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

Naturalized fruit-bearing trees of the Philippines with notes

      In contrast to the native fruit-bearing trees of the Phililippines, this is a list of common Introduced or naturalized fruit-bearing trees of the Philippines with their possible native country which I made. Most Filipinos are unaware that the trees in their backyards are not really native Philippine trees. Most of these trees or fruits came to the Philippines during the Spanish era where trade from different countries occurred especially from South America, explaining for the high number of Philippine naturalized fruit-bearing trees coming from that region. 

      Many of these trees have already evolved with the local fauna and flora over the years. An example of which is the Mango tree that is eaten by a wide variety of animals in the Philippines. 

Sandoricum koetjape
English name: Sour apple
Filipino name: Santol 
Possible natural origin: Indochina

Note: Based on my observations, there are also many varieties of santol in the Philippines. Some varieties are small while others are large as a fist.

Artocarpus heterophylla
English name: Jackfruit
Filipino name: Langka
Possible natural origin: Southeast asia or India

Langka Tree

Note: The langka fruit is also cooked in the Philippines with coconut milk, locally known as ginataang-langka. The seeds are also eaten. 

Pouteria campechiana

English name: Canistel

Filipino name: Chesa 

Possible natural origin:Mexico and Central America

Chesa Tree

Note: Chesa is not often sold in commercial markets in the Philippines. 

Tamarindus indica
English name: Tamarind
Filipino name: Sampalok 
Possible natural origin: Sudan and Tropical Africa

Note: The leaves and fruits of Sampalok are used in Filipino cuisine. It gives a sour taste to soups. 

Mangifera indica
English name: Mango
Filipino name: Manga 
Possible natural origin: India

Note: This is a big mango tree with abundant epiphytes. This mango tree is a habitat for birds, insects and reptiles such as geckos.

Note: Filipinos (Tagalogs) are fond of making-pickled mangoes, used as relish. 

Burong-manga

Psidium species
English name: Guava
Filipino name: Bayabas 
Possible natural origin: Mexico and Central and South America

Note: Bayabas leaves are commonly used medicinally in the Philippines as a concoction for wounds. 

Annona squamosa
English name: Sugar apple
Filipino name: Atis 
Possible natural origin: Mexico and Central America

Note: Many birds are fond of eating the Atis fruit. The softness makes it easy for birds to eat this fruit. 

Annona muricata
English name: Soursop
Filipino name: Guyabano 
Possible natural origin: Mexico and Central America

Annona cherimoya
English name: cherimoya 
Possible natural origin: Andes(South America)

Carica papay, 

English name and Filipino name: Papaya 

Possible natural origin: Tropical America

Papaya Tree

Papaya fruit

Note: Papaya extracts are used as skin whitener in some products here in the Philippines. 

Chrysophyllum cainito
English name:star apple
Filipino name: Caimito 
Possible natural origin: Central America and West indies

Muntingia Calabura
English name: Jamaican cherry
Filipino name: Aratiles 
Possible natural origin: Mexico, Central and South America

Note: It is non-native but based on my observations, a favorite fruit of many Philippine bird, probably due to the size of the fruit, taste and texture.  

Punica granatum
English name: Pomegranate
Filipino name: Granada 
Possible natural origin:Iran and Iraq

Manilkara zapota

English name: Sapodilla, 

Filipino name: Chico 

Possible natural origin: Mexico, South America and Carribean

Chico Fruit

Pithecellobium dulce
English name: Madras thorn
Filipino name: Camachile
Possible natural origin: Mexico, Central and South America

Camachile Flower

Note: The Camachile fruit has low commercial value in the Philippines and is often given for free by the locals. 

Spondias purpurea
English name: Red Mombin 

Filipino name: Siniguelas 

Native to tropical South America

Persea Americana
English and Filipino name: Avocado
Native: Mexico 

Note: The fruit of Avocado is highly priced in the Philippines.  


