San Vicente Botanical Garden: Nature's Art in Plants

 San Vicente Botanical Garden

Nature's Art in Plants

Dr Abe V Rotor

 Ornamental Pineapple - Ananas comosus champaca

Purple Sampaguita

Luminescent inflorescence of Abaniko (Belamcanda chinensis)

Nail polished tip Bromeliad

Inflorescence of Caballero (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

glows at sunset

Inflorescence of Bromeliad

Velvety metamorphosed leaves appearing like petals around 

tiny flowrs of Dona Luz (Mussaenda Philippica),

Dehiscent Rosary Beads (Abrus precatorius) in action

Elephant's Ear Colocasia

Compound thorns of Cherry 

Transparent leaves of avocado (Persia Americana)

Radial symmetry of anahaw ( Saribus rotundifolius)

 Polygonal symmetry of  croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

Living with Nature centerpiece: San Vicente Botanical Garden 

Wall mural inspired by the swarming of certain organisms like doves 

and butterflies. ~

Sinarapan – Smallest Fish

 Sinarapan – Smallest Fish

Dr Abe V Rotor

 Sinarapan fish in Lake Buhi

Sinarapan, scientifically known as Mistichthys luzonensis is the world's smallest commercially harvested fish and is found in Lakes Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region. Another goby, Pandaka pygmaea, also found only in the Philippines, is the smallest known vertebrate and may be endangered.

Sinarapan, from the root word sarap or tasty, is a rare fish species found only in Lake Buhi in the Bicol Region. It is the smallest fish in the world of commercial value.  Overfishing and deterioration of its natural habitat have placed sinarapan under the list of threatened species, a prelude to the category of endangered species, a step away from extinction.

What attracts buyers and connoisseurs other than curiosity?  

Well, like the dulong (ipon Ilk) it is indigenous which means it is a native delicacy, which not for long, it became commercialized. Dried sinarapan is quickly fried and served as shown in the photos. Its taste in not extraordinary, but you are eating the smallest commercial fish in the world and that’s something special. What with hundreds of helpless individuals in one bite!  Thousands in your plate, their large eyes focused on you. Personally, a first time experience is enough, and that would help conserved the species. ~

The Science and Art of Making Wine the Practical Way (Article in Progress)

The Science and Art of Making Wine the Practical Way 

Dr Abe V Rotor

Table wine from 10 different local fruits produced by the author 

in his home cellar in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur as shown below. 

 

Age appears best in four things: Old wood to burn, old wine to drink,

 old friends to trust and old authors to read. – Francis Bacon

 

Wisdom and Wit and Wine  - avr

Wine and friends are a great blend. – Ernest Hemingway.

Love, like wine, gets better with time.

Wine is bottled poetry. -Robert Louis Stevenson

A good day starts with good coffee, and ends with good wine.

The connoisseur does not drink wine but tastes of its secrets. – Salvador Dali

If a glass of wine is good for you, imagine what a bottle can do.

Wine is sunlight held together by water. – Galileo

Wine improves with age. The older I get, the more I love it.

Age appears best in four things: Old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust and old authors to read. – Francis Bacon

I love everything that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines. -Oliver Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield.

 

Art Expression with Glass and Rocks

 Art Expression with Glass and Rocks

Dr Abe V Rotor

The Unwilling Waterfall

Make the waterfall fluid, yet unwilling,

like Dali's Melting Clock;

then down escapes cascading and free,

for today's life is like that. 

Pebbles - Unending Treasure 

 Survivors of eons of grinding and polishing 

 into gems along the stream onto the shore,

I pick these pebbles for my indigenous art;

for orator Demosthenes, his voice culture;

 craftsmen an unending source of treasure.

Flow Gently Little Stream

 Flow Gently Little Stream

Treasured poem of Robert Burns in high school taught by Mrs Socorro Villamor, my teacher in literature in the late 1950s at Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (now Divine Word College of Vigan), to whom this book manuscript is dedicated. I find the melody and lyrics of the poem inspiring and soothing in bringing peace and serenity to modern living.  There are poems contained in this manuscript reflective of Burn's poem, which are accessible in this Blog  avrotor.blogspot.com and its extension naturalism - the eighth sense

