PSU Journal of Natural and Allied Sciences

Vol. 1 No.1, pp. 52-63, December 2017

Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal

Plants Used By Indigenous Sambal-Bolinao of
Pangasinan, Philippines
W. T. Fajardo1, L.T. Cancino1, E.B. Dudang1, I.A. De Vera2, R. M. Pambid3, A. D.Junio4
1a
Faculty of Natural Science Department, Pangasinan State University-Lingayen Campus, Lingayen, 2401,
Pangasinan, Philippines
2
Faculty of Natural Science Department, Pangasinan State University-Binmaley Campus, Binmaley 2417,
Pangasinan, Philippines
3
Faculty of Natural Science Department, Pangasinan State University-BayambangCampus, Bayambang, 2423,
Pangasinan, Philippines

Weenalei T. Fajardo
Natural Science Department, Science Laboratory Building, Pangasinan State University, Lingayen Campus, Alvear
West, Lingayen, Pangasinan, 2401

Email:
a
[email protected]

Abstract — Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses by indigenous peoples are not only significant for
conservation of biodiversity and cultural traditions but also for communal healthcare and drug development in the
present and future. The Philippines is one of the world’s 17 mega-biodiverse countries which collectively claim two-thirds
of the earth’s biological diversity within its boundaries. Thus, the country has high potential for the development of its
own alternative medicines specifically those plant derived sources.
One of its largest provinces is Pangasinan wherein its people is considered as the ninth largest Filipino ethnic group.
Furthermore, it is labelled as one melting pots of mixed-cultures in the country. Its western part has two towns having
their distinct dialect-Bolinao which are found in the towns of Anda and Bolinao only. They were claimed initially to be
highly superstitious and worshiped the spirits of their ancestors. Today, the Sambal-Bolinao are largely Roman Catholic,
though possibly still superstitious. The study aimed to reveal the various plants used by the herbalists or managtambal in
Bolinao and the associated cultural and plant conservation practices associated with the healing.
In the study, 13 out of 32 barangays of Bolinao, Pangasinan were identified with managtambal. Furthermore, 17 key
informants who used plants in their healing practices were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and focus
group discussions. The research revealed that 50 plants were used in the healing which are locally available in the
community. These belong to families of Amaryllidaceae, Anacardiaceae, Anonaceae, Araceae, Arecaceae, Asteraceae,
Bixaceae, Boraginaceae, Caricaceae, Compositae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Labiteae, Lamiaceae,
Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Lythraceae, Malvaceae, Menispermaceae, Musaceae, Myrtaceae, Oxalidaceae, Piperacea,
Poaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Verbenaceae, Zingiberaceae,
Moreover, most of the managtambal practiced paras and pulsuan in the identification of the location of fracture and
sprain and illnesses of their patients using rice grains and palpation of radial pulse respectively. Also, some required their
patients to offer atang to appease with spirit which caused the illness. In addition, conservation practices were observed
such as avoiding excessive harvesting, backyard planting and establishment of a plant nursery.

Keywords —Ethnobotanical; Managtambal; Pangasinan; Sambal-Bolinao; Paras; Pulsuan; Conservation Practices

I. INTRODUCTION future. In fact, plant-based medicines are elevated in a

respectable position nowadays, especially in the
Most indigenous communities largely depend on developing countries, where modern health services
plants for medicine. Traditional knowledge of are limited and inaccessible (Abbasi et al. 2010). The
medicinal plants and their use by indigenous healers World Health Organization approximated that 65-
are not only important for conservation of cultural 80% of the world’s population in developing
traditions and biodiversity but also for communal countries depends mainly on plants for their medical
healthcare and drug development in the present and

