SCENE III: MOTHER HAMORAWON, DAUGHTER MOLAVE AND THE BORONGAN TREE |
Venue: Rm. 1016 Carpeso Hotel, Abogado St. Old Town, Borongan City Date: 2030 September 6 |
THE BORONGAN TREE The Hamorawon plant is the stuff of legend unique to Borongan and Eastern Samar as well as common to many other places in the archipelago. It has no less than nine varieties or species each with its own scientific name and all surnamed Vitex (Vitex Parviflora Juss, Vitex altissima Blanco, etc.). Likewise, it has various common names all over the Philippines. It is Molave to the Tagalogs and Capangpangans and others in Luzon, hamorawon to the Warays and hamolawon or hamuraon to other peoples in Mindanao and the Visayas. It is also called kulipapa, kulipapa-batu or molave-batu in other places in reference to its exceptionally hardwood. The common adgaw is sometimes referred to as the "female hamorawon" ( babaye nga hamorawon) perhaps in reference ot its less hardy wood compared to the "male hamorawon." It is also known as adgawon or tugas=adgawon in some places. |
According to eastern Samar folklore the hamorawon does not grow in places where the "bob-ongan" (surf) cannot be heard (diri binabati it bob-ongan). This has some scientific and factual basis considering that molave ordinarily grows in places of low altitude. No wonder that in early days of Borongan the plant flourished hugging the Hamorawon Spring which is a large depression in the Borongan central plain less than a kilometer from the Pacific shoreline where the bob-ongan lashes the shore year round, day in day out. |
The hamorawon plant is also medicinal, known to effectively cure diarrhea (bark) and poisoning ( infusion or decoction of the wood). Alive, the tree defies great typhoons and plant diseases. It yields only to the man with the ax or chainsaw. When finally felled it yields a yellowish fine wood with brown tint, close to old gold both in color and value. No wonder the Pangasinenses call it "bolaouen" and the Bagobos no less than "alah," in great reverence and reference to its yellowish hue, the celestial color. |
The hamorawon wood is known for its exceptional hardness and durability. It is the favorite of carpenters for making "sapyo" (plane) because it seems immune to wear and tear and does not need steel soles like other hardwoods. Exposed to the elements it can last centuries. Besides, it is so flexible in use (posts, outside walling, flooring, etc). |
Boronganuns call the hamorawon the Borongan Tree - valueable both in life and in death, i.e., immortal. It gave its name to Hamorawon Spring which is central to the historical evolution and growth of Borongan as a principal population center. Without the spring, Borongan would have been somewhere else. The present Boronganuns planted thousands of the tree around Molave Lagoon, and that's how the latter got its name in turn. Molave Lagoon is a major tourist attraction. Like its mother Hamorawon Spring, it performs the role of the muse, a maiden whose great beauty attracts admirers and suitors from near and far who come in planeloads, busloads or on foot, and on bicycles. |
We are in Borongan for the nth time for the annual City Fiesta and the Water Festival. The now famous and popular festival is celebrated in and between two venues, namely, the Hamorawon Spring and Amphitheater at the Central Park of the Old Town, and the Molave Lagoon and Park at the New Town. These two bodies of water, one natural and the other man made, have pretty much to do with the history and development of this unique city. The spring (Hamorawon) that made Old Town Borongan is the mother of the lagoon ( Molave) that made New Town Borongan. Hamorawon is the Waray name of the tree which the Tagalogs call molave. The hamorawon or molave is symbolic of its strength, durability and beauty. |
Aside from its aesthetic value, Molave lagoon has great utilitarian and economic value. It is actually a man made second stage reservoir fed by two smaller reservoirs that collect water from the twin rivers, Borongan in the north and Loom in the south. The water is then divided between the two large filtration and purification plants at Canabong and at San Saturnino and the various canals for the distribution to direct users. Seventy percent of this water is bottled and sold in other cities in the Philippines and in many parts of the world. The remaining 30% is more than enough to supply the lavish water consumption habits of the citizens of Borongan, most of whom are now rich by Philippine standards. Water is virtually free, subsidized by exports. Molave is truly her mother's daugther. |
