Filipino ingenuity, practicality and curiosity have paved the way to discoveries of medicinal alternatives. Instead of using synthetic drugs that can be bought in pharmacies, the Department of Health (DOH) is convincing people to use traditional herbal medicine. They attest that it is cheaper, accessible, and have little or no side effects.  After series of studies and and painstaking experiments, the DOH has already scientifically approved ten herbal medicines in the Philippines.

1. Akapulko (Cassia alata)

This medicinal herb contains chrysophanic acid and fungicide that can help treat people suffering from scabies, ringworm, eczema, and intestinal parasite

1. Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)

It has the capacity to regulate sugar levels in the body. As a result, it may be used for the treatment and maintenance of Diabetes Mellitus type 2 or the so called non insulin dependent diabetes.

1. Bawang (Allium sativum)

It is very popular for its natural antibacterial effects. Crushed garlic may be directly applied on wound to prevent infection. Best of all, it has been proven to reduce cholesterol level thereby lowering high blood pressure.

1. Bayabas (Psidium guajava)

Bayabas/Guava can be used as an antiseptic. It’s boiled leaves can be used as a mouth cleanser thereby treating mouth or any gum infections. Traditionally, parents usually use this to cleanse the genitals of their newly circumcised child.

1. Lagundi (Vitex negundo)

This herb can effectively treat cough and asthma. This herb has become popular not only in the Philippines but also around the world. There have been capsules developed from this herb as well.

1. Niyog-Niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.)

The dried full-grown seeds of this vine are very helpful in eliminating intestinal worms. Preferably, ingest the seeds two hours after meals for higher efficacy. If ineffective, you may do it again after a week.

1. Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)

This herb has a diuretic property. When ingested, it may help excrete excess water and sodium in the body. It is very helpful for people suffering from kidney stones.

1. Tsaang Gubat(Ehretia microphylla Lam)

This shrub is well known to relieve abdominal spasm and gastroenteritis. It also has high fluoride content which makes it a good mouth gargle to prevent teeth and gum problems.

1. Ulasimang Bato (Peperomia pellucida)

The leaves of this herb can be ingested thereby decreasing uric acid level. It may help people who are suffering from gout and arthritis. It also contains many vitamins and minerals necessary for our daily nutrition.

1. Yerba Buena(Clinopodium douglasii)

By pounding the leaves and applying it to an area with pain, it may serve as a topical analgesic. It may also be taken orally by making a tea out of it thereby relieving pain as well.

Aside from these approved herbal plants with medicinal values, Filipinos also use several other herbs for treatment of different diseases. Tawa-tawa, for example, is said to help people suffering from dengue. Some people claim that this herb may help restore normal blood platelet.

Tawa-tawa

In addition, the Malunggay or Moringa in English, although not approved by DOH, has already been proven to have great medicinal properties. It can be an antiseptic to wounds and has some antibacterial effects as well. It is also packed with vitamins and minerals essential for a person’s nutrition. The Filipinos have become used to using the malunggay leaf as an ingredient in soups and other cuisines. Not only that it adds great taste, but it may also add to the food’s nutritional value.

Health and Nutrition have always been at the forefront of the Filipino’s priorities. Knowing how to make the best use of these medicinal alternatives, it is imperative for each and every one of us to utilize these available resources to stay fit and healthy. You may take a look at your backyard and realize that the answer to your health problem is just that obscure plant in your garden that you have been ignoring for a long time.  . 

MC Pitt- Editor

BJ Geronimo

FITNESS

Fitness Centers have been sprouting like mushrooms in every major city in the Philippines in the last few years. Ever wonder why these business infrastructures are enjoying brisk sales in their business? It’s getting obvious that Filipino people are hooked on the obsession of having a good physique.

For Filipinos, toning their body not only makes them look better, it boosts their self confidence as well. However, being consistent in working out is not a walk in the park. It is very hard for most people. Sometimes they hit plateau and come to realize that they are not improving no matter what they do. This situation may pull them down and lessen their motivation. Achieving the desired physique cannot be rushed. It takes patience, focus and discipline to achieve that well sculpted body and whistle bait figure. It also requires an individual to follow a specific program and preferably a good diet.

