Pinoys won Gold and Bronze in Sanya International Orchid and Garden Show

Filipino  participants won top prizes at the 3rd China (Sanya) International Orchid and Garden Show held on January 5 to 11 , 2009 at the Sanya Luhuitou Square in Hainan.

entrance to the show site

This is considered as one of the largest orchid shows held in East Asia . The crowd estimate according to the organizers is over 250,000 people from all over China and the world.

Parade of nations

Mr. Andres Golamco and Mr. Dennis Sy who represented the Philippine Orchid Society won the gold prize for their landscape exhibit. On the other hand,  Mr. Nonito Dolera and Mr. Dario Logmao who represented the Fern and Nature Society of the Philippines  won the bronze prize for their  landscape exhibit in the 3×5 square meter category.

The exhibit  consists of 2  Austronesian  style wood figurine bought from a handicraft store in Quezon City  ,  the fabrics  at the backdrop came  from Ifugao province , the lamps hung at the palm tree came from Bicol region  and large wooden jar basket beside the wooden figurine is from Quezon .

Philippine Orchid Society Exhibit

Aside from garnering international recognition for the country, the representatives also won cash prizes. The gold prize was given RMB6,000 equivalent to P41,880 while the bronze prize got RMB2,000 equivalent to P13,960.

The international orchid and garden show was participated in by representatives from 30 countries who put up more than 60 exhibit booths. The countries include Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Palau, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Austrlia, New Zealand, Italy, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Mexico and Brazil. The list does not include provinces and territories across China, Macau, Taiwan , Hong Kong

group photo

“ We never expect to win in this tight competition, because of meager budget and needed to solicit plants and even money in order to come up with at least a decent exhibit ” according to Mr. Sy . He also said that a  congresswoman from the 3rd district of Bulacan gave some cash a few weeks before leaving to China.

The Philippine Orchid Society had been sending representatives for the past 3 years  in the international event, which had won 2 consecutive 3^rd prize awards for landscaping in 2007 and 2008.

paintings and artworks

Interesting note:

Chinese Cymbidiums have been very popular and in cultivation for centuries in China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The Chinese believe it is a great honor to give or receive one of these extraordinary orchids because they are considered symbols of virtuosity and friendship.   These orchids are prized for their fragrant blooms and graceful folage.  Confucious  called these magnificent plants the “King of Fragrance” around 500 BC, and they are still known by this nickname today.  There is a subgenus of Cymbidiums, which is called Jensoa. The five species that make up this subgenus are:
Cymbidium ensifolium (Jian Lan, shown at right), Cymbidium goeringii (Chun Lan), Cymbidium kanran (Han Lan), Cymbidium sinense (Mo Lan)   and Cymbidium faberi (Hui Lan).

Quoted from http://www.orchidlady.com/pages/orchidGarden/ChineseCymbidium.html

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East West Seed Company

San Rafael, Bulacan

East West Seed Company is a multinational vegetable seed producer with a leading market position in all major South East and South Asian vegetable seed markets. It produces, develops and sells tropical hybrid vegetable seeds under the brand logo ‘Red Arrow’

potted vincas

Started in 1982 in the Philippines, East West has today operations in all major South East and South Asian vegetable seed markets. The roots then and now remain unchanged; innovative breeding towards improved hybrid varieties that challenge existing market situations.

The  world class breeding and research programs are built on a blend of excellent germplasm, detailed market knowledge and creative and skilled breeders. Classical  plant breeding is the backbone , supplemented by plant pathology programs for disease resistance screening and tissue culture programs to speed up variety development.   The company  also cooperate with leading universities and government ministries in our market countries to develop new tools such as molecular markers to improve selection efficiency.

group photo

Mr. Simon N. Groot – founder ( then East West Group), took the first step. Teaming up with Benito Domingo who had a thriving seed trading business in Manila, they formed Hortigenetics Philippines, Inc. Later, as a gesture to show that a partnership between a European and an Asian would prove that the twain could meet and succeed, they changed the company name to East-West Seed Company.

