Tugas (Vitex parviflora)

We planted tugas (or molave) seedlings from the local Department of Natural Resources in 2012-2013. About a third survived and today we have close to 50 young trees on the Tugas Tree Farm. The hardwood is highly valued and the leaves make for popular cattle fodder. We recently fenced the land to protect the young trees.

Tugas is native to Siquijor, and legend has it that the island’s nickname “Isla de Fuegos” (island of fire) comes from the glow of fireflies around tugas trees that the Spaniards saw when they first arrived in 1565.

Due to cutting and habitat loss, tugas is classified as endangered by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It is good to see how more people are now planting tugas.