Old Bridge across Banaoang Pass

"Past your golden age, three generations have passed, 

     once in your prime, and also was mine;  the world over the horizon across your span ..." - avr

Dr Abe V Rotor 

LIVING with NATURE CENTER

San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Old Bridge across Banaoang Pass in acrylic (60" x 41") by the author. Courtesy of Dr Laurence (Rencie) Padernal), April 29. 2012

Past your golden age, three generations have passed, 

     Once in your prime, and also was mine; 

The world over the horizon across your span, I sought 

     For dreams the sweet goal of time. 

While across your other end leads to home, sweet home, 

     For loyal sons and daughters in homage, 

Returning to childhood memories, to peaceful repose, 

     Gateway indeed you are to every age. 

And in between, fleeting were the years, but never 

     Lost - dream fulfilled, or never was - 

Matters but little in your own world, bright and windy, 

     As the sun rises through the Pass. 

And if a lonely soul comes to your world, gazes around 

     And high, the strength of the towering 

Rocks, the sharp, gentle slopes of green and golden

     In their pristine - they're Nature blessing. 

From the cliff down the ravine, the great divide 

     Of the rugged Cordillera, surrenders 

To a mighty river born in a fertile valley, gathers 

     Strength as it flows and meanders. 

You are their peacemaker and guardian, oh, bridge - 

     And rather than a bridge of sigh, 

You tame the wind; you tame the river, the mountains, 

     And every day countless passersby. 

Bearing their weight and their load uncomplaining, 

     Their pain and joy of going and returning; 

And seeing yonder farmers and fishers in their work - 

     All’s well ‘til the sky sent the river roaring. 

Now it is your time to rest, the wind, river, and mountains 

     And I, to bid you goodbye in the setting sun; 

But your ruins rise a monument seen by all and from Above, 

     Where once a boy with dreams crossed your span. 

Presentation and unveiling of the painting to the birthday celebrant 

Quirino Bridge is named after President Elpidio Quirino, a great Ilocano leader. It spans across the mighty Abra River passing through Banaoang Pass, and joining the towns of Santa and Bantay both in Ilocos Sur province. The bridge survived a recent strong typhoon but was soon retired and replaced by a new bridge. Its beauty however, cannot be equaled.

Twilight view to the East, source of the mighty Abra River

Sunset view to the West where the river empties to the South China Sea

Cirrus clouds over the Cordillera Range; promontory partly blocking the bridge's view to the West. 

Placid river in summer, fisherman on raft steers for home before dark.

Exuberance of youth meets sunset on the edge of Banaoang Pass, as the Cordillera turns to amber and the Abra River to emerald. ~

13 Researches pave new uses of plants (Part 1)

13 Researches pave new uses of plants (Part 1)

Dr. Abe V. Rotor

Living with Nature - School on Blog
Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday [www.pbs.gov.ph]

This article is reprinted in memory of the late Professor Eduardo de Leon of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santo Tomas. These 13 researches were conducted during his administration as head of the Department of Botany, with the author as thesis adviser. This post is also dedicated to the thesis students who are now professionals in the fields of medicine, education, science and technology. UST Pharmacy Garden; symbol of pharmacy

These researches explore the vast uses of plants as food and source of useful products for pharmacology and industry. They offer alternatives to natural healing as well as in tapping the hidden wealth of plants as antibiotics, elixir and many other uses.

1. Yes, you can grow pechay and tilapia in an aquarium.
Del Rosario L, De La Calzada GR, Javillonar C, and V Roquero
This research is based on palay-isdaan, an indigenous practice in low lying ricelands where rice and fish naturally grow together during the monsoon months. Thus, the researchers experimented on growing pechay (Brassica chinensis) in an aquarium medium, which can at the same time sustain the normal growth of tilapia (Tilapia nilotica). The result promises another aspect of urban green revolution where hobbyists can combine the growing of fish in home aquarium with the production of vegetables. The idea may be the answer to having fresh and safe food supply for the home and neighborhood, and in maintaining a balance aquarium with lesser cost.

