Atchara: Development of a Pickling Industry in President Roxas (A Concept Art)

Cucamelons ¹

Pickling is one of the heirloom traditions of food preservations, which can be traced back as far as 2030 BCE. ² Although people have focused much on the post-harvest use of vine plants and its fruits, some aspects of the production can still be tapped. For instance, local studies on ethnobotanical uses of plants in trailing a new environment can still be tapped. ³

This can be a concept that can be scaled up and applied when humans are faced with long-term solutions for accessing treacherous terrains. Tendrils of some plants can access the most treacherous parts of a new environment, a process often called trailing or scandent. ⁴ This process is useful, especially if accompanied with the ethnobotanical studies on human use of plant tactile senses. ⁵

This process has been used by many cultures in the world, for instance, the use of rubber fig trees to build living foot bridges when industrial materials are scarce is a common practice in remote villages. ⁶ This is a form of nature-based architecture, which exemplifies the use of “natural scaffolding,” as an aid to adapting with natural terrain. ⁷ The process is not as fast as industrial-made infrastructure, but it can be sustainable so long as the main trees are kept healthy for hundreds of years. Tactile senses of vine-based and fruit-bearing plants will not only expand the sustainable infrastructure profile of humans, but also expand the food preservation practices. This is especially useful since trees can be used to study the human concept of time.

Civilizations have been studied based on some evidences like infrastructure and even food consumption history. ⁸ Thus, it’s a good idea to strengthen the connections of infrastructure system with the food system. Locally known as “atchara,” ⁹ the local pickling industry could hopefully add some input into the art and science of sustainable Scaffolding and Vine Trailing (Scandent).

Pipino

Wild mini cucumbers in Lomonay

Cucumbers have been used for pickles since time immemorial. ¹⁰ Asians have used pickling as a form of preservation and cleansing of food. Cucumbers species are spread throughout the world, but the wild mini cucumbers are less known as compared to their large counterparts. This space-efficient wild cucumber grows locally, and is reminiscent of the cucamelons. ¹¹ It’s perfect for toppings and salads. Aside from cucumbers, other local herbs can be included in local pickling industries. For instance, the use of galangal, ¹² a Southeast Asian spice locally known as langkawas, can be used in the pickling of tambo ¹³ or bamboo shoots.

Black Guava

Fruits like Manga (Mango) have been used in South Asian cuisine for pickling, but this can be expanded to other nutritious fruits as well. Other fruits like the indigenized Black Guava ¹⁴ are already adapted to the country.

Papaya

Papayas are commonly known as an ingredient of smoothies, ¹⁵ but it can be pickled like other vegetables. It is considered as a staple dish to local foods that are cooked through skewers, like the famous Chicken Inasal. ¹⁶ By default, the concept of “atchara” in the country has been attributed to pickled papaya, but this can be expanded through thorough studies of local food profiles.

With proper studies, local vines can be used to study the concept of “natural scaffolding,” ¹⁷ and eventually build up on stronger vines and trees in the future. The fruits of these vines and trees can be preserved as well. Perhaps, one of the best takeaways from building up on the sustainable Scaffold + Vine Trailing is the concept of intergenerational responsibility ¹⁸ as people progress with time.

REFERENCES (URL, Retrieved on Mar 30, 2021)

1- https://practicalselfreliance.com/growing-cucamelons/
2- https://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/history-pickles/
3- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/01/science/vines-lianas-panama.html
4- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scandent
5- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.esalq.usp.br/lepse/imgs/conteudo_thumb/Plants-Exhibit-The-Same-Senses-As-Humans-And-See.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj0s9m4kdbvAhV3y4sBHS7qAIUQFjABegQIBBAG&usg=AOvVaw3bY2UqnVuIqUImmZcnmhh9
6- https://guyshachar.com/en/2016/living-root-bridges-nagaland-india-mon-myahnyu/
7- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB528.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjm8JTgktbvAhULc5QKHSUBAeIQFjAhegQIHxAC&usg=AOvVaw3qhmb_YfOadpWdCAtwKcdB
8- https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/archaeology-of-food/what-is-food-and-why-do-archaeologists-study-it/D4FEAECAFA61B78D83CC031DDE644239
9- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/296210281_Commercial_Viability_of_Sweet-Mixed_Vegetable_Pickles_in_Benguet
10- https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/processing_methods_for_pickled_products
11- http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/CropOp/en/spec_veg/cucurbits/mouse.html
12- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5414456/
13- https://www.philippinelanguages.com/word/tambo/44050
14- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248477777_Domestication_of_the_Chilean_guava_Ugni_molinae_Turcz_a_forest_understorey_shrub_must_consider_light_intensity&ved=2ahUKEwjNoq_VlNbvAhULG6YKHUl3ArgQFjAOegQICBAC&usg=AOvVaw2Ff3q7kch57NOTtYpzrdDk
15- https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/papaya-banana-smoothie-recipe-1948862
16- https://www.manilastandard.net/mobile/article/261097
17- https://www.archdaily.com/793364/watch-how-bamboo-scaffolding-was-used-to-build-hong-kongs-skyscrapers
18- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-09416-5_1

