Arabian jasmine
A 'Maid of Orleans' cultivar from Tunisia.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
clade:	Angiosperms
clade:	Eudicots
clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Oleaceae
Tribe:	Jasmineae
Genus:	Jasminum
Species:	J. sambac
Binomial name
Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton
Synonyms[1][2]
Basionym Nyctanthes sambac L. Homotypic Mogorium sambac (L.) Lam. Jasminum fragrans Salisb. Jasminum sambac var. normale Kuntze Heterotypic Jasminum bicorollatum Noronha Jasminum blancoi Hassk. Jasminum heyneanum Wall. ex G.Don Jasminum odoratum Noronha Jasminum pubescens Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. Jasminum quadrifolium Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. Jasminum quinqueflorum B.Heyne ex G.Don Jasminum quinqueflorum var. pubescens G.Don Jasminum sambac var. duplex Voigt Jasminum sambac var. gimea (Zuccagni) DC. Jasminum sambac var. goaense (Zuccagni) DC. Jasminum sambac var. heyneanum Wall. ex G.Don) C.B.Clarke in J.D.Hooker Jasminum sambac var. kerianum Kuntze Jasminum sambac var. nemocalyx Kuntze Jasminum sambac var. plenum Stokes Jasminum sambac var. syringifolium Wall. ex Kuntze Jasminum sambac var. trifoliatum Vahl Jasminum sambac var. undulatum (L.) Kuntze Jasminum sambac var. verum DC. Jasminum sanjurium Buch.-Ham. ex DC. Jasminum undulatum (L.) Willd. Mogorium gimea Zuccagni Mogorium goaense Zuccagni Mogorium undulatum (L.) Lam. Nyctanthes goa Steud. Nyctanthes grandiflora Lour. Nyctanthes undulata L.

Jasminum sambac is a species of jasmine native to South and Southeast Asia.^[3] It is a small shrub or vine growing up to 0.5 to 3 m (1.6 to 9.8 ft) in height. It is widely cultivated for its attractive and sweetly fragrant flowers. The flowers are also used for perfumes and for making tea. It is known as the Arabian jasmine in English. It is the national flower of the Philippines, where it is known as sampaguita. It is also one of the three national flowers of Indonesia, where it is known as melati putih.

Taxonomy and nomenclature[link]

Jasminum sambac is classified under the genus Jasminum under the tribe Jasmineae.^[4] It belongs to the olive family Oleaceae.^[5]

Despite the English common name of "Arabian jasmine", Jasminum sambac is not originally native to Arabia. The habits of Jasminum sambac support a native habitat of humid tropical climates and not the arid climates of the Middle East. Early Chinese records of the plant points to the origin of Jasminum sambac as eastern South Asia and Southeast Asia. Jasminum sambac (and nine other species of the genus) were spread into Arabia and Persia by man, where they were cultivated in gardens. From there, they were introduced to Europe where they were grown as ornamentals and were known under the common name "sambac" in the 18th century.^[6][7] A name which is derived from a misapplication of the Sanskrit name champaka, which refers to the fragrant flowered shrub Michelia champaca.

In 1753, Carl Linnaeus first described the plant as Nyctanthes sambac in the first edition of his famous book Systema Naturae. In 1789, William Aiton reclassified the plant to the genus Jasminum. He also coined the common English name of "Arabian jasmine",^[8] cementing the misconception that it was Arabian in origin.^[6]

Other common names of Jasminum sambac include:^[9]

Description[link]

Jasminum sambac is an evergreen vine or shrub reaching up to 0.5 to 3 m (1.6 to 9.8 ft) tall.^[11] The species is highly variable, possibly a result of spontaneous mutation, natural hybridization, and autopolyploidy. Only a few varieties reproduce by seed in the wild. Cultivated Jasminum sambac generally do not bear seeds and the plant is reproduced solely by cuttings, layering, marcotting, and other methods of asexual propagation.^[12][13][3]