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care due to their economic positions and lack of

access to modern medicine (Mesfin et al. 2013). With the ethnicity of Sambal-Bolinao from the
rest of Pangasinan, the study aims to determine the
Traditional remedies done by indigenous people various ethnomedicinal plants used by these people
which are claimed to be more effective, safe and including the various parts and their uses.
inexpensive are gaining acceptance among both rural Furthermore, the study documented healing practices
and urban areas. Ethnobotanical studies which deal associated with plant and plant parts which was the
with the interactions between plants and people, with first attempt to record ethnocultural practices in
particular emphasis on traditional or ethnic cultures Bolinao, if not for the province of Pangasinan.
are some of the bases for commercially produced
plant product supplements and developed medical
drugs in the market today. In addition, scientific II. METHODOLOGY
validation of the use of these medicinal plants has
become the center of scientific discussions and A. STUDY AREA
approximately 20% of all plants found in the world
have undergone preliminary screening for biological Selected barangays of Bolinao, Pangasinan were
activities and potential drug use (Coopoosamy and identified based on the results of the initial meeting
Naidoo 2012). Furthermore, due to the high demand with the Local Government officials of Bolinao.
for natural products, scientists are investigating Barangay secretaries of Bolinao were convened to
various plant species for possible cures which come identify the presence and number of herbalists or
initially from ethnobotanical studies to determine the “managtambal” in their respective area. Barangay
most frequently used plant species and to further secretaries and kagawad served as guide in the
validate their use scientifically (Igoli et al. 2005). identification of the location of the managtambal and
translating some Bolinaon terms essential for the
The Philippines, with its more than 20,000 identification of the plants and their medicinal uses.
endemic species of plants and animals, is one of the
world’s 17 ―mega-biodiversity areas which B. SAMPLING AND INTERVIEW
collectively claim two-thirds of the earth’s biological
diversity. With the country’s richness in organismic The researchers used purposive sampling of
diversity, it has an indispensable part in the managtambal which were pre-identified by the
development of its own alternative medicines Barangay Kagawad and secretaries.
particularly those derived from plant sources
(Conservation International, DENR –PAWB, Haribon The interview with the managtambal was done
Foundation .n.d). Also, Philippines manifests cultural using an interview guide and the schedule for a
diversity with 110 indigenous communities and 175 cognitive ethnographic collection was conducted.
ethnolinguistic groups (Sia, 2011). The data on indigenous or local use of plants
collected and identified including pertinent
The Pangasinan people or the Pangasinense are information on the methods of collection,
the ninth largest Filipino ethnic group. Several ethnic preparation, storage and utilization of plants were
and indigenous groups live in Pangasinan enriching taken from key informants. The gatherers, elderly
the cultural heritage of the province. About half of the herbalist or managtambal of the community leaders
people are Pangasinenses, a distinct ethnololiguistic were the key informants. Focus or small group
group found along the central coast and interior plains discussions were used to validate information
of the province. The rest of the province’s people are collected from the interview.
descendants of Ilocano migrants who settled the
eastern and western parts of Pangasinan. Thus, C. COLLECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS
making Pangasinan a melting pot of mixed-cultures
and culturally diverse area (Maganes, 2012). Since most of the natives provided local names
However, its western part has two towns having their only of the plants being used, plant samples and plant
own dialect-Bolinao and this is found in the towns of parts that collected during the survey were preserved
Anda and Bolinao. They were also highly as herbarium and voucher specimens. Prior to
superstitious and worshiped the spirits of their collection of specimens, permit to collect was
ancestors. Today, the Sambal-Bolinao are secured first from the local government office of
predominantly Roman Catholic, though possibly still Bolinao. Scientific names were validated in Biology
superstitious (Ethnic Group of the Philippines, Laboratory of Pangasinan State University-Lingayen
Sambal-Bolinao) Campus with the aid of the published literatures.

