An Educational Visit to the Living with Nature Center (San Vicente Botanical Garden)

An Educational Visit to the Living with Nature Center 

(San Vicente Botanical Garden)

The garden is an outdoor classroom; nature is the greatest teacher.
San Vicente Ilocos Sur Philippines - Heritage Zone of the North (RA 11645)

Dr Abe V Rotor


Croton (Codiaum variegatum) glows with the setting sun
makes a perfect background of youth and beauty.

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." —Lao Tzu


Waterfalls roaring, hissing, cold and refreshing - before a wall mural.

"If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere."
— Laura Ingalls Wilder


The sun is brightest before sundown. These models save
the day among trees and icons in the garden.

"There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature -
the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter."
—Rachel Carson


Catch the fish with the camera, even only their impressions in ripples.

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…
I could walk through my garden forever."
– Alfred Lord Tennyson



Sampaguita (Jasminium sambac); caballero (Caesalpinna pulcherrima)

"Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose"- Gertrude Stein,
when asked what is a rose (1913 poem "Sacred Emily").
The adage evolved into several variations. The rose could
mean anything compared to its beauty found in nature, and
that it may reside in the human spirit.

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice
because thorn bushes have roses." - Abraham Lincoln

"Earth laughs in flowers." - Ralph Waldo Emerson



"The best place to find God is in a garden.
You can dig for him there."
–George Bernard Shaw


The garden is an outdoor classroom, nature the great teacher;
life the subject, the universe boundless and free. - A V Rotor



Arboretum simulates the tropical rainforest in storeys or layers,
consisting of ground plants, bushes, shrubs, lianas, canopy trees
(main crown) and emergents (tallest trees). Several trees are three
to four generations old, earning the name heritage trees. ~

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."
– Cicero

Core Uses For Garden-Based Learning In Basic Education
Acknowledgement with thanks to Livingston Education Foundation,
Outdoor Classroom Initiations, Internet

“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” ~Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Academic Skills

• To support core academic training, particularly in science and math – real world hands on experiences
• Enrichment of core curriculum in language arts through introduction of new learning landscapes
• To support standards based education in countries with national or regional education standards

Personal Development (Mental & Physical)

• To add a sense of excitement, adventure, emotional impact and aesthetic appreciation to learning
• To improve nutrition, diet and health
• To teach the art and science of cooking with fresh products from the garden or local farms
• To re-establish the celebratory nature of a shared meal
•  Provide ‘real life’ experiences that foster team decision-making to a collective goal
•  Provide respite from academic and social stress

Social & Moral Development

• To teach sustainable development
• To teach ecological literacy and/or environmental education
• To teach the joy and dignity of work and a sense of community
• To teach respect for public and private property
• Vocational and/or Subsistence Skills
• To teach basic skills and vocational competencies
• To produce food and other commodities for subsistence consumption and trade

Life Skills

• To teach about food and fiber production
• To engage children in community service and environmental care
• To involve students in lessons of leadership and decision making

Apo Baket - keeper of traditional values, and Basang (right) - nanny of orphaned children, are icons enshrined in the Living with Nature Center (San Vicente Botanical Garden)

Core uses for garden-based learning beyond basic education

Community Development

• Gardens often serve as a focal point for community dialogue, capacity building, and partnerships
• Gardens often organize individuals for action – for water delivery, cooperatives, and transportation

Sustainable Development

• Gardens are an appropriate arena to introduce children to the interconnections that link nature to economic systems and society

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden-based_learning ~

The Magic Natural Vinegar. It saves money, time and effort. It is health- and environment-friendly.

 The Magic Natural Vinegar.  It saves money, time and effort. It is health- and environment-friendly. 

Vinegar is the most popular food conditioner – for seasoning, marinating, as spice, appetizer, and the like.  Outside of the kitchen vinegar has many uses, from deodorizer to weed killer, sore throat remedy to first aid 

to insect bite.  

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog

Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid with Ms Melly C Tenorio

738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday

The author's family enjoy Vigan empanada dipped in Ilocos natural vinegar

A. Cook with Natural Vinegar

. Firm up gelatin. Add a teaspoon of vinegar for every box of gelatin used to keep those molded desserts from sagging in the summer heat.

· . Boil better eggs. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to each quart of water before boiling eggs, keeps them from cracking.

· When boiling eggs, add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water to prevent white from leaking out of a cracked egg and also keep the yolk in the center of the egg,

· Prepare fluffier rice. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water when it boils.

