This is an herb called maraotong that is endemic to the Philippines. Based on literature studies, it is beneficial for anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and wound-healing medicine. You may grow this at home by taking stem cuttings in early spring. It may also be grown from seed, but it will take longer to mature, and you may end up with male plants that are unnatural. We thought it was cattails, and the other people said it was a bird of paradise. Now I know it's a kind of herb. When I was young, I played with it like a cut tail. I put it on my back and gave it to my friend too; they were scared because of its color and because the texture looked like real tails. I explained it was just a flower, so they found out it was a kind plant, so we were happy together playing with this plant. Then we cooked it with out fire and shared to the others we try to imagine tasted it. I missed it that time because there were no gadgets. I hope other parents let them play outside without gadgets; it's so fun to play with neighbors.
Author, Reccandra