What’s Causing Those Circular Holes on Your Taro Plants?

Figure 1  Taro plant with holes in its leaf

Have you ever wondered why is it your taro plants leaves have almost perfect circular holes in them?


For years I have been wondering myself and couldn’t figure out what kind of insect was doing it.

Until one day last January of 2017, this year, when I went to our backyard early in the morning that I noticed a green colored beetle with yellow head and yellow legs. The beetle was in the middle of a semi-circle on the leaf of the taro plant.

Figure 2 Beetle drawing a circle

I also noticed that the semi-circle was freshly made. I did not put any interest on it because I was getting chayote tops. However, when I passed by the taro plant again, I have noticed that the semi-circle is now almost complete perfect circle! And the beetle’s head is at the other end of the circle.

It got me curious and took a closer look. Wow, I saw the beetle was busy drawing a circle with its mouth. I went to get my cellphone and immediately took some pictures of it including a video.

That was 10 months ago and I almost completely forgot about it. But since that time, I was no longer wondering why the taro plants have those circular holes in them. However, just recently, one question pop-up into my mind, “Is the piece of leaf at the center of the circle just fall down after the beetle completely joined the ends of the circle? I asked because I have never seen a dried
leaf under the plants or at the center of a circle but only holes.”




The question keeps coming back into my mind, so, yesterday morning, I went to see if there is a beetle on the taro leaf grown at the back of our house. I am lucky, I saw same kind of beetle who seemed already finished working and probably no longer hungry after creating the circular drawing in the taro leaf.

With inquisitive mind, I saw a ¾ hole at the center of the hole, while the green beetle was resting on the remaining leaf. “Did the beetle ate the other half?”

Figure 3 

Now, I wanted to know more about this beetle. What is its name and what are the experts say about it. The internet can help me so much to answer my questions.

Well, I found out its name as the Green June Beetle. However, I am amazed, I couldn’t find one in the hundreds of images posted that has the same color as the one feeding on my taro plant. “Are the insect experts haven’t discovered this one yet?”

Thus, this is the reason which prompted me to write about it to tell the world there is another Green June Beetle with another color.






This morning, I went again to observe the beetle. I wanted to know if the beetle finished the remaining piece of leaf it did not finish yesterday.  Well, no, the beetle did not finish it.

But when I looked around checking the other taros, I saw one who looked busy. And voila, my other question was answered. I saw the beetle busy feeding on the leaf at the center of the not so perfect circle it made which explain the hole being made.

After taking some pictures and video, I left and decided to come back later. After an hour, I went back to check but it seemed the beetle finished eating as I found it resting. The hole looked wider which indicates the beetle ate some a little bit more after I left it.

Figure  4

One of the things I also observed that its favorite place to create a circle is at the edges of the taro leaf. Maybe because it is a less work to do or is it because the edges are softer to eat.

When I tried to hold the beetle, I felt like it was trying to poke its hard nose or mouth into my finger skin.

Figure  5

That's all I could say about this beautiful creature.  Please, share if you have anything to say about it.

Men Complain About Women’s Size, Too

I remember as a kids transforming to a young men, we often heard married men joking that sometimes it’s better to masturbate than having a sexual intercourse with a woman. The reason was, when masturbating you can tighten or loosen your grip to maximize the pleasure.

When talking about sexual thing specially sex organs, books, internet, and all when it comes to human’s size topic always focused about men’s penis size. I haven’t yet read anything about men complaining about women’s size of their vagina. I mean the entrance where a penis goes in – you know what I am talking about.

When we were new teenagers and sexually inexperienced, we didn’t mind about a woman’s size down there. We talk about their visible attractions, like, their boobs and overall physical looks, and also when their jeans reveal the outline of the thing between their legs while we licked our tongues. Oh, it was sexy and provoking and talked about its figure and shape but didn’t talk about its real size. Probably we did but had no personal idea and experience to base our opinions, so it was just like part of a joke to make it cool.

The query about a woman’s real size stayed in our mind but never tried to question it deeper to know the answer because we were ashamed our friends or people will suspect us to have a very little one dangling between our legs.

Well, I admit I am one who doesn’t like to make people talking about the size of mine – that was when I was young and had no experienced.






When we were married, we were intrigued by a friend when he told about the difference of women who gave birth and not, and women who were inexperienced (virgin) with many experienced. His story seemed to have sparked a topic that’s been mystifying men because no one was talking about it or no one was serious about it when different ideas and thinking about a woman’s body came about. However, the one that appeared to have solved one puzzle among us was about a woman’s vaginal entry size. Some remarks that came out were: “That’s why physically smaller size women are much better in bed.” Another one was “That’s why virgins are the best because they are tight.” And another, “No wonder American men loves Asian women because they got tight holes.”

