๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ '๐ฉ๐ค!
๐๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
In many Asian societies, bamboo symbolizes humility, flexibility, and adaptability. Bamboo bows to the forces of nature, its culms arching gracefully under the weight of storms, swaying with gusts of wind, yet it hardly yields.
Strengthened by adversity, each node speaks of years of dry spells, diseases, pests, and intense competition for nutrients from both endemic and non-native flora, bearing witness to its unyielding resolve. These very traits, forged in crises, are what make bamboo an emerging raw material for industries ranging from furniture to musical instruments.
Perhaps these are the same characteristics that inspired Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) to initiate its Engineered Bamboo project, a visionary undertaking seeking to establish an entire value chain from sustainable cultivation to innovative industrial applications, transforming this humble symbol of Filipino resilience and simplicity into a modern engine of growth in rural areas.
But have you ever wondered how these bamboo are harvested? Where are they sourced? Who transports them from the banks of gullies and slopes of ravines to TAUโs processing facility? The Office of the President - Information Unit (OPIU) joins a group of forest rangers in exploring the wilderness of Sitio Titi Calao, home to TAUโs 655-hectare Forest Reserve.
Mr. Ernesto S. Dumlao, Mr. Ruben D. Evangelista, Mr. Silverio P. Guerrero, Mr. Francis C. Telequen Jr., and Mr. Mike A. Ternio know the treks, with all the unexpected saddles and ridgelines, by heart. Even in a short observation span, their quiet coordinationโseamless and almost instantaneousโreflects years of steadfast cooperation and unmistakable trust.
From the Forest Product Development building, base of TAUโs satellite operations, the group went up the highlands of Brgy. San Jose, Mayantoc for an early-morning hike up the mountains. They were tasked by the Business and Auxiliary Services (BAS) Office to survey the bamboo planting site for harvestable poles.
Carefully measuring the circumference of poles from hundreds of clumps, inspecting their color and hardness, and marking their locationsโeach member of the team has a specific task. They even document the overall condition of the poles, taking photos and noting any signs of disease, pest infestation, or structural defects that must be reported to TAU experts for possible treatment.
Manong Ernesto shared that bamboo propagules are best planted in the rainy season for moisture support, ensuring successful propagation and continuous growth, then harvested in the dry season for nutrient storage and survival.
Kuya Mike mentioned how each clump must be properly managed during harvest season to encourage sustainable growth. This process helps secure that more bamboo will be produced. Most of the bamboo propagules were planted 12-13 years ago. Species recommended for propagation and production are kawayang tinik and bayog.
When asked about the risks of the job, they jokingly mentioned occasional sightings of snakes, stings from wild bees, and the unpredictability of the weather.
Much like our childhood superheroes, the Power Rangers, who rely on teamwork and strategy, TAUโs Bamboo Rangers silently serve as guardians of nature who guarantee that every bamboo pole is selected with sustainability in mindโbalancing the needs of industry with the preservation of TAUโs protected highlands.
Through their service, the humble bamboo transforms into a Megazord for rural development, echoing the way the Power Rangers harness their unique skills for a greater cause: turning the bamboo planks into high-value products.
Just as the rangers of the 90s pop culture defend their worlds with synergy, TAUโs Bamboo Rangers safeguard and cultivate a renewable resource, ensuring that the legacy of intergenerational stewardship continues for decades to come.
So everytime a kawayan product finds a home on your shelf, remember this: behind its posh appearance, a Bamboo Ranger once tapped its nodes, listening for Mother Natureโs whispered approval before murmuring, โokay na โto.โ
Article and Photos | Information Unit