The leaves are ovate, 4 to 12.5 cm (1.6 to 4.9 in) long and 2 to 7.5 cm (0.79 to 3.0 in) wide. The phyllotaxy is opposite or in whorls of three, simple (not pinnate, like most other jasmines).^[14] They are smooth (glabrous) except for a few hairs at the venation on the base of the leaf.^[12]

The flowers bloom all throughout the year and are produced in clusters of 3 to 12 together at the ends of branches.^[13] They are strongly scented, with a white corolla 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.2 in) in diameter with 5 to 9 lobes. The flowers open at night (usually around 6 to 8 in the evening), and close in the morning, a span of 12 to 20 hours.^[3] The fruit is a purple to black berry 1 cm (0.39 in) in diameter.^[12]

Cultivars[link]

Jasminum sambac cultivars

'Maid of Orleans'

'Grand Duke of Tuscany'

There are numerous cultivars of Jasminum sambac which differ from each other by the shape of leaves and the structure of the corolla. The cultivars recognized include:

• 'Maid of Orleans' - possesses flowers with a single layer of five or more oval shaped petals. It is also known as 'Mograw', 'Motiya', or 'Bela'.^[15] It is the variety most commonly referred to as sampaguita and pikake.^[3][13]
• 'Belle of India' - possesses flowers with a single or double layer of elongated petals.^[15]
• 'Grand Duke of Tuscany' - possesses flowers with doubled petals. They resemble small white roses and are less fragrant than the other varieties. It is also known as 'Rose jasmine' and 'Butt Mograw'.^[15] In the Philippines, it is known as kampupot.^[3]
• 'Mysore Mulli' - resembles the 'Belle of India' cultivar but has slightly shorter petals.^[15]

Cultivation[link]

The sweet, heady fragrance of Jasminum sambac is its distinct feature. It is widely grown throughout the tropics from the Arabian peninsula to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands as an ornamental plant and for its strongly scented flowers.^[16] Numerous cultivars currently exist.^[14]

Typically, the flowers are harvested as buds during early morning. The flower buds are harvested on basis of color, as firmness and size are variable depending on the weather. The buds have to be white, as green ones may not emit the characteristic fragrance they are known for.^[13] Open flowers are generally not harvested as a larger amount of them is needed to extract oils and they lose their fragrance sooner.^[3]

Importance[link]

The Philippines[link]

Jasminum sambac was adopted by the Philippine government as the national flower in 1934 via Proclamation No. 652 issued by American Governor-General Frank Murphy.^[17][18][19] Filipinos string the flowers into leis, corsages, and sometimes crowns.^[20][21] These garlands are available as loose strings of blossoms or as tight clusters of buds, and are commonly sold by child vendors outside churches and near intersections.^[22] Sampaguita garlands are usually placed on religious icons, altars, photographs of the deceased, special guests and on occasion, graduating students as a form of bestowing honour, veneration and accolade.

Jasminum sambac was the subject of the danza song La Flor de Manila, composed by Dolores Paterno in 1879 at the age of 25. The song was popular during the American Commonwealth period and is now regarded as a romantic classic.^[23]

Indonesia[link]

Javanese Surakarta bride adorned with intricate roncen melati (jasmine garland).

Jasminum sambac (Indonesian: melati putih) is one of the three national flowers in Indonesia, the other two being the moon orchid and the giant padma.^[18] Although the official adoption were announced only as recent as 1990 during World Environment Day and enforced by law through Presidential Decree No. 4 in 1993,^[24] the importance of Jasminum sambac in Indonesian culture long predates its official adoption. Since the formation of Indonesian republic during the reign of Sukarno, melati putih is always unofficially recognized as the national flower of Indonesia. The reverence and its elevated status mostly due to the importance of this flower in Indonesian tradition since ancient times.

