The Worker: What posthumous fate lies in the unfinished work of an artist?

The Worker

Orphaned Icon 

by Sculptor Francisco "Boy" Peralta

"What  posthumous fate lies in the unfinished work of an artist?" - avrotor

Dr Abe V Rotor

                     The Worker 

The artist comes to rest, 

his works unfinished, 

his dreams unfulfilled; 

life, how short it is to the gifted,  

the future his present;

and who would look beyond

with him but prophets?

Or Markham who saw in beauty

injustice in The Man with a Hoe,

of Millet's romantic scenery?

There is no answer, the artist is dead;

he lives on with these unresolved;

time and events shall tell

as his masterpiece crumbles

to dust, to oblivion. 

San Vicente is famous for sculpture, producing important works that decorate many churches and homes today, here and abroad. The town is dubbed the Little Florence, and is acclaimed to be the counterpart of Paete in Laguna and Betis in Pampanga. This article is a tribute to the sculptors of the town, and to those whose memory we their townmates shall remain forever proud and grateful. ~

University of Santo Tomas (1611-2011) Lights the World

University of Santo Tomas (1611-2011) Lights the World

Dr Abe V Rotor

After 400 years, celebration ends, begins a new mark;
UST - pride of the nation and region, of the world;
where great men and women passed under the Arch
of the Centuries, armed with truth and the Word.

Born in the Renaissance, the age of Enlightenment,
bridged Europe across the seas and the Orient;
where cultures clashed, earthly life and the firmament,
humbling them into consequential agreement.

Emerging from the Dark Ages after a thousand years,
you carried on the Greco-Roman influence,
through sword and cross, emblem of your forebears
who forged an East-West confluence.
You lived through trials and triumphed with the nation,
a Lazarus after colonization, two world wars,
of ideologies and faiths, of world order in revolution,
taking neither side but followed the stars.

The world in your campus, long before globalization;
knowledge encompassing in tune with the times,
searching, beyond Galileo, answer to the question,
"Quo vadis humanus?" through inevitable signs.

What bigger challenge UST - idealist, classical, dreamer -
as the world has gone a thousand-fold increase
of man’s expression of sapiens, faber, lugens in that order!
Old but firm stands the Arch of the Centuries. ~

  

Brewing into wine, child into man

Dr Abe V Rotor

   Jared, 4, listens to the sparkling of newly brewed wine; 
cellar of basi in jars undergoing ageing.

He can hear deeper and keener,

things we take for granted;

innocence hones what has dulled

us, and had long wanted.

Wonder what he hears in a jar 
of wine in deep slumber,
ageing into its fullest prime,
the pride of the brewer.   

What matters to a young hand 
more than his presence,
but the brewing in him into man
of the finest essence.  ~

  

Turmeric (Luyang dilaw) Curcuma longa - Medicine-and-Spice ^

Turmeric (Luyang dilaw) Curcuma longa 

 Medicine-and-Spice

Luyang dilaw has outstanding medicinal properties that are a potential cure to many ailments and diseases associated with our postmodern living. 

Dr Abe V Rotor 

You may miss the plant on the farm, roadside, pasture, or the garden.  It is because it is unassuming in its vegetative stage - appearing like lily, baston de San Jose, lobster's claw, camia or any of its relatives under Family Zingiberaceae or ginger family.

Miss Jules SM Rojas poses in a garden of luyang dilaw (Curcuma longa) at home in Lagro QC. 

But no one would miss in its flowing stage, this plant universally known as tumeric,  Its flowers are typical of ginger species led by the popular Zingiber officinale or luya, no kitchen is without it.  

Luyang dilaw is a leafy plant, 1 to 1.5 meters tall, with 5 to 6 leaves. Rhizomes are bright yellow inside, thick and cylindrical. Leaf blade is green, oblong, 30 to 45 centimeters long and 10 to 20 centimeters wide. Petiole is as long as the blade. Peduncle is 15 centimeters or more in length, borne within the tuft of leaves. Spikes are 10 to 20 centimeters in length and about 5 centimeters in diameter. Floral bracts are pale green, ovate, 3 to 4 centimeters long, the comabracts tinged with pink. Flowers are pale yellow to pink, as long as the bracts. Fruits are capsules.

Luyang dilaw is pantropic, native of India, Its rhizomes are contain flavonoid curcumin (diferuloylmethane) and various volatile oils, including tumerone, atlantone, and zingiberone. It contain volatile oil (3-5%), tumerol (alcohol), d-alpha phellandrene, carvone, camphor, curcumone; fat, 3%; starch (30%); resin; curcumin (yellow orange pigment). It is a good source of phosphorus and iron.