2. Beware of Ganoderma food supplement
Africa MA, Abulencia HM, Bautista A and AM Bebanco


This shelf fungus comes as food supplement, mainly as pre-packed coffee and tea, and advertised in several names. White mice fed freely with the raw fungus died after a few days. Even those given with limited amounts showed adverse physiologic effects like loss in weight, thinning of hair, and progressive weakness. Many died after two or three weeks. The results indicate that the fungus has toxic effect. It will be recalled that among the most poisonous materials occurring in nature come from fungi, the classical example is the Amanita mushroom which when mistakenly eaten by humans can cause instant death. There is no known antidote of mushroom poisoning. At minimal dosage however, not exceeding 10 mg per 1 kg body weight, the test animals gained weight faster than those not given with Ganoderma. Thus the researchers recommend judicious use of the food supplement, as it may be deleterious to health contrary to the claims of its manufacturers and distributors.

3. Make your own Marker Ink from Mayana
Galang E, Cu MV, Constantino A and C Flores
Marker inks or colorants come in bright green, pink, blue and in different hues and shades. They are used to highlight keywords and sentences, terms or simply for arts and graphics. Commercial highlighters as these markers are commonly called, are imported from Japan, US, Germany and China. Local brands make use of imported colorants. Mayana (Coleus blumei) is a colorful annual plant, dominantly red, maroon, green pink, yellow in various patterns and combinations. The researchers extracted the pigment using volatile solvents. Comparing the different cultivars of mayana, they came up with two dominant colors. Flesh to brown color appeared to be the best among the colors tested. Drying time compared to the commercial brands is the same. The researchers recommend other possible plant colorants such as Carissa, duhat (Syzygium) and bright petalled plants like Hibiscus.

4. Is it true that Caulerpa seaweed eaters live healthier and longer lives?
Chua AG, Fancubit AL, Flores F and MR Liwag


Ilocanos in particular, who love to eat lato or ar-arusip are known to enjoy healthy and long lives. Is it a myth? The researchers found out that this green seaweed sold commercially in two species, C. lentelifera and C. racemosa, possess antibiotic properties. Raw extract has been found effective in destroying bacteria, such as Pseudococcus and Escherischia coli, common pathogens causing human ailments. Aside from this property, Caulerpa contains caulerpine that to many people has relaxing effect, but excessive intake of the vegetable may cause dizziness. It is the only known edible seaweed that causes this symptom. This active principle may be tapped for its tranquilizing effect.

5. Alginate from Sargassum can increase the shelf life of fruits
Tumambing K, Santok G, Seares A and V Verzola
If you happen to be walking along the beach those dry brown seaweeds washed ashore could bring in a lot of profit, not only as source of algin and alginic acid which are extracted for food conditioner and for industrial use. The researchers found out that by extracting the alginate substance by ordinary means, the extract is effective in delaying the spoilage of fruits such as mango, papaya and banana. The extract is diluted 5 to 10 percent with water before the ripe or ripening fruits are immersed, then allowed to dry. The alginate compound leaves a coating on the fruit that delays ripening from two to four days, at the same time protects it from microorganisms that cause rotting and spoilage.

6. Makabuhay and Neem tree extracts are effective in control cockroach (Periplaneta Americana)
Tenorio RW, Nudo L, Roxas R and AC Uichanco


Neem tree

Macabuhay (Tinospora rhumphii) is a liana that grows in the wild. Previous experiments proved that its extract is effective in controlling common rice insect pest and the golden kuhol. Could it be effective in controlling the tough and elusive cockroach? The same question was raised on Neem (Aziderachta asiatica), known as insecticide tree that was introduced into the country from India in the sixties. According to the researchers, extracts of both plants proved effective as direct spray on cockroach. Comparative effectiveness showed that the diluted extract of makabuhay gave a higher mortality that the pure extract, indicating the synergistic effect of water solvent, but only for makabuhay. Neem extract at low level dilution is more effective than that of makabuhay at the same level. While synthetic chemical sprays are more effective than these herbal extracts, the advantage of the latter is their being safe to humans and the environment and does not leave toxic residues.

7. Rat Poison from the Seed of Botong (Barringtona asiatica)
Perez R, Dela Cruz K, Rivera M and J Santos
If botong (Barringtona asiatica) is effective as fish poison, could it be effective as rat poison just as well? The researchers found it to be effective, but the problem to lure the rodents to eating the bait is a problem. This is because of the shy nature of rats and their oliphagous characteristic that is they eat a wide range of food under natural field condition. When starved rats may consume any available food and this may include poison baits. The advantage of using plant poison is its safe nature to humans and the environment. Presently used compounds include arsenicals, anticoagulants under the brand names Dethmor, Racumin, Dora, and the deadly “1081” a zinc phosphide compound which is now banned in the market.

