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The wonders of bamboo

Saturday, 03 March 2012 17:13 Marilou Guieb / Correspondent / Text & photos

IT was in 2005 when Ed Manda, then head of 

the Laguna Lake Development Authority, wentto visit China to look at the bamboo forest inAnji City in Zheijang province and broughtback home what could be the answer to many of the pressing issues ailing the country — poverty,disasters, unemployment, environmentaldegradation and climate-change catastrophes.

“The experience of entering a city inside abamboo forest blew my mind. It was soamazing,” Manda said. The experience actually

changed his direction in life.

Today he is known as the Bamboo Man and heads the Philippine Bamboo Foundation Inc.

So inspired was Manda that when he came back home, he walked his talk nonstop to the hills,plains, valleys and riverbanks of the country. He brought the wonders of bamboo to podiums andfound the circle of like minds just as fascinated with bamboo as he was.

Zheijang was an agricultural province with a languishingeconomy. Bamboo has changed all that and farmers whowere turning despondent now enjoy a lucrative life from

the livelihood opportunities derived from bamboo, fromroots to the poles. All these aside from the beautifulscenery of blue lakes and mountains covered with a canopyof bamboos changed this once depressed landscape into anenchanting tourism landmark.

“When we entered the forest, I was told that this was where

the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmedand they have a whole eco-industry there. Not only was itexhilarating. It was also inspiring and I told myself, whycan’t we do it back home? We have lots of bamboos!”

Manda recalled of this visit.

As much as he opened the minds of people to the potentialof bamboo, so did the places he went to and the people hemet open new worlds to him. Now like a walkingencyclopedia on bamboo, Manda does not stop to keepfinding ways on how bamboo can be utilized to suit the

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uniqueness of every place he explores.

China, the bamboo kingdom 

FOR some the Philippines may look like the capital of the bamboo industry. But Manda said thisis fiction. Manda said that there are thick bamboo clumps spread around the countryside, butthese are mostly growing in the wild.

A recent inventory of bamboo groves across the country estimated bamboo stands between39,211 and 52,711 hectares only. These yielded a maximum of 52 million poles. According tothe Philippine Exporters Confederation, 69 percent of those bamboo groves were natural standsin public forests while the rest were planted on private lands.

Manda said China is actually the world leader in the bamboo industry. And the China

experience, according to him, should serve as an inspiration to the country.

With 5.38 million hectares of bamboo plantations and an annual increase of 100,000 hectares,China is leading the world’s bamboo industry in its number of varieties, amount of bambooreserves, as well as production output, said Jiang Zehui, co-chairman of the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan’s board of trustees. 

China’s bamboo industry has provided more than 35 million jobs, and the bamboo sector chalked

up 70 billion yuan ($11 billion ) in total output value in 2010.

Starting from the shoots all the way up to the tip of the towering poles, bamboo is a business

delight, with a potential of generating billions of dollars.

In China, international trade in bamboo shoots is worth $750 million per year.

A bamboo shoot is a young culm harvested shortly after it appears above the soil surface. Leftalone, it will develop rapidly into a woody culm. Bamboo shoots are relished all over the world.It contains fiber, calcium, iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, protein, carbohydrates, phosphorus,glucose, potassium, Vitamin A and 17 amino acids.

Filipinos are all too familiar with bamboo shoots, but this is actually food for many Asians. Inthe Philippines, they are made into pickles, fresh lumpia, or simply cooked with coconut and

shrimps.

Thailand has found more use for shoots like bamboo salt seasoning and bamboo salt soybeanpaste.

In Taiwan, people consume as much as 80,000 metric tons of bamboo shoots per year to makepickled bamboo shoots. This is a common serving on their tables.

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“With the increasing awareness on the many health attributes and recipes one can make out of 

bamboo shoots, it is now gaining popularity within the broader population and in the globalmarket,” reported Nimfa Torreta of the Department of Science and Technology.

Organic bamboo vinegar from the bamboo base is also known as a beauty product now found in

cosmetic markets. The product is used to improve skin, hair and body, The vinegar, often used indiluted form, is known to better the condition of the skin, hair and body, and even more, becauseof the many nutrients contained here, the world is starting to recognize its medicinal value.

The middle lower part of bamboo poles has a huge economical value to China. Farmers inZheijang province have greatly improved their lives producing wooden bamboo products such asbamboo flooring. The province now has 20 factories and special machinery to create thesewooden products. The good news, according to Manda, is that these machines can be fabricatedlocally.

Manda said that long used in China and Japan are products made from bamboo laminate

including flooring, cabinetry, furniture. Decorative items are currently surging in popularity,transitioning from the boutique market to mainstream providers.

Bamboo flooring is a quality product that can be used widely and has a large, global consumermarket. It has certain advantages over wooden floors due to its smoothness, brightness, stability,high resistance, insulation qualities and flexibility. Bamboo flooring has a soft natural luster andmaintains the natural gloss and elegance of bamboo fiber.

The estimated annual production of bamboo flooring in China was 17.5 million in 2004. Exportsaccount for some 65 percent of total production, according to the Customs GeneralAdministration of China, 2004.