FLOW GENTLY SWEET AFTON

           Robert Burns

Flow gently sweet afton among thy green braes

Flow gently I'll sing thee a song in thy praise

My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream

Flow gently sweet afton, disturb not her dream

Thou stock dove whose echo resound through the glen

Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den

Thou greencrested lapwing thy screaming forbear

I charge you, disturb not my slumbering fair

How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighboring hills

Far marked with the courses of clear winding rills

There daily I wander as noon rises high

My flocks and my Mary's sweet cot in my eye

How pleasant thy banks and sweet valleys below

Where wild are the woodlands, the primroses blow

There oft, as mild evening weeps over the lea

The sweet scented birk shades my Mary and me

Thy crystal stream, afton, how lovely it glides

And winds by the cot where my Mary resides

How wanton the waters her snowy feet lave

As gathering sweet flowers, she stems thy clear wave

Flow gently sweet afton among thy green braes

Flow gently sweet river, the theme of my lays

My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream

Flow gently sweet afton, disturb not her dream. ~

Make-believe Monster

Make-believe Monster

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature - School on Blog

Tagaytay Zoo

Painting fear and love in duality

     of a monster on the screen;

it's all money and the Academy

     and the viewers' scream.

Now the forest is forever silent,

     empty as it never had been;

man takes pride in this unholy event,

     denying his greatest sin. ~

Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid with Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM, 8 to 9 evening class Mon to Fri

Lost Poem of Shipwreck - Paul on His Way to Rome

Lost Poem of Shipwreck

- Paul on His Way to Rome

Mural Painting and Poem by Abe V Rotor

I am reprinting from my collection the poem (from the original draft) that accompanies this mural: Shipwreck - Paul on His Way to Rome. The mounted copy of the poem attached to the mural might have been misplaced when the mural was transferred out of the old museum to its new location - after fifteen years.

Shipwreck - Paul on His Way to Rome, by Dr Abe V Rotor

There are crossings ahead unexpected,

no light, no guide; to the lesser, the end

of dreams and riches told but ne’er granted;

but to Paul the beginning’s yet at the bend.

There is Caesaria where the laws of men

may deny the just. There’s a friendly Malta –

goodness begets goodness in every brethren.

and there, too, a Herod, an Agrippa.

On a stormy night for Rome, Paul’s last mission

to plant the Seed in the very heart of power,

was a grave at sea, but greater was his vision,

on the weathered rock a tree rose like a tower.

To live one must almost die is reference,

but is he willing to die that others might rise?

he is truly brave, and there’s the difference

to the one who deserves to walk with Christ. ~

Rarely can paintings stand by themselves, so to speak, and tell the viewer what it is in terms of characters and events in history. Owing to the subjective nature of art, it is not unusual to miss the message if the viewer fails to appreciate its historical background, and would rely only on his personal perception. This is often the case with most works of art, more so if the situation does not warrant adequate time and effort to study the particular piece. And to think of the explosion of art forms and styles that dominate our postmodern world.

On the other hand, it is also dangerous to rely on ones own interpretation based on personal experience, and bias. In The Gleaners (a favorite painting of the SPC congregation), for example, an early nineteenth century painting of three old women gleaning leftovers of wheat harvest at sunset - all that the painter, Millet, wanted to show was a rustic country scene that evokes a romantic feeling (romanticism). But years after, Markham a political analyst and socialist, interpreted it as a serious subject, a social issue of injustice and repression. Now this is crucial to being a professor in humanities, and a curator of a museum, two posts I assumed for fifteen years.

This mural is based on the life of St Paul, bold and daring and unstoppable in our present terminology, that nothing could possibly bar his way in propagating the faith. So deep was Paul's loyalty, yet he never met personally his Master, for He was already long dead when he became His faithful servant. This scene is a proof of Paul's determination - determination on a philosophical level, with a purpose - above all, a cause. Which is the essence of the last stanza:

To live one must almost die is reference,

but is he willing to die that others might rise?

He is truly brave, and there’s the difference

to one who deserves to walk with Christ. ~

Why the painting in the first place?

As caretaker of St Paul's Museum, I wanted to focus as centerpiece the works and teachings of St Paul. There must be some other meaning, more than responsibility. I wanted the young Paulinians to learn more about St Paul's life as the Paulinian way of life, to appreciate the meaning of courage and sacrifice, of service and scholarship. (Paul wrote practically a third of the Bible.) For fifteen years with countless guests and friends visiting the museum - repeatedly for many, mostly Paulinians - the mural became a visual aid - vision of the sense and vision of the future. ~

NOTE: In response to requests, this post can can be downloaded to serve as lesson, reference, and for whatever purpose it may serve, except publication.