8. Botong (B. asiatica) is safer poison against fish pest
Dequina MJ, Castro JC, Limtin R and J Patawaran
This is the rational of the experiment: Is there a safer compound than synthetic pesticides to clean up fishponds in order to eliminate fish predators at seeding time? It is a known practice among fishpond owners to use Malathion, Endrin, and other chlorinated hydrocarbon, as well as phosphate
compounds to eliminate fish such as tilapia, dalag, and Poecillia after harvesting a fishpond. These remaining fish pose danger as predator of bangus fries raised in the next season. The researchers found out that the extract of botong seeds (Barringtona asiatica) is an effective substitute. Like other plant extract, it is environment friendly and leaves non-toxic residue to the incoming fries and fingerlings.

9. Antibiotics from papaya seeds
Casas JM, Cadiz RI, Calvelo AM and MC Cremen
With the increasing resistance of bacteria to the group of Penncilium antibiotics, scientists are looking into more potent antibiotics. Modern antibiotics however, are expensive and are not readily available particularly in the countryside. But natural antibiotics abound in nature. One such source is the ordinary papaya, specifically the native or solo variety. The researchers claim that the papain in papaya has an antibiotic property and the most likely part where the active compound is concentrated is the seeds, which are thrown away for no use except as propagation material. The seed oil is potent against both gram negative and gram positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus. . This explains why papaya is a health food. Although the oil has also shown anti-fungal effects, the researchers recommend further studies in this aspect. They also recommend further studies in the preparation of the seed oil as antibiotic drop or ointment.

10. Mosquito repellant from bottle brush (Salix sp)
Clemente R, Landan RP Luquinario MI and P Padua

If there is a way to rid mosquitoes from attacking us without net or special paraphernalia, it is that advertised “Off” mosquito repellant. But the commercial products are synthetic compounds and reports claim that they are carcinogenic affecting not only the skin but internal organs as well since poison can be absorbed by the skin and into the blood stream and other tissue of the body. The researchers collected the volatile oil of the weeping willow which is also known as bottle brush for the formation and shape of the leaves. With ethyl alcohol as solvent, the preparation was tested against house mosquitoes (Culex pipens) in the same manner as the advertised commercial product is used. The results are positive.

11. How good are commercial organic fertilizers as claimed by their manufacturers?
Olivenza CR, King A, Reyes CJ and A Young

There are a number of organic fertilizers in the market manufactured from various raw materials. As such there is no standard set particularly for their nutrient content. They are advertised with various advantages which the researchers in this study say only by experimentation on at least one plant indicator can resolve – pechay (Brassica chinensis). The results of the experiment are varied and therefore support the theory that organic fertilizers in the market do not have standard effects on the growth and development patterns on the test plant. The researchers believe that fortification of organic fertilizers with chemical fertilizers improves the formula and helps solve nutrient deficiency.


12. Bunga de Jolo is a potential bacteriocide.
Villaluz MC, Enebrad K, Garcia R and V Guzman
Vetchia merillii, a palm relative of the bunga (Areca catechu) was found to have a unique potency against the bacterium, Bacillus proteus as well as others pathogens causing infection. Direct extract from the seed showed potent inhibition against the test organisms, a feat the control (Penncilium type) failed to show. This explains the usefulness of bunga de jolo as a substitute of Areca in the absence of the latter. Both produce nuts, which are used by older people for mastication with or without the betel leaf and the occasional lime that goes with the preparation.

13. Common moss as a practical source of antibiotics
Nabong W, Aquino M, Orlino C Ramos J and H Sumabit
The common moss often used in its dried form as substrate for orchids has a puzzling characteristic. It resists rotting and does not arbor the breeding of microorganisms that are pathogenic to the orchid. From this observation coupled by the fact that indigenous people use dried moss to cover wounds and skin diseases, led the researches to conduct an experiment on the antibiotic properties of mosses. The results are positive to bacteria causing skin infection, but the range of antibiosis has yet to be determined. The researchers recommend that further studies be conducted on methods of extraction, other than the use of ethanol, in isolating the active principle which is the key to the antibiotic property of mosses. ~


Banaba Tree (Lagerstroma speciosa)

Graduate students study the uses of Selaginella as antibiotics.