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Some photos were taken during the field survey of Bolinao is a coastal town located in the
the plants, plant’s parts including their westernmost part of Pangasinan divided into 32
characteristics. Standard protocol was properly barangays. The municipality includes Santiago and
followed during the collection of plant specimens. Dewy Islands and some smaller ones conspicuous of
Pertinent geographic and ecological data were which is Silaqui (the smallest inhabited). It squats on
gathered and recorded. Five replicates were made on the northwestern tip of Pangasinan province,
each specimen. The two replicates were used for bordered on the north and northwest, by Sea; on the
identification and for anatomical. The other three east, by Lingayen Gulf with Anda as divider; and the
replicates were dried and preserved and distributed to south by the municipality of Bani (Bolinao
local museum/ herbarium of Pangasinan, PSU Municipality Library)
herbarium, and Philippine National Museum
respectively. The prepared herbarium specimens However, there were 11 barangays of Bolinao
were arranged following the Bentham and Hookers identified by barangay kagawad and secretaries with
system of classification, and their botanical names managtambal during the preliminary meetings with
were based from their family and their habitat. the local government of Bolinao. The identification
was based on the criterion that they use plants and
D. DOCUMENTATION other plant products in the healing process and their
accessibility. Figure 1 shows the locations of
The documentation process used were taped barangays (marked by red dots) which included
interview of key informants, patients and small group Arnedo, Binabalian, Cabuyao, Culang, Goyoden,
discussions, the use of individual interview guide, Lucero, Pilar, Sampaloc, Samang Norte, Tara, and
and pictorials of their practices and plant species Victory. There were 19 key informants who were
used. interviewed using an interview guide.

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS B. ETHNOMEDICINAL USES AND ASSOCIATED

CULTURAL PRACTICES
A. Study Area
In all the areas that researchers conducted their
study, common plants were identified among the
managtambal. Table 1 presents the local and
scientific names of the plant, the plant parts being
used, and how it was used and prepared.

Fig1. (a) location of Bolinao in the map of the

Philippines; (b) map of municipality of
Bolinao

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TABLE 1. MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY BOLINAO-SAMBAL OF PANGASINAN

Parts Preparation/ Utilization/

Local Name Scientific Name Family Illness
Used Administration

Momordica charantia L. Boil 2 leaves in 1 cup of water then the

Ampalaya Cucurbitaceae Leaves Diabetes
Amargoso decoction is to be drank by the patient.

Rub the coconut oil on the leaves then

Azuete Bixa orellana L. Bixaceae Leaves Arthritis
place it on the painful body part.

Remove the first layer of the roots,

Abnormal
Bakari Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. Poaceae Roots wash then boil same roots with water.
Menstruation
The juice is to be drank by the patient.

Soak the washed leaves with warm

water for few minutes. Then squeeze
Cough/
and mix with one teaspoon of honey to
Balikotkot Heliotropium indicum Linn. Boraginaceae Leaves Subi –subbing
be drank by the patient. One teaspoon
bata
and 1 tablespoon for children and
adults respectively.

Pound the leaves well. Such will be

Balisanga Cyperus rotundus L Cyperaceae Leaves Dyspepsia
eaten with rice.

Decoction of an ample amount leaves Urinary Tract

Lagerstroemia
Banaba Lythraceae Leaves of banaba. Then it will be drank by the Infection/
speciosa (L.) Pers.
patient. Kidney Trouble

Boil the leaves of tanubong, bani,

Pongamia pinnata (L.) inwad, kasoy, lagundi together with
Bani Fabaceae Leaves Pasma
Pierre lazona. Decoction will be bathed by
the patient.

Decoction of clean baranoy leaves.

Then add calamansi juice into the Diabetes or for
Baranoy Cymbopogon citratus L. Poaceae Leaves
decoction to be drank by the patient as cleansing
a tea.

Wash ample amount of leaves then

squeeze to extract the juice. Mix it
with the extracted juice from dalayap
Bugayong Abrus precatorius Linn. Fabaceae Leaves juice to be drank by the adult patient. Colds
However, if the patient is a child, the
juice of bugayong is added only with
few drops of dalayap juice.

