Unlike the bamboo or coconut, the mangrove has yet to take its place as a "tree of life " in Philippine lore, despite being ubiquitous, useful and magnificent. If names given to places indicate popularity, mangroves probably have as many as those derived from the other two. the most common mangrove names are "bakhaw", "lipata" and "tabao" or "Matabao." Maynilad, the old name of Manila, comes from "nilad" (Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea), a mangrove species that grew abundantly along Manila Bay and Pasig River during the Pre-Spanish times.

Labiste, M. D.(2004, May 8). The magnificent mangroves of Panay. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A18.