Don’t help a chick to hatch, a butterfly to metamorphose – nature does it best.

Dr Abe V Rotor
 Living with Nature School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio

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

This is a lesson I learned early, that being kind will not always result to something good. Cautiously I enlarged the hole in the shell of a chicken egg being incubated, so that the chick will find it easier to emerge. I even helped break part of the egg shell exposing the bald day chick. 

Chick hatching

Wrong kindness. The chick I helped was weaker that those that hatched normally. Its legs were weak and could barely stand. And since it could not cope up with the others, it became stunted (bansot). Why is this so? The chick I helped failed to develop its muscles fully; its lungs did not get enough oxygen. The transition period from its world in the shell to the outside world came too abrupt. I did not realize that the act of hatching characterized by prolonged struggle interspersed with brief rest is necessary in the development of the emerging chick.


I did a similar experiment with the chrysalis of a swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus) (photo, Wikipedia), a black species with several white and orange yellow spots, its wings sporting a pair of tails for which it is called. When I saw the translucent creature ready to emerge and I helped open the crack that runs like a zipper along the thin chitinous casing, Again, this proved me wrong. The result is a butterfly with uneven wings, and it took the creature a longer time to venture into its first flight than those that metamorphosed naturally. Could this be the same reason caesarian babies are less healthy and developed than normally born babies?

Lives of Great Men and Women – Selected Models for Today’s Youth

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog

Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid with Ms Melly C Tenorio

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

Young Charles Darwin
Photo taken after his voyage on the Beagle.
He became the world's greatest naturalist
and founded the theory of evolution which
the world embraces today as a fundamental
principle in biology and other sciences.

It is said, that indeed everyone is great in his or her own way, if greatness is measured by ones ultimate capacity to do good, and goodness means being of service to others and of contributing something, even only a drop in the bucket, so to speak, towards betterment of mankind, and of making this world a better place to live in. Nay, but how so few come to the knowledge of others for the good they have done. They are like the unknown soldier. They are like what Thomas Gray said in his famous poem Elegy on the Country Churchyard.

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The deep unfathomed caves the ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And wastes their sweetness in the desert air.”

The poem makes us think though, that if we do not make use of that which can make us great, then we are like the obscure gem under the sea and the blooming flower in the desert. 

Amongst us stand rare and distinct men and women who have excelled, more than most of us have ever done. Their contributions are of outstanding significance that has invariably affected us, our way of living, our thinking and even our perception of the future. And indeed if we have to look back without them we would doubt if ever we would be in the present state we are in. What would the world be without them?

Undoubtedly too, greatness is mirrored not only on the norms of how most of us live and would like to live, but on how these rare breed of men and women perceived ideas beyond their time in the way of the pioneer, in space and in time that few would dare to travel by, which in the words of Robert Frost goes like this –

“ I will be telling you this with a sigh,
Ages and ages hence where two roads meet in a wood.
And I, I took the road less traveled by.
And that is what made the difference.”

How many people dare to take the road less traveled? How many of us found true freedom while treading on it? How many of us have dared to take the road of truth? The lonely road, the road barely a path? And to beat it in order to make one? Is it a choice? Is it fate? And fate we associate with gift – or luck we often refer to as serendipity?

Our world goes around and around, fortunate that there are people whose ideas were born ahead of their time? From these ideas bloomed into many ideas that found expression in a multitude of ways that feed of rationality as being and society. It is to these people to whom we dedicate this lesson in Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid. In so doing we may lay down an alternative path and present models of living particularly to the youth of today.

We have chosen for this purpose the following great men and women from various nations (We will be featuring separately great Filipinos in future lessons, though a number of them will be associated with the names of these international figures.)