It has long been considered a sacred flower in Indonesian tradition, as it symbolizes purity, sacredness, graceful simplicity and sincerity. It also represents the beauty of modesty; a small and simple white flower that can produce such sweet fragrance. It is also the most important flower in wedding ceremonies for ethnic Indonesians, especially in the island of Java.^[25] Jasmine flower buds that have not fully opened are usually picked to create strings of jasmine garlands (Javanese: roncen melati). On wedding days, a traditional Javanese or Sundanese bride's hair is adorned with strings of jasmine garlands arranged as a hairnet to cover the konde (hair bun). The intricately intertwined strings of jasmine garlands are left to hang loose from the bride's head. The groom's kris is also adorned with five jasmine garlands called roncen usus-usus (intestine garlands) to refer its intestine-like form and also linked to the legend of Arya Penangsang. In Makassar and Bugis brides, the hair is also adorned with buds of jasmine that resemble pearls. Jasmine is also used as floral offerings for hyangs, spirits and deities especially among Balinese Hindu, and also often present during funerals.

The jasmine has wide spectrums in Indonesian traditions; it is the flower of life, beauty and festive wedding, yet it is also often associated with spirit and death. In Indonesian patriotic songs and poems, the fallen melati often hailed as the representation of fallen heroes that sacrificed their life and died for the country, the very similar concept with fallen sakura that represent fallen heroes in Japanese tradition. The Ismail Marzuki's patriotic song "Melati di Tapal Batas" (jasmine on the border) (1947) and Guruh Sukarnoputra's "Melati Suci"^[26] (sacred jasmine) (1974) clearly refer jasmine as the representation of fallen heroes, the eternally fragrance flower that adorned Ibu Pertiwi (Indonesian national personification). The Iwan Abdurachman's "Melati dari Jayagiri" (jasmine from Jayagiri mountain) refer jasmine as the representation of the pure unspoiled beauty of a girl and also a long lost love.

Cambodia[link]

In Cambodia, the flower is used as an offering to the Buddha. During flowering season which begins in June, Cambodians thread the flower buds onto a wooden needle to be presented to the Buddha.^[27]

China[link]

In China, the flower is processed and used as the main ingredient in jasmine tea (茉莉花茶).^[6] It is also the subject of the folk song Mo Li Hua, which was censored by the People's Republic of China due to its association with the 2011 Chinese pro-democracy protests.^[28]

Hawaii[link]

In Hawaii, the flower is known as pikake, and are used to make fragrant leis.^[13] The name 'pikake' is derived from the Hawaiian word for "Peacock", because the Hawaiian Princess Kaʻiulani was fond of both the flowers and the bird.^[13][19]

India and Middle East[link]

It is one of the most commonly grown ornamentals in India and Bangladesh, where it is native.^[19][11] They are used to make thick garlands used as hair adornments. In Oman, Jasminum sambac features prominently on a child's first birthday. Flowers are spinkled on the child's head by other children while chanting "hol hol". The fragrant flowers are also sold packed in between large leaves of the Indian almond (Terminalia catappa) and sewn together with strips of date palm leaves.^[16]

See also[link]

• List of Jasminum species
• Jasmine
• Jasminum multiflorum - the Indian jasmine
• Jasminum officinale - the common jasmine

References[link]

External links[link]

• Data related to Jasminum sambac at Wikispecies
• Media related to Jasminum sambac at Wikimedia Commons

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Freddie Aguilar
Aguilar in Tondo, Manila, Philippines, 1988
Background information
Birth name	Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar
Born	(1953-02-05) February 5, 1953 (age 59)
Origin	Isabela, Philippines
Genres	Manila sound OPM
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active	1965–present
Labels	Unknown
Associated acts	Watawat Band
Website	Manong Freddie Aguilar's Official Web Site
Notable instruments
Acoustic guitar

Ferdinand Pascual Aguilar (born February 5, 1953), better known as Freddie Aguilar, is a folk musician from the Philippines. He is best known for his rendition of "Bayan Ko", which became the anthem for the opposition to the Marcos regime during the 1986 People Power Revolution,^[1] and for his song "Anak," the best-selling Philippine music record of all time.^[2] He is heavily associated with Pinoy rock.^[3]

He is well known internationally, and within the Philippines and Asia-Pacific region, claiming fame as one of the best musician-songwriters of the Philippines.