Coffea species
English name: Coffee plant
Tagalog: Kape
Native: Possibly Africa

Note: In Cavite, coffee is cultivated in higher elevations such as Amadeo, Cavite, Philippines. Kapeng alamid is an expensive coffee taken from the droppings of the Asian civet, exclusively eating coffee berries. 

Theobroma cacao
English name: Cacao plant
Tagalog name: Kokwa

Note: I have seen Cacao trees in Batangas, Philippines where it is often made into hot chocolate drink. 

Anacardium occidantale

English name: Cashew Tree

Tagalog: Kasoy 

Native: South America

Note: Kasoy nut is highly priced in the Philippines. 

Phoenix dactylifera

English and Filipino name: Dates 
Native: Middle east

Muntingia Calabura

Tagalog: Aratiles

Native: South America

Others: a newly introduced fruit tree in the Philippines.

English and Filipino name:Brazilian Grapetree


Governor's Plum

Conclusion of the Philippine fruit-bearing trees

     In general, trees that can grow to huge sizes in the Philippines whether native or non-native can be a habitat for large number of animals.

See also:
Native fruit-bearing trees of the Philippines

Plant-derived fruits of the Philippines

Anas Luzonica, Philippine Duck

Video of Philippine duck(Anas Luzonica) at Rice paddy, Cavite Philippines.

Just like all other wild birds in the Philippines, the bird is shy and will flee at the sight of humans, most likely due to Filipinos harrasing bird populations in the past.


Behaviour:

The wild ducks only visited the paddy on that day. Unlike domesticated ducks, Philippine ducks can fly and travel to different locations. The sighting of these birds in General Trias is not common.

Some Pictures of common Filipino skin diseases with english translation with notes

Mga sakit sa balat ng mga Pilipino.
This is a list of commonly used or seen skin diseases based on my observations in the Philippines.

Filipino word: Nagtutubig 
English word: Vesicle
Medical term: Vesicle

Note: Nagtutubig is directly translated as "producing-fluid" such as those found in burns or chickenpox.

Filipino word: Nana
English word: Pus
Medical term: Pus

Filipino word: Hadhad
English word: Jockitch
Medical term: Tinea Cruris

Filipino word: An-an
English word: Fungal skin infection
Medical Term: Dermatomycosis

Filipino word: Buni
English word: Ringworm
Medical term: Tinea

Note: The difference between An-an and Buni is in their shape. Buni is generally ring-shaped or annular.

Filipino word: Alipunga
English word: Athlete's foot
Medical term: Tinea Cruris

Picture of Bungang-araw

Filipino word: Bungang-araw
English word: Prickly heat
Medical term: Miliaria


Filipino word: Pigsa 
English word: Boil
Medical term: Carbuncle

Note: "Pigsa" can be used for both carbuncle and furuncle

Filipino word: Mamaso
English word:
Medical term: Impetigo

Note: "Mamaso" is a general term in the Philippines for lesions in the mouth of infants or children. It is usually impetigo but "Mamaso" may also refer to other mouth lesions such as Foot-and-mouth disease.

Filipino word: Kulani
English word:
Medical term: Lymphadenopathy

Filipino word: Balakubak
English word: Dandruff
Medical term: Seborrheic dermatitis

Filipino word: Kulugo 
English word: Common wart
Medical term: Verruca Vulgaris

Note: "Kulugo" is traditionally used as a direct translation for wart but not used anymore to refer for other types of warts such as congenital warts.

Filipino word: Malalaking-Pantal (Pantal)
English word: Hives or wheal (single, smaller)
Medical term: Urticaria


Filipino word: Tigyawat
English word: Acne
Medical term: Acne Vulgaris

Filipino word: Nunal
English word: Mole
Medical term: Melanocytic Nevus

Filipino word: Kuntil
English word: Skintag
Medical term: Acrochordon

Filipino word: Balat
English word: Mongolianspot or birthmark
Medical term: Dermal melanocytosis

Note: Lentigo are medically small pigmented spot, similar to Dermal melanocytosis that it is also melanocytosis but single-layered.

