Oscar and two fellow GRAIN Board members in 1996
It is with great sadness that we have learned that our long time comrade and former GRAIN Board member, Oscar Zamora, died peacefully at home in Los Baños, Philippines, on 30 September 2019. He was 70 years old.
"Oca", as he was called by most, was a professor of agronomy at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He was closely involved with the early years of MASIPAG, a national farmer-scientist partnership that helped Filipino peasants regain control of their seeds and breeding practices to overcome the terrible ills brought on by the Green Revolution. Oca served on the Board of GRAIN in his personal capacity from 1994-2000. He helped guide us through the critical phase of GRAIN's regionalisation, including the setting up of an office in the Philippines. He also coordinated the Asia leg of the "Growing Diversity" project, a three-year international programme of bottom-up consultations with rural communities on how to protect and defend peasant seeds, which GRAIN had the honour of hosting.
Our deepest sympathies go to Oscar's family, and our kind respects to his many friends who are gathering in recollection of, and gratitude for, all that Oca shared with us. His hard work and determination to uphold the dignity of farmers, in the exercise of their inalienable rights, inspired us and gave us strength. Maraming salamat po! Rest in power, Oca!
Public family announcement, where you may leave a comment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156929328337545
"Oca", as he was called by most, was a professor of agronomy at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He was closely involved with the early years of MASIPAG, a national farmer-scientist partnership that helped Filipino peasants regain control of their seeds and breeding practices to overcome the terrible ills brought on by the Green Revolution. Oca served on the Board of GRAIN in his personal capacity from 1994-2000. He helped guide us through the critical phase of GRAIN's regionalisation, including the setting up of an office in the Philippines. He also coordinated the Asia leg of the "Growing Diversity" project, a three-year international programme of bottom-up consultations with rural communities on how to protect and defend peasant seeds, which GRAIN had the honour of hosting.
Our deepest sympathies go to Oscar's family, and our kind respects to his many friends who are gathering in recollection of, and gratitude for, all that Oca shared with us. His hard work and determination to uphold the dignity of farmers, in the exercise of their inalienable rights, inspired us and gave us strength. Maraming salamat po! Rest in power, Oca!
Public family announcement, where you may leave a comment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156929328337545