Ethnobotany
Indigenous Peoples - who represent only 5% of the globe’s human
population – have been described as the stewards of 80% of the Earth’s
biodiversity (Ogar et al. 2020). Indigenous Peoples have played a
significant role in the discovery and documentation of Rafflesiain the Philippines. For example, R. leonardi was first seen by
Mr. Sumper Arresta, a member of the Agay Indigenous Community in Cagayan
Province. In addition, R. banaoana , which co-occurs with R.
balatociana in Kalinga province, was found in 2009 with the help of the
Banao Indigenous Cultural Community and published a year later
(Malabrigo 2010). This tribe believes the flowers to possess and evil
spirit that will bring misfortune to anyone who disturbs them. Indeed
author PLM, was hard put to convince the local people to accompany him
and collect specimens (Malabrigo 2010; Malabrigo et al . 2023).
We name R. balatociana in honor of the Balatoc Indigenous
Cultural Community. This unique community has a rich history and a
unique socio-political structure. The people of Balatoc practice
“bodong” , a sacred bond between indigenous communities and a
covenant to protect life, natural resources, and property. In
recognition of their ancestral rights, the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has formally granted to the Balatoc people
their priority rights over their ancestral domains through a resolution.
This acknowledgment solidifies their authority in managing and
preserving the important botanical landscape of Cordillera Mountains.
The customs and traditions of Balatoc go hand-in-hand with the
preservation of their forests. The people of Balatoc still practice the“lapat ” and “imong ”, a system that prohibits the
cutting of trees.