The Cemetery Tree

Kalachuchi tree in North Cemetery

I heard that more than a million people visited their departed loved ones in the Manila North Cemetery today.  I was one of them. Indeed you could easily see that mobs would have reached the estimated number as there was literally a sea of people going in and out of the cemetery. We literally had to go with the flow just to get in, as the crowds were coming in tides.

The North Cemetery scene I saw was far from what I remember experiencing every November 1, when I was working for Heritage Park. The latter is still open space compared to the crowded and more ancient cemetery. But I found something similar between the two despite the great difference. It is the kalachuchi which was extensively used as street planting in both.

Kalachuchi sheds its leaves anually

Kalachuchi are several species or varieties belonging to the genus Plumeria. They are native to Central and South America. Internationally, the kalachuchi is known as frangipani. According to Dr. Domingo Madulid, the plant reached the Philippines in the Spanish period via the galleon trade.  Even its name is proof of it being introduced because it was derived from the Plumeria's Mexican (Aztec) name (from the book Flora Filipina from Acapulco to Manila - Alvina and Madulid) .

White kalachuchi flowers

The kalachuchi has become ubiquitous in Metro Manila and the rest of the Philippines because it was easy to propagate and has become popular as an ornamental.  You'll find various color varieties growing in street landscapes, public parks and numerous gardens.  But unfortunately, they can be seen growing naturalized along our coastal areas, dispersed among our native flora.  I personally witnessed a dense inaccessible cliffside in Puerto Galera splashed with white flowers, only to discover that the blooming trees were stands of kalachuchi.

Kalachuchi trees dispersed among Dracaena and other native flora in a cliff in Mindoro

Spoon-shaped Plumeria pudica 

A few years ago, I gifted a collector friend with a cutting of the new Plumeria pudica from my own garden. He brought it to his province and planted them in their house. Five years later I visited their house and he already had several small trees growing in their property. Not only that, the neighbor's house also was sporting a specimen. Illustrates how the kalachuchi probably had steadily spread around the country because of its revered beauty.

The white kalachuchi or Plumeria obtusa is one of the most commonly seen in urban gardens.  It has also become a favorite to plant in cemeteries probably because of the pure color of its flowers and the lesser maintenance required. Based on this fact, most superstitious home-owners would not prefer to keep kalachuchi in the house garden. But even this did not stop it from becoming one of the most popular trees used in landscaping.  Too bad because it is NOT NATIVE. 

Kalachuchi is a member of the dogbane family Apocynaceae.  It includes beautiful natives like baraibai (Cerbera manghas), bayag-usa (Voacanga) and the stately dita (Alstonia scholaris), which are notable substitutes for this exotic.

My Sunshine Ground Orchid

Flowering leafless plant

In the last Philippine Orchid Society show, I was convinced by collector Ernie Alvaran to buy a flower-less ground orchid he claims to have yellow flowers. He said it is Spathoglottis vanoverberghii,  It was sold in the Purificacion Orchids stall with 3 small bulbs and the grasslike leaves typical for the genus. Gave him the benefit of the doubt and purchased a pot. And when I brought it home,the next day I found that my pet rabbits ate away the leaves leaving only the bulbs.  I was very much saddened.

Flower detail

But a week after I found the bare bulbs bringing out not leaves but two flower stalks.  A month after it opened with the very first yellow blooms. After a couple of weeks, the ground orchid still continues to bloom with delicate sunshine-colored flowers.  Good thing I listened to good old Ernie.

I was told that unlike other Spathoglottis spp., S. vanoverberghii does lose its leaves before it flowers.  Just not sure if my rabbite induced the plant to flower after turning its leaves into dinner.

Skyway Skyline

The Skyway skyline

Was riding the bus which passed by the Skyway. Brought out my camera to quickly capture two images of  Metro Manila, juxtaposed with each other.  Classic dilemma!

The Boholano Banilad

Libaong Beach in Panglao is the home of a lot of native coastal trees 

The Amarela banilad

Another banilad tree

"My favorite Bohol tree stands at the center of Amarela Resort in Panglao Island. It is a lone resilient banilad tree (or Sterculia comosa) which I got drawn to because of its very prominent red berry-like seed pods. When I first saw those pods, I thought they were cherries. Sadly I learned that they were mere capsules and not fruit at all. But the seeds are palatable which is probably why the tree attracts an army of black glossy starlings (lansijang birds). But edible seeds or not, the tree looks very interesting, with a distinct form that stands out from the rest of the existing trees and flora on that beach. So every time I go back to Amarela, I check the tree and collect the seeds that fall to the ground. I am always lucky enough to get a handful which I bring back to Manila to plant in small pots. The seeds readily germinate and easily grow to good seedling size. And, in no time at all, they are young trees over a meter tall.

