If the Doctor is out, she is in the garden because she is now a certified Plant Tita, that’s the content of the newest vlogger here in Palawan called “Doktora Plantita” – a two month old Vlog of Dentist Lilian Tan, who are now making waves in the social media featuring different farms and private gardens in Puerto Princesa.
Tan started by posting photos of all her flowering plants including those of her neighbour’s in her personal account in Facebook, and through that with the help of her five sons she was encouraged to do a vlog about it and present it to wider audiences, whom many can relate especially at this time of pandemic.
“Kaming mag-iina may group chat kami, so sabi nila since ‘yan talaga hilig mo mag-post nang mag-post ng pictures ng mga flowers, ba’t ‘di ka na lang mag vlog. Sabi ko ay alam mo naman medyo tanders (oldies) na ‘ko ‘di ‘ko na masyadong ano ‘yan, although kinilig-kilig din ako, sabi nila kami ang tutulong sa ‘yo gawan ka namin ng page, ayun do’n na nag start,” Tan said.
But Tan’s interest in planting started when she was young. She’s more into flowering plants that she loves to see blossoming every day. At first she collected it and let her house helper handle it until it bears flowers, and that habit became a passion and she started to collect different varieties that she takes care personally.
“Super ano ako, talagang na feel ko na super fulfilled ako, nasabi ko ito na parang wala akong kahilig-hilig sa farming, pero parang nakita ko ‘yung sarili ko na ay ito pala talaga ang gusto ko, na aside from being a dentist parang hindi ko makita ‘yung sarili ko na parang magtatanim, maputik-putikan, pero alam mo ngayon satisfied ako sa ginagawa ko. Nawawala ‘yung stress ko, lumilipas ‘yung mga oras na hindi ko nararamdaman,” Tan said.
Originally from Laguna, the single mom and Dentist believes in the power of changing your lives for good by being a Plant Tita. She admits that she enjoys receiving praises especially most content creators in Palawan are into travel and beaches and making her content different, but it is here being a reputable and respected host that matters.
“Instead na tayo mag tsismis-tsismis, lalo especially ‘yung mga mothers, bakit hindi natin gamitin ang oras natin sa mas kapaki-pakinabang ‘yun na nga planting, farming gano’n, kasi sa una siguro hindi nila makikita ‘yung benefits no’n, ‘pag siguro naka ilang days na may fulfilment na sa sarili, ang saya ng buhay tsaka tuwing lalabas ka makulay ‘yung buhay mo,” Tan shared.
She already has taped several episodes for her followers to see in the coming days, most of them are visits in different farms and exploring personal and private gardens of some personalities in the province. She also prepared herself if ever bashers came in to ridicule her videos. What matter is her message of spreading love to plants and making our earth healthy for everyone.
“Actually wala akong mamahaling halaman, naka-concentrate ako sabi ko mahilig ako sa flowering plants, nakita ko kasi ‘yung Vietnam rose at portulaca, araw araw, rain or shine meron silang bulaklak kaya do’n ako nag-concentrate pero marami din akong addendum,” Tan added.
Doktora Plantita aka Dra. Lilian Tan is 56 years old and currently works as the Supervising Dentist of Palawan Provincial Health Office.