Have you ever been alone, just sitting and thinking, spending very precious time contemplating on how all would end while you are just alone, say, in the porch, or perhaps by the window, where you just look at the blank space in the distance? Death is something even us old folks can only think about ... we probably cannot actually know and experience it. We can wonder ... would it be lonely when that happens?
In times like this, one would perhaps think of the medical people who have been working so hard to keep us alive. It's the medical doctors that I have in mind right now. Many of them, when they deal with old people would be guided by their hypocratic oath ... to save lives ... to keep a patient alive whatever it takes ... etc., etc. Sometimes, this is no longer in consideration of how the old person thinks about it. In many cases, doctors succeed in saving lives, in prolonging lives, but usually of a different quality.
I recall what I told the two doctors who were looking after my late mother, Nana, when in the hospital they asked me what should be done when a medical situation happens. I took control immediately. I told the doctors, "if she stops breathing, let nature take its course. Do not revive. Even if you can revive her, she will not regain her previous quality of life which she is entitled to whatever happens. I take all the responsibilities relating to this."
In any case, what does the extension of life means? It's really more old age and less quality life.
Connecting
Converging Thoughts and Experiences
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
An Idea Out Of Frustration
I'm neither pro-administration nor pro-opposition, and am not bothered by it one bit. I just observe independently and I don't contribute to public policy. I'm retired, a septuagenarian, and largely not listened to nor read. In other words, I express my ideas probably largely for myself as only a very few people read my blog. Those who read me must do so to understand what I'm saying, but those reading me to prepare to rebut all what I say are not welcome to my blog.
Not that there have been no killings in the past, but since the start of the drug war by the government there has been an increasing number of deaths in the hands of the police, and vigilantes, and not unlikely other criminal elements trying to take advantage of the situation to get rid of competitors in the drug business. If we look at the data, it's bad, really bad. The problem is that on the basis of media reports this country looks more like a nation of criminals and the government is not even trying to counter such public image. And, of course, the opposition is enjoying, to the hilt, its "freedom of speech" to accuse everybody in government, particularly President Duterte, of wrong doing without even producing an iota of evidence. How could they? ... Well, this is all politics.
And we all say, "it's a free country."
Well, I don't like what's happening in our country, so I am complaining. I'm not only complaining, but I am also proposing to at least partially solve the problem. Of course I do expect people to agree or disagree with my idea. If you agree with the idea, say your piece and perhaps even suggest how we could improve the idea being proposed. If you don't agree, say your piece just the same then shut up. If you're a Troll, you're not welcome. Keep out of the way.
Now, here's what I'd like to say. Don't kill the criminals, specially those arrested for drug-related crimes. Herd them to an island. What kind of an island? I have an idea and I'm giving an example of that island. The island I'm referring to is Di'nem Island, part of the island-municipality of Itbayat in Batanes. I'm not offering Di'nem because I can't do that. I'm just giving this as an example. Why is this a good example? Well, look at the basic characteristics of the island. Let me say here that the Itbayatens, the natives of Itbayat, would probably not agree with this idea, too. This idea may make sense or it may not make any sense at all. Just read on.
The National Government should negotiate with (NOT IMPOSE ON) the Provincial Government of Batanes and the Municipal Government of Itbayat to use the island of Di'nem (also known as Diogo Island, Isla Diego, Rodonta) as a prison island, much like the island of Alcatraz in the US. The island is an uninhabited volcanic island (Philvocs says it's extinct). Di'nem is a small round island about 513 meters high, 1.21 km in diameter, 5.6 km southeast of Itbayat. The island does not have beeches, only cliffs around the entire island. It has a steep westerm side that drops some 50-200 meters straight to the sea. Its eastern side hosts four islets, the largest of which is about 0.8 km eastwards to the Pacific Ocean. The whole Di'nem Island is surrounded by deep and dangerous sea with very powerful undercurrent. Put mildly, the island is inaccessible and inhospitable
Of course, if you keep prisoners on this island, the Philippine Coast Guard must maintain constant sea patrol around it, and while doing that the PCG ships could also watch out for Taiwanese poachers that abound in the area. The island would definitely be more inhospitable and unfriendly compared to the island of Alcatraz in the US. Prisoners on the island would not drown during tsunamis because even a huge tsunami would probably reach only a tenth of the height of the island cliffs. They will have to co-habitate the island with poisonous reptiles, wild animals, and insects, though. Would prisoners be able to escape? They most certainly could try and the sharks in the area would probably have feasts as well. If the sharks would not be active, no one would survive the powerful undercurrent pushing toward the Pacific Ocean.
