Sunday, January 31, 2021

Dyed Birds and Chicks Appear to Kids as "New Species."

Don't get fooled!
Dyed Birds and Chicks Appear to Kids as "New Species." 

Dr Abe V Rotor
 
 

Wonder what these kids are thinking, amazed at these colorful feathered pets
Ambulant bird vendors clandestinely ply their trade among unsuspecting kids. The birds, mainly the cosmopolitan house sparrow, field maya, and three-day old chicks, have been colorfully dyed to appear rare and unique, attracting parents to give in to their children's plea. Some specimens are specially dyed to make them appear as new species. San Vicente, Ilocos Sur town fiesta. (Circa April 2018)

Dyed three-day old chicks attract children, who make them pets. Dyed birds and chicks may not last long.  Dyes carry substances that are not only harmful to the birds, but also to humans and to the environment.  This practice is not in keeping with environmental laws and regulations, and therefore, should be discouraged. if not banned. ~

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Black Cat Before a Waterfall

  Black Cat Before a Waterfall   
"She sits comfortably calm under the sun while the waterfall roars and the river flows." avr

                                           Wall Mural by Dr Abe V Rotor


Superstition makes Black-black a rare pet,
     her being black is bad luck,
not even when you meet her on the street,
     surely you stop and turn back.

Black is beautiful they say, but not a cat,
     like black diamond, black hair;
console one wearing black, save the cat,
     really it's not at all fair.   

She finds peace and content by a waterfall,
     its water falling free, 
purring while the waterfall roars and the river
    flows out to the sea!
 
 
Black-black is a native domestic feline, counterpart of the mongrel.  
Her lineage is traced to cats in the neighborhood, however as to 
how she got her pure black coat is unknown.  Author's pet at home, 
San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. 

Trees - Life of the Landscape

Trees - Life of the Landscape  
Dr Abe V Rotor

Fire trees and a Waterfall, acrylic on canvas AVRotor

Summer sky and fiery hill,
a shy waterfall in between,
drifting clouds its twin, 
 and a dash of breezy chill. 

  
 Forest Adventurers in acrylic showing details, AVRotor,

Young adventurers in a forest,
where the world of wildlife lies,
caress a confetti of butterflies
 as the sun breaks into prism,
and the forest laughs and cries.  

 Forest Stream, section of a wall mural by AVRotor, Greater Lagro QC

Born in the mountains high,
rivulets into stream divine;
don't hurry up in your prime,
where everything is young ,
in the stillness of time. 

Into Your Light, in acrylic by AVRotor 

Sleep, it's autumn for the trees
to shed off their crown;
save the pine and cypress,
and white doves of peace.

  
Green Parthenon, in acrylic on wood by AVRotor 

Living columns, Parthenon of the forest,
your fate in the hands of man,
what time did to a temple of the gods -
ruins of beauty gone. ~

Sunday, January 24, 2021

Natural Toxins in Food Plants

Natural Toxins in Food Plants

Dr Abe V Rotor

Arusip or lato is the most popular sea vegetable in the market.  Too much intake may cause dizziness and may have sedative effect to some. This is traced to a substance called caulerpin, named after its genus Caulerpa. The species shown is Caulerpa racemosa.  It is served fresh with sliced ripe tomato and onion.  

Food contains natural chemicals that are essential for growth and health which include carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and vitamins. But some foods contain potentially harmful natural toxins. Here are some common plants that carry natural toxins.

• Number one in the list is cassava (Manihot utilissima) yields natural cyanic acid mainly in the bark.
1. Crop should be harvested in about 6 months. Over mature tubers contain more of the toxin.
2. Avoid cassava growing along fences and borders; they are likely there for a long time.
3. Choose tubers that are freshly harvested, especially when buying in the market.
4. Remove the entire bark, and wash the tuber thoroughly. Cut into pieces and boil.
5. When the pot starts to boil, remove the cover. This allows the cyanogas to escape.
6. Well cooked cassava is generally safe, but exercise moderation especially among children.
7. Note that there are varieties of cassava which have higher cyanic acid content. Your local agriculturist and the old folks know best.

• Potato (Solanum tuberosum) contains natural toxins called glycoalkaloids The levels are usually low but higher levels are found in potato sprouts, and the peels of potato. These natural toxins are produced by the plant to counteract pests and pathogens, and stress fro ultraviolet and injury. Because glycoalkaloids are not destroyed by cooking, these are the things to do.

