LEARN THEM, PRESERVE THEM: UNVEILING THE

MYTHS AND WONDERS OF THE BADJAO COMMUNITY

A Concept Paper Presented to Ma

September 2017
 I. Introduction
Herbal medicines are the use of herbal plants to improve ones body or wellbeing.
According to a study of the ResearchGate.net, in the year 2014, almost 80% of the countries
across the world are using herbal plants as alternative for medical drugs. The Philippines are
one of those countries. Because of the rising prices of medical drugs in the country, more than
100 million Filipinos are pushed into poverty every year just because of pricey medical drugs.
High-priced drugs are sometimes the reason why bacterial diseases such as meningitis, ulcer,
gastritis and pneumonia are not treated and leads to death. Under the Republic Act (RA) 8423
or Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act of 2007 by the former Sec. Juan M. Clavier states
that the use of plants as alternative medicine is encouraged by the Philippine Government. The
Philippines Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) was created to
promote and advocate the use of traditional, alternative, preventive and curative health care
modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost-effective and consistent with government
standards on medical practice.
There are over 40 ethnic groups present in the Philippines. And 18 of those tribes are
in Mindanao. They can be classified as Tribal groups and Indigenous groups. The Blaan
are the major indigenous groups in Mindanao. They believe in their God or what they call
Dawata. Blaan have rituals for everything- including their medicines. They believe that all of
the plants on earth are planted by Dawata and these plants will help them to cure such illnesses
that will make them healthier. But they are not aware of what specific plant are they going to
use and what are the good or bad effects to them.
Plant-based natural constituents can be derived from any part of the plant like bark,
leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds, etc i.e. any part of the plant may contain active components.
Tagisang bayauak (Ficus variegata blume) is a native plant which commonly grows on
primary forests and places with low and medium altitudes. It is a tall, spreading plant with pale
bark, broad leaves and fruits that grows or attached on its bark where the fruit are on its twigs.
The latex of its bark is commonly used in treating external wounds together with its leaves.
Native people in this area call by many names according to their tribe. Badyang (Alocasia
macorrhiza) are commonly found in Tboli, South Cotabato, although this plant can be seen
everywhere and is valued an ornamental. This is sometimes referred to as Elephant ears and
Giant taro because of its upright and large leaves standing straight up pointing skyward.
According to folktales, the plants stems is edible and are eaten as vegetable during scarce
times. Galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora) is a forb and an abundant seed-producing plant with
hairy leaves and stem. The stem of this plant is erect, branched, grows up to 60 cm and is
slightly hairy. The leaves of this plant is slightly hairy, grows up to 6cm long and 4m wide
simple and ovate.

II. Rationale
According to a study of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allmost 91% of the
deaths in the year 2013 are caused by bacterial diseases which were untreated because of
poverty. The use of medicinal plant extract for the treatment of human diseases is ancient
practice. Folktales and beliefs that herbal plants found in the community which can be used as
medicines are widespread in rural places and in tribes like Blaan.
The results of this study is useful the Blaan people in understanding why certain plants
like Tangisang bayawak, Badyang and Galinsoga, which are present in their community, can
heal their illnesses. It gives them scientific explanations to support their beliefs. It also creates
a spot for the Blaan people to discover plants in their community which can aid them in their
illnesses.
 This study created an option to those people who cant afford medicines prescribed by
their doctors for they can substitute these safe herbal plants as medicines as they can use this
study as a basis in creating alternative medicines.
Lastly, this study is an addition to the list of the usage of natural resources, aiding the
government in lowering the high percentage of incurable bacterial diseases due to poverty. The
government can now provide medicines which the populace can afford.

III. Project Description

Objectives:

The objectives of the study are:

1. To describe the level of antibacterial activity using the mean zone of
inhibition of Tagisang bayauak (Ficus variegata blume), Badyang
(Alocasia macorrhiza) and Galinsoga (Galinsoga farviflora) plants extract
against the reference strain S. aureus
2. To describe the efficacy of Tagisang bayauak (Ficus variegata blume),
Badyang (Alocasia macorrhiza) and Galinsoga (Galinsoga farviflora)
plants extract against the reference strain S. aureus.

Methodology

This study will follow a simple research design. It assessed the selected Blaan plants to show
its properties through bioassay. The experiment will take place in the pharmacy lab of General
Santos Doctors' Medical School Foundation Inc., wherein the research instruments and
materials used for the experiment are already complete and provided by the school itself.
Research Design
This study will employ a descriptive-quantitative design for assessing the antibacterial
properties of Tagisan bayauak (Ficus variegate blume), Galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora) and
Badyang (Alocasia macrorrhiza) leaves extract and its efficacy against the growth of S.
Aureus.

IV. Project Timeline

Project Start End

Plant Gathering December 16, 2017 December 16, 2017

Air Drying of plant December 17, 2017 December 18, 2017

Plant soaked on Ethanol December 19, 2017 December 20, 2017

Incubation of Staphylococcus aureus December 20, 2017 December 21, 2017

Growth and inhibition of Staphylococcus December 22, 2017 December 23, 2017
aureus

Observation and measurement of zone of December 24, 2017 December 24, 2017
inhibition
IV. Overall Budget
Categories Cost Total

Laboratory Fee 5,000 PHP 20,000 PHP

Laboratory Assistants 1,000 PHP per 10,000 PHP

volunteer

Food Preparation 1,500 PHP per 15,000 PHP

head (breakfast,
lunch, snacks,
dinner) for a
week

Medical Set-up Material 1,000 PHP per 4,950 PHP

tent;
150 PHP per
tarpaulin;
500 PHP per
T&C

Materials for Healthcare 30 PHP for 25,000 PHP

Vitamins
40 PHP for Meds
10 PHP for
syringe
100 PHP for
Vaccines

Seminars 1,500 PHP 7,500 PHP

Total 82,450 PHP