Anahaw is the national leaf of the Philippines. The Anahaw leaf or Livistonia Rotundifolia as it is known in Latin, features a large, round outline and is glossy green in color. It expands majestically from the center of the chute and opens to a full crest divided shallowly at the ends and is considered one of the most beautiful plant species in the Philippines. In addition to its beauty, the Anahaw leaf is extremely versatile. Indigenous groups in the Philippines have found many uses for the leaf, from roofing material to fans and hats.
Beach (White Sands)
Sand from our beaches comes from the erosion of the limestone formation prevalent in Laguimanoc Bay. Thus, the white sand, which is in contrast to the beaches in the nearby town of Sariaya, where the beaches are almost black, because it is close to the now dormant volcano in Mt. Banahaw. The addition of new sand to the beaches is seasonal, occurring during rainy periods when the rivers flow and sediments are washed into the ocean.
Coconut
Coconut is called the “tree of life” because it supplies everything from food to housing material. The leaves are used for many things from brooms to floor mats. The hard wood of the trunk is a sturdy building material. The root, meat and juice can be used as food, as a dish or as cooking oil, or drink. When the coconut tree is chopped down because of age, etc., the root or “ubod” is made into a wonderful tasting vegetable dish. One of its most famous products is virgin (cold pressed) coconut oil, which has therapeutic medicinal properties, and also used to formulate soap and or massage oil.
Gmelina
Gmelina arborea is a fast growing tree, which grows on different localities and prefers moist fertile valleys with 750-4500 mm rainfall. It does not thrive on ill-drained soils and remains stunted on dry, sandy or poor soils. Gmelina has grown favor as a soft wood used for construction because it is resilient to termites, besides being fast growing.
Kawayan
Known to the world as bamboo, kawayan is a carbon sink. Its strong and sturdy wood can be used from construction materials to furniture and even musical instruments. During the rainy season, the kawayan grows “shoots” which is harvested and can be eaten.
Nipa
The nipa tree is one of the oldest species of palm in the world. While the narra tree is the national tree of the country, the nipa palm comes a close 2nd. The dried leaves of the nipa are bundled together and used to make thatched roofs of huts. The ‘nipa hut’ is the national house of the Philippines, and has been around long before the Spanish colonial period.
