MANGROVE LOVING PENGUIN: Pugad ng Nilad

 

Have you ever wondered where the name "Manila" come from?

"May nilad", Tagalog for "there is nilad", is believed to be the origin of the name "Manila."  Nilad refers to a  mangrove plant (Scyphiphora hydrophylacea) that grew abudantly on the marshy shores in the Manila Bay. 

Back in the 1800s, renowned Augustinian friar and botanist   Fr. Manuel Blanco documented the Nilad mangrove in his Flora de Filipinas , even calling it "Ixora manila" (which was later renamed to Scyphiphora hydroplylacea).   According to Philippine mangrove expert Dr. Jurgenne Primavera, the Nilad mangroves have grown profusely along Manila Bay and the Pasig River since pre-Hispanic times.  

Sadly, the Nilad mangrove no longer graces Manila's shores as the mangrove cover (comprising of many mangrove species like Pagatpat, Bungalon, Bakawan, Nilad and several more) along Manila Bay has been decimated:  from 54,000 hectares at the end of the 19th century, it shrank to 2,000 hectares by the early 1990s, and 794 hectares  by 1995.  In 2020, there are less than 500 hectares left of the Manila Bay mangrove forests, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DENR).  And in those remaining 500 hectares of mangroves in Manila Bay, there seem to be no sighting of the Nilad mangrove. 

The Mangrove Loving Penguin (MLP) has seen a Nilad mangrove up close but this was in  Katunggan It Ibajay Mangrove Forest of the province of Aklan in Western Visayas.  Not in Luzon. 

Where and when will the MLP see a Nilad mangrove in Luzon? Patience and seredenpity are sisters.

Out of a whim this 2nd weekend of June, I decided to visit a mangrove forest in Infanta, Quezon.  Why Infanta?  Because it is the nearest coastal town facing the mighty Pacific Ocean that is nearest to Manila.  Distance is roughly 130 kilometers by land travel passing thru the famed Marilaque (Marikina-Rizal-Laguna-Quezon) Highway.   MLP did not know of any mangroves in Infanta so I googled it. AI responded that Infanta is known for its significant mangrove forests, particularly in Barangay Alitas.  AI further spewed out that there is an AFFA Mangrove Ecopark which is managed by Alitas Farmers & Fisherfolk Association  (AFFA) 

It is a  good fortune of the MLP that the officers  of AFFA, in particular Anna Maris Katipunan (Board member) and Ana Voces (Secretary), were quick in responding so as to make my visit possible in such a short notice. 

To make the story short, this weekend had MLP visiting a portion of the 21-hectare mangrove forest that is under management by the AFFA thanks to a Community-Based Mangrove Forest (CBMF) tenurial agreement with the DENR.  Guiding me in my visit was the AFFA  founder,  Quintin Aveno and the other AFFA officers.  

The Mangrove Loving Penguin (MLP) with Kuya Boy.  Almost a septuagenarian, Quintin Aveno is the founder of AFFA and a leading light in mangrove  conservation in their part of Quezon. 

The AFFA founder, known by the members as Kuya Boy, knew the forest like the back of his palm.  He is very  knowledgeable of the mangrove ecosystem and he pointed out the many mangrove species of the AFFA Mangrove Ecopark.   There is the Bakawan Babae (Rhizophora mucronata) which is the dominant mangrove species in said mangrove forest.  The pioneering Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba) is present too.  The rare Tangal (Kandelia candel) made an appearance.   The edible Busaing (Bruguiera cylindrica) is a favorite among the AFFA officers as a visiting actor-celebrity was brave enough to eat it. Even the diminutive Lagiwliw (Acanthus ebracteatus) is plentiful. 

The AFFA Mangrove Eco-park.  It is 21 hectares and is covered by a CBMF agreement between AFFA and the DENR.  The queen  species in this mangrove forest is the Bakawan Babae (Rhizophora mucronata).   

The Pagatpat mangrove (Sonneratia alba) with its distinctive round fruits looking like  small Xmas parols. 

The very rare Tangal mangrove (Kandelia candel) is present in AFFA Mangrove Eco-Park. The Handbook of Mangroves in the Philippines indicate that it is present only in 2 areas:  Baler & Casiguran Bay.  We will need to add Infanta to the 2 areas.   