Breeding work started in 1983 on five hectares outside Lipa City, Batangas, at the Hortanova (“new garden”) Farm. A two-story building went up in Paranaque south of Manila, housing a seed processing plant and offices, to support the marketing program.

It would be four grueling years before any seeds were ready to market. Four years of expenses and payroll going out and no revenues coming in. Breeding efforts covered a wide variety of vegetables: off-season tomato, eggplant, leaf mustard, watermelon, onion, and many Cucurbits especially bitter gourd.

By 1986 the first hybrids (bitter gourd, pumpkin, eggplant, tomato) and several improved  selections of popular leafy vegetables had been introduced throughout the Philippines. Several of those early hybrids became superstars that remain successful even today.

a nipa hut landscape with various annuals and perennials

The company participate in Agricultural shows, Horticulture shows and those organized by the Philippine Horticultural Society , Philippine Orchid Society , AANI , PIFGEX  among others .

The company conducts an open house sale of various products from seeds, potted plants , farm equipment among others…

fried kangkong

The last time the contingent  went to their open house , the group  were treated to a buffet of fried squash , fried kangkong and boiled corns  straight from their farm.

fried squash with vinegar dip

Website: http://www.eastwestseed.com/

Contact Information:

Address: Km. 54 Cagayan Valley Rd.
Sampaloc, San Rafael
3008 Bulacan, Philippines

Telephone +63(044) 766-4952 – 57

King Louis Farm : King of Potted Plants & Cut Flower

Local cut flowers and potted plants were mostly grown in backyards of individual farmers and small garden hobbyists during the post war era of the late 1940’s to the mid 1960’s. For several decades, people had to rely on small-scale production to meet the market demands. There was always a short supply of flowers and potted plants during Valentine’s Day, All Saints Day, Graduation Rites and  Christmas season. The production methods and farm facilities among growers then seemed to be on an endless trial and error basis.

Then came Mr. Vicente Puyat with a private initiative in early 1983. He had several sprawling farms scattered across Baguio and Benguet areas with thousands of quality flowering potted plants in all assortment of colors, shapes and sizes. This was start of the King Louis Farm, and Mr. Puyat was known as the “King of potted plants and cut flowers” not only in Northern Luzon, but also across the country.

gerbera

His project started with an experimental pilot area of 4,000 square meters concentrating on producing different varieties of roses, carnations, gerbera, gypsophilla in Asin, Baguio. It was planned to have a modern production area with pioneering greenhouses producing quality-potted plants and cut flower intended for the local market.  These crops were successfully grown in the tropical highlands of Baguio, but the local folks of Baguio weren’t quite ready back then. King Louis Farm General Manager and President Mr. Efren Chatto recalls farmers were in search of an alternative business venture aside from vegetables, strawberries and seasonal souvenir merchandises.

King Louis – Manila Seedling Bank Foundation outlet

Through several years of experimenting, developing technology, skills training and acquiring new plant varieties, King Louis had finally grown to what it is today.  The company has over 50 active contract farmer-growers scattered in various locations and operates on more than 6 locations in Baguio, La Trinidad areas like in Lamtang, Longlong, Alapang, Atok, Bugias, Tuba with a combined production areas of more than 12 hectares of specialized flower varieties. The farms and company has a labor force of about 100-180 workers, depending on the season.

King Louis Farm -Lamtang plantation

“We assist them (contract growers) in constructing their greenhouses and provide them counter funds by networking them to cooperatives and federations which engage in cut flower production. We even had some bank assistance for the construction of their greenhouses and even installation of sprinkling systems,” said the very enthusiastic Mr. Chatto.

These farms are located in various elevation from 1,200 meters above sea level in the La Trinidad Valley to 2,000 meters above sea level in Atok .The company had recently acquired a property in the province of Bukidnon in the island of Mindanao where the mild weather is conducive for growing crops that the firm will eventually supply for the southern Philippines market.

