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.

Native Mushrooms Cavite, Philippines

Yellow Mushroom

         Mushrooms are only visible in Cavite during the monsoon season. They mostly sprout after rains when there is relative higher humidity. Surprisingly, there are lots of mushrooms growing in the Philippines especially in fertile areas near rivers or streams.

         Filipinos (Tagalogs) have few specific names for different mushrooms. We may conclude from this that mushrooms are not rarely used in Philippine cuisine given such limited eponyms for mushrooms in the Philippines.

Beautiful Philippine native trees or plants

Some trees I intend to put in my dream nature park/ecogarden which will ONLY present native flora and fauna of the Philippines, something that would promote the native biodiversity of the Philippines.
A recreational place where one can enjoy nature and where the flora & fauna of the Philippines can be showcased.
http://pinaybargainista.blogspot.com/2012/04/seeing-pink-cherry-blossoms-philippine.html

Tree Fern, Batangas Philippines 

Dwarf bamboo trees, Batangas Philippines 

Bamboo tree, Cavite, Philippines


Toona Calantas (Philippine Mahogany)

Study Philippine bird species

What are the flowers visited of this species?

How many eggs does it lay? What are its predator? Lifespan? Social behavior? Mating behavior? Mating season? Parental care? Sunbirds? 

   It depresses me to find out that there are no available information on the ecology of most Philippine birds. After a casual conversation with an expert and respected ornithologist, Prof. Juan Carlos, I realized the gloomy state of Philippine wildlife.

            Since 2007 I had been looking for available data about the ecology (Food ecology) of many Philippine birds. Today, Prof J.C. had set me free from this endless search in the net for this information I was yearning for.

"There are no studies yet conducted on the ecology of most Philippine bird species."


Here are some few links about Philippine Birds
Birds of Alabang, Manila
Tamsi

Lilies grow in the Philippines!

      Yes, you read that right. We have our own species of lily which is endemic. Another reason why we should save our remaining forests. It seems to me that many people do not know that many of our native plants are also very appealing. There are also not that much available information in this species of plant in the Philippines.
     
       The scientific name of the said species of lily is Lilium philippinense. I hope that there will come a day that the species is still not yet extinct when the Filipinos will appreciate its beauty.

Birds of General Trias, Cavite, Philippines

Common Moorhen

Scientific name: 

Photo courtesy of Pbase.com http://www.pbase.com/csmallari/image/82600264

White Breasted Water Hen

Scientific name: Amaurornis phoenicurus

Where to Find: Rivers and streams near ricefields of the locality

Time: All-year-round

Rarity: Widely distributed across Southeast Asia

Photo courtesy of Romy Ocon

Cinnamon Bittern

Where to Find: Rivers and streams near rice fields of the locality

Time: All-year-round

Rarity: Common in the Philippines

Photo courtesy of Romy Ocon

Barn swallow

Scientific name: Hirundo rustica

Where to Find: Gardens and roofs of houses

Time: December to Late February

Photo courtesy of Romy Ocon

Collared Kingfisher

Where to Find: Rivers and streams near rice fields of the locality

Time: All-year-round

Rarity: Common in the Philippines

Photo courtesy of flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/val6425/5473727556/

Asian Golden Plover

Where to Find: Rivers and streams near rice fields of the locality

Time: All-year-round

Rarity: Common in the Philippines

Photo courtesy of Romy Ocon

Eastern grass owl

Where to find: Rice fields and grooves

Time: All-year-round

Rarity: Very rare in the locality

Photo courtesy of Birdwatch.ph

Black-winged stilt

Where to find: Rivers, coast and rice fields of the locality

Time: All-year-round

Rarity: Common in the Philippines

Photo courtesy of Birdwatch.ph

Golden-bellied Flyeater

Where to Find: Grooves within the locality

Yellow-vented bulbul

Little egret

Where to find: Rivers, coast and rice fields of the locality

Time: All-year-round

Rarity: Common in the Philippines

Striped-headed Rhabdorhinis

Grey Heron



Philippine Scops Owl
Picture unverified, taken by Local at Bacao, General Trias, Cavite

Brown Shrike

What we should plant

       

       I hope people in Tagaytay City would stop planting the cook pine tree which is a non-native species. I hope they instead plant Pinus Merkusii or Sumatran Pine tree instead which is also non-native to Tagaytay but native to a few Mountains of the Philippines.

      We need to plant more native plant species because it supports the natural ecology of the Philippines. In the long-term and species preservation, planting native species is more economical.