by Maria Gemina Valderama
Trees are very important. But with the thinning trees seen in our forests today, the Philippines experiences temperature spikes brought about by climate change.
But through afforestation (new plantings) and reforestation (replanting of deforested areas) of non-forested lands, there is great hope to bring back those trees in our forest again.
Filipino-American Jorge Disuanco, president of MacNut Philippines, who visited Davao thrice,is convinced that with his unique variety of macadamia trees, Davao and the rest of Mindanao will have its trees cover the island again.
Aside from reforesting Davao and Mindanao, Jorge assures macadamia farmers of income from the nuts alone enough to sustain them for life. He discovered this in Hawaii and he wanted to share this among our farmers in this island so rich and fertile.
Jorge,48, a hardworking Filipino based in Hawaii for years now, started with his commercial printing business in Hawaii and then eventually shifted to remittance business. As the owner of Kwik Money, he served thousands of Filipinos in Hawaii who regularly send money to their families back in the Philippines.
He never stopped thinking about the Philippines all throughout his life abroad. Together with his wife, Gemma, he continues to connect with his friends and his motherland. He was so concerned with deforestation everytime he visited the Philippines where illegal logging and agricultural expansion have thinned down the country’s trees.
“I want to help by encouraging Filipinos to plant trees, restore the forests, and start a good business out of it,” he said.
Macadamia trees are now planted in some places in Mindanao and other parts of the country. Eden Nature Park in Toril, Davao City now has 300 macadamia trees while there are a big number planted in Malaybalay, Bukidnon and in a two-hectare land in Polomoloc., South Cotabato. Ilocos region has also started growing macadamia trees. But these are not enough to cover the country’s denuded forests.
Macadamia trees start to bear fruit within three to five years for a period of 60 to 80 years when it is grafted, and within eight to 10 years for nongrafted seedlings for a 150-year period. When fully ripe, macadamia nuts fall and are then harvested through hand-picking from the ground.
The nut’s oil is nutritious; a great source of calcium, B complex, phosphorus and iron. Macadamia nut oil contains the highest amount of palmitoleic acid (an Omega 7 fatty acid), a monounsaturated fatty acid plentiful in our skin when we are young, but decreases with aging.
It is a good source of omega-9 which helps on the lowering of cholesterol levels and promotes healthy inflammation responses within the body. Other major health benefits of omega-9 include the reduction of the arteries, reduction of insulin resistance, improvement of immune function, and provide protection against certain types of cancer.
A dietary trial in Hawaii demonstrated that macadamia nut consumption lowered risk indicators for heart disease. A study at the University of Newcastle, involving subjects with elevated cholesterol levels, found that participants who ate macadamia nuts showed significant reduction in blood serum cholesterol, total blood triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and blood clots.
A study in Japan involving young women as subjects found that after only three weeks on a diet high in macadamia nuts, the subjects revealed a significant reduction in both serum and LDL cholesterol levels. These benefits were produced with as little as a 20 gram consumption of macadamia nuts per day.
So it is not just growing macadamia trees and reforesting the country, but it is also about generating income for Macadamia farmers. And Jorge and his wife, Gemma, are most glad they could help in the country’s reforestation drive and in providing income for farmers.