When you enter inside the fitness gym, you will see people of different ages working out. Some are students, while some are doctors, lawyers and other professionals. It has been part of Filipino culture already not to neglect the body.

Generally, if you look around the fitness gym, there are three types of people. First are the overweight who wants to shed a few pounds here and there. Secondly, there are these thin guys who lift heavy weights for them to bulk up and gain weight. Thirdly, you can see the well toned  women or men with riped physique who are just maintaining their body form.

Most gym instructors will recommend you to work out 4 times a week. This, according to them, is the preferred program. You will have 3 day rest per week and you will only limit your workout to one hour. Beyond one hour, they say it is over training. You should spare energy and strength for your next workout and for the muscle recovery itself.

Sticking to the schedule is the hardest part. Sometimes, people feel lazy to hit the gym. That is why they can skip gym sessions thereby slowing their progress. On the other hand, some people have already incorporated fitness in their lifestyle. They feel bad if they can’t exercise or workout on the scheduled date. They find the gym as their second home already. As a result, they don’t need much motivation to push themselves for it has become part of their lives already.

Regularly, some Filipinos go to clinics for check ups. This is common practice among people falling in the 40 years old and above bracket. Even without experiencing any signs or symptoms of a disease, they still want themselves to be checked on a regular basis.

Overall, Filipinos not only focus on fitness to have a beautiful physical body, but also for the sake of self-worth and confidence that it can give them. It may help them perform better at school, work, or in whatever endeavor they are pursuing.

Nutrition

In terms of nutrition, Filipinos are one of a kind. We may be an admittedly third world country but we are westernized in terms of our food predilection. Almost all our cuisines and dishes, are incorporated with lots of vegetables and nutritious ingredients for the purpose of adding nutritional value to our food. Even our crackers or so called junk foods are already fortified with vitamins and minerals so that finally these can be beneficial to consumers. Besides, regulatory bodies are around to check processed food before they can be released in the market for selling.

Companies that produce vitamins and other supplements in the Philippines are also flourishing rapidly because majority of Filipinos are very concerned about their health. They make sure they have the right dose of every nutrient needed by the body for they believe that slight insufficiency may lead to a disease or sickness.

Even the herbal capsules that have no therapeutic claims have become successful in the Philippines. People easily get swayed by feed backs and testimonies. For them, this is a very reliable source of authenticity. They are easily encouraged especially when they hear about severe diseases  being cured by affordable range of herbal supplements.

In addition, some people, as young as eighteen already follow a strict diet plan. The media, perhaps, is one of the reasons why Filipinos have become very conscious with their diet. We have been seeing in the television how celebrities live their life. As  a result,  We are influenced to pattern our lifestyle to western people such as the Americans and Canadians. Unfortunately though, some people find it hard to take dieting seriously. However, they keep saying that they will just hit the gym and become healthy in a short time. This is obviously just a lame excuse. They are just too lazy to create a diet program and stick to workout/exercise schedule.

Moreover, gossips about bad effects of a certain food can easily travel around the country. Anything that would affect health is a major issue for Filipinos. In fact, even the slightest issue or rumor about the food processing of a certain product may pull the business down. People will not buy the product anymore leading to business downfall, and bankruptcy.

What’s more about Filipino nutrition is that there are many companies that ensure good nutrition for Filipinos. The NCP or the Nutrition Center of the Philippines conducts nutrition programs in all sectors within Philippines. They also produce food products that are proven to be packed with essential nutrients for good body functioning. Furthermore, they conduct research on how to improve Filipino well-being.

Filipinos indeed have great concern on their holistic being. As much as possible, they want to make sure that everything they ingest is clean and nutritious. In every household, there is almost always a pack of vitamins for everyday consumption. Vitamin C or the ascorbic acid is the most common. Filipinos undoubtedly have benefited from an up surge of interest in fitness and nutrition. Still, it is disheartening to know that  in some regions of the Philippines this condition does not hold true. There are still so many people suffering from malnutrition in most 3rd class municipalities. Many disorders and sickness arise due to the lack of food, water as well as gravely poor awareness and observance of sanitation. Rest assured though, that the government and private sectors are doing their best to address these prevalent  issues on nutrition.