The fruit of the Busain mangrove (Bruguira cylindrica) is supposed to be edible. The lady officers of AFFA tell of the time an actor-celebrity recently visited their mangrove forest and ate a cooked Busain fruit.  

Known locally as Lagiwliw or Ragoyroy, the Acanthus are ground flora of mangroves with 3 species. . This one is  an Acanthus ebracteatus distinguished by the appearance of its leaves:  deeply lobed with sharp spines.   

But clearly, for the MLP, the star of the show in the AFFA Mangrove Ecopark is the Nilad. Especially when Kuya Boy mentioned that the DENR sourced from AFFA the Nilad seedlings that were planted by Manila city officials  in Manila Zoo and Intramuros back in Sept 2022. 

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan planting Nilad mangrove seedlings in the Manila Zoo area last Sept 2022. The seedlings were sourced from AFFA Mangrove Ecopark, Brgy. Alitas, Infanta, Quezon.  Said barangay is roughly 133 kilometers from the heart of Manila.   

Let us take a closer look at the Nilad mangrove. Its scientific name is   Scyphiphora hydroplylacea.  The generic name Scyphiphora is derived from the Greek words "skaphis" (a small boat or cup) and "phoros" (bearer).  This refers to the shape of the plant's frit. which resebles a small cup or bowl.  The specific epithet hydrophyllacea is Latin and suggests a resemblance to the genus Hydrophyllum. 

MLP taking a closer look at the Nilad mangrove found in the mangrove forest in Barangay Alitas in Infanta. 

The arrangement of the leaves of the Nilad mangrove is simple, opposite and decussate.  The blade shape of the leaves is obovate. The flowers are tubular and have four white lobes.  

The Nilad mangrove is a shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall and grows on firm mud near tidal creeks or sandy mud near river mouths.       

         

Did you know?  That the new Philippine peso coin (first released in 2020) features the Nilad mangrove. Did you know? That a research study by the University of the Philippines  revealed that Php 20 is the most-used denomination for payments across the Philippines.          

The Nilad mangrove has many beneficial uses for the people.  Young stems and petioles of the Nilad have been successfully tested as forage for goats and other livestocks.  Its dark brown wood can be used to craft small objects. Leaf extracts are known to be helpful for stomach aches. 

The capital city of Manila being named after the Nilad mangrove signifies the deep historical and ecological connection between the city and its surrounding environment.  Actually, it is not only Manila.  The Handbook of Mangroves Handbook of Mangroves in the Philippines - Panay    has a table listing cities, towns, barangays and places in our country named after mangrove species ranging from the Lumnitzera racemosa (Culasi town in Aklan and Culasi barangay in Ajuy, Iloilo) to Sonneratia alba (Pagatpatan barangay in Bato, Cam Sur and Jasaan, Misami Oriental). Places named after mangroves often reflect the historical importance of the mangrove ecosystem to coastal communities.     

Quite inspiring to know that the Nilad mangrove and many more mangrove species are thriving inside the 21-hectare mangrove forest that AFFA is taking care of.   MLP is blessed to have experienced the warm hospitality of AFFA and its officers led by Founder Quintin "Boy" Aveno, Board Member Marris Aveno, and Secretary Ana Voces. The MLP is hoping to be back for more in the near future. 

MLP with the AFFA officers. 

The development plan for the AFFA Mangrove Eco-Park speaks of better days and years ahead. 

In the same light that the story of the almost disappearance of Nilad in present day Maynila is a cautionary tale of the negative side effects of rapid urban development, the story of AFFA is an inspirational tale of the critical role of people's organizations, particularly in the rural areas, in protecting and managing our valuable mangrove resources in the Philippines.  Evidently, people's organizations play a crucial role in mangrove protection, particularly through community-based approaches that empower local residents to manage and conserve their natural resources. Listening to AFFA's Kuya Boy, he gives credence to the idea that PO involvement ensures sustainable management of mangrove forest by fostering ownership and participation, promoting environmental awareness, and enhancing livelihoods through mangrove-related activities.

Amen to that. That is why the Mangrove Loving Penguin will be back at the Pugad ng Nilad.  

So much to admire.  So much to learn...