I KALACHUCHA

Since the latter part of March, the kalachucha has been in bloom.  Also known as plumeria and frangipani.  They make great floral leis and are a staple at Catholic May devotions.

These flowers are believed to be native to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, but also to Polynesia. As they are found in a very wide area, they go by different names. They are now found all over the world.

More than likely this flower was introduced to both the Philippines and the Marianas via Mexico, because the Filipinos call it kalachuchi and the Chamorros kalachucha, which are both based on the native Nahuatl name for the flower, which is cacaloxuchitl. Xochitl is Nahuatl for "flower."

EI NA PINAOPAO! THE ASUSENA FLOWER

Tonight at the Saint Joseph fiesta in Inarajan, I learned from Tony Ramirez, a well-known historical and cultural resource person, that the flowers on the åndas were asusena flowers.  I know nothing about flowers and couldn't tell you the difference between the asusena, ilang-ilang and dama de noche, but Tony says all three are different.  To me, they're all mames and paopao.  Years ago at the original friary, Father Marcian used to say how much he liked the smell of the dama de noche that grew near his window.  Whenever I'd drive through Fonte (the lush valley below Naval Hospital on the way to Adelup) at dusk, I'd smell the captivating fragrance of ilang-ilang.  At least that's what everyone told me.