1. Don’t eat sprouted potato.
2. Remove any damaged part of the tuber.
3. Don’t eat cooked potatoes that still taste bitter.
4. If you come across a green potato crisp, it’s best not to eat it.
5. Store potatoes in a dark, cool and dry place.
6. Note that Solanum tuberosum belongs to the same family as tobacco – Solanaceae.

• Seeds of apples and pears, and the stony pit or kernel of apricot and peaches contain a naturally occurring substance called amygdalin. Amygdalin can turn into hydrogen cyanide in the stomach causing discomfort or illnesses. It can sometimes be fatal.

Others:

Bamboo shoots (labong) contains a certain amount of cyanic acid, similar to that in cassava. Cook well with the pot open to allow the gas to escape.
  • Nicotine in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is among the most poisonous substances in nature. Extract of the poison from a single stick of cigarette can instantaneously kill a person when injected into the bloodstream. Smokers die slowly of nicotine, one of the top ten causes of death in modern society, early death notwithstanding heobromin in cacao (Theobroma cacao)
  • Caffeine in coffee (Coffea spp.)
  • Capsicin in red pepper
  • Ricinin in castor bean (Ricinus communis)
  • Caulerpin in lato or ar-arusip (Caulerpa racemosa)
  • Aflatoxin is a substance produced by a fungus, Aspergillus flavus, that grows on harvested crops like corn, rice and copra that are not properly dried and stored. Aflatoxin causes cirrhosis of the liver and other related ailments.

  • cassava

Thursday, January 21, 2021


Books and Book Manuscripts of Dr Abercio V Rotor

                    Books written by Dr Abe V Rotor

avrotor@gmail.com
Winner of National Book Award 2007, Living with Nature in Our Times
sequel to The Living with Nature Handbook [Winner of Gintong Aklat 
 (Golden Book) Award 2003]

 
AVR views award-winning books at Yuchengco Museum, Makati

Philippine Literature Today: A Travelogue Approach (co-authors Kristine Molina-Doria and Abercio V Rotor, C and E Publishing Co.) aims at guiding students, in the light of present day trends, to trace back the foundation of literature’s basic tenets and principles and preserve its integrity and true essence.  Four pillars of Philippine literature stand sentinel to help the students answer the question “Quo vadis?” To where are we heading for? 

Four great Filipinos are acclaimed vanguards of Philippine Literature. The cover of the book, conceptualized and made by artist Leo Carlo R Rotor, depicts the theme of the book - travelogue in literature with these heroes.   Jose Rizal on politico-socio-cultural subjects, including ecological, Rizal being an environmentalist while in exile in Dapitan, Misamis Oriental, Mindanao; Francisco Baltazar or Balagtas on drama and performing arts in general, fiction novels and plays, evolving into stage show and cinema; Severino Reyes or Lola Basyang on mythology, children’s stories, komiks, and a wealth of cartoons and other animations and Leona Florentino, the Philippines’ Elizabeth Browning, Ella Wilcox, Emily Bronte et al, epitomizes the enduring classical literature. 

 
"The humanities hold the greatest treasure of mankind."  Co-authored with Dr Kristine Molina-Doria, the book, in summary, makes Humanities, a basic 3-unit subject in college, interesting and attractive to students. The book is distinct from conventional textbooks by being experiential in approach - meaning, on-site, hands-on, and encompassing of the various schools of art - old, new and postmodern.  Learning is further enhanced by viewing an accompanying compact disc (CD), and by having easy access to a wide range of references principally from the authors' works on Facebook and Blog. [avrotor.blogspot.com] It is a publication of C&E, one of the country's biggest publishers and distributors of books. Launched in February this year it is now adapted by several colleges and universities.




" 'Do unto the land as you would the land do unto you. Treat the land with request, if not with reverence.' xxx The tree is taken to represent the environment. Each poem and each painting is like a leaf of a tree each revealing a little of the many marvels of this unique creation. Each poem and each painting is a plea on behalf of this new vision and of this new ethics." (Excerpt from the Message by Dr. Armando F. De Jesus, Ph.D. former Dean, Faculty of Arts and Letters, UST 2010)

"What makes this poetry collection specially significant is its ecological slant which gives it an added dimension rarely attributed to other poetry collections. xxx to “get out of the house” and bond with nature. It is a departure from the usual stale air of solitariness and narcissism which permeates most poetry today. Every poem indeed becomes a “flower in disguise” using the poet’s own words." (Excerpt from the Foreword by the late Ophelia A. Dimalanta, Ph.D. Director, Center for Creative Writing and Studies, UST).



