When I used to manage Pansukian Tropical Resort in Siargao, whenever I was in Manila, I used to comb the local weekend markets, looking for handmade soap suppliers. I used to order soap from my girlfriend’s sister, Pye Trindad, before she became a Bikram yoga instructor and moved to Shanghai. Then I found Bok NgSingco at one of the markets and he was truly a godsend because he’d deliver either direct to my house and, sometimes, even to the airport when I was absolutely desperate. Unfortunately for me, he has since stopped making soap. But then again, I’ve also ceased being a hotelier.

So my interest in local, organic, handmade products waned, until I fried my hair in some stupid chemical experiment. No, I won’t tell you that story. Suffice it to say that my hair has since been on a chemical break and I have been desperately trying to restore it to health. I now grow aloe vera in Manila, Cebu and Siargao and, whenever I am in Siargao (where I have the most supply of aloe vera), I have my girls apply it directly to my hair everyday.

I had heard the old folk whisper about the wonderful restorative powers of gugo since I was child – it supposedly stimulates hair growth and makes the hair shiner – but I never knew where to find it. Heck, I didn’t even know what gugo was. Until my galpal, Angela Reyes-Dinglasan, became managing partner at Zen Natural + Organic and she told me that she had it on her product line.

I did the dance of joy when I found it in my Christmas stocking. (Thank you, Anj!)

A quick Google search will reveal that the scientific name of gugo is Entada Phaseikaudes K Meer. “This plant is very large tree found throughout the Philippines. It grows wild on Mt. Banahaw. Gugo is used extensively in the Philippines for washing hair and for hair tonics. When the bark is soaked in water and rubbed, it produces a lather which cleanses the scalp very effectively. The active principle of the bark is saponin.” Source: http://www.filipinoherbshealingwonders.filipinovegetarianrecipe.com/gugo.htm

The impressive thing about Zen’s gugo shampoo is that it has an actual piece of gugo bark inside it!

Zen Natural + Organic gugo shampoo. So that’s what gugo is! (Photo c/o Zen Natural + Organic’s Facebook page.)

I’ve just about gone through my first bottle and I’m not sure that there’s anything in what the old folks have been saying, seeing how much chemical damage I’ve done to my hair – not just recently but since I was a teenager – but I do like the products. So I think I’ll give Zen’s gugo a chance to work its magic and will keep ordering their shampoo and conditioner sets until, fingers crossed, my hair is resurrected from the dead.

Today, I was browsing through their product line and it seems that they have a lot of other yummy stuff on offer. And, more importantly, that they’re on sale for the entire month of May. Up to 25% off if you order online at zenaturalorganic.multiply.com.

I talked to Angela recently about her plans for Zen and, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to mention anything here since these were private conversations but, if everything turns out as she projects, then I can’t wait to see them come to fruition as they do sound rather exciting! Will keep you posted on developments.