PiLi OiL

PILI OIL: NATURAL SKIN CARE
- Plant oils are very skin compatible. The oils sink into skin, delivering nourishment and helping to protect the skin’s ‘barrier function’ , enabling skin to retain water and stay plumped-up and moisturized. Chemical and nutritional analysis of Pili pulp oil are very similar to olive oil. However, Pili pulp oil has more beta-carotene, a know vitamin A source. It contains a high levels of carotenoids that has long been known to be an efficient quencher of singlet oxygen and as such as effective antioxidants; Phytosterols are well studied and pharmacological studies have shown that they cause a fall in the absorption of cholesterol by competing with it and cause an inverse of bile secretion; Tocopherol (Vit. E) are used in retarding lipid oxidation in food producs. Major fatty acids with Pili Pulp Oil are palmitic (23.89%), Palmitoleic (4.65%), Stearic (2.63%) Oleic (60.76%) and linoleic acid (6. 61%). Research findings from UPLB – BIOTECH thru the Project Grant of PEF Peace & Equity Foundation to OPTA- Organic Producers & Trade Association.

NUTS ABOUT PILI 

NUTS

t can be eaten raw, but it is now more popular when it is caramelized, candied, or made crispy or into a molido, mazapan, polvoron, tart, and other confectionaries. Canarium ovatum, otherwise known as the pilinut, has come a long way from the first pilinut candy factory opened in 1936 by Antonio Regidor.

According to Dr. Marissa N. Estrella, “The industry is growing. To date, new product lines have been developed like chocolate-coated pilinuts, use of pilinut tidbits as flavoring for ice cream or fruit cakes, among other products.”

Incidentally, Estrella is the Regional Applied Communication Officer of the Bicol Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development (BCARRD). BCARRD is one of the 14 regional research and development consortia of PCARRD.

“Chocolate companies abroad now prefer pilinuts as a substitute to macadamia nut, which is becoming expensive these days,” Estrella added.

Further, the shoots are prepared into salads.

From the pulp, oil is extracted. Pilinut oil is comparable to olive oil. Thus, it can also be used also as salad dressing. It can control cholesterol levels and is very good for the skin.

Mr. Jose T. Navarro and Mrs. Minda Yee, both from Sorsogon, initiated the extraction of the pili oil. The Department of Science and Technology Region 5 assisted them in their undertaking. However, production is still limited.

Despite this, the product shows great promise.

In 2006, 116,591 families in the Bicol Region were dependent on the pilinut industry for their livelihood. The pilinut business helped these families send their children to school.

Indeed pili is Bicol’s tree of hope, especially that the coconut, the tree of life, has been heavily damaged by recent typhoons.

BICOLANO FARMER-BENEFICIARY FINDS 

‘GOLD MINE’ IN VIRGIN PILI NUT OIL – DAR

ANILA, Philippines (PNA) – An agrarian reform beneficiary in Daraga, Albay has found a “gold mine” in manually extracted virgin pili nut oil he himself developed painstakingly for six months shortly after attending a government-sponsored pili nut food processing course early last year, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said Thursday.

Victor Ramon Goyena, 50, a civil engineering graduate, said it took him six months of experimentation before he finally perfected in October last year the extraction of virgin pili nut oil from newly harvested nuts.

“The temperature plays a very important role in maintaining the nutritional potency of the oil. Only when no alteration of its nutrient composition can we claim it as ‘virgin oil,’” he said.

Goyena added that he got hooked into this undertaking after attending a series of trainings on pili nut food processing sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Albay.

Goyena, who was awarded with a three-hectare farm under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in April 2008, said the oil is a good skin moisturizer as it helps smoothen ageing skin and soften dry and rough skin.

“The oil is odorless and is easily absorbed by our skin. I personally use it and it makes my skin glow and healthy”, said Goyena, who is married to the former Jocelyn Faustino, with whom he has two sons, both in their late teens.

Goyena also found that virgin pili nut oil is good at enhancing hair growth. Traditionally, pili nut oil is being used by local folks to treat skin diseases and as de-worming agent for poultry and livestock.

Goyena is currently selling his virgin pili nut oil in 20 and 30 milliliter bottles in the Bicol region. He is working on hitting the national market anytime within the next two years.

Albay provincial agrarian reform officer Salve C. Tongco said that Goyena, with his newfound product, is a potential nominee for the “Most Outstanding ARB” award, and his virgin pili nut oil a top contender for the “rookie product” category in the 2011 Agraryo Trade Fair in June.