In the early 90s, with its growing operations and number of wholesale consumers, King Louis Farm tried to venture and opened its retail outlets within the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation compound in 1998, then other retail outlets within Metro Manila had sprung up.  The company is very active in the floriculture and agriculture tourism events, since they were considered as pioneers in the “Panagbenga ” flower festival in Baguio every February and a regular participant in many gardening events and shows such as Agri-Aqua Network Incorporated, Kadayawan, Philippine Horticultural Society, Philippine Orchid Society, among others.

King Louis landscape booth in Horticulture 2009

The booth won 3rd prize in the landscape category

The company started also its luck in exporting cut flowers and cut foliage to Japan and Netherlands. “We had a hard time in meeting their standards of quality,” said Mr. Chatto. But they pursued because the country has distinct advantages to compete globally since the cost of production, low benchmark, competitive labor market plus the country is strategically located to those cut flower and foliage importing countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. With rising cost of fuel, labor and energy prices, it would be cheaper for these countries to import rather than to maintain an expensive production area. ” He explained.

The largest farm, which is devoted to rearing quality poinsettias, is simply exhilarating. Aside from the common red poinsettia, which most of us are familiar with, at King Louis there are three more exciting rare colors – white, pink and a combination of pink and red.  They also have other poinsettia varieties with crinkled flower bracts that are considered as novelty items.  The companies also have their own way of sorting and grading the poinsettias based on the size of the bracts. Poinsettias coded as B, C, and D command higher price. According to Mr. Chatto, this is done so that buyers are assured of uniform-sized plants. He stated the demand usually starts as early as October to December, the peak season for ornamental plants, when three to five large trucks go down to Manila everyday to deliver the plants.

King Louis Farm’s  mission and vision is to be a leading supplier of quality flowers and potted plants in the local market.  While the company motto is “The land is a God given gift, it is our responsibility to cultivate and preserve it.”  Quality and strategy is the name of the game. “Quality flowers come from quality planting materials,” he emphasized.

liliums- blooming sized potted plants

Visiting other countries in order to source new planting materials which could be grown, adapted and sold in the local market is very challenging some planting materials are imported from Netherlands, United States, Malaysia, Thailand and China because our country lacks the facilities for storing bulbs and seeds for a long time to maintain their quality and viability. In order to assure uniform and quality flowers throughout the seasons, old planting materials are discarded. Selecting a strategic place for growing cut flower is also a major consideration. “We try to locate our farms in areas which have a good gravity to ensure a stable water supply and irrigation. Irrigation may not be a problem during the rainy season but during summer, and we tend to rely on deep well which consumes a lot of energy and effort,” he explained. King Louis Farm is concentrating its production for the local market; the farm is also engaged in producing Calla lily bulbs, particularly the colored varieties for export to Holland.

A University of San Carlos in Cebu graduate of economics, and at one time bank manager, Mr. Chatto believes that the business enterprise had come a long way from its humble beginnings. At present, they are not only catering to the cut flower, potted plants of Metro Manila and several points in Luzon, but are also supplying big flower shops in Bacolod, Cebu , Iloilo, Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Davao City,  Samar  and Tacloban City in Leyte  For whatever  business strategies and success stories , the soft spoken Mr. Chatto is willing to share is vast experiences to both hobbyists and to those who wanted to venture in this kind of business in the future.

Currently the company also accepts flower arrangements and landscape jobs

For contact:

Mr. Efren Chatto –

President and General Manager of King Louis Flowers & Plants Inc. , email:efrenchatto@yahoo.com.ph
Farm address: Km.3 Asin Road Baguio City, landline (074)4226735/(074) 4226734

Manila Branches/Office
MSBF Compound EDSA cor Quezon Ave.
Tel: (02) 929-4110,929-4107, 4332-012
Telefax: (02) 929-4114, 9294105

Insular Botanical Garden &Farm

This is a favorite place for plant lovers , horticulturists , trader or simply photographer’s delight .

This a farm had hectares dedicated solely on the production of high value ornamental potted plants and cut-flower varieties of bromeliad , tillandsias, guzmanias mostly sold in the local markets.

Tillandsia schiedeana variety major in bloom

Some of the plants are even exported in other countries . With the help of Dutch- Suriname owner and its partners . This farm is also haven for rare ornamental plants.

