Indigenous Crops and Wild Plants Used as Food by the Pala’wan Tribe in Southern Palawan, Philippines

Celestino N. Bernadas, Jr., and Metchecana D. Peralta

Abstract

This study was conducted in Rizal and Quezon, Palawan, Philippines to identify food plants associated with Pala’wan tribe inhabiting the area. Data gathered through interviews and community immersion were validated using triangulation method. Results showed that the Pala’wans usually plant cereals like rice, corn sorghum and “etorey”. Tribe members forage for vegetables, fruits, tuber/root crops (yams, Dioscorea spp.) and palms from the wild. Shoot and fruits of palm are harvested for “natek” (flour/starch). Based on this inventory, there were 55 identified sticky and non-sticky upland rice cultivars, 63 indigenous vegetables, 27 fruit trees and 4 endemic fruit species found in local markets (meraring, kandis, eloyew and badak). Furthermore, vegetable species were classified as tree-type (12), vine/climbing-type, herb-type (11), mushrooms (14), rattans (4), palm (6) and bamboo (7), fruit (37), tree (27), vine/climbing type (5), and other types of endemic fruit plants (6). The young leaves and fruits [bago (Gnetum sp.), kamansi, and badak] and shoots of rattan which are commonly used as vegetables are also available all year round.