As one who grew up on the farm, luyang dilaw is a familiar wild plant which old folk would gather for spice like the local luya. My Auntie Yaya, Basang would dig up a hill even if the rhizomes are still young and small, and would crush them as poultice for minor wounds and insect bites. A decoction would expel bad air, and loosen breathing if you have colds or flu. Little did I know about this annual plant. It aestivates in summer, awaking at the first rain in May, profusely growing to overcome weeds around. It would bloom shortly, then dries up leaving its rhizomes beneath the ground - if not harvested -  only to germinate again the next monsoon season.  

Here is a summary of some distinct characteristics of luyang dilaw, largely from researches I conducted in the university and from the Internet. Thanks to Philippine Medicinal Plants, and Alternative Medicine. Special thanks to the late Dr Eduardo Quisumbing, author of Medicinal Plants of the Philippines, who was then my professor in botany in the early sixties.

            Roots and young rhizomes of Curcuma longa

This list serves only as a guide and does not endorse self-medication. Medical advice is recommended before using the product or any of its preparations. 

1. The rhizome is pungent and bitter tasting, warming, carminative. In Chinese medicine it is , believed to Improve Ch'i circulation.

2. Studies have demonstrated various therapeutics effects: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and anticarcinogenic activity.

3. As a folkloric medicine luyang dilaw is used as antiseptic, anti-contusion, antibacterial, antifungal. This is greatly appreciated with its aromatic, stimulant, tonic, cordial, emmenagogue and astringent properties. It is also used as carminative and for dispelling flatulence. In China used for colic, amenorrhea, congestions.

4. Turmeric paste mixed with a little lime and saltpeter is applied hot to sprains and bruises.
For smallpox and chicken pox, coating of turmeric powder or thin paste applied externally to facilitate scabbing. Paste made from flowers used for ringworm and other parasitic skin infections. Ointment is used in neuralgia and rheumatism.

5. In the Philippines rhizome with coconut oil is used as stomachic and vulnerary (promotes healing of wounds). Internally, juice of fresh rhizome used as anthelmintic. Rhizome is also used for intermittent fevers, flatulence, dyspepsia. (Dyspepsia is a group of symptoms which often include bloating, nausea and burping.  Belching, nausea and a bloated feeling are common symptoms of dyspepsia).

4. As condiment, it is an ingredient of curry powder, and for food coloring In dried or powdered form, used like ginger. 

5. Used for menstrual irregularities, contusions and associated with painful swelling.

Crush rhizome and apply to wounds, insect bites, leech-bites, ringworm, bleeding.

6. Fumes of burning turmeric used as inhalation in catarrh and severe head colds.

·

7. Turmeric is one of the best known of material dyes, used for dyeing silk, wool and cotton. Rhizomes used for dyeing mats in the Philippines.

8. Ointment: Wash the unpeeled ginger. Chop the rhizomes to fill half a glass of water. Sauté with one glass of coconut oil on low heat for five minutes. Place in a clean bottle and label.
- Antiseptic for wounds: Extract juice of the fresh rhizome and apply directly on the wound or swelling.
Gas pain in adults: Decoction from thumb-sized rhizome in a glass of water reduced to half. 
- Turmeric for cough: Link provides preparation of turmeric as home remedy for coughs

9. Here is a list of studies on luyang dilaw

• Tobacco Chewer and Chronic Smoker De-Addiction : 
• Anti-parasitic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory
• Anticancer 
• Antifungal activities against Trichophyton longifusus.
• Antibacterial 
• Antioxidants and showed significant reduction in blood glucose. 
• Anti-Inflammatory 
• Peptic Ulcer Healing 
• Antifertility Effect
• Radioprotective
• Antithrombotic 
• Antiplatelet Effects 
• Effect on Arsenic Toxicity
• Reno protective: 
• Healing Effect on Smoking-Induced Liver Damage 

Continuing researches in these fields or topics challenge the young to pursue medicine, pharmacology, or any related career, including the promotion of alternative medicine and natural healing. ~

Paper wasps on the run!

 Or was it the other way around?

Dr Abe V Rotor

This happened to me -  rather, this is what I did, when I was five or six - perhaps younger, because I don’t know up to now why I attacked a colony of putakti or alimpipinig (Ilk). (No reference to Don Quixote attacking a windmill, in a novel of the same title by Miguel de Cervantes.)

It was raw courage called bravado when you put on courage on something without weighing the consequences. It was hatred dominating reason, motivated by revenge. 

I was sweeping the yard near a chico tree when I suddenly felt pain above my eye. No one had ever warned me of paper wasps, and I hadn’t been stung before. I retreated, instinctively got a bikal bamboo and attacked their papery nest, but every time I got close to it I got stung.  I don’t know how many times I attacked the enemy, each time with more fury, and more stings, until dad spotted me to his surprise.  I struggled under his strong arms sobbing. 

I was lucky, kids my size can’t take many stings. There are cases bee poison can cause the heart to stop. ~