I thought that was the only time I heard about us men talking about a woman’s too loose entrance but a few years after, I again heard another man who frequent Europe because he was being invited to do “spiritual healings” and one of their privileges was free women. He said, they can complain to their sponsors to change the woman given to them because they are like “Swimming pool” or “Overused” which mean “Loose.”

I don’t know, but have you talked about women’s size with your friend or my title on this story is wrong?

Same Sex Marriage Issues

Manny Pacquiao’s comment on same sex marriage exposed many people about how religious they are or how serious they are about their beliefs in God. And it’s amazing that some of those are even vying for the high offices of this country. I am worried that if they win seats the Philippines will become a “Di Tiyak”(Not Sure)country.

I have nothing against the LGBT people but I am against the immorality they are trying to inculcate in their own home country.

And one night before I fall asleep, there were many thoughts which came into my mind. These issues I believe must be ask and meditated before accepting same sex marriage or same sex marital relationship.

1. Are you Christian?

    True Christians should not tolerate/agree to same sex marriage because it considers it as an abomination as stated by their God.

2. Do you believe in God?

   If one believes in God, s/he should not disobey His commands but listens to His advices

3. A country who does not consider the word of God in making its laws can be considered as an atheist or a leader who does not consider the word of God in making decisions is not Godly can consider an atheist.

4. We should not look at the present but look into the future. LGBT has a very big influence on the young ones and there is a very big possibility that in a millennium a country will be a country of “Abnormal” human beings. Ex. Sodom and Gomorrah, probably because there were no more real men available in their city that they even wanted to rape the angels who visited Lot and his family.

5. Same Sex Marriage can be considered as a Crime

•    Same sex marriage is a kind of crime and probably should be considered one of the most heinous crimes    on Earth because it is killing not the people but the human race. LGBTs influences young people to    deviate and it puts human race in the course of being extinct in this earth.

6. Equality cannot be used as a justification to allowing same sex marriage because if we allow one that is considered an abomination by G-d then all that is considered wrong should also be allowed in the same reason.

• Who says killing is bad if doing so quenches your desire for revenge because the people you’ll kill brutally raped and killed one of your love ones.

7. Same sex “Marriage” is a very sneaky type of crime because while it is not directly disturbing social life like killing, theft, and other types of crime, it is slowly extinguishing the human race.

•    It is like a disease that the only cure or antidote is to follow the Bible’s advises.

8. A country who has no high and strong moral standard is deem to collapse.

•    The Philippines is a country with very low moral standard and it is shown by the rampant corruption    not only in the government but to all walks of life.

9. Freedom does not mean trampling moral standards set by G-d. Freedom is a gift by the loving G-d abused by those who not only lack belief in Him or do not believe in Him but also people who claimed to be believers in God.

• We all are given freedom to be happy living our life; however, when that freedom is abused to the extent of doing things that endangers not only our health, peace, and worst human race then something must be done to stop it like the way the government’s slowly taking away the freedom of others to smoke.

10. LGBT status is compared to other kinds of desires that blind humans. It’s not a joke to struggle with it; it must be quenched else one feels like s/he is in hell.

•    That is why no one should judge them as immoral people just because they show their real self.    Instead we shall help them overcome their desires to sleep with the same sex like them. Priests,    pastors, preachers and the others should work hard to teach their wards how to overcome desires.

Rescuers, Listen to Your Would Be Victims!

I didn’t know what happened before I woke up being surrounded by medic people who were, I am sure, called by the concerned people to help me. I saw blood sprinkled on the floor as I breathe. I was dazed and sitting on the floor while I saw my legs sprawled infront of me.

I noticed people in white with orange lining in their uniform, talking to me. Then I vomit a lot of liquids. Alcohol my mind told me. Then I passed out still don’t know what was happening.

However, the good Lord probably awoke me – to prevent a further tragedy.

The people on white uniform told me to lay down on a flat board stretcher. They started to tie my legs on the board as I was lowering my body on it, too. But when my upper back touch the board, I felt a sudden tightening spasm on my spine beginning from my upper back, spreading up to my neck and down to my lower back. The spasm caused me to choke and cannot breathe at all. I felt my lungs are collapsing and there is heaviness in my chest.

So, I told them to stop as I fought to roll on my side. One of them, however, tried to prevent me to roll by pulling my shoulder while explaining I have to lay down on my back so that they can carry me on the stretcher and bring me to the hospital.

On a choking voice I manage to say, “Yes, but I cannot breathe, so, please, let me find a better position where I could breath.”