Life[link]

Freddie studied Electrical Engineering at De Guzman Institute of Technology but did not finish the degree program. Instead he pursued music, became a street musician, and then a folk club and bar musician.^[4] In 1973, he married Josephine Quiepo.

Freddie Aguilar left family and school unfinished at the age of 18. Realizing and regretting his mistakes five years later, Freddie composed "Anak" (Filipino for child), a remorseful song expressing apology to his parents.

Political Activism[link]

Five years after the composition of "Anak", Freddie Aguilar joined protests against the Marcos regime and began writing and performing songs that criticized the excesses of the government.^[5] Some of the songs that caused him to be banned from mainstream media include: "Kata-rungan" or "justice" (speaking for the unjustly accused), "Pangako" or "promise" (a leader's unfulfilled pledges to an abandoned people), and "Luzvi-minda" (an acronym for Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, calling on Filipinos to wake up to the reality of oppression). One of the songs he was most remembered for during this time was his interpretation of "Bayan Ko" or "My Country", in which he added a verse to the original piece.^[6]

Bayan Ko (My Country)

In 1979, Aguilar first recorded "Bayan Ko" in a patriotic effort to, in his words, “jolt back those who were starting to forget who we really are.”^[5] The song was originally composed in 1928 by Constancio de Guzman, lyrics by poet Jose Corazon de Jesus, during a time of struggle for Philippine independence from US occupation. ^[7] It emerged once again during the Marcos Regime as the unofficial anthem of the emergent "people" of "People Power", the new democratic nation opposed to authoritarianism that is widely credited with the deposing of Ferdinand Marcos.^[5] In 1983, the assassination of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino triggered massive demonstrations against the Marcos dictatorship, and Freddie Aguilar’s rendition of "Bayan Ko" was blared on the radio and speakers mounted on jeepneys throughout the streets of Manila and the provinces of the Philippines. Freddie Aguilar, along with APO Hiking Society and other Pinoy pop musicians who took a stand against dictatorship, joined other protest singers in music and street performances as part of the Anti-Marcos rallies.^[7]

A few years later, Aguilar campaigned for the presidential candidacy of Corazon Aquino in the national election that would lead to the 1986 revolt.^[5]

International acclaim[link]

Freddie Aguilar's "Anak" not only broke the Philippine record charts in 1979, but it also hit no. 1 spot in Japan and achieved considerable popularity in other countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and parts of Western Europe.^[5] The song has become so famous that, by some counts, it has been recorded in as many as a hundred versions in 23 languages throughout the world. ^[8] Billboard reported that the song was the number two world hit of the 1980s. As of 2006, it was unsurpassed as the highest-selling record of Philippine music history.^[2]

Present day[link]

Freddie still lives in the Philippines, and continues to perform. He currently has moved to his own place dubbed "Ka Freddies". Freddie still has a strong following in the Philippines and among many Filipinos living overseas.

On January 18, 2008, Freddie Aguilar received the Asia Star Award from the Korea Asia Model Award Festival.^[9]

Discography[link]

Year	Title	Record Label
1967	Ngayon at Kailanman	Aguilar Music
1974	Kasaysayan Ni Jose Rizal at Ka Freddie Aguilar	Aguilar Music
19??	The Best of Tribute to Late Freddie Aguilar! (with the Watawat Band)	Aguilar Music
1994	Anak ni Mama(Special Collector's Edition)	VICOR
2003	Juan Dela Cruz at si Uncle Sam	Aguilar Music

See Also[link]

• Philippine folk music
• People Power Revolution
• Martial Law

References[link]

External links[link]

• Manong Freddie Aguilar's Official Web Site