Puksi: Development of Edible Flowers Industry in President Roxas

Lotus ¹

puksi can be defined as “to pick flowers” or “to tear off.” ² This process is a good form of practice for the children, as they try to study and understand the world around them. For example, the “puksi” process is reminiscent of the sampling technique used in Statistics, where enough sampling is conducted until a conclusion is made. ³ Much like how children play with toys, the “puksi” process, especially picking flowers, is already well-integrated across many cultures in the world. Flowers have been used alongside the early human traditions of birth, growth, and death. ⁴ Thus, flowers bear with it some implied meanings, one very important of which is Historicity. ⁵

Historicity is defined as historical actuality or authenticity. ⁶ Studies have shown that the sense of smell can evoke memories, ⁷ which are highly tied up to the historicity of the person. It is a good sense of study to tie up historicities with flowers, especially for the evolving historicities of migration. People are just like flowers because their historicities also need some kind of acclimatization to new environments and narratives. ⁸ For instance, with proper studies, the uniformity of smell in a train/vehicle and the smell in the classroom may help students remember and understand their lessons while they are travelling. This might be a form of assisted learning, much like how other people are adept to visual memory. ⁹

Lotus

Lotus has been regarded by many belief systems as sacred, which is often associated with “enlightenment.” ¹⁰ Additionally, the consumption of lotus in some Southeast Asian countries is common. This is one of the example of the many historicities associated with the Lotus flowers. Other lotus parts can also be used for food, along with similar aquatic plants. The peculiar consumption of lotus rhizome is common in Southeast Asia, which is also reminiscent of the consumption of stolons called takway in the country. ¹¹

Dandelion

Dandelion is considered as a weed in some traditions, but it can be consumed as well. With some threats of plant diseases to commercial rubber trees, dandelions can be a good fallback for rubber producers. ¹² This commercial value as a food and as a source of rubber can be banked on by the local industries, although controlled environments are needed to produce it so as to avoid invasiveness and to properly grow it in the tropical climate. ¹³

Cadena de Amor

Cadena de Amor in Lomonay

Christian-based traditions often celebrate the “Flores de Mayo,” which is a form of holy veneration through the use of flowers. It is often celebrated with the participation of children in the community. Cadena de Amor has a settler historicity associated with it since it is used in the country not just as an ornamental flower but also as a garnish. ¹⁴ It was once used by the women of the University of the Philippines as a regalia symbol. Aside from Cadena de Amor, flowers like Sampaguita ¹⁵ and Ylang-ylang ¹⁶ are used in sacred rites in the country.

“Puksi” is a process that may teach children the basic framework of Statistics, which is taking as many samples as possible and then generating a conclusion based on their experience. With the proper studies and interpolation of commercial value and associated historicities of flowers, other edible flowers may well be discovered and developed in the future. This should help not just the future plant-based industries, ¹⁷ but also the studies on the diminishing numbers of pollinators. ¹⁸

REFERENCES (URL, Retrieved on Mar 28, 2021)