There are pluses and minuses to this idea. There are thousands of uninhabited (in fact, even unnamed) islands all over the Philippines to consider. My sense is that the National Government would probably prefer an island close to the seat of government, in which case Di'nem would certainly have to be excluded. But the question at this time is: is our society ready for this idea, or am I too inhuman to even think of it?
Monday, August 28, 2017
For those interested, not necessarily believers or non-believers, here's a very brief and probably incomplete description of the different generational groupings according to some social researchers and demographers. I tried to generate this information, but I'm not a social researcher. Neither am I a demographer. So, I may have errors here.
GENERATION
NAME
|
BIRTH RANGE
|
ALSO KNOWN AS
|
NATURE/CHARACTERISTICS
|
Lost
Generation
|
1883-1900
|
World
War I Gen
|
The
generation that came of age (they were in their teens and tweens) during
World War I. They didn’t vanish but simply were disoriented, wandering,
directionless due mainly to the great confusion and aimlessness among
survivors of World War I until the post-war years.
|
GI
Generation
|
1901-1927
|
World
War II Gen
|
Sometimes
referred to as the Great Generation in the US who came of age during the
Great Depression and went on to fight in WWII. This generation fought not for fame or
money but because “it was the right thing to do.” In Australia, this generation was also
known as the Federation Generation.
The “GI” term is a military term referring to “Government Issue” or
“General Issue.”
|
Silent
Generation
|
1928-1954
|
Lucky
Few Gen
|
First
generation in the US that was smaller than the generation preceding it. Having been born in the Great Depression
and war years, they came of age in the relatively prosperous 1950s and 1960s.
They did things not because someone told them, but because they believed “it
was the right thing to do.” Many who
were born between 1943 and 1960 were also Baby Boomers, but possibly elected
to stick with the Silent Generation precisely because of differences in
characteristics
|
Baby
Boomers
|
1943-1960
|
Rock-in-Roll
Gen
|
Associated
with the rejection/redefinition of traditional values. As a group, they tended to think of themselves as Special Generation, very different
from those that came before them. They
comprise a large proportion of those born during and immediately after WWII.
|
Generation
X
|
1961-1981
|
MTV
Generation
|
Sometimes
they were called “baby boomers” but did not like such label. “X” refers to a condition of an unknown
variable or to a desire not to be defined.
Sometimes they were referred to as the MTV Generation (with reference
to the popularity of a music video channel in the US). Gen X was
relatively small generation between the Baby Boomers and the
Millennials.
|
Oregon
Trail Generation
|
Late
1970s-Early 1980s
|
Bridge
Gen bet Gen X and Millennials
|
Named after the video game Oregon
Trail, Apple II version. Sometimes they are called “The Lucky Ones.” They share traits with Xennials or Catalano
generations. Xennials are “a
micro-generation that serve as a bridge between the disaffection of Gen X and
the blithe optimism of Millennials.”
Generally, those born from the late 1970s to the early 1980s did not
feel they fit into the different definitions of Gen X and Millennials.
|
Millennials
|
1976-1996
|
Gen
Y, Echo
Boomers
|
The Millennials are often children of
Baby Boomers. generally marked by increased use of and familiarity with
communications, media, and digital technologies. One look at what has been published about
the generational groups tell us that the Millennials are the ones most talked
about. They’re the largest generation;
older Millennials are now occupying decision posts in both government and
private industry, and the younger Millennials are completing their basic
education. Some demographers estimate
that in the next five to 10 years more than 90% of those in positions of
decision making in our society will be Millennials. They are bound to influence society
greatly. A cursory look at the
younger people in the workforce would indicate that, at this time (2017), the
Millennials would rather not do things the way older generations used to.
John Newton, the Australian social
researchers, summarized the characteristics of Gen Y with the following
points: 1) e3veryone’s a winner; 2) life was never meant to be hard; 3) out
of range is out of the question; 4) why do we do it that way?; and 5)
appearances can be deceiving. This
generation, according to Newton, is desperate for leadership, to connect with
other generations particularly the older ones to whom they look up to for
leadership.
|
Generation
Z
|
Mid-1990s
to Mid-2000s.
|
Centennials,
iGeneration, Plurals, Homeland Gen, Post-Millennials.
|
Widespread use of Internet from a young
age; they’re comfortable with technology and social media. They are
predominantly children of Generation X.
