While most people know Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as a lawmaker, the vice-presidential aspirant is also an organic farmer—he and Megastar wife Sharon Cuneta own the three-hectare farm Sweet Spring Country Farm in Cavite, and daughter Kakie Pangilinan constantly refers to him in her tweets as “Farmer Fred”.
Hence, it comes as no surprise that Pangilinan would be able to dispense some helpful advice for other hobby farmers and plant enthusiasts (aka “plantitos” and “plantitas”) on social media. Take the case of plant pests: who knew all you needed were crushed siling labuyo peppers and a bar of detergent?
The senator-slash-farmer took to Facebook to share a quick DIY tip to beat and prevent pests such as the aphids, a common pest that feeds on flowers, soft stems, buds, and fruits.
“To make all-natural and chemical-free pesticide, mix 10 crushed siling labuyo (chili peppers), 1/4 teaspoon of Perla soap, and a half liter of water.”
The senator even added side-by-side photos for comparison.
“The picture on the left shows a siling labuyo plant infested by aphids. The photo on the right shows the plant with reduced pests a day after being sprayed with crushed siling labuyo, some Perla soap, and water. A few more sprays (3x a week) and a handful of vermicast every week and your plant will bloom and prosper again.”
Thanks for the tip, senator. We wonder if there’s a DIY spray to take out pests in the government, too.
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