China also produces bamboo curtains, sliding patio doors and windows. Anji has 1,000 factoriesfor the splitting and processing of bamboo to create these products.

There are nearly 20 categories of woven bamboo products in Asia, including fruit baskets, trays,bottles, jars, boxes, cases, bowls, fans, screens, curtains, cushions, lampshades and lanterns.

Little known is that bamboo fiber for clothing retains its antibacterial and anti-ultraviolet waveproperties even after repeated washing because of bamboo kun, a naturally occurring substancein the plant that helps fight off disease and insects. So this fabric does not hold odors like otherfabrics. This cloth is also soft like cashmere. Bamboo as a fabric is a new process developed at

the Beijing University in 2001.

Manda also mentioned the beauty of musical sounds produced by bamboo instruments.

“Bamboo’s natural hollow form makes it an obvious choice for many instruments, particularlywind and percussion. There are numerous types of bamboo flutes made all over the world. Ourvery own bamboo organ has pipes made of bamboo culms,” he said. 

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Bamboos are recognized worldwide as the best substitute for timber. Several designs of bamboohouses made entirely of bamboo are earthquake and cyclone resistant. In fact, virtually everyproduct which is now produced from wood can be effectively produced from bamboo, Mandasaid.

Manda said that in Bali, Indonesia, there is an international primary school named the GreenSchool, which is constructed entirely of bamboo due to its beauty and advantages as asustainable resource. There are three ISO standards for bamboo as a construction material.

It is extensively used for scaffolds and supports in construction of permanent structures indifferent parts of the world. In Vigan, where centuries-old houses were restored, concrete wallswere found to have been reinforced with bamboo slats.

Bamboo’s healing wonders 

ONE of the most exciting fields where bamboo is creating waves is in the field of alternativemedicine.

Bamboo is used in Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese herbal medicine. The powdered, hardenedsecretion from bamboo called tabasheer is used internally to treat asthma and coughs, and usedas an aphrodisiac. Chinese medicine also uses substances from the roots of the black bamboo totreat kidney disease. Roots and leaves have also been used to treat venereal disease and cancer.Sap is said to reduce fever, and ash will cure prickly heat.

Manda spoke of a village in Indonesia where water within the culm is used to treat broken bones

effectively and that the tabasheer is used to promote fertility in their cows.

Bamboo juice is collected from the plant when it is harvested and allowed to dry, becoming aresinous-type sap. In traditional Chinese medicine, bamboo juice is especially effective fortreating upper respiratory infections and coughs.

Ever since the development of bamboo leaf flavonoid product and its mass production, it hasraised the attention of state authorities, and international and scientific circles, Manda said.

Japanese scientists have discovered that the internal structure of bamboo leaf flavonoid is similarto that of the hemoglobin in human beings and that the product can be prepared as an injectible

to improve its effectiveness.

Poor man’s timber becomes green gold 

THE Philippines has much to gain in developing its bamboo industry.

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Manda said that with modern processing techniques, many of which are still quite new, bamboocan be transformed into many products that compete directly with wood products in price andperformance. Bamboo often surpasses wood in the diversity of products produced.

What discourages many business people is that bamboo is vulnerable to decay due to insect

infestation. But Manda illustrates that our very own bamboo organ in Las Piñas is centuries old.The bamboo culms used here were soaked in beach sand for three years where sea water killedthe destructive microorganisms. But there are now easier and faster techniques of treatmentwhich Manda’s group now uses. 

DOST records showed an estimated demand of 3.5 million poles for furniture and 575,000 polesfor handicraft in 2010. The supply deficit is about 2 million poles for furniture and 340,000 polesfor handicraft. In terms of source, the country has 39,000 to 53,000 hectares of bamboo standswith a potential average production of 36 million culms worth P2.88 billion per year.

The bamboo goods industry (which also includes small goods, fabric, etc.) is expected to be

worth $25 billion by the year 2012.

Manda is keen on spreading the wonders of bamboo in the Cordillera region.

He finds that the landscape of the region is similar to Zheijang which is renowned for itspicturesque landscapes.

He believes that in three years, Baguio City can be a scenery just like Zheijang and be aseconomically prosperous with bamboo as a backbone industry. Already, the Philippine BambooFoundation is establishing a 100,000-hectare demo bamboo forest project in the abandoned Sto.Niño Mines.

Manda also said they have bamboo nurseries in Tublay, Liteng; Baguio City; and a pilot nurseryin Benguet State University where 30 varieties of bamboos were transported from China forpropagation here. Moso is the most prevalent variety being propagated. They are alsoconducting intensive training on bamboo propagation techniques and nursery managementamong residents as part of the first stage of their project.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan is also identifying 10 hectares for bamboo propagation in theprovince.

Bamboo, once regarded as the poor man’s timber, is rightfully gaining its place as green gold,

and eyes are trained on this city where the wonders of bamboo have just started to take roots.