1. https://ambujayoga.com/blog/padma-mudra-a-mudra-to-honor-your-inner-beauty-and-light/
2. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu › …PDF
Web results
Hiligaynon Dictionary – ScholarSpace
3. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/sampling-methods/&ved=2ahUKEwi4icfXkNHvAhWLvZQKHXBjD_AQFjAmegQIMRAC&usg=AOvVaw3WTZJKujGeW6h4I7jEtzek
4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrs68xs
5. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historicity
6. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/historicity
7. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/how-scent-emotion-and-memory-are-intertwined-and-exploited/
8. https://www.britannica.com/science/acclimatization
9. https://www.pnas.org/content/105/38/14325
10. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2011/02/05/our-lives/lotus-showing-the-way-to-enlightenment/
11. https://philnews.ph/2017/03/18/surprising-health-benefits-eating-taro-shoots-stem/
12. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210308-rubber-the-wonder-material-we-are-running-out-of
13. https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/52773
14. https://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=PH9410861
15. https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/culture-profile/philippine-fast-facts/national-flower-sampaguita/
16. https://www.britannica.com/plant/ylang-ylang
17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3662288/
18. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20191129STO67758/what-s-behind-the-decline-in-bees-and-other-pollinators-infographic

Limokon: Development of a Birdwatching Industry in President Roxas (A Concept Art)

A photo of the limokon bird in nature ¹

I grew up in the border of the Municipality of President Roxas, which is settler area, and the Municipality of Matalam, the home of Datu Udtog Matalam. ² The confluence of these two territories is just a normal setting, where people go on with their daily lives and where people are just slowly adapting to the creeping influences of modern lifestyles.

Growing up, it is still vivid in my memories that there was a time when green birds (Mindanao Lorikeet) ³ would do a stopover around the sarisa tree ⁴ beside our house in Lomonay. The red fruits of the sarisa tend to lure the birds, which are already uncommon to be found in my birthplace nowadays. These kinds of human-bird interactions are common since time immemorial, as reflected in many literatures. Thus, bird symbols are of special semblance since they are revered since ancient times, which is a good case for past, present, and future avifauna studies. ⁵

Avifauna studies, with tangential links to philosophy and theology, can be of interesting subject for our local people. In as much as Southeast Asians have Garuda, Egyptians have Horus and Thoth, Aztecs have Huitzilopochti, and among others, the locals can use the written literature as it interpolates to the data of locality and diversity. ⁶ President Roxas has been blessed to have the Tuael Bird Sanctuary, which is yet to be developed further. Some of local birds that can be studied in the locality have links to culture and arts scene, which is a very good reason for establishing a local Birdwatching Industry. ⁷

Limokon

Limokon ⁸ is believed to be an omen bird for various indigenous traditions, including that of the Mandaya, Bagobo, and Manobo. There are still many literature that can be produced based on the Limokon and on how it relates to the lives of indigenous communities.

Ulikba

Ulikba ⁹ chickens have been used by various cultures in the country. Sarimanok, ¹⁰ for example, has been considered a reflection of the artistic prowess of the Maranao people. Many local cultures have been using Black feathers during festivals as a form of plume and regalia, including that of the Philippine Military Academy. ¹¹

Herons

Some belief systems consider herons as symbols of persistence and longevity. Locally known as “tulabong,” herons are often seen with the local water buffalos especially in local birdwatching areas like Tacurong. ¹² The interaction between these two animals is a foundational concept for co-existence in the locality; especially that herons are migratory in nature. ¹³

Perhaps one of the best theological and philosophical lessons from avifauna studies is the concept of co-existence. ¹⁴ Birds migrate for the same reason as other animals of antiquity – life. ¹⁵ By establishing a local Birdwatching Industry, ¹⁶ banking on resources like the local sarisa trees ¹⁷ and some bird species, locals can teach children how just migration has a positive impact to the community and the economy in general. ¹⁸ Maybe in the future, I can see the Mindanao Lorikeet again, but in that time, with a whole alley of sarisa trees to feast on.

REFERENCES (URL, Retrieved on March 18, 2021)

1. https://www.google.com/amp/s/salindila.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/ang-mga-anak-ng-limokon/amp/
2. https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft0199n64c&chunk.id=d0e2252&toc.depth=100&toc.id=d0e2176&brand=ucpress
3. http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/mindanao-lorikeet-trichoglossus-johnstoniae
4. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/01/19/young-scientist-finds-potential-diabetes-cure-in-aratiles
5. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1034?seq=1
6. https://www.learnreligions.com/popular-bird-gods-385529
7. http://birdwatch.ph/news/
8. https://www.univie.ac.at/Voelkerkunde/apsis/aufi/folk/folk-m01.htm
9. https://freerangeph.com/ayam-cemani-vs-ulikba-whats-the-difference/
10. https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/03/25/supplements/sarimanok-a-rooster-in-the-first-of-seven-heavens/530576/
11. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/pma-graduation-exercises/
12. https://www.mindanews.com/travel-lifestyle/2010/11/bird-watching-in-tacurong/
13. http://oneocean.org/ambassadors/migratory_birds/in_search_of_a_safe_refuge.html
14. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199830060/obo-9780199830060-0017.xml
15. https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2228.htm
16. http://sustain.pata.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/31003-Green-Birdwatching-Tourism-WEB1.pdf
17. https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.abs-cbn.com/amp/news/06/01/19/young-scientist-finds-potential-diabetes-cure-in-aratiles
18. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.oecd.org/migration/OECD%2520Migration%2520Policy%2520Debates%2520Numero%25202.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiHpqLap7jvAhWLA4gKHSqaCtEQFjABegQIExAC&usg=AOvVaw2ImcGaSyQizrZG1DpCv85L

