Palms / Coconut tree.
The palm family is well represented in the Philippines. There are 123 indigenous species plus other introduced palms classified as either "climbing" (rattan) or "erect."
Climbing palms
Rattan is the most important forest product in the country after timber. Rattan in the Philippines is represented by 62 species, of which 12 are of commercial value.
Rattan bags
The very pliable rattan fiber is from the rattan plant and one of the strongest timbers available. Rattan bags are strong and very suitable for a long-term use.
Buri (Corypha elata) - This is the largest palm species in the country, with trunks attaining a diameter of 1 meter and a height of 20 meters. The trunk yields large quantities of food material in the form of starch. Wine, alcohol, vinegar, syrup and sugar can be produced from the sap. The kernel of young fruit is made into sweets, while the buds are used for salad or as a vegetable.
The large petioles of burl yield a fibre locally known as "buntal," which is used in the manufacture of the famous "buntal" hat. The mature leaves are used for thatching houses, while the immature, unopened ones are used in making ropes, mats, bags and other fancy articles. The mid-ribs of the immature leaves are also the source of fiber used in making the so-called "Calasiao" hat named after the, hat place where it is produced. The mid-ribs of mature leaves are used in the manufacture of light furniture (tables, chains, dividers), baskets, hampers and wall decorations. Buri palms are widely distributed in the Philippines, mostly at low elevations. The nationwide forest inventory disclosed that only 198,000 burl palms remain in the country's dipterocarp forests (Table 2), but substantial numbers grow in rural backyards and fields.
Buntal bags
Buntal is another unique fiber commonly known in the philippines, and is strong, very flexible, and available in many weaving and color combinations. Our buntal bags come in various designs and are absolutely eye-catchers.
Pandans
There are more than 40 species of pandan in the Philippines. They are widely distributed throughout the archipelago with some species growing along sandy beaches and others in virgin forests. They vary in size depending on the species, from less than 1 meter to 15 meters in height.
Among the more important pandan species in the country are bariu (Pandanus copelandii), taboan (P. dubius), alasas (P. luzonensis), oyango (P. radicans), sabutan (P. sabotan) karagomoi (P. simplex.) common or beach pandan (P. tectorius), and pandan layugan (P. exaltatus).
The economic value of pandans is in the leaves, which are used for making coarse and fine baskets, bags, hats, mats, picture frames and other fancy articles. Recently, the Philippine Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) has developed cocoon frames for silkworm production out of pandan leaves. The wood of some pandan species is also being manufactured into splints used in making baskets.
It is estimated that there are 58.88 billion stems of pandans in the country's forests (Table 4).
Sabutan (pandan) bags
Sabutan is a specie of pandan tree, and comes in many different colors and weaving combinations. Compared to the more common pandan fiber, the sabutan fiber is more flexible, and smoother in texture.
Nito is the name used for different species of Lygodium, although the most common and widely used species in the country is Lygodium circinnatum. It is used in the manufacture of baskets, hats, bags and other fancy articles.
The Abaca plant
belongs to the family of the banana plant (Musaceae family) and is indigenous to the Philippines. The banana plant and the abaca plant has a striking similarity in looks but the main difference is that the fruit of the abaca plant is inedible. Its fibre is known as the Manila Hemp. Abaca is not a hemp but since hemp was the main source of fibres for centuries, the abaca fibre was named Manila hemp. Abaca has been cultivated in the Philippines since the 1500s and became known worldwide in the 1800s mainly used as ropes in ship rigging.
The abaca plant grows up to twenty feet when mature. About 2 to 4 times a year the trunk is cut down above the roots to harvest the fibres. New sprouts will grow from the roots soon after cutting. Leaf sheaths are then stripped and pulp is scrapped off to get the abaca fibre strands. To make ropes, the strands are twisted together. These strands are mainly composed of cellulose, pectin and lignin.
Superior qualities of abaca fibre:
-Extremely strong and durable
-Resistant to salt water
-Can be made into many hard-wearing products
-Relatively cheap to produce
-Has a beautiful texture when made into hats and other products
-Biodegradable and eco-friendly
Products made from abaca fibre / Manila hemp:
Rope, abaca paper abaca rug, abaca furniture, abaca dye mat, abaca carpet, manila envelope and countless other products.
ABACA STALK
The stalk is the source of fibers. The tuxies are extracted from the outermost portion of the leaf sheath then fibers are extracted using hand-stripping or a stripping machine.
Abaca-BACBAC (dried outer leafsheath) It is skinny on the upper side of the leaf but soft and fleshy on the other side. It has low tensile strength and not susceptible to penetration of different colorants. Abaca-Bacbac is also known as havana hemp or havana skin. It is used in making handicraft items, furniture, decorative accessories and more.
Abaca - LUPIS (third and fourth layer of the leafsheath)Fiber drawn from the third to fourth layer of the abaca leaf sheath. Abaca-Lupis is bigger compared to fine abaca. It is brownish in nature. It is skinny on the other part of the stripped fiber. Abaca-Lupis can beb used to make decorative accessories, fashion accessories, furniture , packaging materials, table-top accessories and more
ABACA FIBER
The abaca fibers are used in the production of handicraft products such as fashion accessories, decorative accessories, furniture, garments, textile, packaging materials, table-top accessories, playthings for pets, sports paraphernalia.
Abaca fibers are also used in sinamay weaving. Sinamay is of less gossamer tissue, but almost transparent and far more durable than the fabrics made from pineapple fiber. Sinamay materials are used in making gift boxes; packaging materials, decorative accessories, wall covering; draperies, fashion accessories, footwear; tabletop accessories andmore
Abaca fibers are also used in pulp -making which are used as raw material in the production of currency and bank notes , tea bags, coffee filters, meat casings, coating for pills, surgical caps and masks, high capacitor papers, cable insulation papers, Bibile paper, restoration and conservation of historical documents, adhesive tape paper, lens tissue, carbonizing tissue, abrasive base paper, mimeograph stencil base paper, weather-proof bristol , maps, charts, as a strengthening material for napkins and tissue paper; insulation for computer chips, etc.
Abaca fibers also have several medical and industrial applications: such as for ortophedic materials (joint replacements and fracture healing implants); as material composites to replace glass fibers in the manufacturing of cars,planes, yachts. For building materials such as fiberboards, ceramic tiles, wall facades, plumbing fixtures, reinforced concrete and roofing, caulking, flooring, electricity poles, in the production of sporting goods, telephones , cleaners and paints and more.
Abaca Seeds
Across the globe, abaca products are renowed for their versatility. When people think of abaca, most think of abaca by-products such as ropes, cordage, paper, cloth, furniture, fashion accessories and home decors. Although this popular material: abaca or "Manila Hemp" has been used for many decades for such things, what may not be generally known is that the abaca seed can also be used for food; for cosmetics / skin-care products and for industrial uses such as paints and inks.
Information coming from Abaca Philippines