More risk-averse than other generations. First generation to have the Internet
readily available to them. They are
predominantly children of Gen X but they also have parents who are
Millennials. Compared with
Millennials, the Gen Z is more conservative, more money-oriented, more
entrepreneurial, and more pragmatic.
|
Alpha
Generation
|
Born
from 2010-2015
|
Transformative
Gen
|
Compared to other generations ahead of
it, the Alphas will be more entrepreneurial, more tech savvy, they’ll shop
online, they will be influenced by their Gen X and Gen Y parents, and they
will be more self-sufficient, better educated, and better prepared for big
challenges. As of last year (2016), in
the US, there were some 22M Millennial parents with 9,000 Alpha babies born
to them daily. Social Researcher and
Demographer McCrindle estimated that there were 2.5M members of Gen Alpha
born each week world-wide.
|
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
The Cherokee Prayer
THE CHEROKEE PRAYER
(to the tune of Amazing Grace)
Introductory instrumental with these verses:
My spirit will wander these lands, now and
forever more
Hold
on to what is good, even if it’s a handful of earth
Hold
on to what you believe, even if it’s a tree that stands alone by itself
Hold
on to what you must do, even if it’s a long way from here
Hold
on to your life, even if it’s easier to let go
Hold
on to my hand, even if someday I’ll be gone away from you.
(Sing in Cherokee language and to the tune of Amazing
Grace):
Oh
Great Spirit whose voice I hear in the winds
And
whose breath gives life in all the world, hear me
I
am small and weak, I need strength and wisdom
Let
me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold
The
red and purple sunset
Make
my hands respect the things you have made
And
my ears sharp to hear your voice
Make
me wise so that I may understand
The
things you have taught my people
Let
me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I
seek strength, not to be greater than my brother
But
to fight my greatest enemy, myself …
Make
me always ready to come to you
With
clean hands and straight eyes
So
when life fades, as the fading sunset
My
spirit may come to you without shame.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
TWO
This is my second post on this subject matter, and I'm just thinking aloud.
Feeling low? Feeling a bit depressed? Or simply suffering from self-pity? I find if difficult to differentiate these three especially when I'm a bit down. At my age, this is a clear reminder that can only mean my time to move on is rather close, which is quite easy to understand. May be I've stayed in this world a bit longer than I had to. To the question, how do I wish it to happen? I have a very simple answer: I want it quick, if it cannot be avoided. You see I'm afraid of dying so I'm ruling out a long-drawn sickness, or even being pinned down for hours or days between two beams under the rubble of a building after an earthquake. I don't like that a bit because I'm claustrophobic, and I could die under the rubble. I think I deserve better than that. Anyway, I prefer a quick one. Now, how would this thing happen? It's hard to say.
May be how I die is not my decision to make, but then again may be I could influence the decision, albeit with great effort, of course. And this thing called influence could be cumulative effect. Question is, have I done enough good in the past to tilt the balance in may favor? I'd say, yes, but this may not be subject to self-evaluation so I'm not sure which way it would go especially if my evaluator holds some negative dossier on me which is not entirely impossible given what technology can do today. That could turn out to be an embarrassment for myself, my family, and loved ones. Not a good option. Involved in an accident and I die instantaneously? How horrible could that be!? How the heck would I know how I died? Bad option. Commit suicide with a gun? Suppose I miss the spot that could insure my swift death? Very clumsy. Terrible option.
For a reasonable man that I claim to be, I think all the options mentioned are bad and really unacceptable. May be dying is not an option itself? That's the funny part. At some point in one's life, death is the only thing that must happen.
###
Feeling low? Feeling a bit depressed? Or simply suffering from self-pity? I find if difficult to differentiate these three especially when I'm a bit down. At my age, this is a clear reminder that can only mean my time to move on is rather close, which is quite easy to understand. May be I've stayed in this world a bit longer than I had to. To the question, how do I wish it to happen? I have a very simple answer: I want it quick, if it cannot be avoided. You see I'm afraid of dying so I'm ruling out a long-drawn sickness, or even being pinned down for hours or days between two beams under the rubble of a building after an earthquake. I don't like that a bit because I'm claustrophobic, and I could die under the rubble. I think I deserve better than that. Anyway, I prefer a quick one. Now, how would this thing happen? It's hard to say.
May be how I die is not my decision to make, but then again may be I could influence the decision, albeit with great effort, of course. And this thing called influence could be cumulative effect. Question is, have I done enough good in the past to tilt the balance in may favor? I'd say, yes, but this may not be subject to self-evaluation so I'm not sure which way it would go especially if my evaluator holds some negative dossier on me which is not entirely impossible given what technology can do today. That could turn out to be an embarrassment for myself, my family, and loved ones. Not a good option. Involved in an accident and I die instantaneously? How horrible could that be!? How the heck would I know how I died? Bad option. Commit suicide with a gun? Suppose I miss the spot that could insure my swift death? Very clumsy. Terrible option.
For a reasonable man that I claim to be, I think all the options mentioned are bad and really unacceptable. May be dying is not an option itself? That's the funny part. At some point in one's life, death is the only thing that must happen.
