Fruits of 'Batanes Tree' good for making wine, other products - study

BASCO, Batanes ,Philippines  – Wine and other food products can be made out of arius, considered as “Batanes Tree.”

This was determined in a study done by the Batanes State College (BSC) situated in this capital town of the country’s northernmost 10-island province.

The tree is also called “Batanes Pine” because it originally and abundantly grows here, The STAR gathered from BSC, the only state tertiary institution in Batanes currently headed by Dr. Aleth M. Mamauag, president.

During our recent visit to this province situated 290 kilometers north of Aparri, Cagayan, we observed that arius trees (scientific name: Podocarpus costalis) lushly grow in the provincial park and town plazas, school grounds, church yards, backyards, along roads, and on the province’s vaunted, picturesque hills.

“It is used as decorative accent for lawns and utilized as Christmas decors during the Christmas season,” BSC reported.

Within the Basco Cathedral complex, for instance, we noted that the arius trees are meticulously trimmed to resemble Christmas trees.

“This Batanes tree is an excellent material for bonsai enthusiasts and found out to be one of the best lumbers for furniture making – the counterpart of first class woods such as narra in the Luzon mainland,” BSC added.

Recently, Dr. Roger G. Baltazar, BSC vice president for Academic Affairs and Research, found in his study that carbohydrate-rich arius fruits, which are red to purple when ripe, can be made into wine.

When we visited BSC, Dr. Baltazar served our group (with Dr. Dante de Padua, engineers Armando Diaz and Francis Calanio, and accountant Julius Baronia) arius wine at its experimental stage.

“Parang California wine,” Calanio volunteered, attesting to its good taste.

Baltazar and his research team had earlier developed products from arius such as jelly, jam, and pastilles. The products were showcased during BSC’s sixth foundation anniversary last Aug. 5-9.

During the anniversary, the Ivatans (people of Batanes) praised the state college for achieving research breakthroughs that can bring about income-generating and livelihood activities for the local residents.

Before, they did not give importance to arius fruits as these just fell on the ground and were left as debris under the trees.

The nutrient analysis of the fruits was made possible through a Bataaan Peninsula State University official who, in a visit to Batanes, breached the idea of making products from arius fruits.