Seven million.

That’s how many people die every year due to air pollution. What’s more, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most vulnerable to this environmental problem are the children. In fact, it is one of the leading risks to the health of young people, with around 600,000 children dying each year due to air pollution and diseases related to it. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also said that there are 300 million children who are exposed to areas with high toxic levels.

Indeed, harmful air seriously threatens many people and is definitely not something to ignore.

To address this, improving air quality should be one of the top priorities. And since cleanliness begins at home, why not try growing indoor plants? There are numerous advantages of house plants. As they help remove toxins from the environment, these plants can promote good health for your family.

In addition, greener environment can also make us feel more comfortable with our surroundings. Certain researches show that interior landscaping has positive effects on the well-being of the occupants. People tend to be more productive, healthier and happier because plants provide relaxation. Humans greatly benefit from being more inclined with nature.

Architect Abby Abiol, a landscape architect and general manager of Haute Flora, shares her knowledge about indoor plants and how to take care of them. Her work includes planning and designing outdoor spaces to suit human activities with top consideration to a balanced design that will be sensitive to both natural and social environment.

“I chose to pursue and practice my profession because my abilities, responsibilities and knowledge in this service helps mankind in developing and evolving into better society and living environment,” Architect Abby shares.

According to her, here are the 7 best house plants that are commonly found in plant nurseries in the Philippines:

Chamaedorea seifritzii (Seifritzii or Bamboo Palm)
Bamboo plant is one of the best plants that would suit your home or office because it is low-maintenance and could survive even with little sunlight. Also known as the “Reed Palm”, it is a relatively small graceful palm that could grow up to about 7 feet.

Each stem is long and slender with “nodes” that are similar to bamboo. Usually, plants are commercially clumped together to form shrub-like specimens. But this palm naturally spreads by suckers or offshoots. The tall stems measure about 10-15 fronds each with about 12 dark green pinnate leaflets.

Rhapis excelsa (Rhapis)
Rhapis is a clustering and slender palm growing up to 3 to 4 meters tall. The stem is like a cane with a diameter of 4 centimeters with matted coarse fiber. Its leaves are divided into linear segments, which appear like a dissected fan.

Beacuse of its air-filtering property, it is included in the list of the clean air study of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and became one of the 10 Best Air Filtering House Plants in 2015. Rhapis excelsa proved that it is capable of indoor air purification that helps eliminate formaldehyde ammonia, xylene and toluene – all of which are harmful air toxins.

Spatiphyllum commutatum (Peace Lily)
An evergreen perennial native to Indonesia and the Philippines, Peace Lily spreads by underground rhizomes, forming dense clumps of shiny dark elliptical leaves supported by long-sheathed petioles or leaf stems. The large-flowered Peace Lily can bear some of the largest and long-lasting blooms of its tribe.

Dracaena surculosa (Japanese Bamboo)
Dracaena surculosa is a slow growing evergreen plant with thin erect stems that could grow as high as 23 inches with a spread of 15 inches. It is a native of western tropical Africa rainforest region.

The leaves of this plant are dark green with cream spots. New leaves can appear as tightly rolled cones that showcase beautiful creamy yellow markings. Dracaena surculosa can be grown in a bottle garden

Zamioculcas zamifolia (Welcome Plant)
Also dubbed as the ZZ plant, it is one of the newest house plant that is becoming more popular. Considered to be stylish, attractive and easy to maintain, it also blends well with either a contemporary or traditional setting.

Sansevieria trifasciata (Snake Plant)
Also one of the easy-to-care house plants, Snake Plant is a native to the tropics of West Africa. It his known for its upright leaf habit which fits in to almost all locations in the home from both traditional to modern day settings.

Because it is clutter-free, it became a popular choice for architecture and interior design.

Chlorophytum comosum (Spider Plant)
Its name was derived from the appearance of its plantlets, dangling from the mother plant just like spiders from a web. These plants are pleasantly known for their simple care requirements and the ability to tolerate relatively low light conditions.

Spider plants are known for their ability to grow in lower light conditions and prefer indirect light. In fact, too much direct sunlight may damage the leaves. They likewise don’t require humidity that much, average room humidity is usually sufficient.

According to Architect Abby, all of these plants are very tough. They adapt well in areas with minimal sunlight or water. These plants are very easy to maintain and can really help people understand and enjoy their plant with very little effort.

Care Tips from the Expert
• A good balance of water and occasional sunlight will suffice. First, know the characteristics of your chosen plant. It’s best to ask the nursery people you bought your plant from, on how to properly care for that plant.

• Never water too much as this may be the cause of root rot and eventually your plant may get sick. Feel the soil and even poke the soil to see if this is still moist under the surface. If there is dryness, gradually water the plant but be careful not to put more than the pot and soil can handle. Always water at the base.

• Make sure that you occasionally wipe the leaves so that dust will not settle on the surface allowing light to penetrate the leaves.

• If sunning your plant is possible, do not expose directly under the sun or in the full outdoors as this may scorch the plant that has already adjusted to the low light situation.

Sources:
WHO
UNICEF
Haute Flora (owned by Ms. Abby Abiol)
http://houseplantcentral.com/
http://www.ourhouseplants.com/
http://floridata.com/
http://www.philippinegarden.net/
http://www.learn2grow.com/
http://www.plantsrescue.com/

In November each year, millions of Filipinos flock to cemeteries to visit their departed loved ones, bringing flowers, lighting candles, and offering prayers.