###
Friday, January 27, 2017
Sample Batanes Plants
Of course, these are not the only plant species in Batanes, but it's a good starting list that could come in handy for ecotourists who visit Batanes. It is my understanding that Batanes is now always in the bucket list of tourists, and there are more tourists visiting the place than could be well handled by the resources there. Anyway, familiarity with the common plant species in the province and knowing how to conserve them would help retain the natural beauty of the place.
This matrix was supposed to be part of a brochure for ecotourists and tourist guides in Batanes, but since I was not able to complete the plan I just had to provide this information based on the study of Madulid and Agoo (2006). I would have loved to prepare a more complete brochure, being a frustrated biologist, but it was completely difficult to get appropriate funding for at last a mini-scientific exploration of the province to produce a more complete Brochure of Batanes Biodiversity. Do enjoy this material.
Sample Batanes Plants
(SOURCE:
Madulid, Domingo A. and Esperanza Maribel G. Agoo. 2006. A
Pictorial Guide to the Noteworthy Plants of Batanes Islands. Manila: UNESCO National Commission of the
Philippines, Science and Technology Committee, and National Museum of the Philippines.)
LOCAL NAME
|
SCIENTIFIC NAME
|
FAMILY CATEGORY
|
DISTRIBUTION
|
HABITAT
|
USED BY LOCALS AS
|
Agagay
|
Coix
lacryma-jobi L.
|
Culms
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Lowland grasslands
|
Ornamental plants; dried fruits used for
handicrafts
|
Ahem
|
Melanolepis
multiglandulosa (Reinw.)
Reibb.f. & Zoll.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Taiwan, South Thailand, Malaysia, Papua New
Guinea
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Leaves applied on forehead to relieve headaches;
wrapper for cooked food.
|
Ainyas
|
Semecarpus
cuneiformis Blco
|
Tree
|
Phil, Ryuku Islands, Celebes
|
Lowland forests. Thickets forming boundaries of
farms
|
Sap is poisonous, causes severe irritation on skin
|
Akus
|
Allium sativum L.
|
Herb
|
Believed originated from Central Asia
|
Cultivated
|
Spice plant; juice rubbed on skin to cure skin
diseases
|
Anoyoy (hanoyoy)
|
Wedelia
biflora
C.B.Clarke
|
Herb
|
Phil, India, Southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Grasslands, littoral cliffs sandy beeches
|
Weed, ground cover
|
Apdeng
|
Mallotus
philippinensis (L.) Muell.-Ang.
|
Tree
|
Phil, India, Australia
|
Secondary forests
|
Firewood
|
Arius
|
Podocarpus
costalis
Presl.
|
Tree
|
Philippines (Batanes, Babuyan, Cagayan, Polilio);
Taiwan (Lan Yu, Orchid Island)
|
Wooded cliffs; coastal areas, cultivated in
backyards, roadsides
|
Known as “Batanes Tree” or the Provincial Tree of
Batanes; highly ornamental; highly sought after as bonsai material; fruits
are edible
|
Away
|
Flagella
indica
L.
|
Vine
|
Phil, Tanzania, Mozambique, West Pacific
|
Lowland primary forests, secondary forests,
thickets
|
Tying material for roof thatches, fences
|
Bayawas
|
Psidium
guajava
L.
|
Shrub
|
Pantropic, Introduced
to the Philippines from tropical America
|
Open grasslands, wooded thickets
|
Fruit is edible; ground young leaves used as
antiseptic for wounds.
|
Camigin
|
Cerbera manghas L.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Tanzania, Southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Common along beaches and littoral thickets
|
Ornamental tree
|
Cavugao
|
Citrus sp.
|
Tree
|
Batanes endemic
|
Cultivated in backyards in Itbayat
|
Fruit juice is sour, used as condiment for cooking
|
Chawi, Chayi
|
Pometia
pinnata
J.R.Forst.&G.Forst.
|
Tree
|
Phil, China, Southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Wooded thickets
|
Fruits are edible; shade tree, lumber, trunk used
as keel of tataya.
|
Dapiyaw
|
Adonidia
merrillii Becc.
|
Palm tree
|
Native of Palawan, now spread worldwide
|
Cultivated in gardens and backyards
|
Leaves trap rainwater and collected in jars
|
Dino
|
Morinda
citrifolia L.
|
Tree
|
Phil, China, Australia
|
Coastal areas, secondary forests, lowland
grasslands
|
Medicine for rheumatic and inflamed joints; to
relieve chest and stomach pains
|
Dudoy (eroplano)
|
Gynura
elliptica Yae & Hayata
|
Herb
|
Batanes. Taiwan (now found in other parts of the
Philippines
|
Lowland grasslands
|
Common weed
|
Dukay
|
Dioscorea
esculenta (Lour.) Burk.