MC PITT- Editor

BJ Geronimo-Resident blogger

Like any other nationalities, Filipinos also have their own superstitious beliefs. We believe in mystical beings and magical entities that all came from the tales of our ancestors.

The story of Juan tamad, being the famous of all stories, is being told even in this modern world. He is quoted to be the laziest man on earth. A very popoular thing that he did was instead of going up to the tree to get the fruit he wanted; he laid on the ground and waited for the fruit to fall.  Furthermore, a very famous thing that Juan also did is when his mother asked him to buy crabs--- Because of too much laziness, he set the crabs free and told them to go to their house by themselves and he will just follow afterwards. Laziness of Juan has also made him stupid and funny. Perhaps that is the reason why this story keeps on going through many generations. This story has also taught Filipino children the consequences of being lazy. In schools and even in the streets, they also tell this story to motivate children not to be slothful or lazy. Such lesson giving story has also become very comedic because of his laziness and stupidness.

With regard to beliefs, the Filipinos also believe in heaven and hell. Basically, they believe that doing good things will allow you to enter heaven after death, and doing bad things will send you to hell after death. These beliefs are from the influence of the Spaniards when they introduced Catholicism in the Philippines. Additionally, they also believe in Bathala whom they believe to be the supreme god and the creator.

Generally, in every household, almost everyone knows about some scary mythical beings. Aswang is the most popular one. It is compared to a vampire that sucks blood at night. It is said that these creatures kill children. Nowadays, parents still tell their children about this mythical creature to scare them from going out at night. Moreover, another very popular mythical being is the Duwende. They said this creature is like goblins or dwarfs that reside anywhere. If they live inside your residence, they are said to hide things and will just give it back to you depending on their mood. They can also be a source of fortune if the duwendes will like the person or misfortune if they wouldn’t like the individual.

The agimat is also a very popular mythical item that is said to have several benefits. It is like an amulet that is worn by a person making him immune to sickness. The wearer may also have super strength and mental alertness. In some other stories, they said the wearer can easily woo a girl for marriage.

There are still hundreds of Filipino myths and stories in every part of the Philippines being constantly told from one generation to another. Whether these stories are true or not, we can only say that Filipinos indeed have imaginative and creative minds.

Funny stories

The Philippines is an archipelago that lies on the south -east Asian region of the world and it famous for many things- including being the only predominantly Christian nation in the Asian bloc. It is a colourful hodge podge of different cultures and has a microcosm of ethnic and tribal groups. The enriching variety of traditions by all migrants/ indigenous groups and the wave of foreign conquest that swept its shores has bestowed lasting influence which are now part of the blue print of the Filipino psyche. All these contributing factors have made Philippines what it is now- beautiful, resilient, pious, endearing and forbearing.

Philippines was introduced to the known world during April 1521, when the Portuguese explorer named Ferdinand Magellan set foot on the shores of Limasawa island in Southern Leyte. During that time, there was no centralized form of government. Instead, there were Chiefdoms. These Chiefdoms or Balangays are the small governing bodies and are autonomously lead by warlord/ chieftains locally titled Raja/ Datu. With the Cross and the guns the Spanish conquerors claimed the land and named it Philippines ( taken after the name of the Spanish king, Philip II) Though Ferdinand Magellan had been killed at the shores of Mactan, Cebu after engaging in a skirmish battle with the first Filipino hero Datu Lapu Lapu and his band of tribesmen, The remnant of the sailors were able to sail back to Spain and encouraged more expedition into the Philippines which turned our fledgling country into a proper Spanish colony which lasted a good 333 years.

The dawning of 19th century marks the era of the declining clout of the Spaniards-  thanks to the Americans who after a battle with the Spaniards, bought the Philippines from the latter for a sum of twenty million dollars. It was the biggest deed of sale ever-  the entire country was bought out by the Americans. After the Spanish and the Americans signed the Treaty of Paris, the war had ended but the Americans formalized their sovereignty of the Philippines. The Americans had governed the archipelago for 48 years  establishing its lasting legacy of democracy,education and foreign policy. After which the populace clamoured for independence from which the nation came out as The Republic of the Philippines. From the brief history of the Philippines, its easy to understand how the culture and traditions have uniquely evolved into what it is now.

