Common Rootcrops of the Philippines

This is a list of common rootcrops in the Philippines to avoid confusion between these crops.


1. Balinghoy or Kamoteng kahoy
Manihot esculenta
English: Cassava
Introduced; Native to South America

2. Gabi
Colacasia esculenta
English: Taro
Native 🇵🇭

3. Kamote
Ipomoea batatas
English: Sweet Potato
Introduced; Native to Tropical America

Note: kamote is not the same with Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica)

4. Ube
Dioscorea alata
English: Purple Yam
Native 🇵🇭

Note: The genus Dioscorea has many cultivated species apart from the D. Alata

5. Singkamas
Pachyrizus erosus
English: Mexican Turnip
Introduced; Native to Tropical America

6. Patatas
Solanum Tuberosum
English: Potato
Introduced; Southern America


7. Paket
Unknown scientific name

Note: The locals said that it grows wildy in the mountains. It said to be similar to kamoteng kahoy or Cassava

8. Unknown local name
Xanthosoma Species
English: Elephant's ear plant
Inttoduced, from South America

Note: This plant is not cultivated widely in the Philippines. Some of the plants, grow wildy on some areas of the Philippines, and possibly mistaken as giant tarro.

9. Unknown/unverified Local name
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
English: Elephant Foot yam
Native 🇵🇭

10. Unknown/unverified Local name
Alocasia macrorrhizus
Giant Tarro
Native 🇵🇭

Further readings

Kangkong, the local Lettuce

Is it possible to grow, Kangkong in small containers for consumption? Is it feasible?

The answer I will be answering after a few days with my experiment. Honestly, the only problem I see with Kang kong gardening is the water quality and Mosquitos that will flourish in the water. 

What is the name of that Vine plant, wild flowering vine shrub, with small pink flowers growing in the Philippines, Cavite


Answer: Combretum indicum
Other names include Rangoon creeper or Chinese honeysuckle. 
Their is "Chinese" in its name even though it not even native to China.

Source

How frequent can you use antibiotics?

How soon can you use the same antibiotic regimen?

• The first thing we need to avoid is antibiotic resistance.
• The next thing is the adverse effect of antibiotic course, i.e. deprivation of good bacteria
• The natural microbial flora should also be reconsidered. 

After a first course of antibiotics for 7-10 days, almost all of the susceptible organisms have been dead but a few strain, resistant strains, will still remain.
We need to wait for the period of re-colonization wherein, the resistant strain and susceptible strain in the body have again equal number of population. This is done to avoid a population of microbes that are all resistant.

So the right question is:
How long will it take for a certain species of good bacteria to recolonize our body? 

• It usually takes more than 6 months to have complete recolonization of all the good bacteria (Gut bacteria), depending on the antibiotic course.

Other key notes: 

• Clinically, it is recommended to avoid the same class of antibiotics for 3 months.
• Abrupt use of the same antibiotic regimen after a week will have no more effect since majority of the microbial population are the resistant strains. 
• Thus, it is wise to use the same antibiotic regimen 6 months apart, allowing recolonization and prevention of resistance at the same time. 

This question is in lieu of certain medical conditions that often predisposes a patient to frequent infections. I.E., Chronic sinusitis

Antibiotic Therapy General Principle
Gut bacteria Recovery

Ever since, I have always wanted to conserve what is there. I have always wanted to save the wild life that we have especially the ones that surround me and that is probably why I  took up wildlife biology in college.


People all around the world have been advocating to protect our environment. I grew up with people, professors raising their flags for the our environment. In my own little way, I too have always wanted to save what people have been oppresing. I have always wanted to save the Philippine biodiversity.


I took up medicine and have forgotten for some time what I was part of. It is only now that I have recalled this deep longing that I had but then 5 years of studying medicine have made me realize a lot of things.

"IT WILL CARRY ON"


It might not be what we wanted but later on, life will find its way no matter what. I had a beautiful january morning walk today and I saw that the wildlife here is still flourishing despite the urbanization.

And in this way, I shall now be signing off as a species conservative.

Photo courtesy of mims.com

Indication: For hordeolum or stye

Plant-derived Fruits Present in the Philippines with notes

     This is a list of common edible fruits from plants that can be found in the Philippines, both native and non-native based on my field observations of the Philippines. I did not separate the naturalized and native fruit bearing plants in the Philippines. 

      Many of these plants can give extra income for many Filipinos. Large-scale farms are present in the Philippines especially for tropical plants such as pineapples that are adapted to the Philippine climate.

Passiflora edulis

English name: Passion fruit  

Possible natural origin:Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina

Ananas comosus

English name: Pineapple

Filipino name: Pinya

Native: Southern America

Note: Fields of pinya can be found in Cavite, Philippines but the fruit are less in size compared to those grown in Mindanao. The pineapple plant grows well in direct sunlight, ideal here in the Philippines.  

Rubus sp, 

English name: Philippine Wild Raspberry

Local Name: Sampinit or Sapinit 

Location: Quezon Province
Native to the Philippines

Additional Info

Note: Few Filipinos are aware of the existence of this plant.

Morus sp.
English name: Mulberry 
Native: Widespread

Hylocereus species

English name: Dragon fruit 

Possible natural origin: Mexico, Central and South America

Note: The dragon fruit is often planted in some backyards or gardens of some Filipinos due to its low maintenance in the Philippines. 

Fragaria × ananassa 
English and Filipino name: Strawberry
Location: Mountain Province Philippines

Note: It only grows in mountainous region of the Philippines. Its rarity commands a high selling price. The fruit is often made into jams for preservation. Strawberries are in season during the months of December to February in the Philippines. 

Cucumis melo
English name: Cantaloupe or melon,Honeydew 
Filipino name: Melon, Honeydew 
Native: Africa or Southwest Asia

Citrullus lanatus
English and  Watermelon
Filipino name: Pakwan
Native: West Africa 

Notes: Stalls of watermelon can be seen on highways in the provinces of Calabarzon, Philippines.

Vitis sp. 

English: Grapes
Filipino name: Ubas

Native: Central asia

Note: Grapes are rarely eaten in the Philippines due to its scarcity in the region. 

Benincasa hispida

English name: Wax gourd or Chinese preserving melon

Filipino name: Kundol

Native to the Philippines

Note: Kundol is candied in the Philippines. 
The kundol plant can be seen naturally growing in plantations in the Philippines. 

See also:

Native fruit-bearing trees of the Philippines

Naturalized fruit bearing trees of the Philippines