|
Vine
|
Phil, India, Papua New Guinea
|
Cultivated in fields
|
Major rootcrop in Batanes
|
Dukban
|
Citrus hybrid
Considered to be a cross between Citrus maxima and C. medica.
|
Shrub
|
Known only in Batanes
|
Wooded thickets, cultivated in farms, gardens,
backyards
|
Fruit is a delicacy, eaten raw or pickled in
vinegar.
|
Gagad, agagad
|
Alpinia
zerumbet
(Pers.) B.L.Burtt & R.M.Smith
|
Herb
|
Phil, China, Taiwan (Lan Yu)
|
Lowland grasslands
|
Ornamental plant; insect repellant
|
Galaya
|
Citrus sp.
|
Shrub
|
Native lemon, also known in other parts of the country as dayap
|
||
Hanot, vayu
|
Hibiscus
tiliaceus L. subsp. tiliaceus
Talipariti
tiliaceum (L.) Fryxell.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Mexico, South America, Africa, Pacific
|
Common in beaches or coastal areas
|
Bark used for ropes; stem used for fences, posts
|
Hantak
|
Stercula
ceramica
R.Br.
|
Tree
|
Pantropic
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Fruits are edible; also used to expel worms and
heal wounds
|
Hayaw
|
Cardiospermum
halicacabum L.
|
Herb
|
Pantropic
|
Lowland grasslands, along roadsides
|
Common weed
|
Homahom
|
Asplenium
nidus
L.
|
Fern
|
Phil, Africa, Australia
|
Lowland forest
|
Young leaves eaten as salad; ornamental plant
|
Kabaka-baka
|
Centella
asiatica
(L.) Urban
|
Herb
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Lowland grassland, l.ittoral cliffs
|
Leaves are crushed and applied to heal wounds.
|
Kalamansi
|
Citrus sp.
|
Tree
|
|||
Kamalasayrin
|
Caesalpina
crista
L.
|
Vine
|
Phil, China, New Caledonia
|
Back of beach forests, wooded thickets near sea
shores
|
Seeds used for ornaments
|
Kamanavang
|
Scaevola
taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, Africa, southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Common along beaches
|
Small shade plant along beaches
|
Kamaya
|
Diospyros
discolor
Willd.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Indonesia
|
Lowland forests. Wooded thickets, also planted in
backyards
|
Blackwood used for furniture, lumber, fruit is
edible
|
Kanarem
|
Diospyros
maritime
Bl.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Ryuku Islands, Solomon Islands
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets, areas near
beaches
|
Ornamental plant; fruit is food for tattus.
|
Karorotong
|
Argemone mexicana L.
|
Herb
|
Native of tropical America, now spread throughout
the tropics
|
Grasslands
|
Yellowish sap applied to wounds
|
Katawa
|
Ricinus
communis
L.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, Tropical and Subtropical areas
|
Secondary forests
|
Oil from fruit is cure for headaches, sprains,
abdominal and chest pains
|
Kawayan
|
Bambusa
vulgaris
Schrader ex Wendl.
|
Culms
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Wooded thickets
|
Culms used for house construction, handicrafts
|
Kuhasi
|
Commelina benghalensis L.
|
Herb
|
Phil, Africa, Micronesia
|
Wet ground, abandoned fields
|
Leaves for external medicinal use
|
Loria (Batanes saba)
|
Musa
paradisiacal L. cultivar
|
Herb
|
Batanes
|
Planted in farms, backyards
|
Fruit is edible; blossom for vegetable, corms for vegetable
|
Manichit
|
Tabernamontana
pandacaqui Poir.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Open waste places, thickets
|
Fencing plants separating farms
|
Naha
|
Zingiber
officinale Rosc.
|
Herb
|
Phil, China, India, cultivated elsewhere
|
Cultivated fields
|
Rhizome for condiment in cooking; medicine against
colds; to induce perspiration.
|
Nangka
|
Artucarpos
heterophyllus Lamk.
|
Tree
|
Phil, native of India
|
Planted in farms, gardens, backyards
|
Fruit is edible; young fruit cooked as vegetable
|
Narapan
|
Osmoxylon
pectinatum (Merr.) Philip.
|
Tree
|
Batanes & Northern Luzon, Taiwan
|
Lowland primary forests, secondary forests
|
Ornamental plant
|
Natu
|
Palaquium
formosanum Hayata
|
Tree
|
Philippines, Taiwan
|
Lowland forests
|
Wood used as lumber; fruits are edible.