First and foremost the majority of the Filipinos are Christians, this  is because the Spanish colonizers brought their friars who were baptizing the animist indigenous Filipinos to become Christians. Religion became both the saving grace and weapon of the Spaniards. But looking back- we have no bitterness towards this manipulation because Christian Faith has saved our country from a lot of trials throughout our shared history as a nation. The Filipinos celebrate greatly the traditions of Christianity which include the Lenten season especially the Easter Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is said to be the most important celebration of Christians. Another Filipino-Christian event is the birth of Jesus Christ; the Filipinos look forward  to the dawn to hear masses which is called “misa de gallo”. After which, they all head to the streetfood counters to have breakfast consisting of traditional Filipino sweets and hot chocolate drink. Furthermore, infants and persons are expected to be baptized as Christians. A Confirmation religious ceremony also happens when they have reached adult age to affirm their faith in the Church and most importantly in Christ. Filipinos indeed are religious and they had strong relationship with their God.

Secondly, Filipinos observe dates of revelry called Fiestas. These events are usualy religious in origin. Different places have their patrons saints. During Feasts, neighbors would visit every other house and have a lovely meal with other guests. It is in this occasion that Filipino Hospitality becomes evident. Filipinos are food lovers. Who can ever forget the lechon (roasted pig) in the dining table? Every fiesta will always have this as a center piece. The Filipino solidarity or bayanihancan often be observed in Boodle feasts or kamayan ( celebrating a big meal of sumptuous grilled morsels eaten best on banana leaf and enjoyed without any cutlery- only freshly washed bare hands. Another instance when the virtue od Solidarity/ Bayanihan is observed is during the moving of an indigenous cottage called bahay kubo from one location to another. Such an endearing sight for foreigners and locals alike to see sweaty muscled men in a group effort to carry the bahay kubo to a new home base.

Thirdly we highlight the Filipino way of courtship. From the perspective of the family the aspiring male should not only court the damsel but her the family as well. Also, the woman should never visit the man in his own house. The Filipino gentleman usually courts the woman by singing and playing guitar outside the window which is called harana and pleasing the girl as well as the family. Some of the provinces in the country still practice this kind of courtship. In, addition the man should respect the parents by placing the back of the hand of the parent into the man’s forehead which is calledpagmamano. After all the courtship,  the woman is now ready to accept the man’s love for her and avows to give her devotion.. The next step after successful relationship between the man and woman would be the engagement. The man would now ask the woman’s permission and tell the woman’s parents that they are going to get married and if the woman’s parents accept the permission they would give their blessings and ready for the wedding, the process is called pamamanhikan. Since most of the Filipinos are Christian and conservative, they usually opt for a church wedding than  the other alternatives.

Fourthly we tackle the Filipino love for food. Different food specialties abound throughout the region. For example,  the Southern Luzon area is known for their Bicol Express, which consists of native chillis, coconut milk, vegetables and fried pork . In the seaside region, seafood recipes are a staple. The mountainous regions like Baguio and Cagayan Valley are known for organic vegetable morsels from which pinakbet is widely loved in the dining tables. Filipinos also share a number of favourite dishes that are widely cooked and enjoyed everywhere in the country these includes;adobo, bulalo, kaldereta, arroz caldo, bibinka, puto maya and many more. The Filipinos also  has a penchant for exotic food which the old folks believe to strengthen the knees: this is the Balut . Thebalut is sold by street vendors who go around in bicycles. Other delicacies like the kwek-kwek (deep fried whole egg  breaded in orange colored flour) and buko juice which is famous for its healing properties(fresh coconut juice).

Lastly, let us not forget to applaud this most endearing Filipino quality- the respect for elders. The children are trained by their parents to speak respectively to the elders and by saying  affirmative terms which is po and opo. Close family ties is  strong among Filipinos. Extended families in each home and living in a Family Compound are quite common even today.

To conclude with due candour- never has the term beauty in diversity found its most apt embodiment in the culture and traditions of the Filipino nation. We ought to be proud being Filipinos.

MC Pitt- Editor

Jonah- contributing blogger