During my first year in UP, when my students had to do a mimicking act of me, among other things, they showed my excitement over the flowering of UP Cebu’s acacia trees. At this time, Mr. George Guy was the college secretary. I will never forget what he told the freshies during their orientation. What does it mean to have the UP spirit? It is to be like the man who planted these trees. It is to think of the future. It is to bring about something that is not yet there, something helpful. It is to have the imagination to foresee all the beauty and goodness that the act of tree planting and caring can bring. They say that man was Dr. Francisco Nemenzo, Sr.
I have just had my final year as a regular employee of UP and among the experiences I am nostalgic about is my relationship with these trees. Aside from the acacia trees, I have had an attachment to the ilang-ilang. Whenever I passed the tree, I always picked-up the flowers that had fallen to enjoy their fragrance until they have withered. I was really amazed to discover from Native Trees in the Visayas that: “Essential oil from the flowers contains caryophyllene, used to treat hepatitis and has a wide range of medicinal applications; oil reportedly has a euphoric and sedative effect on the nervous system that helps with anxiety, tension, shock, fear and panic; aphrodisiac qualities may be of use in impotence and frigidity; soothing effect on the skin; stimulating effect on the scalp could promote more luxurious hair growth; seeds may be used to treat fever; in Indonesia, flowers used against malaria and leaves rubbed on the skin to treat itchiness”.
I have been terribly blessed with the wonderful trees of the old Aboitiz residence and the trees of the Redemptorist monastery as I walk to church for morning Mass. Most mornings I savor the coolness, freshness, and all the shades of green. I have befriended the big, big rubber tree. After asking permission, I give its lower branches a tug, seeking for a share of its strength, its energy.
Now that I am with Our Lady of Joy Learning Center, its many trees have been giving me both relief and joy. There are: coconut trees, Talisay trees, a narra tree, a papaya, a Gemilina, several piling liitan, and several trees whose names I haven’t figured-out yet. The administrative office even has a tree within it; caring for the environment is a major thrust of the learning center.
With this continuing connection with trees, I was really very happy to be at the launching of Native Trees in the Visayas. The affair was a very fruitful coming together of local government officials from Cebu’s cities and municipalities, educators, librarians, officials from the national government agencies, tree and earth lovers, non-government organizations committed to environmental conservation, representatives of the various media outlets. The program was simple, short, and very meaningful.
The first half consisted of a report by Ms. Marge Gravador on the tree planting and nurturing activities of the “GREENIN—Generation, Redemption, and Expansion of Natural resources—Philippines Program” of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. The presentation was a reminder that tree planting is not enough; there must be nurturing follow through which ensures not only survival but glorious growth.
Ms. Dominica Chua stressed that as the book’s introduction states: “Trees have been known to be crucial in protecting us from calamities,” and “Native trees should be preferred” because they are better adapted to our land.
The RAFI information sheet clarified that: “The publication was conceptualized to contribute to Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals, which is to ensure environmental sustainability by reversing the loss of environmental resources.”
“Through this reference material, RAFI hopes to raise awareness on the appreciation of the region’s indigenous tree species and promote efforts towards preserving our natural forest heritage and mobilize people to plant and nurture their own native trees.”
But Native Trees in the Visayas is not only informative, but it is also inspiring, mostly because the book is physically beautiful. Trees are artfully photographed from different angles; all on quality paper.
It is full and therefore very enriching: providing the different names by which the tree is known; discussing distribution; describing their parts; enumerating their uses.
The book’s appendices include: a very helpful glossary section; an illustrated listing of the types of leaves; and “Planting and Nurturing a Native Tree”.
I chose and took home the seedling of a Mabolo tree, because I spent my childhood in Mabolo and I missed the trees we used to nurture when we resided there. The book launching was the first time I got to know that the tree is also called Kamagong. I was not surprised to be informed that it was an endangered species because when I lived in Mabolo there were not more than five of them; and I did not see any when I passed-by. The book’s photographs of the Mabolo were especially beautiful. I was charmed to discover from the Kamagong pages: “Uses: Wood: Dark; suitable for carvings; used for making highly priced furniture, cabinets, laying canes, tool handles, finger boards and violins, drawing instruments, shuttle and bobbins.”
Thank you very much Domy, RAFI staff, Marge, Haidee and Hannah. The sending forth of Native Trees in the Visayas was a ceiling experience, so like the tree swinging from strong tree branches of my youth.