Aroma Anao

Anao, Tarlac
Region 3 2000 - Outstanding
Municipality-wide
All Constituents

In the province of Tarlac, Anao is the only sixth-class municipality and is the smallest in terms of land area and population. However, these have not prevented Anao from showcasing excellent environmental, economic and human resource development programs benefiting 1,963 households in 17 barangays.
Sometime in 1988, the Technology & Livelihood Research Center (TLRC) discovered that there were at least 72 flowering ylang-ylang trees scattered around the town of Anao. This led to their recommendation for the development of the ylang-ylang essential oil extractor project for Anao as part of the Rural Industrialization Can Happen (RICH) program.
The ylang-ylang oil’s potential as a dollar earner convinced the Municipal Government of Anao to venture into the large-scale propagation of ylang-ylang. In 1990, the Municipality of Anao became one of the beneficiaries of Pres. Corazon Aquino’s Program to Refocus Orientation to the Poor (PRO-POOR). Line agencies and the provincial government pooled their resources to support the research and development of the ylang-ylang livelihood program.

Another history marks the Ylang ylang industry in Anao as it obtained its intellectual property right to Aroma Anao as awarded by Director General Adrian Cristobal of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines during the IPSO launching in Angeles City on March 20, 2009.

The Aroma Anao Trademark Certificate of Registration was received by Hon. Edgardo S. Felipe. The awarding of the Trademark Certificate of registration was one of the highlights of the one-day event of the IPO.

"My skin is even more softer with AROMA Soap", a testimony from Coun. Rivera.

The Anao Women's Association (AWA) has reactivated the making of soaps with Ylang Yllang essential oil in Anao. The AROMA Soap is one of the fastest-selling AROMA Product because of its skin health benefits. Aside from the essential oil that gives soothing and relaxing effects, the soap is also blended with different herb extracts that can rejuvenate the skin like carrots, papaya,  cucumber and oats with milk.

Ms. Maricar A. Carlos, Municipal Social Welfare Officer, expects that the sales this year will double because of the determination of the AWA Members to improve their product. At present, they are improving the soap's packaging.

The Department of Trade and Industry, through Mr. Benny Dayrit and Ms. Divina Garcia, conducted an OTOP Strategic Planning Seminar attended by the OTOP Team and some SMEs on January 28, 2009 held at the Mayor's Office Conference Hall to strengthen the the Ylang-ylang industry in Anao.

In this seminar, the OTOP Team has identified the problems encountered by the "Aroma Anao" Project. Suggestions were also listed on how they may increased the sales of the ylang ylang products like essential oils, perfimes, soaps and candles. A work plan was also made for 2009.

Botanica:Cananga  odorata

Family:Annonaceae (composite)

Synonyms:Unona odorantissimum, flower of flowers

Place of Origin:Philippines, Madagascar

Other Species:closely related to cananga (c. odorata var. macrophylla) Cananga oils produced in South East Asia.  This essential oil finds extensive uses in less expensive perfumes, soaps and variety other applications.

Description.    A tall tropical tree which grows 20 meters high with large, tender, fragrant flowers, which are pink, mauve or yellow.  The yellow flowers are considered best for extraction of essential oil.

Characteristics.  Sweet, floral and exotic and heavy

Part of Plant Used.  Flower

Tarlac City (20 September) -- Never did the Anao people expected that their Ylang Ylang trees will soon be grown in nearby towns and even in areas farther than they ever think. Well, the demand of essential oil product from Ylang Ylang flowers is increasing and the municipality's area is limited. No more available area for project expansion.

It all started in 1989 when Governor Mar Ocampo together with Mayor Clemente Apuan initiated the Ylang Ylang project under the government's Rural Industrialization Can happen (RICH) program. Both officials tapped the support of the local Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the propagation of seedlings and planting technique. Fifty thousand seedlings were planted and nurtured by the residents of Anao with the supervision of the municipal local government. Extraction facility was also procured and provided by Congressman Peping Cojuangco with the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology.

Rural Industrialization Can Happen (RICH) gave birth to Anao Ylang-ylang oil industry. As conceived in 1989 by then Provincial Governor Mar Un Ocampo II, there is a need to identify a flagship industrial crop for each of the seventeen (17) municipalities of the province. Together with the Technology and Livelihood Center (TLRC), preliminary resource assessment of the municipality showed that there are seventy two (flowering Ylang-ylang in the community. This prompted TLRC to recommend the development of the Ylang-ylang oil extraction for Anao as part of the RICH program. With this recommendation and seeing the potential role of ylang-ylang oil as dollar-earner, the municipal government embarked on a large scale propagation of the ylang-ylang tree.

The ylang-ylang oil extraction project was formally identified as a sunrise industry on February 2, 1989 as part of the RICH Program. Anao inaugural tree planting was conducted in June in June 12, 1989. The Biyaya sa Anao Foundation, a non-stock, ,non-profit organization was formed as the lead organization in the promotion of ylang-ylang livelihood. An initial 10,000 seedlings of ylang-ylang serve as the kick-off point of the foundation.

Posted on March 13, 2006 - 8:59am :: Good News | ISD-Philippines | Economics
March 07, 2006 | Philippine Daily Inquirer

TF! Editorial Comment: The Philippines is blessed with biodiversity and richness and was once recognized as a global source for high quality products like Manila Hemp, and Manila Oil. Harnessing this ecological abundance for sustainable development has been stymied by poverty, corruption and poor governance among others. Some innovative local governments, however, are becoming catalysts for local economic development, hinting at what could be possible if a full-blown sustainable integrated area development approach were implemented. The article below showcases the success of a Tarlac town in stimulating economic development built around a single product, in this case essential oil.

EVER since Anao town in Tarlac received the Galing Pook award in 2000 for its ylang-ylang livelihood program, its officials have found themselves in the thick of activities aimed at hastening the growth of its showcase industry.