Ganoderma Philippines News

PSHS Students Complete Their Internship at Herbanext

Last May 6, 2012, a total of 13 students from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Iloilo Campus completed their 30-day Summer Science Internship Program (SSIP) at the Herbanext Laboratory and Farms in Bago City. This outreach program of Herbanext is part of its commitment to promote interest in natural products research among the most academically gifted high school students in Region 6. PSHS is the country’s top academic institution for high school science education with students belonging to the top 0.1% of the population in terms of aptitude in science and mathematics, and is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).


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This year’s batch of students were very fortunate to have been exposed to a wide variety of important work activities and learned firsthand from a select group of resource persons. During their entire internship program, the students stayed at The Quiet Place Farm Resort where Herbanext’s R&D farm is based. In their first week, the students were tasked to lay the ground work for the establishment of the herbarium from the company’s collection of nearly 200 medicinal plants. The current medicinal plants conservatory of Herbanext formally took shape in 2009 as a project of the first ever batch of SSIP students. The conservatory has since grown to become the biggest private collection of medicinal plants in the Philippines. With the herbarium project of the SSIP students, Herbanext aims to establish a reference herbarium for medicinal plants in the Visayas with the support of the DOST.

Herbarium and Medicinal Herb Museum Soon to Rise at The Quiet Place Farm Resort

From its humble beginnings in 2010 as an internship project for 3rd year students of Philippine Science High School - Iloilo Campus, Herbanext’s collection of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) at The Quiet Place Farm Resort has gradually expanded in size and diversity. Starting with less than 50 MAPs, the botanical collection called Herbee’s Garden has already exceeded the 200 species mark. Herbee’s Garden could very well be the biggest private collection of medicinal plants in the Philippines today. It is a must-see place for those wanting to learn more about the incredible biodiversity of medicinal plants in the Philippines, its cultivation, and its application to health and wellness.

This summer, a new batch of Philippine Science students guided by professional botanists from the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) will be laying the ground work for the establishment of a herbarium at The Quiet Place Farm Resort. The goal is to establish a reference herbarium and a formal ethnomedicinal garden of native Philippine medicinal plants as well as introduced species for the benefit ecologists, botany students, natural products researchers, and industry practitioners in Negros Island and neighboring Panay Island. The project intends to also highlight the endemic plant species from the threatened forests of Negros. Plans are already on the way for the building of an indoor museum within the year that will highlight the many valuable and versatile applications of MAPs, such as in the fields of medicine, health foods, animal husbandry, horticulture, cosmetics, and personal care.

International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Held in Chiang Mai
The International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants was recently held last December 15-18, 2011 at the Empress Hotel in Chaing Mai, Thailand, after a one month postponement due to the heavy flooding that affected the country. Despite the postponement, the event, organized by Thailand’s Department of Agriculture, Horticultural Science Society of Thailand, and the International Society for Horticultural Science, was a success and was attended by over 200 researchers mainly from Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, India, and countries in the Mediterranean region. The event highlighted MAPs research in Asia and covered at least 45 oral presentations and 25 poster presentation on the fields of natural production and processing technology, pharmacodynamics of natural substances, and agriculture and production. A total of 4 papers were presented from the Philippines, all by natural product researchers from Baguio.
Ornamental Turmeric
Ornamental turmeric as an entry for flower arrangement

The International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants was one of several international conferences held in the Chiang Mai during the 3 months celebration of the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011: International Horticultural Exposition. Other conferences/workshops held last December included the International Harmonization Workshop on Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for Asian Countries, the 3rd International Symposium on Papaya, and The International Symposium on Tropical and Subtropical Fruits.
Ornamental Turmeric
Ornamental vegetable varieties - nurturing and beautifying for the urban farmer

After the conference, participants were treated to field trips at the Bee Product Industry Co., Ltd., the Tweechol Botanic Garden, and the Medicinal Plants Production and Utilization Center at the Lampang Medicinal Plants Community Hospital. The highlight of the conference tour was a one day visit to the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek Fair, a sprawling 80 hectare land in Mae Hia district of Chiang Mai. The park boasts thousands of species of tropical plants and flowers, state of the art horticultural exhibits, and pavilions from over 30 countries around the world. The event celebrates the three auspicious occasions in Thailand - HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th birthday anniversary in 2011, Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday anniversary and Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 60 birthday anniversary - and will run until March 14, 2012.

 

 

Link up with businessmen, Ilonggo inventor tells colleagues

DOST S&T Service
By Framelia Anonas
20 October 2011

Iloilo City --- Drawing on his own experience in making a crack in competitions and in the market, Philip Cruz, president of Herbanext Incorporated, told Ilonggo inventors to improve their craft and learn from business people. Cruz is one of the breed of inventors who successfully crossed over from mind to market with his practical inventions, including the awarded kinetic fish feeder.

“Invent and re-invent,” the Negros-based Cruz told to an audience of established and budding inventors from the Western Visayas during opening of the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit at the Amigo Plaza Mall in Iloilo City.