Unfortunately, the occasion is often marred by wasteful practices. In 2013 alone, 120 tons of garbage were collected from various cemeteries in Metro Manila, according the Metro Manila Development Authority or MMDA.

To avoid this, the environmental watchdog, EcoWaste Coalition, gave 10 tips for an environment-friendly undas:

1) Take public transportation or share a ride to the cemetery.
Carpooling or taking a jeepney, bus or train can lessen carbon emission. To avoid traffic, you may also walk to your destination.

2) Choose the right candles.
Pick clean-burning candles that do not give off black fumes or ash. Also, shun candles with metal wicks, which may contain harmful chemicals such as lead.

3) Light candles a few a time.
Burn just enough candles to save on money and energy. This also lessens pollution.

4) Offer locally-grown fresh flowers.
Imported flowers are costly and require tons of energy to get them flown to you. When you support locally-grown flowers, you lesson your carbon footprint, while supporting the livelihood of locals.

5) Refrain from putting flowers in plastic wrap.
Plastics eventually end up clogging waterways. Oftentimes, plastics also cause floods, injure and kill animals, and poison communities with hazardous chemicals when burned.

6) Eat and drink right.
By not bringing excessive amounts of food and beverage to the cemetery, you cut down, not only your expenses, but also your wastes.

7) Bring your own tumbler.
Drinking water from reusable jugs saves you a few bucks, as opposed to buying bottled water. Discarded plastic bottles also add to the country’s garbage problem.

8) Don’t forget the eco-bags.
Pack everything you wish to bring to the cemetery in reusable bags and baskets instead of single-use plastic bags and containers.

9) Throw garbage properly.
Throw all discards into proper recycling bins. Remember that littering in the cemetery—as elsewhere—is a no-no.

10) Reuse and recycle.
Take home all your discards for reusing or recycling. You may also bring leftovers for your pets or dump them into the compost pit with other biodegradable wastes. Non-biodegradable discards should be recycled.

REFERENCES:

https://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2009/10/environmentalists-campaign-for-waste.html

http://pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/92-press-release/3414-special-weather-outlook-for-undas-2016

If you’re immersed everyday in Metro Manila, a busy jungle of high-rise buildings and car-jammed roads, it’s difficult to imagine a serene paradise that soothes the eyes, and is bursting with biodiversity.

But the good news is that you don’t have to go to far-flung provinces just to see unique species of birds and marine animals. Just several minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, you can already delight in such a paradise.

The Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area or LPPCHEA is divided into two islands, the Freedom Island and the Long Island, jointly known as the Freedom Islands. Both serve as temporary homes to migratory birds from different countries such as China, Japan, and Siberia.

When the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road was constructed in 1973, the Freedom Islands were formed alongside it. The islands were part of the master plan for the Southern Reclamation Project that intended to expand the island in the future.

At present, the topography of the place helps birds like Little Egrets and Black-Crowned Night Herons in adjusting before entering the warmer regions of the earth. This is the main reason why a diverse species of birds can be observed in the area, making it an awesome site for bird watching.

Aside from this, the LPPCHEA is the only remaining mangrove frontier in the metro. Fishes still swarm the area, which is highly beneficial to the fisherfolk of Parañaque and Las Piñas. Other features in the Freedom Islands’ terrains include marshes, ponds, and lagoons, which make it an ideal breeding place for a variety of animals.

However, this breathtaking beauty faces threats. First are the tons of waste that end up in the seas and penetrating the waters of the islands, endangering marine biodiversity as well as potentially killing the fisherfolk’s livelihood. Another major threat are the plans of both the government and private sectors to develop the area surrounding the islands and reclaim it for commercial use.

If these plans push through, buildings and mid-rise residences will be built around the area, threatening wildlife. This action would require filling the waters with rocks and land for them to be able to accommodate buildings. This will pose a great danger to the residents of nearby places and provinces because apart from serving as home for animals, the Freedom Islands also serve as an effective catch basin for floodwaters. If the waters have already been converted into land, where else will the floodwaters go? It’s no wonder that the plans to reclaim the area have induced protests initiated by several civic groups and organizations.

Meanwhile, to ensure that the place remains suited for biodiversity, keeping it clean is of key importance. The Save Freedom Island Movement not only opposes the plan to convert the Freedom Islands, but also helps in organizing coastal cleanups and partnering with other groups or institutions that believe in the same advocacy.

The importance of these islands can’t be stressed enough. They serve their function in the ecosystem. They also provide means of support to the townspeople and lastly, they are majestic sights to behold amidst the rowdy city setup of Metro Manila.

As someone who has been to the place a couple of times, I can personally attest to the charm of the place, filled with greenery and the rich sounds of nature. Now, the challenge confronts all of us. Will we allow this gem to go to waste?

Sources:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/301603/news/specialreports/manila-s-last-piece-of-marine-wilderness-under-siege
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/mangroves/mangrove_importance/
http://ncr.denr.gov.ph/index.php/89-webpage/338

Written by Shain Bianca C. Epanag, Panahon TV intern from the University of the Philippines-Diliman