· Sour fruits with vinegar. Try eating young tamarind with vinegar and salt, so with santol. You may add sugar.

· When boiling meat, add a spoonful of vinegar to the water to make it more tender.

· Marinate tough meat in vinegar overnight to tenderize.

· Pickle green papaya, botolan (seeded banana). Add carrot, onion and the like.

. Pickles in natural vinegar will last longer and taste better.

. Cook fish and meat as paksiw.

· Freshen vegetables. Soak wilted vegetables in a quart of cold water and a tablespoon of vinegar.

· Debug fresh vegetables. Wash leafy greens in water with vinegar and salt. Bugs floats off.

. Use vinegar instead of lemon on fried and broiled foods. It gives a tangy flavor

B. Clean with Natural Vinegar 

· . Deodorize the kitchen drain. Pour a cup down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.

· Unclog a drain. Pour a handful of baking soda down the brain and add ½ cup of vinegar. Rinse with hot water.

· Eliminate onion odor. Rub on your fingers before and after slicing.

· Clean and disinfect cutting boards. Wipe with full strength vinegar.

· Remove fruit stains from hands. Rub with vinegar.

· Cut grease and odor on dishes. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water.

· Clean and deodorize jars. Rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty.

· Clean a teapot. Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.

· Freshen a lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox overnight.

· Clean the refrigerator. Wash with a solution of equal parts of water and vinegar.

· Scale fish more easily. Rub with vinegar 5 minutes before scaling.

· Clean the dishwasher. Run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware.

· Clean stainless steel. Wipe with a vinegar dampened cloth.

· Clean china and fine glassware. Add a cup pf vinegar to a sink of warm water. Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry.

· Get stains out of pots. Fill pot with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water. Boil until stain loosens and can be washed away.

· Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of ¼ cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered food and deodorize.

· Get rid of cooking smells. Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.

· Mix some vinegar with salt. It will clean dishes, pots, glasses, windows, brass, copper, bronze, pans. Skillets. Rinse well with warm water, 

· Remove the lime deposits. Add vinegar to warm water and soak your tea kettle overnight. This will also work on your glass coffee pot. Put three ounces of vinegar in the pot and fill rest with warm water.

· Wipe jars of preserves and canned food with vinegar to prevent mold producing bacteria.

· Clean jars with vinegar and water to remove odor.

· Prevent discoloration of peeled potatoes by adding a few drops of vinegar in water. They will keep fresh for days in the refrigerator. Try this when trimming buko (young coconut). It prevents discoloration. ~ 

Herbal Medicine Revival: Yellow Bell (Allamanda cathartica) - Ornamental and Medicine

Herbal Medicine Revival

Yellow Bell (Allamanda cathartica)

- Ornamental and Medicine

Allamanda species have been used in systems of traditional medicine for various purposes. A. cathartica has been used to treat liver tumors, jaundice, splenomegaly, and malaria. In analyses, some species have shown some activity against carcinoma cells, pathogenic fungi, and HIV. Wikipedia

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Yellow Bell, Allamanda cathartica, Family Apocynaceae, is called kampanilya or kampanero in the Philippines, a tropical, evergreen vine.  It is also known as golden trumpet, common allamanda, and yellow allamanda.

Native to the Americas (Mexico to Argentina), probably introduced to the Philippines from Mexico by the Spaniards. It is cultivated as ornamental plant owing to its large, bright yellow flowers. Another species, A. blanchetii bears pink flowers. The genus name Allamanda honors the Swiss botanist and physician Frédéric-Louis Allamand (1735–1803).

Allamanda species have been used as traditional medicine to treat liver tumors, jaundice, splenomegaly, and malaria. Some species have shown some activity against carcinoma cells, pathogenic fungi, and HIV. 

In lab analyses Allamanda species have yielded several chemical compounds, including iridoid lactones such as allamandin, plumericin, and plumierides. Plumericin particularly was demonstrated to be a highly potent NF-κB inhibitor with anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, while its structurally related derivatives plumierdin, plumeridoid C, and allamandicin did not have activity. The lignan pinoresinol and coumarins such as scopoletin and scoparone have been isolated from A. schottii. (Wikipedia)

Caution:  Allamanda cathartica is notable for its medicinal properties although all parts of the plant contain allamandin, a toxic iridoid lactone. The leaves, roots and flowers are used as a laxative and emetic in traditional medicine in a number of tropical countries. 