The gumamela flowers with calamansi Akigtot (Fear

Calamansi Citrofortunella microcarpa Rutaceae Leaves leaves will be used with insenso which caused by the
will be smelled by the patient. unknown)

Coconut

Coconut Oil is extracted then will be rubbed in

Cocos nucifera L. Arecaceae Fracture
seed the affected area

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Continuation of Table 1…

Parts Preparation/ Utilization/

Local Name Scientific Name Family Illness
Used Administration

Ample amount of leaves of

herbabuena, add 3 bulbs of lazona, 1
piece of sliced dalayap and 3 pieces of
gawed leaves will be wrapped in a
Citrus
clean cloth and pounded. Suc mixture
Dalayap aurantifolia (Christm. et Rutaceae Fruit Fever/ Cough
will be wrapped again using banana
Panz.) Swingle
leaves, then heat over the flame. Apply
the heated mixture on the back,
forehead, ankle, wrist, joints and back
of the neck.

Pound the leaves of duhat, kamoteng

Syzygium cumini (L.)
Duhat Myrtaceae Leaves kahoy and eggplant and place the Snake bite
Skeels
mixture to the wound.

Syzygium cumini (L.) Boil the bark with 1 cup of water then
Duhat Myrtaceae Stem Ulcer
Skeels the decoction is drank by the patient.

Pound the various leaves of duhat,

Eggplant Solanum melongena L. Solanaceae Leaves kamoteng kahoy and eggplant and Snake bite
place the mixture to the wound.

Grind the roots and add small amount

Paspalum conjugatum
Gagabutin Poaceae Roots of beaten white egg then place the Headache
Berg.
mixture on the temples of the patient

Ample amount of leaves of

herbabuena, add 3 bulbs of lazona, 1
piece of sliced dalayap and 3 pieces of
gawed leaves will be wrapped in a
clean cloth and pounded. Such mixture
Gawed Piper betle L. Piperaceae Leaves Fever/ Cough
will be wrapped again using banana
leaves, then heat over the flame. Apply
the heated mixture on the back,
forehead, ankle, wrist, joints and back
of the neck.

Concoction of pepper leaves and

Ginger Zingiber officinale L. Zingiberaceae Rhizome Pasma
ginger rhizome

Boil the leaves of guava and ginger in

Loose Bowel
three glasses of water until one glass of
Guava Psidium guajava L Myrtaceae Leaves Movement with
water is left. The juice is drank by the
Vomiting
patient

Gumamela

The gumamela flowers with calamansi

Hibiscus rosa- Small Unexplainable
Malvaceae leaves will be used with insenso which
sinensis Linn. flowers Fear
will be smelled by the patient

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Continuation of Table 1…

Parts Preparation/ Utilization/

Local Name Scientific Name Family Illness
Used Administration
Ample amount of leaves of
herbabuena, add 3 bulbs of lazona, 1
piece of sliced dalayap and 3 pieces of
gawed leaves will be wrapped in a
clean cloth and pounded. Such mixture
Herbabuena Mentha arvensis Linn. Labiateae Leaves Fever/ Cough
will be wrapped again using banana
leaves, then heat over the flame. Apply
the heated mixture on the back,
forehead, ankle, wrist, joints and back
of the neck

Pound and grind the leaves then wrap Ulcer/

Herbaca or Parthenium hysterophorus them with banana leaves. Place ample Dyspepsia/
Astereaceae Leaves
Stamadia L. amount of coconut oil then place it on Diarrhea with
the stomach for one hour. Vomiting

Clean 5 leaves of ikmo using clean

cloth. Apply oil and a little amount of
Ikmo Piper betel L Piperacea Leaves Jaundice
salt. Heat the leaf and then rub it on the
body of the patient.

Boil the leaves of tanubong, bani,

inwad, kasoy, lagundi together with
Inwad Aegilops cylindrica Host Poaceae Leaves Pasma
lazona. Decoction will be bathed by
the patient

Leaves will be boiled in chamber pots.

Kamias Averrhoa bilimbi L Oxalidaceae Leaves The patient is allowed to sit on the pot Hemorrhoids
until the mixture becomes cold.

