Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila

College of Architecture and Fine Arts

BAMBOO
RESEARCH
INDIGENOUS CREATIVE CRAFTS
GEE13C-M

Submitted by:

Alyssa Jamille G. Basilides

BGT- AT- 3B

Submitted to:

Prof. Marcelina Puga

Indigenous Creative Crafts

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

ABSTRACT

Whether you’re looking for bamboo ecotourism or bamboo industry, the

island nation of the Philippines is teeming with this woody grass. More than 60

species of bamboo are known to grow in this country, and about 20 of them

grow nowhere else. These are some of the biggest and most impressive

varieties of bamboo, which the islanders have been putting to great use for

hundreds or thousands of years. Some of the best places to find indigenous

bamboo are at the Carolina Botanical Gardens and in the wilderness of Mount

Pulag.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

INTRODUCTION

Species of bamboo in the Philippines

Situated just a few balmy degrees north of the equator, the Philippine

archipelago offers an excellent climate for an enormous variety of tropical flora.

Among that spectacular biodiversity is a stunning assortment of bamboo

species.

Native bamboos

The genus Cyrtochloa comprises seven species of tropical bamboo

which are endemic to the Philippines and not known to grow anywhere

else. Dinochloa is another Southeast Asian bamboo genus, with close to 40

species, and several of these are also native to the Philippines. The species of

these two genera have a climbing, ivy-like growth habit. We call these scandent

bamboos. And in this respect, they are quite like rattan, another very useful

plant that also flourishes in the Philippines.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

A larger genus of tropical bamboo is Schizostachyum, which includes

nearly 70 species, and several of them are native or at least present here.

These are medium-sized, upright bamboos that typically grow about 30-40 feet

tall. S. lima is especially important in this part of the world. It has long been used

for making crafts, musical instruments, and woven mats called sawali.

Additional species

While the unusual species are most interesting from an ethnobotanical

point of view, it’s the giant bamboo varieties that are most impressive to the

casual observers. Although they don’t appear to be native, numerous species

of towering Gigantochloa and Dendrocalamus now grow on the islands. Some

of these are known to top 100 feet in height. A New World species, Guadua

angustifolia, has also been introduced from Colombia. This is one of the most

economically important plant species in all of South America, after food crops

and coffee.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

The 7,000 islands of the Philippines are also home to dozens of other

species of more common bamboo genera. A wide variety of Bambusa, the most

widespread bamboo genus of all, grows through the country. You can also find

representatives of fast-spreading Phyllostachys, as well as pint-

sized Sasas and Pleioblastus. Unlike the other varieties listed here, these last

three genera are running, rather than clumping bamboos.

Where to find bamboo in the Philippines?

You probably don’t even have to leave the Ninoy Aquino International

Airport to spot some bamboo chopsticks or bamboo barstools. But if you’re

serious about immersing yourself in the best bamboo that this country has to

offer, here are a few suggestions.

Carolina Bamboo Gardens

In Antipolo City, due east of Manila, the Carolina Bamboo Garden is one

of the finest bamboo collections in the world. Carolina Gozon Jimenez started

this garden in the year 2000 on a 5-hectare (12 acre) plot of land just outside

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

the crowded capital city. Today the beautifully landscaped acreage features

about 45 species of bamboo, both indigenous and exotic.

Some very striking bamboo structures also showcase the plant’s

impressive potential as a construction material. Most boast-worthy of all is

probably the Bambusetum, Carolina’s bamboo seed bank. Here they preserve

a precious diversity of bamboo genetics for generations to come. The facility

also hosts seminars and events to promote the use and cultivation of bamboo,

as well as other environmentally important endeavors.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Mount Pulag National Park

Mount Pulag, on the country’s main island, Luzon, is the third highest

peak in the Philippines. It’s an especially popular destination for hikers and has

a very rich cultural heritage. In addition to being a national park and an extinct

volcano, primitive people considered it sacred ground. Apparently, the summit

offers breathtaking sunsets and world-class stargazing as well.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Dwarf bamboo (Yushania niitakayamensis) on Mount Pulag

And as if all that weren’t enough, the slopes of Mount Pulag are just

covered with dwarf bamboo, namely Yushania niitakayamensis. The lush

national treasure also supports vast pine forests and some delightfully mossy

rainforests.

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Lubao Bamboo Hub

The Lubao Bamboo Hub and Eco Village is in Sasmuan, Pampanga, in

central Luzon. Bamboo was originally planted as part of a reforestation effort

and to curb erosion. But the owners quickly realized they could cash on on

bamboo for eco-tourism. Visitors can tour the massive bamboo groves, rent

bicycles, and go boating on the Gumain River.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Bamboo huts in the Philippines

Today, however, the uses for bamboo are far more varied and

sophisticated. Architects and engineers are developing new applications every

day, and demand for raw material continues to grow. And given the country’s

tropical climate and rural economy, farmers have ideal conditions to cultivate

this wonder crop for the burgeoning bamboo.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Bambusa blumeana, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendroclamus strictus,

and Guadua angustifolia are some of the most economically important bamboo

species now being cultivated in the Philippines. Still, agroforestry farmers could

be doing a lot more to reap the economic and ecological benefits of these

miraculous grasses. Without disrupting the native habitat, it might behoove

them to plant some of the less desirable farmland lands with bamboo. It can

grow and thrive in poor soil and requires little or nothing in the way of fertilizers

and chemical additives. Native bamboo species would also be an obvious

choice for any reforestation projects in this tropical nation.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

Bamboo bikes and more

Bambike is one of the leading bamboo-related businesses in this

bamboo-rich nation. In addition to selling high-performance bicycles from

bamboo, Bambike also makes them available as rentals and leads guided

ecotours into the region’s lush, tropical countryside. The company also

produces a line of smaller bamboo products and is involved in a variety of other

eco-friendly activities and reforestation efforts in the country.

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 Ayala Blvd, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila
College of Architecture and Fine Arts

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