believe in what we stand for.?

Reyes? organic rice produce that can cost up to P80 per kilo says its best. Organic products may be more expensive, he says, but they?re really an investment people make on their future and of their loved ones in terms of better health and an even healthier earth. ?

Where to find organic products:
MGSK Health Products
0906-6486844; 0906-2668825; 0928-4141790
mgskhealthproducts@yahoo.com
Retailers:
? Living Food Products, Maybunga Pasig, City
? Geo Shop Cafe, Stall 22 Cubao Expo, Cubao QC.
? Lisianthus, Quezon City
? Dress2Health, Makati City
? Herb?s Best International, Mandaluyong City
? Latop MPC, La Trinidad Benguet
? LADECO, Lipa City Batangas
? Caring Enterprise, Quezon City Circle
? PITACH _ DOH, Greenhills

Bodyfood All-Natural

bodyfoodallnatural.multiply.com

(02)-344-1631, 0920-5855938

www.villagehandcrafters.com

Spa Essentials
info@spaessentials.com.ph
www.spaessentials.com.ph

Better Country Community Corporation (B3C)
missionbettercountry@yahoo.com
btrcountry@pldtdsl.net