Visit the Ilocos Region and taste the unique food and drink of the Ilocanos

Visit the Ilocos Region and taste the unique food and drink of the Ilocanos

Dr Abe V Rotor

  

Visit the Ilocos region and savor the spirit of a unique wine - Basi, once exported to Europe via Mexico through the Galleon Trade during the Spanish era , envy of the colonial masters who attempted to monopolize the wine industry resulting in the infamous Basi Revolt of 1807 and death of scores of Filipinos who defended their livelihood, pride and honor.  

   

Visit the Ilocos Region and taste a unique seaweed - Gamet, that grows exclusively in the northern region, equivalent to Japan's Nori, "food of the emperor;" ngarusangis the tiniest edible clam in the world, jumping salad (live shrimplet), and goat recipes: kilawin and pinapa-itan (soup made of entrails and chyme, ~

Flying Kites - A Childhood Adventure

Flying Kites - A Childhood Adventure 

"My kite took me away with my dreams when I was young;
Years had passed and I see kites flying again,
Familiar they seem, but in another time." - avr

Dr Abe V Rotor

Flying Kites at Harvestime, detail of mural by the author 2007

Mandala, detail of mural by the author

Clear against the blue mountain far
Are specks of yellow, red and blue,
And white, and the many colors they make.

Swaying like birds, rising and swooping,
Suspended in time and space,
If not for the sinking sun.

The wind is fair, the grain is golden now,
Else the old folk would complain:
Don’t call the wind when the grain is young.

But kids that we were cared for nothing,
Except our kites at all cost to fly
From the other end of the string.

Up, up they soared into the sky,
Dwarfing Babel, trailing the Apollo-
Flight only our dreams could follow through.

My kite took me away to the city and beyond-
Years had passed and I see kites flying again,

Familiar they seem, but in another time.~

Control invasive species by turning them into culinary delights.

Control invasive species by turning them 

into culinary delights.

Dr Abe V Rotor

What is the best way to beat invasive species? Well, if humans managed to eat field rats, mole crickets, snails, pythons, alligators - and other "pests", why can't these undesirable organisms be part of his culinary taste and art?

Golden Kuhol (Pomacea caniculata)

1. Pets turned wild - knife fish and janitor fish.  Once fancy pets in aquarium, they found their way to Laguna Lake and Taal Lake. They can be cooked like any fish.  
2. Food to pest - Golden Kuhol (Pomacea caniculata).  Imported in the seventies as food  like the popular French escargot, it has spread to rice fields, where they have developed in a major pest of rice. Cook it with tanglad and luya, better still with gata.

3. Migratory swarms - Locust (Locusta migratoria) PHOTO) moves in swarms, thousands upon  thousands riding on wind current, invading fields and forests many kilometers away. They settle down as solitary grasshoppers, remaining in the place, mate and multiply, until the next migratory season. Have you tasted sauteed mole cricket  June beetle, gamu-gamu (winged termite)?  It tastes the same. 

4. Biological Warfare in peace time - Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) introduce by the Japanese during World War II, now a common garden pests. One time a recipe was prepared on the request of a school head, and all his teachers tasted it - with delight. 

5. Fugitive to invader - Asian carp in Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi river. It is similar to our tilapia - Tilapia nilotica and T. mosambica.  American will learn to love the carp like we Asians. Just like how we first accepted it when it was introduced in the fifties by Dr Deogracia Villadolid, a prominent fisheries expert. Today tilapia is an important part of the Filipino diet,   

6. Breakout from cage - Black spiny-tailed Iguana has invaded Florida.  It eats about anything, including birds. When made into adobo, iguana meat tastes like that of monitor lizard.

7. Trans-oceanic invasion - Lion fish (PHOTO) has venomous spines and dangerous to aquatic and human life alike. Origin Pacific and Indian oceans to the Caribbean. It's cooked like any marine fish.

8. Adaptive mechanism of survival - Nutria a rodent originated in South America and has invaded the Gulf Coast, destroying valuable wetlands, and make bore tunnels through levees.  In the Philippines the Rattus rattus norvigicus was accidentally introduced and have adapted to city life. 

9. Wildlife gone wilder - Armadillo, a gentle and peaceful armored animal of Central and South America is upsetting the balance of food webs, eating just anything, even stealing eggs of threatened sea turtles.  They say it's good meat. The closest animal to the Armadillo in the Philippines is the Scaly Anteater which is a threatened species.    

10. Biological Control agent gone wild - Toad (Bufo marinus) introduced in Australia to control sugarcane pest, now overruns even homes and highways. This is poisonous, even animals have learned to avoid it.  It is for this reason, its population increased rapidly in Australia.  

Except for No 10, these invasive species have found their way to the dining table. Man's gustatory delight is indeed the best way in dealing with undesirable creatures. ~ 

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* Lesson on former Living with Nature School on Blog, Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid with Ms Melly C Tenorio

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

Let Nature take you on her course in art, solitude and prayer.