Tillandsia cyanea or Pink Quill

Some of the flowering plants therein: pink & green pineapples, sabrina [double], morgana, freddie, etna, tawi, talk pink, tillandsia cyanea, christiane, cotton candy, stricta [double].. and many, many more.

Dendrobium crumenatum orchids growing on a Dracena

The area had a lot of natural growing wild orchids such as Dendrobium heterocarpum , Dendrobium crumenatum among others.

There is a big pond were 2 varieties of lotus are grown (pink and white ones).

Tillandsia xerographica listed as CITES appendix II

Tillandsia xerographica-Native to Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala, this beautiful cultivar is very slow growing and easy to care for. The silvery gray leaves are wide at the base and taper to a point. This epiphyte is suitable for growing on trees, rocks, or just about anywhere. Can grow from 6 to 18 inches in height and about 6 to 15 inches in diameter. The flowers are red to purple and last for a long time. Mist well about once a week.

Tillandsia andreana from Colombia  among others. The plants are mass propagated by seeds and thru suckers.

tillandsia seeds

The farm is vital in the propagation of these two species of rare tillandsias.

There are hundreds of different varieties of plants in the farm. According to one of the consultant , the farm produces over 300,000 potted plants at any time. Some foreigners like Thais , Singaporeans, Malaysians , Taiwanese had went to the place and bought numerous ornamental plants either for their collection, landscaping and resale.

The company is into wholesale and retail business of selling these plants. Appointments must be made before coming to the farm

For inquiries and farm tour:

Contact person : Mr. Oscar (0920-9281796 ) / (09209521063)

TeleFax (042) 540-78-22 or email: scandor.elias@gmail.com / insularbotanicals@gmail.com

Address: Insular Botanic Garden Corporation , Bgy. Kilib, Lucban, Quezon Province

Notes: Those who wanted to purchase plants at a wholesale price, try to contact them. The farm normally do not entertain walk-ins !

Jon Pettyjohn Pottery

Jon Petty john Pottery

This pottery factory is unique in Laguna,  Southern Luzon.  It’s creative designs and award winning potteries earned its distinction worldwide as being innovative and modern design . Jon Petty lives and works together with his wife (artist potter Tessy ).

He has spent many years in the Philippines experimenting with, learning about and sometimes teaching pottery.

short demonstration of pottery making

According to Mr. Petty , they have been working for over 35 years, concentrating on the traditional Asian techniques of high fire stoneware and porcelain, with the use of many Philippine indigenous raw materials, such as volcanic ash and local clays.

Jon is of Filipino -American descent. He has learned his craft in Barcelona, Spain, where he started out as an apprentice at a small studio. His work is almost “one of a kind” or extremely limited editions. Jon makes traditional functional pottery.

Mr. Petty john has had numerous one man shows and participated in trade fairs  like Manila International F.A.M.E , as well taking part in exhibits and workshops in Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan  and the United States. He is also the President and founding member of The Putik Association of Philippine Potters.

Each vase sold on FilArts.com is individually handmade and signed by Mr. Pettyjohn.

home gallery with hand-made vases

His two story house had an interesting gallery where his unique works of arts are displayed and sold.  Some of the items are his personal collection . Wide verandas and window characterized his home which is adapted to the tropical weather. High ceilings allows air circulation to come inside his home.

Some of the materials used in his pottery are imported from other countries. He explained that there are different types of clays found in the country. Some are ideal for ceramics  while some are used for their natural colors.

He gladly shown the tour group his own version of a kiln and a large dragon kiln which is used for firing his clay.

workshop with kiln for firing clay

A short demonstration followed and he accommodated the tour group.

Petty johns expressed that they are not able to receive walk-in visitors at their home . Appointments must be made prior hand  , However in the case of our group , a special arrangement was made !  Thus, navigational data is not provided for this way-point. He is very wary of designers who copy his designs and then mass produced them at a lower price . Most of his unique one of a kind potteries and other wares are available at Level 3 , Glorietta IV , Makati City.

Their workshop had in interesting garden with a lot of native orchids, begonias, ferns , ginger plants and large trees.