The genus Uncaria (Rubiaceae) presents persistent taxonomic challenges due to its high morphological plasticity and the frequent collection of vegetative specimens in tropical forest ecosystems. In the Philippine archipelago, the biological identity of several Uncaria species remains obscured by vernacular nomenclature and a deficiency in integrated molecular and chemical data. This study presents an integrative characterization of Uncaria lanosa Wall. from Mindanao, Philippines, utilizing a framework that combines nrITS-based molecular phylogeny with high-resolution untargeted metabolomics via UPLC-QTOF-MS. Phylogenetic reconstruction using Maximum Parsimony successfully resolved the taxonomic identity of the specimen, placing it within a robust clade of Asian Uncaria and clarifying the ambiguity surrounding regional "Kawilaw" specimens. Untargeted metabolomic profiling and GNPS-based molecular networking revealed a sophisticated chemical landscape dominated by oxindole alkaloids which is characteristic of Uncaria species. Functional biological assays provided insights into potential activity of the plant’s phytochemicals, demonstrating dose-dependent inhibition of protein denaturation and moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These findings provide a definitive molecular and chemical fingerprint for U. lanosa, contributing to the systematic documentation of the Philippine Rubiaceae and highlighting the efficacy of integrated strategies in tropical plant discovery, chemodiversity and functional characterization. Graphical abstract