Sunday, August 3, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
SANTIAGO CITY – This Cagayan Valley’s first city aims another breakthrough as the region’s malunggay capital.
Known as the region’s agriculture-cum-business-oriented city, its local administration also wants to transform the city as a major source of this health-rich green-leafy vegetable, regarded by many health enthusiasts as “wonder vegetable.”
Recently, the city administration led by Mayor Amelita Navarro came out with an executive order for city hall employees and residents to propagate malunggay in their backyards as a source of nutrition.
This was in support of the initial moves by the city agricultural office headed by Dr. Santiago Maylem to propagate this hardy tree, whose leaves, flowers and pods are rich sources of vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium and other minerals that are good for the body.
Malunggay, scientifically named as Moringa oleifera Lamk, has been known in many types of Filipino dishes, first as for tinola mixture and inabraw, a popular Ilocanos dish, and then as another type of tea, and lately, for noodles and breads made of malunggay extracts.
“It’s an all-in-one health vegetable,” said Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, a resident of this city.
“I cannot think of any meal without malunggay for my family,” said Benz Selmo, a Caritas Health Care executive here.
Research showed that malunggay contains seven times more vitamin C than oranges, three times more iron than spinach, three times more potassium than bananas, four times more calcium than milk and four times more vitamin A than carrots. Regular consumption of malunggay is also believed to help lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, maintain blood sugar levels and reduce arthritis pains. – Charlie Lagasca
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