Using kamiing and mangga, suob iwill

be performed. Coconut oil will be used
as an atang. Gaton is performed by the
Semecarpus
Kamiing Anacardiaceae Leaves managtambal which will be performed Scabies
cuneiformis Blanco
about 6 to 7 pm. Coconut oil used in
the atang will be applied to the
affected body

Pound the various leaves of duhat,

Kamoteng kamoteng kahoy and eggplant and
Manihot esculenta Crantz Euphorbiaceae Leaves Snake bite
kahoy place the mixture to the bitten body
part

Boil the leaves of tanubong, bani,

inwad, kasoy, lagundi together with
Kasuy Anacardium occidentale Anacardiaceae Leaves Pasma
lazona. Decoction will be bathed by
the patient

Kusay
Prepare enough amount of leaves of
Allium tuberosum Rottler each then place the mixture in banana Stomachache/
Amaryllidaceae Leaves
ex Spreng. leaves then heat it and place on the Bloatness
stomach and tie it around the waist

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Continuation of Table 1…

Parts Preparation/ Utilization/

Local Name Scientific Name Family Illness
Used Administration

Boil the leaves of tanubong, bani,

inwad, kasoy, lagundi together with
Lagundi Vitex negundo L. Lamiaceae Leaves Pasma
lazona. Decoction will be bathed by
the patient

Ample amount of leaves of

herbabuena, add 3 bulbs of lazona, 1
piece of sliced dalayap and 3 pieces of
gawed leaves will be wrapped in a
clean cloth and pounded. Suc mixture
Lazona Allium ascalonicum L Liliaceae Bulb Fever/ Cough
will be wrapped again using banana
leaves, then heat over the flame. Apply
the heated mixture on the back,
forehead, ankle, wrist, joints and back
of the neck.

Wash the roots then scrape its upper

layer. Add enough amount of coconut Flatulence;
Lubigan Acorus calamus L. Araceae Roots
oil. Wrap it in a clean cloth then place Stomachache
over the stomach

Grind the leaves then add oil. Heat the

Madre
Gliricidia sepium Leguminosae Leaves mixture using open flame and apply it Itchy skin
kakaw
to affected area.

Boil 3 inch-stem of makabuhay then

Makabuhay Tinospora rumphii Boerl Menispermaceae Stem the decoction is to be drank by the Cancer
patient

Using kamiing and mangga, suob is

perdormed. Coconut oil is used as an
atang. Gaton is performed by the
Mangga Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae Leaves managtambal which is performed Scabies
about 6 to 7 pm. Coconut oil used in
the atang is applied to the affected
body

Prepare enough amount of leaves of

each then place the mixture in banana Stomachache/
Manzanilla Chrysanthemum indicum L. Asteraceae Leaves
leaves then heat it and place on the Bloated
stomach are and tie it around the waist

Oregano
Using 4 leaves, wash and soak with
warm water squeeze to extract the
Coleus aromaticus Benth. Lamiaceae Leaves Colds/ Cough
juice to be drank by the patient every 6
hours

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Continuation of Table 1…

Parts Preparation/ Utilization/

Local Name Scientific Name Family Illness
Used Administration

Seed coats of palay grains will be

removed and will be dropped into a
bowl of water. Herbalist interprets the Unexplainable
Palay Oryza sativa L. Poaceae Grains
results based on the positions of the fear/ disease
grains. The herbalists then pars and
recommends what to do.

Extract the juice of papaya leaves and

Young
Papaya Carica papaya L. Caricaceae mix it with the milk to be drank by the Dengue
leaves
patient

Wipe the leaves with clean cloth, apply

coconut oil on the leaves. Then wrap it
Paper Tree Gmelina arborea Roxb. Verbenaceae Leaves with plastic and place it at the back of Pneumonia
the patient. Repeat the procedure until
healed.

Peelings
Clean the peelings and then to be
Saba Musa sapientum Linn. Musaceae of saba Diarrhea
chewed by the patient
fruit

Pound the seeds then add ample warm

Saluyot Corchurus olitorious L. Malvaceae Seeds water. Mix it with warm water to be Diarrhea
drank by the patient

Decoction of leaves then will be drank

Sambong Blumea balsamifera L. DC Compositae Leaves Cough
by the patient.