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lobe unit, Amex tie up for online payment service

Thursday, 01 March 2012 20:29 Lenie Lectura / Reporter

G-XCHANGE Inc. (GXI), the mobile commerce subsidiary of Globe Telecom Inc., has signed a partnership with American Express to develop an

online payment solution that will allow Globe GCash mobile wallet customers to purchase goods in US and UK online sites.

The tieup will provide a hassle-free shopping experience for Filipinos as goods bought through GCash via American Express can be delivered

from the US or UK directly to their homes in the Philippines. They can also shop for electronics, toys, apparel, and many other goods from

popular US and UK online sites that accept American Express.

“With less than 5-percent credit card penetration in the Philippines, our new solution will provide consumers with a new and compelling

payment option, and all they will need is a GCash mobi le wallet to start shopping on online sites outside the Philippines,” said Paolo Baltao,

President of GXI, in a press briefing.

The new payment system will take effect in the next three to four months, he said.

Express Executive Vice President and Head of global network services Kula Kulendran said the partnership with GXI will provide consumers with

broader access to global online shopping opportunities and services as well as drive innovative product development and strong business

growth for both companies.

“The Philippines is a market with strong growth potential, and we see this across several sectors from banking services to e-commerce,” said

Kulendran. GCash users, said Baltao, is now over 1 million.

Baltao said GXI is now working with government agencies that would permit it to allow the public to use GCash as another mode of payment

for PAG-Ibig and Philhealth contributions.

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PLDT still keen on GMA, but no ongoing talks yet

Thursday, 01 March 2012 20:31 Miguel R. Camus / Reporter

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan admitted on Thursday that his group remains interested in

GMA Network Inc. but clarified that there are no talks yet to acquire the company.

“I think we would be interested to take a look at the opportunity but there are no discussions ongoing,” Pangilinan said in response to media

queries in a briefing on Thursday.

Pangilinan said PLDT has been interested in GMA since 2002, but it has since been unsuccessful in acquiring the broadcast network, which is

controlled by three groups led by its Chairman Felipe Gozon as well as the Duavit and Jimenez families.

“They are making money. I think it will continue to be profitable in 2011 and 2012,” Pangilinan said on Thursday.  

GMA has yet to report earnings for 2011 although Gozon said in January that net income likely declined to P1.8 billion from P2.8 billion in

2010.

Gozon said in the same interview that he is personally open to selling his stake in GMA “at the right price” although he decl ined to give specificfigures.

MediaQuest Holdings Inc., the media holding company of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund, made an attempt to buy 66.67 percent of GMA for

P8.5 billion many years ago, earlier reports showed.

However, negotiations bogged down after MediaQuest reduced its valuation of GMA to about P12 billion from P14.58 billion.

Finally, MediaQuest bought Associated Broadcasting Corp., operator of TV5, in 2009 from Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco. TV5, said Pangilinan,

is a “strong No. 3” in the TV arena. 

In a bid to compete with the giants, TV5 has been hiring veteran actors whose contracts with GMA and ABS-CBN Corp. have expired.

Takeover rumors helped propel GMA shares to as much as P10.20 each last month from under P7 per share just before rumors broke out in

December last year. GMA shares rose 0.83 percent to P9.68 per share on Thursday, valuing the company at P32.5 billion

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GT Capital sets plans for P24.6-B IPO

Thursday, 01 March 2012 20:33 Miguel R. Camus / Reporter

GT Capital Holdings Inc., the investment holding company of Filipino-Chinese billionaire George Ty, is seeking to hold what could be the

Philippines’ second biggest initial public offering by April this year.

GT Capital, whose offer is valued as much as P24.6 billion, said the final price and allocation of shares for the international component will be

determined by April 3, a new prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed.

The domestic portion of the offer period will run from April 10 through April 17 while the holding firm’s trading debut on th e Philippine Stock

Exchange is expected on April 23, the document showed.

GT Capital, which owns stakes in the Ty family’s banking, property development, and power businesses, announced earlier this month plans to

sell up to 41.21 million common shares comprised of 33 million new shares and 8.22 million shares held by stockholders at a maximum offer

price of P520 each.

Another 6.18 million shares could be sold to cover over-allotments, GT Capital said. The share sale would give the company a maximum market

value of P82.16 billion, with the IPO accounting for 30 percent of its outstanding shares.

GT Capital said net proceeds from the primary offer would raise P15.9 billion, to partly fund developments of 80 percent-owned Federal Land

Inc. and to increase its direct stake in power firm Global Business Power Corp., which owns power plants in Visayas, from 34.4 percent to 39

percent.

The budget includes the repayment of P4 billion in debts and expansion into infrastructure, business process outsourcing and renewable energy

projects.

GT Capital also owns 25 percent of listed Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., the Philippines’ biggest lender; 21 percent in Toyota Motor

Philippines, and 25.3 percent in Philippine AXA Life Insurance Corp.

The sale is being arranged by UBS AG and Ty-led First Metro Investment Corp.

GT Capital could hold the biggest initial share sale after billionaire Henry Sy’s SM Investments Corp. raised P28.8 billion in 2005. 

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., a unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., last year filed the Philippines’ biggest IPO propos al at P36.9 billion

although poor market conditions at the time caused the company to postpone the offer.