1. Charles Darwin – Interpreter of the pattern of life, founder of theory of evolution
2. Louis Pasteur – Father of immunology, science in the service of man
3. Florence Nightingale – Founder of the nursing profession
4. Mother Teresa of Calcutta – The living saint.
5. Joan of Arc – The saint who freed France
6. Albert Schweitzer – Road of “the life of service”
7. Abraham Lincoln – Champion in the emancipation of slavery
8. Jose Rizal – The pride of the Malay race
9. Francis of Assisi – Father of Ecology, the “upside down” Saint
10. Robert Baden-Powell – Chief scout of the world
11. Leonardo da Vinci – The man of many minds
12. Pablo Picasso – Painter of an epoch
13. Anna Pavlova – Prima Ballarina
14. Ludwig van Beethoven Stormy genius of music
15. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Prodigy whose genius is therapy
16. Galileo – Greatest of early scientist
17. Carolus Linnaeus – Introduced systematic classification of living things
18. Juan Luna – His Spolarium inspired a people to gain freedom
19. Fernando Amorsolo – Master of romantic-classical painting
20. Thomas Alva Edison – Man of practical knowledge
21. Wilbur and Orville Wright – Conquerors of the Air
22. Charles Dickens – Life of the imagination
23. Gregor Mendel – Founder of the laws of heredity
24. Ramon Magsaysay – Champion of the masses
25. Christopher Columbus – Discoverer of a new world
26. Alexander the Great – Conqueror of Kings
27. Socrates – Man of Character
28. John F Kennedy – Charismatic American leader.
29. William, Shakespeare – Greatest dramatist
30. Mao Tze Tung – Steered The Sleeping Giant China to become a modern nation

Characters that accompany greatness

1. Genetic propensity, genius, talented
2. Meeting challenge in early life
3. Endurance of pain and various trials
4. Persistence, often stubbornness,
5. Resoluteness
6. dedication
7. Inquisitiveness
8. enthusiasm
9. Pioneering
10. Humility
11. Sacrifice
12. selflessness
13. Courageous,
14. Steel character
15. Competitiveness, often against oneself
16. Accuracy
17. Perfectionism
18. Strong character
19. Grateful
20. Admired, vice versa

The other “side of midnight” in the lives of many great men and women may be characterized by the following:

1. Short-lived
2. Unhappy
3. Loner
4. Turbulent
5. Sickly/with infirmity
6. Misunderstood
7. Outcast
8. Maligned
9. Non-conformist
10. Poor, and the like.

Challenge to the students.

1. Tell something about the legendary character - The Boy who Save Holland
2. “Serve the greatest good for the greatest number of people.” Is this parameter a good measure of how great a deed we have done?
3. Greatness can be demonstrated by certain leaders in our local community. What are the qualities of these leaders? ~

x x x

Music increases growth of animals and yield of crops.

Makatulong ti musika iti panagpaadu ti dingo ken apit.
Dr Abe V Rotor

Iti maysa a ranso a nakaawisanmi idiay Batangas, ines-estoria kadakami ti dadaulo dagiti ransero ti akem ti musika iti panagpaamo kadagiti dingo.
“Masapul nga iruamtayo nga umuna dagitoy sakbay nga ipastortayo wenno pakanentayo,” intudona ti sound system a pakaipatpatokaran ti nakaim-imnas a musika.

Bayat ti panagpaspasiarmi iti nasao a ranso, nangngegko dagiti musika da Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, ken Bach. Kaslaak la adda kadagiti nangangato a pasdek idiay Makati a pakaipatpatayaban met ti nakaim-imnas a musika tapno mapalag-an ti panagtrabaho. Mamati dagiti sientista nga agpadpada ti epekto ti musika iti tao, ken iti ayup, ken mabalin pay kadagiti mulmula.

Malagipmi la ket ngarud ti am-ammomi nga agar-aramid iti bino (wine) idiay Vienna. Isu daytoy ni Carlo Cagnozzi, liman a tawen a patpatokarenna babaen ti pipa ti musika ni Mozart iti kaubasanna. Impalgakna a naisangsangayan ti epekto daytoy ar-aramidenna kadagiti mulana. bunch of grapes photo

“Nadardarasda nga agluom,” kinuna daytoy. Innayonna pay a bumdeng nga umasideg dagiti insekto ken billit iti kaubasanna.

Agtultuloy ti panagadal dagiti sientista kadagiti kakastoy a pammati tapno mairakurak daytoy di pay unay mapatpati nga epekto ti musika kadagiti mulmula.
Maysa met nga agpolpoltri a taga-Teresa, Rizal a mamati iti music therapy ti nakapatpatangko.

“Naparpartak ti panagdakkel dagiti manok, ken ad-adu ti mayitlogda,” kinuna daytoy. “Kinapudnona, pengdan ti musika ti panagsisinnippit dagitoy.”
Kastoy met laeng ti pammati dagiti agpatpatanor iti baka.

