Sampaguita
Media
Part of The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People
- Title
- Sampaguita
- Year
- 1937
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- October, 1937 THE YOUNG CIJ"IZEN 283 PLANTS ABOUT US USES OF THE NIPA Our national tree is the narra. But the hum·· blr. nipa plant, friend of poor and rich alike would be a more fitting symbol of our islands. The typical Filipino family lives in a nipa house. The nipa plant is a modest member of the family of palms. It grows humbly in muddy tidal flats or in narrow strips along inland streams. In the public· forests of the Philippines alone there 2.re more than 52,000 hectares ot nipa swamps. Nipa gatherers cut maturing petioles and slash the leaflets with a sharp knife. The leaflets ate then doubled back about one third of their length, arranged over a slender piece of bamboo so that they overlap. and then sewed on with sliced rattan making a shingle. Bundled in tens. the shingles are then shipped to the towns by cart and boat, peddled on the st:::eet by loud-voiced porters. They sell for from P3 to P7 a thousand. depending on the grade of nipa. Nip.a has other uses. The leaves can be made into raincoats, sun hats, wrappings for rice cake. The midribs can be made into brooms. The petioles serve as food when young, or as firewood when dry. Even the seeds are edible. But its most popular product is tuba. For three months (Plea~c turn to page 28.9) SAMPAGUITA By MOISES S. VIVIEZCA Sampaguita ! Lovely flower! Full of promise! The sampaguita is the national flower of the Philippines. It is made the national flower of our land by the proclamation issued by Governor-General Frank Murphy on February I. 1934, through the recommendation of a committee appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce. Nearly every well organized country in the world has adopted a certain flower to represent its traditions. Japan, for example, has her chrysanthemum, France her fleur-de-lis, and America her wild rose. There is much in a flower to have and to hold.-its frag~ance, its loveliness, its charm. The sampaguita is the symbol of our wealthiest sentiments. It depicts the physical and mental character of our people. Its fragrance brings back sweet memories. It gives courage to old age and hope to the youth. It is enchanting when worn as a necklace. The sampaguita plays an important part in the leiends and traditions of the Filipino people. It is th£ most beloved flcwer throughout the Philippines. Its pure white fragrant blossom symbolizes purity, humility, love. hope, and reverence.