Arboretum - Re-creation of a Lost Forest

 Arboretum - Re-creation of a Lost Forest 

Living with Nature Center

San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Dr Abe V Rotor

It's a pocket rainforest called arboretum, 

     Woods, in Robert Frost's poetry,

Jungle, home of the legendary Tarzan,

     Taiga, bastion of the pine tree.

Here, seldom a day passes without rain,

     for which the forest got its name.

Morning comes late, the night sets early,

     life is both struggle and game. 

Stories about the forest, queer but true,

Arena of evolution, seat of biodiversity,

Ultimate of adventure, science laboratory, 

Man's ancestral home, Genesis' final view.

Richest in flora and fauna of all biomes,

Big and small, linked to a common union,

Arranged in niches, divided by storeys, 

In competition and cooperation. 

  Heritage trees rise through the canopy,

          towers of the forest;

  Living columns of Nature's Parthenon,

          cradle of peace and rest. 

Machine and men, money and greed,

raped the forest for want and need;

leaving but an empty space and sky,

wildlife gone, doves no longer fly. 

Once a continuous midriff of the earth,

  her lush green cover;

The rising sea and the creeping desert,

have taken over. ~

The Eye in the Coral Reef

The Eye in the Coral Reef

Dr Abe V Rotor

The Eye in the Coral Reef, Acrylic Painting by the author 2015

The eye! The eye!

among the corals watching.

conscience of the sea,

over Homo sapiens fishing.

It never winks, it's alive,

guarding against man's folly,

whose eye, not of man,

disgraced guardian of the sea. ~

Have you seen towering Anahaw Palm Trees (Livistona rotundifolia)?

Towering Anahaw Palm Trees 

Living with Nature Center

San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Dr Abe V Rotor

Rising up to more than fifty feet through the canopy of nearby trees, and into the sky as emergents, these heritage palm trees are a living treasure of the arboretum of the Living with Nature Center. Their trunks are virtually perfect Parthenon columns of nature, the leaves shaped into a huge umbrella. Old leaves remain hanging in the crown drooping like a well-knit skirt, which serves as abode of fruit bats, their sleeping quarters in the day, and working station at night, indeed an ideal home for these unique nocturnal residents of the local ecosystem.

  

  

Anahaw (Livistona rotundifolia or Saribus rotundifolia) is regarded as the Philippine national leaf. Anahaw leaves are also a widespread symbol in the Philippines that is often used in awards and medals to represent high achievement, strength, and loyalty. The Anahaw leaf features a large, round outline and is glossy green in color. Livistona is used as  natural parasol in Malaysia. In Australia.* The young nuts, the size of marble, are picked and eaten in their soft stage.  The rind is trimmed with knife, the inner membrane peeled by hand, and the white soft core finds its way to the palate one after another. It was a popular snack in our time as kids when anahaw abound on the upland and forested areas. Today, Livistona is a threatened species; in fact endangered in many populated areas even on the countryside. 

 

Radially arranged leaves of anahaw are made into shingles for roof thatch, superior in coolness, beauty and durability to the traditional nipa (Nipa frutescens) and cogon (Imperata cyclindrica). In my time, in pre-plastic era, the whole leaf was crafted into free-hanging raincoat (annanga Ilk), an indigenous wear on the farm, and in going to school and market as protection from monsoon rain.  It was worn with woven hats made of the same material, or from leaves of coconut, pandan (Pandanus tectorius) or buri (Corypha elata). Imagine how the outfit looked like, complete with wooden clogs (bakya* or suekos Ilk), and abel shirt and short pants (puruntong) made from cotton.  

* Internet. The Bakyâ or wooden clogs were once the most commonly used footwear in the Philippines before the introduction of rubber sandals.

NATURE in Paintings and Verses

              NATURE in Paintings and Verses

"A world in a world lovely, sometimes lonely, 

often unseen."

Dr Abe V Rotor

Underground River, Palawan in acrylic by AVRotor 2016

Jules Verne's A Journey to the Center of the Earth,

a version at the threshold

 of reality and fantasy, at the very edge of no return,

that tests the weak and the bold. 

Rock well in acrylic by AVRotor

A world in a world their own,
deep in the deep unknown;
domain of the bold and mean,
lovely, yet lonely, unseen.

Pinsal Fall, Sta. Maria. Ilocos Sur AVR  

Rage, rage and fall free

as you seek liberty;

surrender to gravity,  

flow, flow out to sea.

Light in the Forest, acrylic AVRotor

Be benevolent, lose your crown, 

let the sun in, 

 nourish those in your shade.

'til they turn green.

Hundred Islands, Pangasinan, in acrylic on concrete wall by AVR 2016 

How I wish I could hop from island to island,
but I'm not an Angalo or a Gulliver;
Happy am I then to sail around every island, 
in awe, believing in a Great Builder. ~

Indigenous Art Binds Man-Nature Relationship

Indigenous Art Binds Man-Nature Relationship

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Indigenous art display at the Living with Nature Center, author's residence

 San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Indigenous art collection of  paintings, wood and rock formations found in nature, crafted and organized into a central theme that represents an art movement which is gaining recognition in the light of fast growing ecological consciousness worldwide. 

  

Wood and stone crafts of indigenous origin. Burnay, glazed earthen jar is a signature of ancient culture.  In Pagburnayan (burnay-making barangay) in Vigan City, burnay is still made the primitive way.  Inset: An 18th century cellar where basi wine undergoes aging. Burnay and basi wine making in the Ilocos region are traditionally linked as an industry as early as in pre-Hispanic era.  The cellar is a feature of the Living with Nature Center.