Filipino word: Pekas
English word: Freckles
Medical term: Ephelides

Filipino word: Galis
English word: Scabies
Medical term: Scabies

Note: "Galis" is also used to refer to Mange in dogs

Filipino word:
English word: Senile wart
Medical term: Seborrheic Keratosis

Filipino word: Butlig
English word:
Medical term: Papules

Filipino word: Singaw
English word: Canker sore
Medical term: Apthous Stomatitis

Filipino word: Butlig-butlig or Singaw sa balat
English word: Rashes
Medical term: Exanthem

Note: Butlig-butlig may refer to pinpoint lesions while singaw is a general term used for any generalized lesions such as viral exanthems

Filipino word: Kuto
English word: Lice
Medical term: Pediculus Humanus capitis

Filipino word: Kagat ng surot
English word: Bedbug bites
Medical term: Cimicosis

Filipino word: Balat-kaliskis
English word:
Medical term: Itcthyosis

Pictures of Skin diseases with no english translation in the Philippines (Sakit sa balat sa Pilipinas)

English word: Eczema
Medical term: Atopic dermatitis
Filipino Description:

English word: Psoriasis
Medical term: Psoriasis

Psoriasis localized to the nails after treatment

English word: Folliculitis
Medical term: Folliculitis

English word:
Medical term: Dyshidrotic eczema

English word: Pustule
Medical term: Pemphigus

English word: Vitiligo
Medical term: Vitiligo


Submit on the Comments if you have any suggestions:

Filipino word:
English word:
Medical term:

A magical glowing flower in the Philippines

This flower is quiet a show as it glows at night, not only that, it also only blooms at night, kind of reminds me of the flower in land before time.

The white flower is really beautiful I must say, although I can't say the same for the vines.

Maybe, you're wondering by now, how come it glows when in the picture, it is not glowing. Well, there is an explanation for this and one is it glows when there is enough moonlight to reflect the light. It just looks really beautiful under the moonlight.
Well, aside from that, in some occasions and places, you can find these flowers with green tiny glowing light around them.
Just imagine dozens of this white flowers, sprinkled with tiny green lights under the moon, so beautifully majestic. Well, thanks to fireflies that it looks really magical at night seeing these plant.

Caterpie in the Philippines

        A caterpillar in the Philippines that looks like "Caterpie", a monster in the Pokemon franchise, a cartoon. This Caterpillar lied motionless majority of the time during my observation, probably in an attempt to camouflage itself. It was also observed to be able to retract the horns that it has on its head. Unlike the fictional monster, this caterpillar does not seem to spin any silk or thread. 

Birds of Cavite, Philippines

Majority of the birds in the Cavite can be found in grasslands, scattered groves, rice fields and wetlands. Based on my observations, majority of the birds are capable of flight, shy to human encounters, and migratory except for some resident species.

Shrike

Zebra Dove

We can have our own Cherry Blossom Trees

       

Pink Blossoms, Cavite, Philippines 

       Imagine having those pink-flowered trees lined up on streets here in the lower, plain areas of the  Philippines in an early morning walk, and I am sure people or Filipinos will flock over the streets.
Imagine those beautiful, captivating trees lining up Tagaytay City in Summer. That place will be an instagram haven.

But that is difficult to say the least! 

       The idea of having cherry blossoms-like parks here in the Philippines is hard due to Philippine demographics and culture even if we do have those kind of trees. 

Filipinos have lost priority to nature parks and Japan is just entirely different from the Philippines. 

Biology:
      Those trees with pink flowers which you can find in Manila, Cavite and neighboring areas are called Rosy Trumpet Tree, Tabebuia rosea, native to South America. Thus, an introduced species here in the Philippines.


       Some Politicians and businessmen knew the potential of this beautiful tree in the Philippines, unfortunately, some subspecies do not bloom as much as the second picture, especially those found in Manila area, which are less showy.