One of them probably sensed my predicament so he told the others to let me free and do what I want and probably telling them to get a soft blanket stretcher. As I turned to my right side, I felt the spasm slowly calm down and my lungs begun to expand again as I regain my breathing. Then I said, “Ok, I am now feeling better,” and tried to slowly turn flat on my back again.

I must be having relapsed as the next thing I felt was being carried off the ground then like a blink, I was in the hospital being x-rayed. From there, thank G-d, I was fully awake and know what was going on. I still felt a little dizzy but able to stand up and sit down when asked.

They asked me if I have a person to contact but I told them there was no need to disturb somebody because I was already feeling better. I also did not let them stitch my open wound in my right eyebrow and said I wanted to go home which they let me sign a waiver.

After signing the waiver, I went out from the emergency room, plugged down a taxi and went home.

The story reminded of another rescue did, many years ago, this time with me as part of the volunteered rescuers.




A passenger jeepney lost its brake and it lost its balance when the driver maneuvered it to the side of the road. The jeepney, fell on its side. Luckily all the passengers were able to come out unscathed except for one lady sitting on the front, next to the driver, who can’t get out because her ankle was caught between a jeepney part and the ground, plus, there was not enough space for her to move her legs to try pulling out her foot. Thank the Lord, she had no injury.

There were ten or more of us men who volunteered to try to make the jeepney back to its tire on the ground. So, we decided to lift its side. However, when we counted three and lift the body of the jeepney, the lady cried out with intense pain. As we continue to lift the jeepney, the more the lady cried but it seems no one was listening because we were still keen to continue what we were doing. Until one man must have heard and felt the pain of the woman suddenly shouted “Stopped, let us see why the woman is in pain!” so, in unison , we all drop the body of the jeepney we were all holding.

I went to see the woman and asked what the matter was. She then told me her foot was being cut by a part of the jeepney part. So I checked her foot that was now bleeding due to some skin that came off showing the white parts of the foot tendons and muscles.

I told the trouble to my companions, then we figured out what to do in order to free the woman’s foot. After studying the situation, we lift the part that was locking the woman’s foot to the ground and she was able to got out free. After she was out we continued what we first planned to do – making the jeepney stand on its four tires which we did in less than a minute without anyone shouting for pain.

My point of sharing these stories is as the title says. From those experiences, I thought of a theory that sometimes some accident victims die because rescuers don’t listen to any cries as signs of danger.

Like what happened to me and the woman. If I did not partially regained my consciousness to tell I was choking to death, I may have been put on the stretcher flat on my back and died because my lungs collapsed from the spasm that squeezed and prevented it from functioning. And in the case of the woman whose foot may have been cut or crushed and became useless if not one of us listened to her pleas.

As a conclusion, one unsolicited is what I am going to give: Rescuers, listen to your would be victims! If they’re unconscious, imagine what’s the best way to help in order to avoid the predicament the woman and I went through – how to avoid causing death to those supposed to be needing help.

Three Testimonies I Heard About Gynura Procumbens (Ashitaba)

A man “cured” of his diabetes

 The first time I heard about the wonder of Gynura Procumbens was about ten months ago when a patient of mine brought home cuttings of leafy plant which she called Ashitaba(It is commonly called ashitaba here in the Philippines) and said will be used by her father who has diabetes.

Got interested, I inquired more about the plant and what proof it is good for high sugar in the blood. They told me about a man in their place in Quezon Province who was diagnosed of having developed diabetes by his doctor when he went to have a check-up for something unusual pains he was feeling.

Gynura Procumbens (Popularly known as ashitaba here in the Philippines)

The real Ashitaba (about 6mos old)

Being poor, or not having enough money to sustain his medicine maintenance he tried asking people around who might have any idea about herbs to lower blood sugar. His prayer was answered when an old man buying empty bottles told him about ashitaba.

He tried eating the leaves for six months, and when he went back to his doctor, the doctor was amazed his blood sugar is back to normal. And follow up check-ups to prove the problem did not come back still gave the same results – he conquered the dreaded diabetes by just eating a lowly leaves.

My Brother is no longer in pain

I didn’t know that my brother knew about the wonderful plant way ahead than I am, so when I told him he was not much astounded as I expected and in fact told me it might be true. He reminded about the pain on his lower back and some urination problems he was complaining to me more than a year past. He said he a friend of him told about the plant and gave him some plants which he can take care of while using the leaves every day.

He didn’t notice it, but the pains are no longer bothering him, although, he cannot prove that it must have been the plant who did the trick. But based on my story, he now more convince it must be true there is something in the plant.






His Creatinine and other Laboratory tests are normal

And Just today, the brother in law of a cousin of mine, brought a plant here in Baguio City to have it ready source of supply whenever he comes up to relax and enjoy the cool weather of our place. I saw five planted separately in pots outside their house so I asked who planted it.