DOST’s RICE paves way for inventors to showcase technologies

Philippine Information Agency
By Lilibeth A. French


DOST RICE 2011 INVENTION CONTEST & EXHIBITS. DOST Undersecretary Dr. Carol Yorobe assisted by Director Rowen Gelonga of DOST 6, Victor Facultad, Executive Assistant of the City Mayor and Mr. Philip Cruz, Inventor and Entrepreneur cuts the ceremonial ribbon during the opening of the event at Amigo Plaza Mall, Iloilo City, last October 19, 2011. Mr. Philip Cruz delivered the keynote message.

The Department of Science and Technology has created an opportunity for inventors in the region to showcase their new inventions, researches and technologies through the first Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) which opened October 19 in this city.

“The event is also our way of recognizing our inventors for the technologies that they have developed.” said DOST 6 Director Rowen Gelonga. “We are hoping that through this activity the DOST and other government agencies could look for ways to assist them in the commercialization of their inventions and products.”

Gelonga said this year’s RICE in Western Visayas has attracted 74 entries in the region, just 10 entries short of the 84 entries showcased in last year’s Visayas Islands Invention Contest and Exhibit held also in this city participated in by investors and researchers within the Visayas area.

Herbanext Inc. Honored as "The Model Entrepreneur Award"

Herbanext Inc. receieved "The Model Entrepreneur Award" given by Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) during the 20th Visayas Area Business Conference and Exposition on September 16-17 at the L’Fisher Hotel.

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Herbanext Model Entrepreneur Award

Herbanext Model Entrepreneur Award Herbanext Model Entrepreneur Award

Herbanext Model Entrepreneur Award Herbanext Model Entrepreneur Award

Raising the bar for local herbal supplements

Business MirrorTHERE was a time when all you needed to cure an illness was pick some herbs and leaves from your garden. You either boiled it into a tonic or ground it into a poultice to soothe the pain or cleanse a wound. Everything was all natural; nothing was made synthetically. In a way, this is the reason behind Herbanext Inc., a 100 percent Filipino-owned company based in Bago City, Negros Occidental, that produces nature-based products that promote and maintain health.

GanodermaHerbanext president Philip Cruz says he hopes to raise the quality and efficacy of local food supplements, generate a new export industry that is environment-friendly and carbon-positive, and create a sustainable means of livelihood for marginalized communities in Negros through the organic farming of herbs.

The Philippines being home to 1,500 species of medicinal plants, of which 850 have been documented to being used traditionally and 120 have been validated scientifically for safety and efficiency, Cruz sees the business of health and food supplements to be the future for Filipino farmers and the local herbal industry.

The Kamantigue and the Noli

Philip S. Cruz

The Philippine medicinal herb kamantigue, also known as garden balsam, is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia belonging to the family Balsaminaceae (Touch-me-not family). There are several different varieties in terms of the color of the flower, with pink, white, lavender and red as being the most common. To the Spaniards, who made the Philippine islands a colony from 1521-1898, the plant is known as balsamina or madama. In 1753, famous Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus gave kamantigue its formal place in plant taxonomy with the scientific name Impatiens balsamina. The genus Impatiens is the Latin word for impatient, alluding to the explosive release of seeds when its ripe seed capsule is touched. It is said that this beautiful flowering herb was already commonly cultivated in the gardens of Europe by the 18th century, probably introduced from India, China, or the Philippines. A similar temperate species from Europe also named by Linnaeus, is called the Impatiens noli-tangere or Western touch-me-not. It is commonly with yellow flowers.

Impatiens balsamina

Impatiens balsamina

 Impatiens noli-tangere

Impatiens noli-tangere

Herbanext Updates

NEGRENSE COMPANY BAGS SECOND PLACE AT IFEX

Herbanext Laboratories, Inc., a Negros-based company manufacturing health food products and herbal supplements under the Daily Apple brand won second place in the Trendy Awards at the 8th International Food Exhibition (IFEX) of the Department of Trade and Industry – Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions. Held from May 12 – 14, 2011 at the SMX, the IFEX is the country’s premier annual showcase of Philippine food and beverages. Competing among 22 nominees, Herbanext’s Sweet Roselle Chips impressed a panel of judges that included culinary greats and well-known celebrities such as Nancy Reyes-Lumen, editor in chief of leading culinary publication Cook Magazine; Glenda Barreto of Via Mare; Claude Tayag of Bale Dutung; Margarita Fores of CIBO; Ige Ramos, food writer and designer; Cecil Zamora-Van Straten, lifestyle columnist of the Philippine Star; Raul Virtudazo, news anchor of DZBB; and Nora Daza, national culinary icon.


Accepting the Trendy trophy at the awarding ceremony is Ms. Ruby Cruz, managing director of Daily Apple Store, distributor of Herbanext products, flanked by Ms. Rosvi Gaetos (left), Executive Director of CITEM, organizer of the IFEX, and Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes BOI Director (right).