   

 Bas-relief of  Bahay Kubo, romanticized by Filipino artists, led by Fernando Amorsolo in painting,  Nicanor Abelardo and Antonio Molina in music, and Lucrecia Kasilag in performing arts.  Above, a reconstructed head of Philippine deer, now virtually extinct in our forests. The bas-relief is made of kamagong, an ebony wood from mabolo Diospyrus discolor), listed among the threatened species of trees.

Mythical image of a strange creature fills the imagination  of old folks and children alike found in the works of Philippine folklore story-tellers, led by Severino Reyes, pen name Lola Basyang, and Camilo Osias, author of  books used in pre-war elementary school. On display at the Living with Nature Center, author's residence in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

 L

Relief on hardwood of narra (Dipterocarpus indica), sculpt by an unknown artisan  among the Mangyans, aborigines of the islands of Mindoro and Palawan, graces harmoniously with the display of  indigenous art at the Living with Nature Center.  Narra is in the list of strictly protected trees in the Philippines. ~  

Beneficial and Harmful Religious Practices to Health and the Environment

Beneficial and Harmful Religious Practices to Health and to the Environment

There are as many casualties in religious wars and conflicts as casualties in non-religious wars and battles in history. Ecological destruction on the other hand, is largely attributed to man's cruelty and indifference to nature, similarly influenced by religious fanaticism.  

                                                              Dr Abe V. Rotor 

• Fasting is cleansing, it helps the body stop the accumulation of unwanted substances such as cholesterol, and allows the body to eliminate toxic materials. Fasting heightens awareness on food, its value, taste, discipline, "grace", and the feeling of hunger - which millions of people around the world encounter everyday.    

• Retreat and reflection is therapy, helps the mind and body release tension and do away with the effects of stress. It moderates lofty thoughts and ambition. It brings back idealism, hones ability to discern right from wrong.

• Abstinence conserves animal population especially during the lean months, conserving breeding stocks in order to multiply in the next season. Abstinence increases awareness to the need of becoming less dependent on animal products, and more consumption of plant products.

• To some religions pork is banned. Pork is a carrier of known parasites such as tapeworm, hookworm, and ascaris.

. Ancient religions regard certain places and trees sacred, thus enhancing their conservation. (Such worship was replaced by later religions, thus losing Nature's protection.)

• The washing of feet is not only ritual, it is also hygienic, getting rid of germs and preventing the spread of diseases.

Typical Palm Sunday, blessing of young fronds of coconut, buri, anahaw and oliva.

On the other hand, on Palm Sunday trees are stripped off of their buds, leaves and stems. Whole palm trees are cut down and laid to waste. Potential loss to the coconut industry runs to millions of pesos every year, based on the productive life of a coconut tree of 20 years on the average, and quarterly harvesting of nuts, other uses of coconut notwithstanding. There are plants used on Palm Sunday that are endangered, among them species of Cycad.

 

 

 

There are rituals and practices of various religions that fall in either of the categories – beneficial or deleterious to our environment. It is time to review them in the light of the present environmental crisis.

Here is a short list of other religious practices that should be discouraged.
1. Flagellants inflicting wounds as penitence, source of infection.

2. Religious attires, habits, costumes not suitable to climate and weather conditions.

3. Stagnant communal holy water is breeding place and carrier of many germs causing diseases. (PHOTO)

4. Walking on the knees may result to injury and long term disability.

5. Scents and smoke, mainly from candles, contain poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, specially in closed chamber.

6. Banging head as penitence, and other forms of self infliction.
 7. Extreme emotional devotion drains physical and mental strength.

8. Amulets made of toxic and allergenic materials (lead, mercury, nickel).

9. Extreme sacrifice, leading to dehydration, sun stroke, fatigue, neglect of duties.

10. Extreme fanaticism. Don't gaze at the dancing sun, you'll surely lose your sight.

11. Barefoot walking is dangerous, so with bareheaded under the scorching sun..

12. Unruly crowd may result to stampede.

13. Bringing along very young children to crowded church, pilgrimage, procession is dangerous.

14. Don't be deceived or over react to piteous situation, and play the role of a politician.

15. Being pious is not a guarantee, you will be spared of criminal elements, and accidents.

16. Be humble, don't brag with your religion, you'll only court ire, and even fight.

17. Dress simply, decently, avoid ostentatious show of wealth in your devotion.

18. Religion is a way of life, live up with it.

19. Don't preach, don't proselytize, it is better to just live as an example.

20. Never, never associate devotion with suicidal act.

Typical scene of devotees flocking the St Peter Square in Vatican for the pope's blessing. Such huge gathering is being suspended to cushion the spread of the dreaded Corona Virus Disease which has is now declared by WHO as pandemic. ~

Make your own transforms for teaching and decoration

  Make your own transforms for teaching and decoration  

"Creativity and hands-on experience are essential ingredients of effective teaching - they provide a holistic tandem of the left and right brain."  avrotor  

Museum of Natural History, UPLB 

Mt Makiling, Laguna 

Dr Abe V Rotor

 Replica of whale attracts teachers on field trip.  On the left is a painting of the blue whale

  

 Giant outline of a damsel fly and a butterfly

  

 Scorpion on the wall; wooden exoskeleton of insect.

 Modern sculptural representation of an insect's exoskeleton 

  

Fairy tale mushroom; anatomy of a tree

 Sowbug, a relative of the insect - a terrestrial crustacean

A representation of a "new" species of  lizard.