by: Bacardi Gold
10/march/2021
PHILIPPINE BAMBOO.
They are a group of woody perennial grass which can grow up to 91 – 122 centimeters/day ( 3.8 – 5.0 centimeters /hour ) and are divided into two species, namely; a) CLUMPERS – they have short roots that grow close together in a circular pattern at a very slow rate. b) RUNNERS – they have roots called rhizomes. They can “run” underground that spread far and wide and produce shoots several meters away from the parent plant.
Bamboo belongs to the largest Bambuseae of the grass family of Poaceae. There are gigantic types of bamboo that grow almost treelike, while dwarf varieties can be small enough to grow in pots.
These varieties of bamboo are popular non-timber forest products and a viable substitute for wood. Young bamboo are consumed as foods (bamboo shoots), while adults are used in furniture-making, basket weaving, and other handicrafts. Their shavings and other wastes are made into briquettes, parquets, slots, and other uses in house building.
As the country needs grow, uses of bamboo are being studied, subsidized, developed and marketed. Its status has been upgraded as a high value crop, and it follows that its production has to be prioritized in order to gain investments and create more jobs.
COMMERCIAL SPECIES.
Bambusa Blumenea – Kawayan tinik – also known as spiny bamboo or thorny bamboo, is a specie of bamboo growing in Tropical Asia..
Bambusa Spinosa – Bayog – is the most commonly used species of bamboo in the Philippines. • Used in the building of bamboo houses, furniture and household utensils. • Leaf juice is used in aromatherapy.
Bambusa Vulgaris – Kawayan kiling – binomial name of the common bamboo
Dendrocalamus Asper – Giant bamboo – rough bamboo – timber bamboo used as building material for heavy construction. Shoots are used for foods.
BAMBOO CANNON.
Several names have been tagged in this noisemaker machine. Traditionally, it is known as Lantaka (native naval cannons). Bumbong – bamboo tube. Kanyong Kawayan – bamboo cannon.
Filipinos should take credit for this bamboo cannons because they have been using this for several decades. The inventor/s are not known but its use as the maker of the booom noise for the New Year’s eve is regarded as a safe alternative to firecrackers. Its popularity are widespread together with its firing mechanism. Although it is safe to operate, it claimed its first victim as a one year old child died of smoke inhalation.
image source: maxres
BAMBOO ORGAN.
image source: The Jonas Chronicles – Bamboo Organ, Las Pinas city
The Las Pinas Bamboo Organ is housed in St. Joseph Parish Church Las Pinas city, Philippines. It is a 19th century church organ with unique organ pipes. It was completed after 6 years of work in 1824 by Fr. Diego Cera, the builder of the town’s stone church. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2003. Due to its old age, it was restored in 1975, which consisted of 1,031 pipes, of which, 902 are made of bamboo.
“Since the restoration of the Bamboo Organ in 1975, we have been celebrating the gift this instrument has been to Las Piñas City, giving an identity to the city and to the country, protecting our national organ patrimony which is unique in Asia.
“The present situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic did not change our conviction to continue this annual event, although held in another platform maximizing the use of technology and the ingenuity of social media,” says Leo Renier, executive director of the festival and president of the Bamboo Organ Foundation.
OTHER INVENTIONS MADE OF BAMBOO.
Bamboo Musical Instrument
Bukidnon’s Talaandig Trike
LoudBasstard bamboo sound amplifier
Negros’ Wala Usik bamboo mugs and Coconut bowls
Top Gear Bamboo Electric motorcycles
Bambike Bamboo bicycle
As our time advances, future inventions and discoveries making use of the lowly bamboo need to be tapped and pushed for production to be marketed all over the world.
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Triangle Writes... 