“Let Nature take you on her course in art, solitude and prayer.” avr
                                      Dr Abe V Rotor

“By discovering nature, you discover yourself.”



 “Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.” Lao Tzu“


“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”

- Henry David Thoreau


“After school on their way home these children drop by to say hello
to a pair of kalaw birds on the wall, sit on a make-believe scene of a
rocky shore. They love to color, to paint, or simply watch me paint,
listen to simple lessons that introduce them to integrated art” -avr

.
“We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Native American proverb


"The human race is governed by its imagination." - Napoleon
"Nature is pleased with simplicity.” Newton ~

.Fantasy Landscape

 Fantasy Landscape

Painting and Verse by

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Fantasy Landscape (15.5" x 43") acrylic on canvas, 

mounted on black wood frame. 

Raging fire and cool jade

marble of blue and ebony

jagged mountains ascending

colors not of earth

nor water nor sky

creatures by imagination

carved, floating, flying 

landscape of far away

in imagination, in myth

not on earth 

not in heaven 

not by man -

yet called

man, heaven and earth  ~

.

"Nahulog sa Tulay" (Fell off the bridge.)

Take a break with laughter 

Nahulog sa Tulay

(He fell off the bridge.)

 As told to Dr Abe V Rotor

                                   

Once there was a community where the parish priest got irked by the confession of the faithful of a sin most frequently committed – adultery.

Footbridge in acrylic by the author AVR 2002

So the priest coined a code for adultery: Nahulog sa tulay (fell off the bridge).  Indeed the priest was quite satisfied to hear confessions on the popular sin.  Instead of saying adultery, or nangangaliwa (turning to the left, meaning unfaithful), or may kulasisi (having a pet parrot), the faithful just say “Father, “Nahulog ako sa tulay.”  For which the concerned father would say, “This time be careful.  Mag-ingat ka.” (Be careful)

As it is the policy of the church to reshuffle assignments of priests, the priest in this community was transferred to another parish.

A new priest arrived, and as he heard confessions he was surprised to hear a string of “Father, nahulog ako sa tulay,” that the apparently puzzled priest simply cautioned the faithful, “Mag-ingat ka sa susunod,” (Be careful next time) thinking of the literal meaning of the statement.  With firmness he went to see the municipal engineer and asked why he is not doing his part to prevent accidents by seeing to it that the bridge is safe and sound.

To this the engineer laughed and all others in the municipal hall joined.  He laughed and laughed as he was the butt of the accusation he was mistaken for.

Not outwitted the priest said, “Well, Mr. Engineer, I still say you take care of that bridge.”

“Father, that bridge is not in my care.”

“It is,” the priest concluded.  “Your wife fell in it three times.” ~

Oregano (Coleus amboinicus) (San Vicente Botanical Garden Series*)

San Vicente Botanical Garden Series:
Oregano (Coleus amboinicus) 
for Medicine, Culinary and Pest Control

Oregano is a centuries-old remedy for many ailments, from bad digestion to diabetes. It is an excellent food adjunct. To Italians, it is the secret of their cooking and making pizza, just as the Mexican make chili con carne. Our own dinuguan tastes best with this aromatic herb.
Dr Abe V Rotor
Living with Nature - School on Blog  

There is always oregano (Coleus amboinicus) at home, ready to ease cough and sore throat. I  imagine myself wearing a handkerchief around my head, advising my family and neighbors not to take cough drops or antibiotics for simple colds.  

I tell them to pick a young leaf or two of oregano and chew it while taking juice or soft drinks. Or blanch it, extract the juice, and add sugar and warm water. It is practical and there are no side effects. And what a feeling! No wonder the plant's name which comes from the  Greek words, Ore/Oros means mountain, and ganos is joy. Joy on the mountain.

Pliny the Elder claimed oregano as a remedy for bad digestion. To Italians, it is the secret of their cooking and making pizza, just as the Mexican make chili con carne. Our own dinuguan tastes best with this aromatic herb.

On the other hand, I found out that oregano is an insect repellant. I noticed that mosquitoes, flies and roaches are kept away by its odor. Oregano has essential oil, thymol, which is also a strong antiseptic and disinfectant. 

Warning: Oregano extract is not advisable for plant pest control, specially on garden plants, either as spray or sprinkle solution. It has allelophatic substance, which means it is phytotoxic to certain plants, causing stunting or death. Never plant oregano side by side with your favorite garden plants like rose, mayana, anthurium and ground orchid. 