He said he also heard about the plant which is called “ashitaba” by the person who told him.

He has been using insulin for the past 33 years (which started when he was 10 years old) to control his blood sugar to at least close to normal.

He said his creatinine had been high until he tried eating 5 or more leaves of the “Ashitaba” for two months. He thought he will not lose anything if tries.

When he went back for his regular monthly check up, his creatinine came down to normal. In his delight he asked his doctor( for 33 years) if he could see if there is a possibility for him to lower his insulin dosage. But his doctor cautioned him about relying so much on the plant because no definite research is yet published about it; in addition, they can’t tell if the herb has an effect on his blood sugar because he is still taking insulin regularly.

After they talked about the pros and cons of it, the doctor finally told him he could continue eating the herb without doing anything of his insulin without his doctor’s knowledge.

In fact the doctor was more than happy to know if the plant really is effective as promised by people talking about its magic because he himself developed diabetes and is now desperate to find a cure for it.

So, there you are. My interest about this plant is even growing stronger because of these stories, especially, the last one which I will take a close look about his report on his diabetes. And I will surely post it here to update us.

UPDATE:  When I spoke to this man few days ago, he said, his insulin dosage is now lower from 1.2 to 0.8units twice a day.

Is there anyone there who has heard a testimony or experienced about Gynura Procumbens? Please, share it on the comments below.

Marijuana Helped A Patient In Her Last Days

Here is one story about the usefulness of the banned Marijuana.

One fellow massage therapist shared his story during our last quarterly meeting about traditional alternative health care.

He said he had one female patient suffering from intense pain due to a terminal cancer. She could not sleep at all on her last days on earth.

He was called to see what he can do to maybe ease the pain the woman was suffering from. Also to at least ease the suffering feelings of her love ones helplessly watching her die.

This fellow massage therapist massaged the cancer patient to soothe the pain. The result was good but was not good enough.

Having applied all the massage techniques he knows to ease pains and with very little effect, he asked the husband of the patient to boil water to decoct two tablespoons of dried marijuana.

The husband did what was ordered him to do.

My friend then used a tablespoon to slowly give the decoction to the patient. He gave her a half glass of it.

In after 30 minutes the patient stop talking and moaning of pain. A sign she falls asleep.







The following day he went to visit the patient and she was very thankful because for the first time in so many nights and days, she was able to sleep through the night.

He massage her and instructed the husband how to prepare the decoction and how much to give to his wife.

After a week the patient passed away.

The family was very thankful to him because for the few remaining days of her life she did not show so much suffering and was able to concentrate on enjoying her remaining life with her family, specially, the children.

Why I Believe Jesus Is the Messiah?

I admit that I am one of those who have a doubt about the reality of Jesus as the son of G-d.

I used to believe maybe he came but not as the messiah but, like the others are saying, as a prophet or just one of the common people who had a very marvelous knowledge and wisdom about the Torah.

The truth is no one can really give a proof that can support the New Testament’s claim that one time in the world history a certain Jesus lived, and what really is making it controversial was his claim he is the son of G-d.

I listened to many people giving explanations and trying to prove the trueness of him. I also read with awe his words in the bible but still couldn’t eliminate the kernel of a doubt in my mind. Thus while I admire his teachings I could not fully accept him as the Messiah.

However, things changed when I read the book entitled “The Discovery of the Igorots” written by William Henry Scott.

The book describes the early Christianization of the Igorots who were called pagans. According to the book, the Igorots were head hunters and there were many priests who sacrificed their heads just to spread the good news about Jesus.







It took centuries before at last the powerful words of the Messiah penetrated the bottom pit of the hearts of these Igorots and finally, I could say, today almost 100% are now Christians.

Today, a residue of their practices is not yet completely removed when they do their cultural traditions. But I can proudly say that they overtook many of the people who first became Christians by their being the most civilized.

Now one can walk the streets without worrying their head will be taken away to be used as a cup for drinking rice wine. Or at least, one can walk without worrying he will be taken as slave or killed just for the fun of it. Furthermore, most of them are now believers in Christ and one cannot see a sign of their being once was a barbarian.

Yes, history can prove the veracity and powerfulness of the word of G-d. For it is not only the Igorots were once a barbarian but the whole world was. We only have to read the history books and meditate on how things changed just because of the word written in the Bible. And who spearheaded the spreading of the good news?

I therefore thank the Lord for giving His Torah to His people, and sending His beloved son Jesus to make way for us gentiles to be given the chance to be saved.

Yes, Jesus’ words itself stand as the witness for his genuineness as the Messiah sent by his Father to save the world.