Although the milky sap is known to contain antibacterial and possibly anticancer properties it is poisonous and ingesting large amounts can be toxic. Effects of poisoning can also include rashes, itch, and blisters.

  

Don’t allow children to sip the nectar of the flowers, which is somewhat sweet. Initial numbness of lips and tongue indicates allergic reaction. Seek medical attention.       

NOTE: Photographs were taken by the author at Terrazas de Punta de Fuego, Nasugbu, Batangas, February 7, 2016

Ethnobotany: Paslep (Tempered Steel) 10 Ilocano Verses

                                                                     Ethnobotany

Paslep (Tempered Steel)

10 Ilocano Verses

Dr Abe V Rotor*

Ethnobotany of the Itawes of Cagayan by Mamerta Rocero SPC, PhD

Published by University of Santo Tomas and the National Museum, Manila Philippines 

1. Ayatennak pay

No irugita manen?
Ay, papaaweng.
Love the second time around may lack sincerity.

2. Karu-otan
Paggappuan ti uram,
Ken billit tuleng.
Fire warning on a grassy knoll may fall on deaf ear.
(Take heed of potential danger.)

3. Agmulat’ pagay
Inladawanna’t pader,
Nakasapatos pay.
"You can't grow rice on the blackboard." 

(Theory and practice are different. 

Things are easier said than done.)

4. Natartaripato,
Marmargaayan,
Matmatay.
Too much care and too much bounty lead to slow death. 

(Tender trap)

5. Ayat nga nagpayat
Umay, pumanaw,
Agnaed bassit.
Love has wings, it comes but briefly and leaves.

6. Agpilpilika
Ti ayat nga kayatmo,
Freud wenno Plato.
Physical (Freudian) or purist (Platonic) love - it's your choice

7. Burburti: Agpal-pallelang,
Bumab-baba ti init,
Maturog mamen.
A riddle: Acacia, its leaves droop as the sun sets.

8. Pitak ken ling-et
Paslep ti Oktubre
Makasisirap.
"Golden harvest is earned from hard work."

9. Panagipalangip:
Saan mo nga garawen.
Malinlinay.

Never stir rice to hasten its cooking.

10. Aginanan ni Maestro,
Imminum ti Hemlock.
Ballegi!
There is glory in death. (Socrates obligingly faced death clinging to his philosophy that changed the thinking of man. Similarly, Rizal's death was victory to Filipinos - and humanity, as a whole.) ~

*Dr Rotor is columnist of Bannawag Ilocano Magazine, Dagiti Tawid a Sirib ken Adal (Our Heritage of Wisdom and Lessons)

Proverbs and Riddles* in Ilocano "Dumanon langit ti maikatlo nga takyag."

                                   Proverbs and Riddles* in Ilocano

"Dumanon langit ti maikatlo nga takyag." 

A helping hand reaches heaven, figuratively speaking.

Dr Abercio (Bersio) V Rotor

Columnist, Okeyka Apong: Dagiti Tawid a Sirib ken Adal (Heritage of Wisdom and Lessons), Bannawag Magazine (weekly magazine in Ilocano, published  by Manila Bulletin)  

1. Nangisngisit nasamsam-it -
Bugnay.
The darker it is, the sweeter. Duhat

A bee pollinating flowers of kamias.

Photo by the author.

2. Bislat: pagbaut, pagsurat
Ken sarukud.
Cane is for whipping, writing, and walking

3. Adda mata dagiti kaykayo,
No rumabii.
The trees have eyes at night.

4. Agkakabsat, aggugubat.
Ay, daksanggasat!
Brothers fighting each other in war,
what a tragedy! 

5. Sabong nagukrad, alimbubuyog,
Makasulisug.
 An open flower attract a bee. (photo) 

6. Alipupus dua, maysa’t muging,
Nasukir isuna.
He who has two hair pools with one 
on the forehead is stubborn 

7. Perlas ken lua pangar-arigan
Panagkaddua.
Pearls and tears are symbols of friendship.

8. Pan-nangan’ awan agsaramsam,
Ti nagbaetan.

Don't eat between meals.

9. Dumanon langit maikatlo nga takyag 
A helping hand to an elderly reaches heaven,
figuratively, speaking.

10. Agar-arasaas diay dadapilan,
Bubud diay burnay.
The sugarcane crusher whispers, 
so with the brew (must) in the earthen jar.

