Here I come again, I have information about the Bisaya community to share with. As Malaysian, we all know that coconut tree is a multipurpose tree. For Bisaya community, there is a tree that share equal value as coconut tree, it is Rumbia tree. I have my own experience with this tree, a hut made of Rumbia tree. When I was child, about four years old, me moved to new village. Before a 'house' ready for us, my family has to set up a hut. We were sorrounded by trees, no neighbour, only us - a family. The hut, ready in a week. I don't know why we were such in a hurry to move from our old house! The roof made of rumbia leaves ( woven ), the floor made of rumbia tree's skin, the wall made of rumbia's branches. Following are the use of Rumbia tree :
The leaves (roun rombia )
The Rumbia's leaves can be woven into a roof, the women are trained by their elders (women ) to inherit the rumbia-weaving skill. The Rumbia'leaves known as roun rombia in Bisaya dialect. Meanwhile the process of weaving the Rumbia's leaves known as manyarut. The woven Rumbia's leaves need to be dried under the sun. These leaves would last for two to three years, environment-friendly.
The branch
In the past, the branch of Rumbia tree used as wall for a house or hut ( in the farm ). The branch can be used to build chicken home, fence to guard the plants ( vegetables etc ) and the dried branch used as a torch ( to spread the fire; to clear the land for agriculture purpose ). Meanwhile, skin of the branch can be woven into basket, mat, and others. Among the well-known woven stuff from this Rumbia parts are saging ( a kind of basket carried at the back of a person ), lalibu ( a flat woven-basket useful during paddy harvesting ), and topau ( a mat used to dry the paddy seed ).
The Trunk
We start from the upper part, here we can get a punoh, this part is a delicious 'vegetable'. Can be eaten raw, sweet and soft. The punoh served as main menu (vegetable ) during wedding reception among Bisaya community. Then, sago ( staple food of Bisaya, young generation didn't agree with this ) is extracted from the Rumbia's trunk. The skin ( palunoh ) of Rumbia tree can be used a firewood, floor for hut, and wall too!. The trunk can be used as a bridge, it is a strong trunk and last longer. During flood, my brothers and I used to build a boat from the Rumbia tree. I missed those days, we are adult now. In case of emergency, you can get water from the roots of Rumbia tree. It taste water, of course.
I hope my little information about Rumbia tree would be meaningful.
The leaves (roun rombia )
The Rumbia's leaves can be woven into a roof, the women are trained by their elders (women ) to inherit the rumbia-weaving skill. The Rumbia'leaves known as roun rombia in Bisaya dialect. Meanwhile the process of weaving the Rumbia's leaves known as manyarut. The woven Rumbia's leaves need to be dried under the sun. These leaves would last for two to three years, environment-friendly.
The branch
In the past, the branch of Rumbia tree used as wall for a house or hut ( in the farm ). The branch can be used to build chicken home, fence to guard the plants ( vegetables etc ) and the dried branch used as a torch ( to spread the fire; to clear the land for agriculture purpose ). Meanwhile, skin of the branch can be woven into basket, mat, and others. Among the well-known woven stuff from this Rumbia parts are saging ( a kind of basket carried at the back of a person ), lalibu ( a flat woven-basket useful during paddy harvesting ), and topau ( a mat used to dry the paddy seed ).
The Trunk
We start from the upper part, here we can get a punoh, this part is a delicious 'vegetable'. Can be eaten raw, sweet and soft. The punoh served as main menu (vegetable ) during wedding reception among Bisaya community. Then, sago ( staple food of Bisaya, young generation didn't agree with this ) is extracted from the Rumbia's trunk. The skin ( palunoh ) of Rumbia tree can be used a firewood, floor for hut, and wall too!. The trunk can be used as a bridge, it is a strong trunk and last longer. During flood, my brothers and I used to build a boat from the Rumbia tree. I missed those days, we are adult now. In case of emergency, you can get water from the roots of Rumbia tree. It taste water, of course.
I hope my little information about Rumbia tree would be meaningful.
I think the usage of rumbia is still undiscovered by the outsider. So far your article enlightened everyone of how the people of bisaya having their favourite meal.
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