|
Nito
|
Lygodium
flexuosum (L.) Sw
|
Vine
|
Phil, Indo-China, Australia
|
Lowland forests
|
Medicine for irregular ear discharges; material
for handicrafts; tying material
|
Nyinyi
|
Donax
canniformis (Fort.f.) K.Schum.
|
Herb
|
Phil, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Raw materials for handicrafts
|
Onas
|
Saccharum
officinarum L.
|
Culm
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Cultivated in fields
|
Juice made into syrup, fermented to wine and
vinegar, leaves fed to cows and carabaos
|
Pait, tapait
|
Begonia
fenicis
Merr.
|
Herb
|
Batanes, Taiwan
|
Lowland forests, littoral cliffs
|
Ornamental plant, may be eaten as salad, stem is
sour
|
Palupo
|
Pemphis
acidula
J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, Tropical Africa, Australia
|
Rocky coastal areas, forested cliffs, wooded
thickets
|
Ornamental
|
Pawali
|
Syzygium sp.
Closely resembles Syzygium taiwanianicum Chang & Miau from Lan Yu
|
Tree
|
Endemic in Itbayat Island
|
Planted in backyards and roadsides in Itbayat
|
Fruit is edible
|
Payen
|
Ardisia
confertiflora Merr.
|
Tree
|
Endemic to Batanes, Babuyan, Mindoro
|
Lowland forests. Wooded thickets
|
Fruits are edible, ornamental tree, Leaves used as
poultice for swelling toes and fingers.
|
Rayi
|
Paederia
foetida
L.
|
Vine
|
Phil, India, Malaya
|
Secondary forests
|
Leaves rubbed on body to cure fatigue or pain;
vine is for tying material
|
Riwas
|
Drypetes falcata
(Merr.)
Pax & K.Hoffm.
|
Tree
|
Batanes & Babuyan (endemic)
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Ornamental plant, lumber
|
Sahbang
|
Erythrina
variegate L.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Africa, Fiji
|
Coastal areas, wooded thickets
|
Ornamental tree
|
Samoh
|
Piper betle L.
|
Vine
|
Phil, India. Malay Peninsula
|
Cultivated in gardens and fields
|
Leaves applied to red patches on skin; leaves as
ingredient in masticatory together with beetle nut.
|
Savidug
|
Terminalia
catappa
L.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Madagascar, Southwestern Pacific
|
Common along beaches, secondary forests
|
Shade tree, lumber for house construction
|
Siempre viva
|
Kalanchoe
pinnata
(Lamk.) Pers.
|
Herb
|
Phil (introduced)
|
Cultivated in gardens
|
Leaves applied on the head to reduce headache
|
Sudi
|
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott
|
Herb
|
Originated from Southeast Asia, now pantropic
|
Planted in farms and gardens
|
Major root crop, also cooked as vegetable
|
Suha
|
Citrus maxima
(Burn.) Merr.
|
Tree
|
Phil, native of the Old World
|
Cultivated in farms, gardens, backyards
|
Fruit is edible.
|
Tadayeb
|
Saccharum
spontaneum L.
|
Culms
|
Phil, Western Asia, Papua New Guinea
|
Lowland grasslands
|
Weeds, leaves sometimes used as thatched roof
material
|
Tadivachib
|
Epipremnum
pinnatum (L.) Engl. Ex Engl & Kraus
|
Herb
|
Phil, China Solomon Islands
|
Lowland forests, in clearings, clinging on coconut
or tree trunks
|
Ornamental plant
|
Tamidok
|
Diplazium
esculentum (Retz.) Sw
|
Fern
|
Phil, China, New Guinea
|
Lowland forest, edge of forest clearings
|
Salad or cooked as vegetable
|
Tanghad
|
Themeda
gigantean (Cav.) Hack.
|
Herb
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Common in open fields, dry & steep slopes at
low to medium altitude
|
Leaves sometimes used for roof thatch.
|
Tanyud
|
Morus alba
(L.)
Roxb.
|
Tree
|
Native to China, cultivated & naturalized
elsewhere
|
Secondary forests, wooded thickets
|
Leaves as medicine for rheumatism and joint pains;
ripe fruit are edible
|
Tavadaday
|
Cyathea
lepifera
(J. Sm.) Copel.
|
Fern
|
Philippines
|
Lowland forests
|
Ornamental plant
|
Tipdus, Tubho
|
Odontosoria
chinensis (L.) J.Sm.
|
Fern
|
Phil, Africa, Malesia
|
Thickets or exposed areas, low to medium altitude
|
Tea
|
Tipuho
|
Artocarpus
treculianus Elm.