The book contains 170 poems and verses with accompanying photographs and images, 190 pp, in easy reading font, Times New Roman, bold type. 

Published by University of Santo Tomas, launched 2008 Manila International Book Fair, SMX Mall of Asia, 220 pp. "The book is a compendium of indigenous technical knowledge complemented with modern scientific thinking. The narratives offer an exploration into the world of ethno-science covering a wide range of practical interest from climate to agriculture; medicine to food and nutrition..: (Excerpt of Foreword by Dr Lilian J Sison, dean UST Graduate School).

" For the science educator and communicator, here is a handy volume to help you reach the popular consciousness. You will find here more than ample number of examples for making connections between lived experience and scientific information." (Dr Florentino H Hornedo, UNESCO Commissioner)


 
Winner of the Gintong Aklat Award 2003 by the Book Publishers Association of the Philippines. The book has 30 chapters (189 pp),divided into four parts, a practical guide on how one can get closer to nature, the key to a healthy and happy life. Second printing, 2008.

"Once upon a time, nature was pristine, undefiled, and unspoiled. We used to live in a dreamlike world of tropical virgin forests, and purer hidden springs, calm ponds, and serene lakes with majestic purple mountains, crowned with canopied trees. That was when people took only what they needed, caught only what they ate, and lived only in constant touch with a provident earth." (excerpt from the Introduction by Dr Anselmo Set Cabigan, professor, St Paul University QC and former director of the National Food Authority)
 
A Sequel to the Living with Nature Handbook (312 pp), it was launched at the Philippine International Book Fair. It won the 2006 National Book Award by the National Book Development Board jointly with The Manila Book Circle and the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts. Published by UST Publishing House, the book has 35 chapters divided into four parts. The book can be aptly described in this verse.

"Nature shares her bounty in many ways:
He who works or he who prays,
Who patiently waits or gleefully plays;
He's worthy of the same grace."

The principal author is Dr. Belen L Tangco who wrote the verses and prayers. Each verse or prayer is accompanied by an appropriate painting by AV Rotor. Full color and handy, it is useful as a prayer book and reference in the Humanities.

"Indeed, God speaks to us in the little details of nature - through the trees and the flowers, in the drip of rain, in the blow of the wind. He speaks to us in all of His Creation..." (Excerpt from the Foreword by Fr Tamelane R Lana, UST Rector)


A coffee table book, full color, published by Megabooks in 1995. It was dedicated and presented to the Holy Father on his visit to the Philippines by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, Sister Teresita Bayona SPC, and Fr. James B Reuter, SJ.

" Doctor A.V. Rotor is an extraordinary man - scientist, painter, musician, photographer, poet. With these verses he becomes something more than an artist. He is an apostle - trying, in his own gentle way, to bring man to God. and God to man, through beauty." (Message by Fr James B Reuter, SJ in his own handwriting)


A collection of 18 essays about life and living, 216 pages. Published by UST in 2000 with the Preface written by Fr. Jose Antonio Aureada, regent of the Graduate School.

"What is considered a religion of disconnection betrays man's inability to see sensuality through divinity and divinity through sensuality... It was Victor Frankl, a Jewish psychotherapist-philosopher, who popularized logotherapy, a word of Greek origin which literally means healing through meaning. Dr Abe. the poet-musician-painter-scientist rolled into one, reminds us of the Franklian inspired principle: The unheard cry for meaning if only well-heeded in all aspects of life - from the least significant to the extremely necessary, from the most commonplace to the phenomenally sublime - can only restore authenticity back to living life beautifully."


The book is in full color, 75 pages, written by a very young student of then St Paul College QC. In the words of Sr Mary Sarah Manapol in the Foreword, "Viva is a youthful poetess who thinks and writes about pain and loss, friendship, joy and love, music and the arts, nature, math and literature, war and piece - these belie her age of 17 summers."

