In the quiet town of Santa Barbara, Iloilo, 63-year-old farmer Lolo Benigno has spent decades tending to his fields of kadios—small, purple-black beans that have flavored countless family meals. But today, as he watches scientists in lab coats carefully analyze the same beans his mother once simmered for Sunday lunch, Lolo Benigno is filled with wonder. “Who would have thought our kadios could help heal people’s skin?” he said, pride flickering in his eyes.

Once just an ingredient in traditional Ilonggo dish KBL (kadios, baboy kag langka), kadios is now gaining national attention as a science-backed solution for skin infections.

Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), researchers and local industry partners are transforming the Ilonggo crop into dermatological products for commercial release in July, as part of a broader push to develop affordable health innovations rooted in Filipino research.

The journey from Lolo Benigno’s fields to the laboratory began when Dr. Doralyn Dalisay, a DOST Balik Scientist, led research at the University of San Agustin (USA) in Iloilo City. Her team screened 20 indigenous beans from Panay Island, searching for natural antibacterial properties. Only kadios (Cajanus cajan) showed a strong and consistent antibacterial effect—an exciting moment that Dr. Dalisay remembers vividly. “We were thrilled. It was a eureka moment—proof that our humble kadios had real healing power,” she recalled.

Further laboratory analysis revealed that kadios seeds are rich in unique bioactive compounds—specifically, flavonoids and phenolic acids—that disrupt the cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium is a common culprit behind skin infections such as boils, cuts, and acne. As S. aureus has increasingly developed resistance to widely used antibiotics, the discovery is both timely and critical. Dr. Dalisay explained, “The compounds in kadios weaken the bacteria’s defenses, making them more vulnerable not just to our extract, but also to conventional treatments.”

To advance the research, Dalisay partnered with Iloilo-based Maridan Industries, Inc., using DOST-PCHRD funding. This collaboration resulted in Skivios, a kadios-derived facial toner and serum.

According to DOST, studies show that Skivios is efficiently absorbed by the skin and helps reduce the resistance of skin pathogens, such as S. aureus. The products are intended to soothe irritation, prevent acne, and protect against infection. Designed for daily skin care and nighttime use, Skivios will be commercially launched in July.

The project also highlights the role of the University of San Agustin, which operates the country’s only biobank, housing over 3,000 beneficial bacterial samples collected by Balik Scientists and Filipino researchers nationwide. These are now being studied to develop locally produced antibiotics and health solutions.

DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Leah J. Buendia said the agency continues to foster collaborations among government, industry, and academe to spur innovation. “By improving scientific infrastructure, we introduce new avenues for product development that benefit local industries.”

The urgency behind the research extends beyond cosmetics. The Department of Health’s Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program reports rising resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to commonly used antibiotics, including last-resort drugs.

“If we fail to address antimicrobial resistance, this could become one of the next global pandemics,” Dalisay warned, noting projections that drug-resistant infections could claim millions of lives annually by 2050.

Parallel research by Dalisay and fellow Balik Scientist Dr. Jonel Saludes has already reached the market with Honelle Wound Gel, a medical-grade honey product developed with GalenX and international partners to prevent wound infections.

For Maridan Industries, the partnership embodies a new innovation model that brings academic research and market demand together. “When academia and industry combine efforts, they produce research that is relevant, effective, and beneficial to Filipinos,” said company vice president Jan Vincent Sollesta.

The Philippine skincare market continues to grow, fueled by consumer demand and social media trends. DOST views homegrown innovations like Skivios as proof that local crops and local science can compete on a national—and potentially global—stage.

From backyard farms to research laboratories, kadios is no longer just comfort food. It is emerging as a symbol of Filipino ingenuity, turning tradition into technology and science into solutions.IMT