Alocasia sanderiana - 14 February 2026

Alocasia sanderiana, or the Kris Plant, is a critically endangered plant endemic to the Philippines (specifically Mindanao), known for its glossy, dark green, arrowhead-shaped leaves with silver-white, scalloped edges that resemble a kris dagger. It is a popular, yet high-maintenance, ornamental tropical plant requiring high humidity, bright indirect light, and well-draining soil.

My maternal grandfather, my grandmother,and my mother were all born in Manila. I have never been there. Since I no longer have any relatives that are alive there I do not think I will ever go.

Particularly because of my abuelita who spoke beautiful Castilian Spanish she often told me of life in her Philippines. As a little boy in Buenos Aires my grandmother and mother would often talk in Tagalog when they did not want me to understand what they were saying. The fact is that little by little I understood a lot of it.

My mother liked to cook Filipino dishes. This Monday my Hilary is coming for dinner. I am going to make a salad that is very Filipino that my mother often made. This consists of sliced tomatoes, onions and hard boiled eggs.

In Mexico City some years ago I went swimming with my Filipino friend Raúl Guerrero Montemayor and a visiting friend from the Philippines called Nonong (his nickname) Quezon. His father, Manuel L.Quézon was the second president of the Philippines. While Raúl denied it we all suspected that he was an illegitimate son of the president as he looked a lot like him.

After our swimming when we were taking a shower, Nonong pointed at my privates and said,”Andong you are suput.” Suput and sometimes Supot is my nickname with some of my remaining friends with a memory. It means that I am an uncircumcised man. Often when Rosemary and I went to Safeway I would notice that the cash register woman was Filipino. Rosemary, very seriously would nod and with her finger indicated "no".I always ignored her and I would then ask the woman to guess what my nickname was. Invariably they would laugh.

Since we arrived ton Vancouver from Mexico City with my Rosemary and two daughters I have always managed to have an Alocasia sanderiana plant. My grandmother had taught me that the leaves resemble a Filipino dagger called a Kris.

In the last few days two of the leaves turned brown. I cut them. Just about when was going to compost them I thought of scanning them and writing this blog.