Dr AV Rotor as co-author, provided the photographs and paintings that fits harmoniously with the poems. More than this, he encouraged the young poetess to write her first book which was launched on her debut. Here is a verse from an anonymous admirer.

"After reading Light of Dawn,
 
How can I live without poetry and art?
From the love that I shall find,
 
Shall not my heart depart
."





Poems, poems, poems, 72 pages, a handy book, colored and black and white, published by Megabooks 2000. The late secretary of justice Sedfrey A Ordonez wrote in the Foreword "... it is inescapable that after reading his poetry and after examining his paintings which accompany his verses one is led to the conclusion that the man who created the multi-disciplinary tour de force is a Renaissance man, one who reveals his reverence for nature by means of music, verse, and painting."







The authors have embarked on this task of providing people with more information about the many uses of some plants. While herbal plants have long been recognized because of their nutritional and medicinal qualities, their other uses are not fully exploited... May we continue to promote alternative medicine... The prices of medicine and health products remain unaffordable to most of our countrymen and herbal plants are the best alternative as most of these have been proven to be effective." (Excerpt from the message of Dr Juan M Flavier, former senator and secretary of health)



A Giraffe Book, it contains 72 verses, mainly four-liners, each verse  accompanied by a photograph or painting. Most of the photos were taken by students in the Humanities at then St Paul College QC. The school president wrote the Foreword, an excerpt of which reads as follows:

"It takes deep reflection to arouse one's inner child to take notice of the undistinguished buds, hyacinth, date palms... and it takes a trusting, affirming, and enlightened teacher-artist to lead and inspire..." 



Peacemaking in Asia (350 pp), contains papers presented in the 7th General Assembly of different religions in Asia held at UST in 2008. The proceedings were compiled, edited and published into a book, by AVR, now in circulation among participating religions.  Copies are available at the Interfaith Center, TARC Building, UST. 

NOTE: Available at the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, Espana corner P Noval St, Manila. (The Living with Nature Handbook; Living with Nature in Our Times; Light from the Old Arch, and Living with Folk Wisdom. Please call 406-1611 local 8252/8278). Selected books are also available at National Book Store branches; C&E publishing (Humanities Today and Philippine Literature), please call 9295088


 Book Manuscripts of Dr Abercio V Rotor

These book manuscripts have been derived and organized from my website which comprises three blogs Living with Nature, Naturalism the Eighth Sense, and A Naturalist's World. 

Although the theme is Nature, the topics are varied and based on multiple intelligence, sciences and the humanities, and other fields of human interest. I invite you to open my website avrotor.blogspot.com and enjoy reading more than four thousand articles and lessons.

Ilocano versions of a lot of articles contained in these manuscripts have been published in Bannawag, a weekly Manila Bulletin magazine, under the column of the author, Okeyka, Apong, thanks to Mr Ariel S Tabag whose patience and dedication over the years have made the column accessible to Ilocano speaking readers here and abroad.  There are selected articles used in writing for local publications, technical papers, lectures (UST, DLSU-D, SPU-QC, UPH)  

Many articles contained in these manuscripts have been aired in the last twenty years or so, on Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School on Air) 738 DZRB (Radyo ng Bayan) Monday to Friday, 7 to 8 in the evening, with Dr Abe V Rotor (Ka Abe) as instructor and Ms Melly C Tenorio (Ka Melly) as program host.
 
Annual volumes of the articles since 2006 are now being organized into manuscripts for future publication. Other than these manuscripts thirteen (13) have been published into books, briefly described in the second part of this article. 

 
  
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  

  

  

Other books and manuals written by Dr Rotor
  • Farm Marketing in Asia and the Pacific, Asian Productivity Organization Tokyo Contributor and editor, 1992
  • Our Generous Fragile Earth. Mimeo 1991
  • Economic Entomology Manual, De La Salle University (Araneta) 1965
  • Plant Morphology and Physiology, De La Salle University (Araneta) 1965
  • Farmers' Digest (publisher and editor 1963-66)

AVR with Ka Melly Tenorio seated co-host of Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid, co-authors Dr Felipe Briana and Dr Kristine Molina Doria, and Mrs Cecille Rotor (in yellow) at DZRB radio station, QC.

AVR with veteran journalist Larry Henares, and Mrs Cecille Rotor