In design, sometimes LESS is MORE, but in rainforestation I'd say MORE is MORE!

We often hear designers and architects associate modernism to simplicity, clean, uncluttered and maintenance free. This is what most of us want to achieve in this modern world because we want our lifestyle to reflect beauty, comfort and style minus the headaches. Concepts are made and formulated to meet demands and requirements, but no matter what the end result is everything should serve a purpose. Nothing should be put to chance otherwise all efforts will be wasted.

I wish that I can say the same about rainforestation. That I can just plant seedlings in rows and watch them grow their way into the garden of Eden that we envision them to be. It takes more than that because there is life in trees and plants and that we can never control nature, time or the elements. We often say that life is unfair. Well, life as we know it is certainly full of uncertainties. Unexpected things could happen to your seedlings/trees like for example your brother's pitbull ate your one and only germinating Manaring (lithocarpus sp.) seed, which you collected from a forest in Tagaytay. Or when the time that your jade vine was already making it's way up the fence that a sudden infestation of moth larvae gorged on the leaves that it was too late for you to take drastic measures to save it. There was even an instance when unexperienced you made some unforseen errors in handling and storing Tindalo seeds that when the time you got back from the trip and planted it, almost all of it perished due to fungus or bacteria. What a waste! In the end, you try to learn from these mistakes and hope to never ever do it again.

Enough about reminiscing the past because there is nothing to it. Nothing to bring it back I mean so might just face life head on. Like in a forest, life is teaming with species, one dependent on the other to form that symbiotic relationship or an ecosystem. Rainforestation is mimicking and bringing back that ecosystem. It is the closest thing that we can offer because we can never ever recreate the original virgin rainforest once it is destroyed. Diversity is the key. The weakness of one will be the strength of other species. I am talking about the layer upon layer of plant and tree species in one area. Try to adapt that concept and maybe then you'll agree with me that in rainforestation, more is more!

ANABIONG (Trema orientalis) is one of the fastest growing trees I've seen.

Notice the difference in leaf size on the lower right hand pic. The larger leaf belongs to a seedling or a young tree while the smaller leaf on top belongs to a mature tree.

Considered as a pioneer tree, Anabiong (Trema Orientalis) belongs to the hemp family ULMACEAE / CANNABACEAE. Other synonymous names according to wikipedia are Pigeon Wood and Gunpowder Tree. Surprisingly, Anabiong has numerous uses. Its wood is good for paper, pulp and rope production. The leaves are a source of food for butterfly larvae and fodder for livestock, while the fruits are eaten by birds and other wildlife. It is a nitrogen fixing tree, thus it is able to enrich the soil. Usually growing in open bushland and waste places. This species is one of the fastest growing trees I've seen.

I have seen this tree here in Manila, Batangas (near the coastline) and in Laguna.

ASCOF literally means asthma and cough is made from 100% organically grown Lagundi leaves.

I've been seeing quite a few billboards of ASCOF along Edsa, SLEX and National Highway of Calamba, Laguna. My sister has a stock of this phytomedicine in syrup form in case my nephews need it. I haven't tried it but I sure will consider using it in case I get the "sore". After all, "ASCOF has the distinction of being an all-natural product, 100% organically nurtured in a quality certified farm untainted by synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides, says Jericho Bayona, Pascual Laboratories' Senior Brand Manager for Phytomedicines. "It's safe, has no side-effects and no risk of overdose". Lagundi is known to our elders as an effective herbal medicine, mainly used to treat bronchopulmonary disorders and other ailments. I even checked it out at the popular drugstore in the metro and it is available in tablet, capsule and in syrup (Ponkan, Strawberry and Menthol) form. How convenient is that!

For some who are not familiar with what a Lagundi (Vitex negundo) is, it is a bush to a small tree that belongs to the family VERBENACEAE. It is also known as the 5-leaved Chaste tree, obviously because of the five-lobed leaf structure and because according to Wikipedia the Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) a.k.a Monk's Pepper was originally used by monks as anti-libido or anaphrodisiac in order to remain chaste.

Lagundi is endorsed by the Philippine Department of Health as one of the ten effective herbal medicines that has proven therapeutic value. It grows in thickets and waste places and is very common in the Philippines.

sources: www.pascuallab.com and Philippine Medicinal Plants.

Caterpillar infestation in Batangas destroy hectares of crops, currently in Cavite and Bataan as well.

video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ5DFlcYhmI

Upon watching the video clip the newscaster mentioned that palay, tubo and mais (rice, sugar cane and corn) were the crops infested by the said caterpillars. Do you know that all of these crops are related to the grass family?

The following questions were lingering in my mind: Why is this happening in Batangas, Cavite and Bataan? What town or province could the next caterpillar infestation be? Will other insects such as locusts or beetle follow in plaguing farmlands too? Did farmers in Batangas, Cavite and Bataan follow monoculture type of planting or did they practice intercropping of various vegetables? Do you think that chemical pesticides really help in the situation or does it aggravate or cause another problem? Is global warming or climate change the main reason why such massive infestation occurs?

I am not an expert to answer these questions, nonetheless I will still share my take on it........ Could it be that forests and native trees are non-existent in those areas that is why the insects are now looking for other sources of food? Could it be that using chemical insecticides and pesticides will only make the insects more resistant and difficult to control? Will finding out what these insects are feeding in their native habitat and planting these trees or plants in sanctuaries a better alternative than elliminating them? Is the sudden population boom of insects a last attempt for them to avoid extinction? Usually, predatory birds, bats and other insects control the population of pests such as these, but where are they? Are we not making the lands acidic by using these chemical insecticides instead of using organic pesticides? By using these chemical insecticides, are we not erradicating the beneficial insects such as spiders and praying mantis that eat other pests or butterflies and bees that help pollinate our plants, trees and vegetables? Do you think that experts have made the right action in resolving this problem or are they creating a domino effect to other future problems? Are our farmers really following correct and healthy farming practices because issues such as this might just blow up in front of our faces?............I'll just let you guess what my last question should be in terms of what the real problem is.

Amidst the Banaba trees in bloom.

A bird's-eye-view of the Banaba trees in flower. The pictures were taken from the rooftop of Veterans hospital a few days ago. A day after a thunderstorm, the morning seems tranquil and conducive for rest.