|
Tree
|
Endemic to Philippines
|
Farms gardens; along roadsides, secondary forests,
edge of forests
|
Fruit is edible as vegetable, leaves as
substitutes for plates, wood used for tatayas, lumber for houses, sap cooked
and cured as latex to catch birds, shade tree.
|
Tubhus
|
Pittosporum
moluccanum (Lamk.) Miq.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, Taiwan, Australia
|
Wooded thickets
|
Ornamental plant
|
Tungaw
|
Clerodendum
inerme
(L.) Gaertn.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, China, Southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Ornamental plant
|
Tutupdis
|
Gelonium
aequoreum Hance
|
Tree
|
Batanes (Ivuhos Is.), Taiwan (Lan Yu)
|
Thickets, open coastal areas
|
Ornamental plant.
|
Uhango
|
Pandamus
odoratissimus L.f.
Pandamus
odorifer
(Forssk.) Kuntze
|
Shrub
|
Phil, China, Australia
|
Along beaches, lowland grasslands
|
Fruits edible; leaves used for handicrafts
|
Uhango nu kurang
|
Dracaena angustifolia
Roxb.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, India, Australia
|
Lowland forests
|
Ornamental plant
|
Unknown local name
|
Angiopteris
palmiformis (Cav.) C.Chr.
|
Fern
|
Phil, Indo-China, Taiwan, Marianas
|
Lowland forests, along streams and rivers
|
Ornamental plant
|
Unknown local name
|
Hoya spp.
|
Vine
|
Batanes
|
Clinging on wayside trees and secondary vegetation
|
Ornamental plant
|
Unknown local name
|
Curculigo captulata
(Lour.)
Kantze
Molineria
capitulate (Lour.)
|
Herb
Herb
|
Phil, China, Australia
|
Lowland forests
|
Ornamental plant
|
Unknown local name
|
Senna alata
(L.) Roxb.
|
Shrub
|
Phil; native to tropical countries
|
Wooded thickets, cultivated areas
|
Medicine for skin diseases
|
Unknown local name
|
Abelmosehus
moschatus (L.) Medic.
|
Shrub
|
Phil, China, Fiji
|
Wooded thickets
|
Ornamental plant
|
Unknown local name
|
Hibiscus
mutabilis L.
|
Tree
|
Phil, China, Taiwan, cultivated elsewhere
|
Wooded thickets
|
Ornamental plant
|
Unknown local name
|
Phalaenopsis
aphrodite Reichb.f.
|
Orchid
|
Phil, China. Taiwan
|
Lowland forests
|
Ornamental plant
|
Unknown local name
|
Peucedanum
japonicum Thumb.
|
Herb
|
Batanes, China, Ryuku Islands
|
Littoral cliffs
|
Plant is said to be medicinal.
|
Uvi
|
Dioscorea
alata
L.
|
Vine
|
Tropical and subtropical Asia
|
Cultivated in fields
|
Major root crop in Batanes
|
Vadino
|
Ipomoea
pes-caprae (L.) R.Br.
|
Vine
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Common among beach areas
|
Leaves for healing wounds
|
Vadite
|
Ficus
microcarpa L.f.
|
Tree
|
Phil, China, New Caledonia
|
Lowland forests, littoral cliffs
|
Ornamental tree, fruits eaten by birds, shoots are
edible
|
Vadite (Tapah in Itbayat)
|
Ficus
benjamina L.
|
Tree
|
Phil, China, Solomon Islands
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Ornamental tree
|
Vakong
|
Crinum
asiaticum L.
|
Herb
|
Phil, Mauritius, Samoa
|
Sandy coastal or beach areas, lowland grasslands
|
Medicinal, ornamental plant
|
Valayvalayan
|
Radermachera
fenicis
Merr.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Thailand, Moluccas
|
Wooded thickets, secondary forests, planted in
backyards
|
Ornamental plant
|
Valit
|
Calamus
batanensis (Becc.) Baja-Lapis
|
Vine
|
Batanes endemic
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Fruits are edible, vine for handicrafts; tying
material
|
Valo
|
Thespesia
populnea (L.) Soland. ex Correa
|
Tree
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Wooded thickets
|
Stems for
posts and fences; leaves to cure wounds; fruits and leaves applied to skin to
cure allergies and rashes.
|
Vanakawoy
|
Callicarpa
formosana Rolfe var. formosana
|
Shrub
|
Batanes, Taiwan
|
Lowland forests
|
Used for hedgerows
|
Vanatchi
|
Macaranga
tanarius (L.) Muell.-Ang.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Andaman Islands, Australia
|
Secondary forests
|
Leaves cure boils
|
Vanayi
|
Murraya
paniculata (L.) Jack
|
Shrub
|
Phil, China, Australia
|
Lowland forests, thickets, gardens
|
Hardwood used for handles of metal tools;
ornamental plant
|
Varatinok
|
Citrus sp.