“Basta yiladda lattan uray agngatngatingatda pay laeng,” kinuna daytoy.

No ngamin garaw a garaw dagiti animal, nalaka laeng nga agbisin dagitoy ket masayang laeng ti kinnanda a mainayon koma pay iti panaglukmegda.
Iti sabali a bangir, impakammo ti maysa a programa iti telebision a dagiti musika a rock, ad-adda a parawetenda dagiti anay, a mangipaay met iti ad-adu a pannakadadael.

Daytoy ngarud ti ballaag dagiti mangitantandudo iti music therapy: agannad kadagiti “nararasuk a musika” ta sabali met ti epektona kadagiti pakaipaayan itoy. ~

Acknowledgement: Internet photos; Bannawag Magazine Okeyka Apong by AVRotor

Any plant the goat bites, dies.

Uray ania a mula a kagaten ti kalding, matay.
Bannawag Magazine: Okeyka, Apong! (Dagiti Tawid a Sirib ken Adal)
Dr Abe V Rotor

Leo Carlo and his pet kid; a goat herd.

Any plant the goat bites, dies.

Amirisentayo dagitoy a kita ti dingo. No mangan, guyoden ken pagsisinaenna amin a makagatna. Kaykayatna pay dagiti apagtubo wenno nalulukneng a mulmula. Ngem no awan dagitoy, uray payen dagiti nataengan a bulong, sanga, ken ramut. Kanenda pay dagiti nagukisan dagiti prutas, wenno uray ukis ti dulse. Isu nga adda dagiti kalding a basta lattan agkakapsut sa matay, ta nakakaanda gayam iti plastik wenno makasabidong a banag.

Ngem daytoy man ipapatay ti mula a kinagat ti kalding ti amirisentayo. Apay ngata?

Idi ubing pay daydiay buridekmi a lalaki, inikkak iti pastorna a kalding. Baybay-an ‘toy ubingmi a nutnoten daydiay urbon a kalding dagiti ramayna. Natakuatak nga adda babassit a sugat iti ramay ti ubing.

“Saan a nasakit?” sinaludsodko.

Kuna daytoy ubing a kalpasan iti sumagmamano a gundaway sa mariknana a nasakit. Mamatiak a daydiay katay ti kalding, addaan iti anesthesia, a kuna dagiti apongtayo a “napudot”.
Saan ngata a daytoy ti mangpatay iti mula a makagat ti kalding? ~

If you gather all its eggs, the laying hen will abandon her nest.

Panawan daydiay dumalaga ti baki no kautem amin nga itlogna.
Dr Abe V Rotor

A rooster entices a laying hen to nest atop a caimito tree.

Maibalakad ngarud a mangibatitayo latta iti uray agingga laeng iti tallo. Ngem adda met dagiti manok a makaammo iti simple nga aritmetik— a no masansan a tallo ti makitkitana iti inaldaw, mangbirok iti sabali a pagitloganna! —O

Acknowledgment: Bannawag and Manila Bulletin

Philippine crafts unlimited

Dr Abe V Rotor

Woven craft (bayong);

Life size chef made of plaster

The Filipino is indeed artistic from music, painting, to artisan craft - the art of the people. Philippine art is found everywhere, from the traditional nipa hut to personal adornments.

What make our artisan's art distinctly Filipino, yet highly diversified to be loved by everyone, especially tourists?

1. Original and ethnic

2. Practical and functional

3. Rich in variety, motif and theme

4. Resourceful, creative and pioneering

5. Suits varied tastes and choices

6. Price affordable - and adjustable

7. Shopping-friendly, suki style

8. Lastly, it has a touch of humor, subtle imitation

As an industry, Philippine handicrafts have a long way to go, mainly in quality improvement, and entrepreneurial development, giving priority on the cottage level. Although widely known abroad Philippine crafts need organized marketing to reach far and wide in the global market.

Wood craft (birdhouse and chime)

China ware

Classic candle holder

Stone craft (Egyptian motif)

Sculpture and relief (Greco-Roman motif)

Sculpture and relief (Greco-Roman motif)

Bamboo craft (blinds and poles)

Bamboo craft (sipa ball)

Fiber craft (giant lamp shade)

metalcraft (mini-robot)

Pottery and porcelain craft

Acknowledgment: Dapitan Arcade, Sampaloc Manila