SGF publishes paper on the identity of the vine used in Miag-ao’s budbud salt
Kim Alunan | Published August 23, 2026
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Sulu Garden Foundation announces the publication of a peer-reviewed study that formally verifies the identity of the vine locally known as balunos.
This study is a continuation of the work done by SGF’s Executive Director Jonathan Matias back in 2015, but at that time they were not able to thoroughly document the vine’s morphological characteristics aside from its large leaves and climbing habit (read article here). Despite the vine’s importance, the taxonomic identity of balunos remains unclear, with different accounts linking the term to at least eight different species based on published literature and website sources.
Plants associated with the term balunos. Images from Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines (www.https://www.philippineplants.org/)
The newly published study confirms that the balunos vine used by remaining local salt-makers of the traditional budbud salt practice is Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. or commonly known as gac fruit. Researchers combined interviews, literature review, field observations, and comparative morphological analysis to reach this conclusion. This discovery represents a previously undocumented botanical utilization and more likely the first known instance worldwide of a plant extract being directly used in artisanal salt production.
Gac fruit is found throughout the Philippines ans is also known in various Provinces as balbas-bakiro (Tagalog), buyok-buyok (Tagalog), libas (Ilokano), tabla (Manobo), tabolog (Cebuano), malabakan (Cebuano), parog-parog (Ilokano), sugod-sugod (Ilokano), and tabog-uak (Bikolano). Despite its global utilization, it remains underutilized in the country due to its seasonality and lack of research and promotion. The study is also the first record of the plant’s association with the name balunos.
Budbud Gallery at SGF (left); Women harvesting the budbud salt back in 2014 (middle); SGF researchers with the balunos harvester † (right)
Historically, balunos was bartered between asinderos (salt-makers) and indigenous harvesters. During the study, procurement was limited to a single provider but unfortunately passed away last May, highlighting the fragility of the practice and the urgency of preservation. Budbudan was once a vibrant industry, with salt farms found across the coastal areas of the town. Today, only four salt farms remain .
SGF researchers recommend further phytochemical analysis, comparative surveys, and cultural mapping to deepen understanding of the plant’s properties and promote sustainable use. The study also calls for mainstreaming the practice within biocultural conservation and preservation frameworks to strengthen local identity and ecological stewardship.
Documentary films about budbud salt and balunos are currently in production and will be released soon.
In memory of Rosemi Sedicol, the harvester who guided the researchers and a significant person to the success of this study and the cultural importance of budbud salt
About SGF
Sulu Garden Foundation, Inc. (SGF) is a non-governmental organization based in Miag-ao, Iloilo, Philippines. Established to link ecological stewardship with cultural heritage preservation and community action, SGF conducts science-based research, re-greening initiatives, historical diorama creation, traditional craft documentation, and multidisciplinary medical missions across the Visayas and Mindanao.