|
Tree
|
Batanes endemic
|
Lowland forests, thickets, gardens
|
Good for lemonade. Juice extracted for treating meat much like using kalamansi except that varatino's taste is much more elegant.
|
Varok
|
Zanthoxylum
integrifoliolum (Merr.) Merr.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Taiwan (Lan Yu)
|
Lowland forests, cultivated areas
|
Fruits are edible; spongy material gathered from
roots used as sealant for tataya.
|
Vatinglao
|
Diospyros
ferrea (Willd.) Bakh.
|
Tree
|
Philippines, West Africa, India, Burma, Thailand,
Vietnam, Malesia, Australia, Ryuku Islands, Taiwan, Lan Yu
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Lumber, bark may be mixed with sugar cane juice to
enhance taste of fermented alcoholic beverage.
|
Vayakbak
|
Syzygium sp.
|
Tree
|
Batanes endemic
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets, planted along
roads, in backyards
|
Used for hedgerows; trunk for lumber,
firewood. Fruits are edible (sometimes
called Batanes makopa).
|
Vayasuvas
|
Freycinetia
formosana Hemsl.
|
Shrub
|
Phil (Batanes), Japan (Ryuku), Taiwan (Tan Yu and
Lutao)
|
Lowland forests
|
Aerial roots used as handicraft materials, tying
material
|
Vayit
|
Cycas edentate de
Laub.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Andaman Islands, Timor
|
Exposed forested cliffs, along beaches
|
Ornamental plant
|
Vinay
|
Antidesma
bunius (L.) Spreng.
|
Tree
|
Phil, China, Australia
|
Backyards and open lots, lowland forests
|
Fruits edible, ornamental plant
|
Viyawo
|
Miscanthus
floridulus (Labill.) Warb. ex Schum. & Laut.
|
Culms
|
Phil, China, Fiji
|
Summit of Mt. Iraya, roadsides, hillsides
|
Used as roofing material, inflorescence used as
broom, used as hedgerows
|
Vodadin, vodalin
|
Leea
guineensis G.Don
|
Tree
|
Phil, Africa, Irian jaya
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Medicinal
|
Vonyitan
|
Lilium
philippinense Baker
|
Herb
|
Phil, Taiwan (Tan Yu)
In the Philippines, confined to Batanes, Benguet,
Bontoc, Mt. :Provinces.
|
Open grasslands
|
Ornamental
|
Voyavoy
|
Phoenix
loureiroi Kunth.var. loureiroi
Phoenix
hanceana
var. philipinensis
|
Palm Tree
|
Batanes, China
In the Philippines, this palm is found only in
Batanes, now threatened
|
Lowland grasslands
|
Ornamental plant; leaves used for vakul, kanayi,
brooms. Ripe fruits are edible.
|
Vua
|
Areca catechu L.
var. catechu
|
Palm tree with oblong fruits
|
Philippines
|
Cultivated in fields and wooded thickets
|
Nut is chewed as nganga; used as medicine to relieve
headaches; trunks used as house floorings
|
Vua
|
Areca catechu L.
var. batanensis Becc
|
Palm tree with rounded fruits
|
Batanes endemic
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Same use as A.
catechu var catechu
|
Vuchid
|
Imperata
cylindrica (L.) Beauv. Var. major
|
Grass
|
Phil, pantropic
|
Grassland
|
Weed; roofing material, boiled roots used as
medicinal beverage
|
Vula
|
Alocasia
macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don
|
Herb
|
Phil, Malaysia, Solomon Islands
|
Edges of lowland forests
|
Ornamental plant
|
Vutalao
|
Calophyllum
inophyllum L.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Africa, Southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets
|
Lumber for boats
|
Vuton
|
Barringtonia
asiatica (L.) Kurz.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Africa, Southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Common along beaches
|
Shade tree, lumber for boat planks
|
Wakay
|
Ipomoea
batatas
(L.) Lam.
|
Vine
|
Pantropic, Introduced to the Philippines from
Mexico by Spaniards
|
Cultivated in farms
|
Major root crop of Batanes. Leaves as vegetable.
|
Waling-waling
|
Vanda lamellata
Lindl.
|
Orchid
|
Phil, Taiwan, Borneo
|
Lowland forests, cliffs facing the sea in Itbayat
|
Ornamental plant
|
Yabnoy
|
Ficus septica
Burm.f.
|
Tree
|
Phil, Ryuku, Southwestern Pacific Islands
|
Lowland forests, wooded thickets, littoral cliffs
|
Shade tree on roadsides
|
Bring this along when you visit Batanes. It could be a good reference.
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