11. Agparparintomeng, awan maka-asideg.
Lunsa-lunsa.
This kneeling creature dares anyone to get near. (preying mantis) - photo

12. Agbilangka't sangagasot ken maysa
No agduaduaka.
Count one-hundred-and-one if you are in doubt.

13. Itudom amin ida, no awan basolmo
ken nadaluska.
Point the blame at all others, if you are sinless 
and pure. It is analogous to "He who has no sin casts the first stone." (Statement of Christ before
a mob about to stone a sinner to death.)

14. Gura ken ayat, bumtak wenno umpes,
Kasla ulep.
Hate and love, like cloud, breaks and disappears.

15. Umisemkan tapno maturogen
Iti bulan.
Smile so that the moon goes to sleep.

--------

* A proverb is a short, popular saying that offers advice about life, while a riddle is a statement or question with double meanings meant to be solved.

Ügot ken Atab’ (Low Tide and High Tide): Haiku in Ilocano

                       Haiku in Ilocano

Ügot ken Atab’ (Low Tide and High Tide)

Dr. Abe V. Rotor

Columnist, Dagiti Tawid a Sirib ken Adal (Our Heritage of Values and Lessons) Bannawag, Ilocano Weekly Magazine

Published by Manila Bulletin 

   Children Playing at Low Tide, in acrylic by AV Rotor

1. Agsinsinnublat,

Agmalmalem, agpatpatnag,

Ugot, atab’.

High and low tides come one after the other all day and night through.

2. Agkalintudo:

Ti nangisit pumuraw,

Puraw ngumisit.

Under continuous rain, black turns into white, and white into black.                                                                                     

3. Natagtagari,

No panagtutudo’t

Waig diay ngato.

It’s noisier upstream in the rainy season.

Rampage after heavy rain painting by the author 

4. Maisa kaniada,

Pobre agparti’t manok,

Iti masakit.

If a poor man decides to eat his fowl - one of them is sick.

5. Panaginnayat

Diay bassit a kalapaw

Napudno unay.

Love that reigns in a simple home is true.

6. Rupat’ arigna

Uray nakakidemka,

Panagsarita.

Without looking you know the character of a person the way he talks.

7. Karraragsakan

Mangparagsak dagiti

Malmalday unay.

He who makes sad people happy is the happiest person.

8. Agbiddut ngata,

Ti awan aramidna,

Agmaymaysa?

Will one who hasn’t done anything commit error?

9. Awan agpada:

Bul-bulong, bit-bituen,

Kapanunutan.

No two leaves or stars are the same, so with thoughts.

10. Napnuan saririt,

Kabusor, rig-rigat,

Pannakaabak.

One has enough wisdom from trials, sufferings, failures.

11. Lukipem sakbay

Lukatam ti panunot,

Usisaem pay.

Study a thing first before you make your mind.

12. Ad-adut’ matay

Iti lamut ngem bisin.

Nakababain.

More die of gluttony than hunger – what a shame.

13. Natalna unay,

Tarampo wenno pilid,

Kaar-aramid.

Spinning top and wheel, they work perfectly well when new.

14. Agbilangkanto’t

Sangagasot ket maysa,

Oras panagdua-dua.

Count one hundred and one when you are in doubt.

15. Maturog kadi’t

Karasaen ken buaya?

Agan-annadka.

The wicked does not sleep – beware.

16. Atiddag iti biag

No dakkel iti lapayag.

Agkalkal-lingag.

He who has big ears lives long; he is keen to sound.

17. Sinardengam ti

Dumaldalan nga kuton,

Apo Solomon.

King Solomon halted his army for the ants to pass.

18. Makasulisug,

Makapurar ti puro

Nga balitoc.

Pure gold glitters, it so tempting.

19. Ipaka-ammom

Dagiti ma-anupan’,

Daras maawan.

A rich hunting ground is always kept secret by a hunter.

20. ‘Toy aw-awitek’,

Krus nakadagdagsen,

Ngem pangipanak?

This cross I am carrying, where shall I put it?

A Mob of Red Fish

A Mob of Red Fish

Dr Abe V Rotor 

A School of Red Fish in acrylic (29"x19") AVR 2015

War-like by color and built,

brute, rugged and careless,

ruling the sea like on a street,

in a mob, blind, lawless,
 fighting each other no less. ~