Ethnobotanical account of the traditional light houses (TLHs) built for harvest shelters by Loboanos of Verde Island Passage, Batangas Province, Philippines
2017
Caringal, A.M. | Arcega, J.D. | Lucero, E.D. | Panganiban, M.G.
An ethnobotanical study was undertaken to determine the structural features, contents and functions, and functional challenges in traditional light-houses (TLHs) used primarily to shelter farm harvests. We accessed 22 harvest shelters built as early as 1920 up to 2010 by Loboanos – a community of farmers in the municipality of Lobo, along Verde Island Passage, Batangas Province, Philippines.The light houses were made of bamboo, molave and dipterocarp trees and contemporary materials. Elevated thatched huts have an average floor area of 9.43 m2; with triangular extended galvanized roof sheets, 11.44 m2. The rectangular partitions made of split bamboo culms range from 6.23 m2 to 7.63 m2 fortified by four cornered vertical timber posts of 2.69 m high and 0.15 m in diameter supported by several sub-posts protruding from the ground over the elevated floor. TLHs have three to four stair-steps of 1.35 m long by 1.3 m wide; a door of 2.30 m2, and windows of 0.62 m2. The elevated floor and partitions generate favorable 'hulab'- adequate cool ventilation throughout while sheltering and prolonging the 'perishables' and 'durables' from mountain swiddens and lowland rice fields. Some 15 major traditional crops ranging from 25 to 2,800 kg are stored synchronically in most shelters depending upon harvesting months. The huts also provide shelter for domestic animals mostly native chickens and goats.
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