Concoction of pepper leaves and

Sili Capsicum frutescens.L. Solanaceae Leaves Pasma
ginger rhizome

Wipe the leaf with clean cloth. Then

add salt and coconut oil to the leaves.
Tagumbaw Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae Leaves Sprain
Afterwards, place the leaves over the
affected areas overnight.

Boil the leaves of tanubong, bani,

Phragmites vulgaris (Lam.) inwad, kasoy, lagundi together with
Tanobong Poaceae Leaves Pasma
Trin. lazona. Decoction will be bathed by
the patient

Decoction of ample amount of tawa

Tawa tawa Euphorbia hirta Linn. Euphorbiaceae Leaves Dengue
tawa leaves to be drank by the patient.

Place an ample amount of tsaang gubat

Tsaang Carmona retusa (Vahl) leaves to 6 cups of water. Boil for Urinary Tract
Boraginaceae Leaves
Gubat Masam. about 1.5 hours. Then, drink before Infection
sleeping and early morning.

Boil 10 leaves of tubo in 1/2 liter of

Tubo Saccharum officinarum L. Graminaceae Leaves water. Decoction to be drank by the Cough
patient

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The 50 species of plants mentioned by key dislocations and other illnesses. Palpation of the
informants and during focus group discussions were radial pulse was done to know the exact location and
validated through a semi-structured interview with related illness even without prior information was
the patients of the managtambal. They used these given by the patient. After the paras, the
medicinal plants as cure or first-aid for common managtambal used plant products such as direct
illnesses such as dysentery, diarrhea, kidney application of Jatropha curcas L. leaves to relieve
problems, urinary tract infections, headache, cough pain and Cocus nucifera L. oils wherein the patients
and colds, ulcer, diabetes, sprains, dislocations, were massaged with the oils known as kemkem.
fractures, unexplainable fear, scabies, pneumonia,
cancer and pasma. The plants belonged to the 19 Also, in some cases where the managtambal
families namely Amaryllidaceae, Anacardiaceae, perceived that the patient has large amount of betel or
Anonaceae, Araceae, Arecaceae, Asteraceae, ―cold‖, suob was performed wherein a basin of
Bixaceae, Boraginaceae, Caricaceae, Compositae, selected animal and plant parts were prepared and
Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Labiteae, burned. The patient was covered by a blanket and the
Lamiaceae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Lythraceae, fumes were allowed to enter the blanket. Such
Malvaceae, Menispermaceae, Musaceae, Myrtaceae, exposure to smokes was claimed to reduce the betel
Oxalidaceae, Piperacea, Poaceae, Rutaceae, in the body of the patient.
Solanaceae, Verbenaceae and Zingiberaceae.
Moreover, pasma which was the most common
In some cases, they used plants for the diagnosed sickness however peculiar to Philippine
identification of the causation of illness such as the folk medicine was believed to be brought about by
use of Oryza sativa L. seeds which were dropped in a exposure to "cold" and water in its varied
bowl of water to be interpreted by the managtambal presentations, was treated using several plants with
known as tawag. Instructions were given to the different preparations. Signs and symptoms of pasma
patient to appease with the spirits that caused the include tremors of the hands, excessive sweating and
illness such as giving of atang to be offered at a swelling of the hands and feet, numbness, pain in the
specified time but often during dusk. Rituals were distal extremities and knees, prominent veins in the
performed known as gaton mentioning the name of hands and feet (Suart 2014). Bolinao-Sambal
the patient while offering prayers. managtambal used concoction of various plants
which were bathed by the patients to reduce or to
Moreover, paras was used as the process for the eliminate the betel.
identification of the location of sprain, fractures,

Figure 2. Plants collected in the municipality. (a) Abrus precatorius Linn.; (b) Heliotropium indicum Linn.; (c) Euphorbia hirta Linn.; (d)
Cymbopogon citratus L.; (e) Corypha utan Lamelata; (f) Paspalum conjugatum Berg. ; (g) Gliricidia sepium; (h) Piper betel L.; (i)
Aegilops cylindrica Host

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Fig.3. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were done to reveal the ethnobotanical knowledge of
Bolinao-Sambal of Pangasinan.