Plant oregano in pots by cutting, or the whole shoot or branch. It can grow in the shade or under direct sunlight, with moderate amount of water. During rainy months keep the potted plants away from too much rain water. Oregano grows best in summer, but don't forget to water it regularly. A full grown oregano can be made into cuttings which you can grow in individual plastic pots to supply the neighborhood - as token or gift. It takes a cutting to reach full growth in two to three weeks. 
~
 
Two types of oregano: local (dark green) and variegated (Italian). The variegated oregano is sensitive to Philippine condition. It was given to the author by Dr Domingo Tapiador who brought it from Rome where he was based with UN-FAO headquarters. 

Facts about Oregano 
Acknowledgement: Philippine Medicinal Plants (Internet)

This information is helpful to medicine, pharmacology, botanical research, and to the public in general. It is the intention of this program, Paaralan Bayan sa Himpapawid to encourage the use of natural medicine and food, and to potential scientists to direct their attention to our own indigenous resources as the subject of their study.

Constituents 
- Fresh leaves yield 0.055 volatile oil, largely carvacrol.
- Phytochemical screening yielded carbohydrates, proteins, phenols, tannins, flavanoids, saponins, glycosides.
- Aerial parts yielded essential oil with 28 constituents, 16 of which were identified. Thymol (83.39%) was the major compound, while 1-octen-3-ol, terpine-4-ol, eugenol, trans-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide and α-cadinol were present as minor constituents. (16)
- Study of flowers and aerial parts for essential oils yielded four compounds from flowers oil and twelve from the aerial parts. The major constituent was carvacrol in flowers and aerial parts, 50.98% and 77.16% respectively. Other constituents were p-cymene, ß-caryophyllene, and trans-a-bergamotene.
Properties
- Aromatic, carminative (relieving flatulence), emmenagogue (encourages menstrual bleeding) , diaphoretic (increase sweating), tonic, stimulant.
- In India, considered antilithiotic, chemopreventive, antiepileptic, antioxidant.

Culinary
· As condiment, provides fragrance to salads and strong-smelling meat dishes.
· Sometimes, used as flavoring for drinks.
· In India, leaves of the green type often eaten raw with bread and butter. Chopped leaves used as a substitute for sage.
Folkloric
· In the Philippines, macerated fresh leaves applied externally to burns.
· Leaves are bruised and applied to centipede and scorpion bites. Also, applied to temples and forehead for headache, help in place by a bandage.
· Leaves in infusion or as syrup used as aromatic and carminative; used for dyspepsia and also as a cure for asthma.
· The Malays used the plant juice or decoction for pains around the areas of the heart or abdomen.
· Decoction of leaves given after childbirth.

· In Indo-China, given for asthma and bronchitis.
· The juice of the leaves for dyspepsia, asthma, chronic coughs, bronchitis, colic, flatulence, rheumatism. The dose is one tablespoonful of the fresh juice every hour for adults and one teaspoonful every two hours, four times daily, for children. As an infusion, 50 to 60 grams to a pint of boiling water, and drink the tea, 4 to 5 glasses a day. For children, 1/2 cup 4 times daily.
· For otalgia (ear aches), pour the fresh, pure juice into the ear for 10 minutes.
· For carbuncles, boils, sprains, felons, painful swellings: Apply the poultice of leaves to the affected area, four times daily.
· For sore throats, a decoction of two tablespoonfuls of dried leaves to a pint of boiling water, taken one hour before or after meals.

· In India, leaves are used traditionally for bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea, epilepsy, nephro-cystolithiasis, fever, indigestion and cough. Also used for malarial fever, hepatopathy, renal and vesicle calculi, hiccup, helminthiasis, colic, and convulsions.
· The Chinese used the juice of leaves with sugar, for cough in children, asthma and bronchitis, epilepsy and convulsive disorders.
· Leaves are applied to cracks at the corners of the mouth, for thrush, headaches; against fever as a massage or as a wash.
· Used for bladder and urinary afflictions, and vaginal discharges.
· Used as carminative, given to children for colic.
· In Bengal, used for coli and dyspepsia.
· Expressed juice applied around the orbit to relieve conjunctival pain.
Others 

Fresh leaves rubbed on clothing or hair at the time of bathing for its scent.
Respiratory ailments like cough, asthma and bronchitis: Squeeze juice of the leaves. Take one teaspoon every hour for adults. For children above 2 years old, 3 to 4 teaspoons a day inflated throat, and short lips. 


 NOTE: Many homes have other useful plants on their backyards, such as

• Soro-soro, a species of Euphorbia used to control ringworm;
• Lagundi (Vitex lagundi) is good for fever and flu (PHOTO);

• Alovera (Aloe vera) for burns;
• Pandakaki (Tabernamontana pandacaqui) for minor cuts;
• Bayabas (Psidium guajava) for skin infection and allergy;
• Ilang-ilang (Cananga odorata) for natural freshener;
• Sampaguita (Jasminium sambac) for lei and natural air freshener. ~

Acknowledgement: Philippine Alternative Medicine (Internet)