Leptospirosis: Never wade in floodwater

 Leptospirosis: Never wade in floodwater

Dr Abe V Rotor

Rats are carriers of of the disease called leptospirosis. The first time I heard the word leptospirosis was some ten years ago when Manila virtually remained underwater for days as a result of monsoon rains intensified by a series of typhoons. The disease is also called infectious jaundice because one of the advance symptoms is yellow coloration of the skin. The causal organism is a spiral bacterium, hence the name, and is endemic where public sanitation and personal hygiene are neglected. One can contact the disease through infected urine of rats and mice, and also other animals including dogs and cats. According to reports most of the victims acquired the disease from polluted drinking water and by wading in floodwater. The suspected carrier is the Rattus rattus norvigicus or city rat, counterpart of the field rat, Rattus rattus mindanensis.

How do we know if a person has contacted the disease? At first the symptoms are like those of an ordinary flu, which may last for a few days or weeks as the pathogen incubates in the body. If not treated the infection may lead to hemorrhages of the skin and mucus lining and eye inflammation. Extreme cases may lead to irreversible damage of the liver and kidney.

As floodwater drives the rats out of their subterranean abode - canals, culverts, sewers and the like - they take refuge in homes, market stalls, restaurants, even high rise buildings and malls, bringing the infectious bacterium direct to its victims. The migratory nature of rats also explains how leptospirosis infect people living away from the flooded areas.

Never wade in floodwater.

Reference: Internet photo; Living with Folk Wisdom, UST Publishing House, Manila ~

Sanggumay - Enigmatic Orchid

 Sanggumay - Enigmatic Orchid 

"An orchid in a deep forest sends out its fragrance even if no one is around to appreciate it." - Confucius

Dr Abe V Rotor

Sanggumay Orchid and Mackie 6

Sanggumay orchid (Dendrobium anosmum) grows with dragon fruit 

cactus clinging on coconut trunk. At home in QC 2018 

Enigma in the plant kingdom, I say,

though topmost in the phylogeny;

its independence exchanged with fancy 

at the border of reality and fantasy.  

Dendrobium anosmum or Sanggumay is an epiphytic orchid, native to Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and New Guinea. 

The flowers are borne on leafless stems, each flower measuring about 8 cm, with mauve to purple petals, with a broad lip and a dark purple throat, exuding a characteristic raspberry fragrance. The flowering period is from February to April. 

The word Sanggumay was derived from Tagalog root words: Sangsang which means nauseating ,overpowering, stench (smell), and “Umay” or ”Gumay” meaning tired-some, surfeit , satiety. (Internet)

TRIVIA: “The word comes from Greek mythology. Orchis was the son of a satyr and a nymph. During a feast to celebrate Bacchus, Orchis drank too much wine and tried to force his attentions on a priestess. Bacchus was very displeased, and reacted by having Orchis torn to pieces. The pieces were scattered far and wide, and wherever one landed, an orchid grew." Pausing, she leaned away for a few seconds, reaching for something. Something soft and delicate touched his cracked lips.... She was applying salve with a fingertip. "Most people don't know that vanilla is the fruit of an orchid vine. We keep one in a glasshouse on the estate- it's so long that it grows sideways on the wall. When one of the flowers is full grown, it opens in the morning, and if it isn't pollinated, it closes in the evening, never to open again. The white blossoms, and the vanilla pods within them, have the sweetest scent in the world...” ― Lisa Kleypas, Cold-Hearted Rake, Internet

Theophrastus (IV-III century B.C.), pupil of Aristotle and Plato and historically recognized as the greatest botanist of antiquity, immortalized Orchis in his Historia Plantarum, officially attributing this name to the flower species. He referenced the name to the rounded shape of the two “tubers” that make up the root system of most species of this flower, similar to human testes. This feature has helped fuel popular beliefs which credited them erroneously as aphrodisiacs and possessors of healing powers for female infertility. In Roman medicine, the orchid-based aphrodisiacs drinks were called Satyrion, named after the lustful satyrs. This aphrodisiac is mentioned twice in the Satyricon of Petronius. ~

10 Healthy Food Rules. Be healthy and happy with the food you eat

 10 Healthy Food Rules.  Be healthy and happy with the food you eat 

Dr Abe V Rotor

. ~

Ukoy na kalabasa, with egg and small shrimp.

Health Food Rules

Rule 1 - There is no substitute to freshness. Perishable food must be prepared and served without delay: newly caught fish (better if alive), animals and fowls direct from the slaughter house (better if butchered or dressed at home), newly picked fruits and vegetables (fully mature when harvested).