Conservation of plants commonly used were which were practiced by the chosen and willing
observed such as planting them in their backyard, managtambal. In addition, some managtambal
avoiding excessive harvesting of plants and claimed that they were selected by ―spirits‖ who gave
establishment of plant nursery with the help of their them the power to perform paras, tawag, and gaton.
religious group. In the case of seasoned plants which However, present managtambal have difficulty
were difficult to harvest because of its location and transferring the knowledge to the next generation
low number, an ample amount was to be collected because most of their immediate and distant relatives
and placed in a glass bottle immersed in alcohol, lack the interest to learn the knowledge and skill
vinegar and water. Such mixture was used by getting because of the presence of current medical practice
small amount liquid from the bottle to be applied to nowadays wherein medical doctors are consulted in
their patients during the treatment. It was claimed case of illness or disease. Such case was proven in a
that its effectivity lasts from 6 months to several study indicating that education, exposure to urban
years until all the liquids were consumed. setting and practices and decrease of plant population
Furthermore, these ethnobotanical practices were were some of the factors for the decline on the use of
claimed to be handed down by their forefathers traditional medicine using plants (Assefa et al. 2010).

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abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel. among rural

IV. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS communities of Ethiopia. Journal of
Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 6:20.
Plants (trees, shrubs, and herbs) play an
important role in the lives of Bolinao-Sambal. [3] Conservation International, DENR-PAWB,
Indigenous practices were influenced by the Haribon Foundation (n.d.). Priority
accessibility of resources, economic status, strong Sites for Conservation in the Philippines:
customary beliefs and practices and the diversity of Key Biodiversity Areas.
plant species. Available.http://www.conservation.org/archi
ve/philippines/publications/Documents/KB
Rituals were still practiced by some A_Booklet.pdf [Accessed on 21st
Bolinao-Sambal people. However, this practiced is Novembers 2016].
being threatened to vanish because of the influence of
current medical practice and rural health units of [4] Coopoosamy, R. and Naidoo. 2012. An
Bolinao local government. Most of the illnesses were ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants
attributed to pasma which were treated using used by traditional healers in Durban, South
Phragmites vulgaris (Lam.) Trin., Pongamia pinnata Africa. African Journal of Pharmacy and
(L.) Pieere, Aegilops cylindrical, Anacardium Pharmacology 6(11): 818-823.
occidentale, Vitex negundo L. and Zingiber officinale
L. [5] Ethnic Group of the Philippines (n.d.).
Sambal-Bolinao. Retrieved from
It is recommended that the indigenous http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/pe
practices or customary laws should be integrated in ople/ethnic-groups-in-the-
any government programs and projects for philippines/sambal-bolinao/Accessed
biodiversity conservation and management. These are January 17, 2016
useful to the indigenous people and should be
documented, preserved, monitored, and protected [6] Igoli, J., Ogaji, O., Tor-Anyin, T. and N.P.
from any exploitation. Igoli. 2005. Traditional medicine practice
amongst the Igede people of Nigeria. Part II.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS African Journal of Traditional,
Complementary and Alternative Medicines
The researchers would like to extend their 2: 134-152.
sincerest gratitude to the Philippine National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for the [7] Maganes, R. 2012. Pangasinan’s cultural
provision of financial support. In addition, to Bolinao heritage. Retrieved from
Local Government officials who helped in the https://northwatch.wordpress.com/2012/04/1
conduct of the study. Acknowledgment is also due to 5/maganes-pangasinans cultural-heritage/
Pangasinan State University administration for the Accessed January 17, 2016.
technical assistance and inputs for the improvement
of the research. [8] Mesfin, K., Tekle, G. and T. Tesfay. 2013.
Ethnobotanical study of traditional
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