Sag-ob: Development of village-wide Aquaponic/Agroponic System in President Roxas (A Concept Art)

A photo of Barsha© pump in a river ¹

Sag-ob, ² which is the local term for “fetching water,” is one of the traditions in my birth place, Lomonay. The nomenclature is reflective of the old iterative process of fetching water from a nearby water source. In the past, before the advent of technology, children were taught how to fetch water using sizeable containers. It’s done in an iterative process, of which the village children use containers that they can personally carry and incrementally increase loads until they can carry bigger loads. This is a village concept that has changed through the advent of technology, but the core concept of iteration is still useful. The concept of water resource iteration can be implemented and scaled up from this concept to further study agricultural innovations – Village-wide Aquaponic/ Agroponic System. ³

Marbol River and Filtration Facility

An aquaponic system ⁴ needs a water source or a flood tank. Locally known as “suba,” the village of Lomonay is a few miles away from Marbol River. This river has a steady supply of water resources, which can be diverted through an enabling policy. This can be connected to a filtration facility, ⁵ such as that of a sand filtration facility, to filter out water-borne diseases. ⁶ And while the water travels from the Marbol River to the filtration facility, whirlpool turbines ⁷ can be integrated such that it can generate hydropower to be used for the overall system.

Raceways and Lomonay Dam

After filtering the needed water, there is a need for aquaculture facilities, or simply fish tanks. ⁸ These can be made through the establishment of Raceways. The area is already home to the Lomonay Dam, but adding raceways between the Marbol River and Lomonay Dam can be a boost for productivity in the area. Additionally, the depressed areas near hilly parts of the village can be utilized to duplicate or expand the existing dam infrastructure. The energy generated by the whirlpool infrastructures can be used for modern monitoring systems, such as water flow rates ⁹ and fish stocking density. These are necessary to monitor stocking density of high-density fish species like Tilapia or Pangasius. ¹⁰

Farms and Research Facilities

The overflow from the aquaculture facilities can then be utilized in the grow bed for water-intensive crops. The use of this nutrient-rich water should fertilize the grow beds ¹¹ of farms, which can be made of soil or coco coir. ¹² These facilities are an interesting venues for studies in modern Agroponics. ¹³ Thus, complementing the farm is hopefully an adjacent Research Facility, where studies on productivity and bio-intensive farming can be conducted. ¹⁴

Barsha© Pumps and Waterfalls

Locally known as “busay,” ¹⁵ the villagers are adept to their terrain. Waterfalls can be found in the area. These can be used and integrated with Barsha© pumps, ¹⁶ which can pump water back to the filtration facility. The use of inclined spillways can also be integrated with whirlpool technologies, since the area has hilly and depressed terrains. These various technologies should add to the energy profile of the village.

A village- wide aquaponic/ agroponic system is not only beneficial to the environment and businesses, but beneficial most especially to the villagers. The whole system can create enough Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)s ¹⁷ than can employ many people in the village. Through enough support from the government, the villagers can hopefully bank on building various cooperative to specialize in the various specializations in the whole system. The system can add avenues for research and aquaculture-related enterprises, which are really needed in a fast evolving food system. With enough infrastructures, the iterative process of Village-wide Aquaponic/Agroponic System can be improved in the future with trajectory towards sustainability. ¹⁸

REFERENCES (URL, Retrieved on March 14, 2021)

1. https://www.empowering-people-network.siemens-stiftung.org/en/solutions/projects/barsha-pump/
2. http://www.binisaya.com/cebuano/sag-ob
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Flow Monitoring Product Guide Brochure – Teledyne ISCO
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