Rule 2 - The less processed your food is, the better. Reduce if not avoid eating processed food (canned, preserves, dairy, etc), heavily spiced, overcooked, over decorated, culinary loaded - they are unhealthy, They burden body physiology from digestion to circulation to excretion. Besides they are very expensive and unfriendly to the environment.

Rule 3 - Food residues are harmful, if not poisonous. Antibiotics residues in meat and poultry, eggs and dairy; sodium in salted products, instant noodles, sauce; chemical residues in fruits and vegetables from insecticide, herbicide, fungicide, nematocide; and hydrocarbon from fossil fuel and smoke emissions. The miracle insecticide against malaria mosquito - DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-tetrachloro-ethane) remains banned because it is not degraded even as it passes from one organism to another in the food chain. Thus it accumulates in predators - among them humans. DDT poisoning builds even after years from ingestion.

Rule 4 - Metal poisoning causes permanent impairment, or results to death. Lead is the most common toxic metal around from, china wares to car batteries. It damages the central nervous system and internal organs. Mercury poisoning is more severe. Cadmium is a recent introduction with cell phones and other electronic devices. Other than direct contamination, these metals are absorbed by plants and animals and find their way on the dining table. Kitchen wares made of aluminum, tin, nickel, antimony are being phased out.

Rule 5 - Avoid particulates in food, water and air. Car and factory emissions scatter particulates in the environment which we can only observe in the form of smog, sediments and dusts. Tar from cigarette and asphalt, asbestos from car brakes, unburnt carbon from tires, and old and faulty engines, metal particles in factories, silica from cereal mills.

Rule 6 - Avoid synthetic food and additives, they are harmful, and affect mainly the nervous system and senses. The Number One food additive to avoid is Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) or Vetsin. It is the cause of Chinese Food Syndrome. A friend of mine died of vetsin overdose. It is also used in dognapping by simply throwing a piece of bread saturated with vetsin. Avoid sweeteners - NutraSweet, saccharin, aspartame and other concealed brand names. Another is Olestra - fatless fat. The fat molecules are so large the villi cannot absorb them. So the unbroken fat simply leaks and causes discomfort - and quite often, embarrassment. Go natural, like brewed rather that decaffeinated coffee.

Rule 7 - Beware of the invisible poison: radiation. The worst kind of radiation is from fallout following a nuclear explosion (Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1945), and nuclear plant meltdown (Three-Mile Island in the US, Chernobyl in Russia in the seventies, and Fukoshima Japan following a massive tsunami in 2011). Radioactive decay slowly takes hundreds of years, thus it can cause harm to the members of the food chain. (grass to cow to milk to baby, back to the same or similar cycle). Radiation from high voltage lines, transmission towers, electronic gadgets may get into the food we eat. So with hospital waste containing radioisotopes. The innocent looking microwave oven is now being phased out in many countries.

Rule 8 - Beware of Frankenfood from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). Frankenfood is named after the creator of the monster in Mary Shelley's novel – Frankenstein. Examples are Bacillus thuringiensis Corn (Bt Corn), GM potato, GM soybean, SavrFlavr tomato, and golden rice which contains the yellow pigment gene of daffodil. Pharmed food has built-in medicine or drug. An increasing number of food grown in the laboratory includes in vitro stem cell burger which is dubbed lab meat.

Rule 9 - Drink natural instead of distilled water. Manufacturers call bottled water as mineral water because the process did not take away the naturally occurring minerals which are removed through distillation. But why buy mineral water when you can make your own at home with seeds of malunggay (Moringa oleifera), and through simple water treatment?

Rule 10 - Don't overeat, and eat the right food with the proper nutritional value. Eat more fruits and vegetables and less of meat and meat products. It is best to grow or procure your food, cook at home and serve it yourself to your family. The family that eats together stays together happy and healthy. Food indeed is santa gracia

 

It is served in patties, or rolled like lumpia 

Bulanglang or diningding: young pod of batao, malungay pod, soup 

thickened with kamote or sweet potato, topped with sea weed (Gracillaria). 

Fresh seaweeds as salad: Gracillaria and Codium (pokpoklo)

Sweet potato paste (suman) 

Tamales, fish with onion, tomato black pepper, salt and ginger,

 wrapped with banana leaves - steamed. 

 

Sinkamas or yam with natural vinegar and salt.

Buko - direct from the young nut