Unopened buds

Seed pod details

When I worked for the Heritage Park, I planted four two-foot high banilad saplings flanking an open parking lot in the memorial park premises. The area was extremely hot and had shallow soil. I thought the seedlings would have a hard time anchoring their roots onto the hard adobe base, but they did it! Then, after a few more months, the banilad specimens grew to considerable size, despite the extreme conditions they had been subjected to, and the minimal care they had received. This encouraged me to give away the rest of my seedlings to willing recipients. I have not heard about how those seedlings have fared, but the ones at the Heritage Park are already small tree-sized. 

Discarded flowers

Young green pods

In a few more years, my banilad specimens might prove to be very handsome trees to have in any garden, even outside Bohol of course. The banilad might even prove to be an ideal tree for urban-greening. We shall see."

Fallen seeds

I wrote this article for the book 'Philippine Native Trees 101: Up Close and Personal'.  But it the article did not make it to the final book: The reason was that the tree  I described in the article was misidentified.
 

I  learned from Ulysses and Mam Ime that the Bohol banilad is actually malakalumpang or Sterculia ceramica.Today I again got to see the Amarela banilad.  For the almost 7 years that I was observing it, it was only today that I saw it in flower.  And more good new: I also found two more full grown trees in the vicinity.  

 

                

Bohol the Nth Time

High-low tide beach

The quite narrow beach

View from Amarela balcony resto

The balcony resto

I arrived again in Amarela Resort in Libaong Beach, Panglao Island.  This time around our flight was in the afternoon so we got to the resort almost nearing sundown. There was still barely sun, enough to see that the plants are still lush, but some are overgrown.  The sea water was quite high for low tide. The exposed portion of the beach is narrow. It is always nice to come back here.      

The Hi-Street Session

At Bonifacio Hi-Street

Sketching Specific Gravity

It was my third time to join the monthly sketching session of Urban Sketchers Philippines. September's session brought us to the urban landscape of Fort Bonifacio, specifically Bonifacio Hi-Street.  We were to meet at the infamous Specific Gravity sculpture of Reg Yuson.

Sketchers at work

We were pegged to meet at 3:30 PM but no one was still in the vicinity of the sculpture cum fountain.  I made a quick scan of the surrounding shops and spotted USP fixture Eileen Escueta sitting at Figaro's, already doodling her selected scene.  I sat down with her company, so I could also bring out my drawing paraphernalia and start sketching.

Without any pencil lines

A few minutes into my contour line composition, one by one the USP members were popping up, steadily filling up the seats of Figaro's al fresco dining.  Different sizes of sketch pads and varying kinds of drawing and coloring media were eventually pulled out from bags.

The favorite subject was the Reg Yuson sculpture, though that day the cascading water element was turned off. But that did not hinder the boys and gals from finding the perfect angle to depict the large synthetic stone and metal art installation.    

Unfinished sketch

At around 430, we were asked to transfer to the covered pathway near Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and start a new drawing.  But eventually the chosen subject taken was still the same familiar sculpture. All were racing to finish their quick sketches as it was already nearing dusk.  The color of the landscape surface are turning from bright tints of color into shades of dark tones and grey. 

My first attempt

Urban Sketchers

At 530 pm, the sketching session abruptly came to an end, testing the USP's ability to quickly capture the essence of Hi Street with just a few fast strides of pen or pencil. I myself did not get to finish my last drawing.  But somehow I managed to make 2 small drawings to mark my brief participation in this USP activity.  Can't wait till next month, when I again get to add something worth sketching in my small notebook.  

The City and the Country Tea

Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic Garden in Laoag

The NUEBG tsaang-gubat

NUEBG tree house

Located at one corner of Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic Garden in Laoag City is a very nice and attractive specimen of Carmona retusa which they commonly call Fookien tea or tsaang-gubat. There is nothing unusual with the scene except that this plant is big and healthy.  But you would expect to see healthy specimens in the city as tsaang gubat is a known and popular garden plant.  It is much propagated in Tabang, Bulacan and sold as topiary in the shape of balls, cones and animals. 

The Carmona retusa was planted at a nice shaded spot, along a prominent pathway.  I am not certain where the NUEBG tsaang gubat came from, but I am sure it is given utmost care by the staff of the university, especially the botanic garden's superintendent, Michael Calaramo. As a result, it is tall and lush, with robust branches forming a compact crown. The leaves have a glimmer, as if they were sprayed with lacquer. It really is a handsome addition to any landscape.

Dwarfed forest of Burgos

The wild tsaang-gubat

About two hours away from Laoag is the craggy shores of Burgos town.  It is a windy part of Ilocos region so the vegetation are quite wind swept and naturally maintained low. Here another Carmona retusa grows at the other end of the spectrum. 

The Burgos tsaang-gubat might be a wild specimen.  It is low and gnarly, almost hugging the ground, trying to blend with the other dwarfed species growing on the rocky slopes. It is mixed with resilient shrubbery and weeds, including Phyllanthus, Tabernaemontana, Celtis and a lot more. The specimen here does not have a lush crown or the perfect foliage, which goes to show that a lot of natives do not actually grow in perfect conditions, but they do adapt and manage.