Master Chua Hu Hua Bonsai Lecture

6th Floor – 820 – Liberty Hall, Benavides Street, Binondo, Manila -Philippines

Liberty Hall entrance

I received a personal call from Mr. Reynaldo Ong de Jesus a few days ago . He told me that there will be a FREE lecture and demonstration about basic bonsai culture of a great bonsai master in the country.

It did not take that long to say ” YES” and I am eager to attend the lecture of the great bonsai and calligraphy  master.

After all, Bonsai is considered as an “Art  Form ” by plant hobbyists. It requires not only time but also patience. After conducting a short media, blogger and student tour at the orchid and garden show . Mr. Reynaldo Ong de Jesus fetch the author and Lol Philosopher and we ate a hearty lunch .

a bulletin board in the lobby of the Liberty Hall 

Master Chua Hu Hua together with his personal collection of bonsai

We arrived a few minutes before the scheduled 2:00pm lecture , The room was air-conditioned with strong political flavors of ROC ( Taiwan)  . We were greeted by a group of  registration committee members  and registered as participants for the lecture. The lecture is properly advertised thru several Chinese newspapers,  temple associations , school alumni associations , members of YMCA were presents and also bloggers were also invited to join.  I am also very happy that we were among the few privileged people to attend this lecture for FREE.

bonsai and punning materials

Biography :

Mr. Chua Hu Hua  is an active alumni of Saint Stephen High School ( batch 1969).  He is in his  late 70’s and is also teaching Chinese calligraphy and Chinese style painting.

some of the bonsai displayed at the lecture area were between 24 to 25 years -old!

He endeavored himself to studying Chinese painting and calligraphy under Masters Arcenia Chua (maiden surname) and Master Ju I-Hsiung (mentor of Virginia Lloyd Davies).

a jam packed venue

He started to appreciate bonsai in 1980 to present focused on Bonsai as an alternate branch of Chinese painting/calligraphy and the ascetic teachings of Buddhism.

Writer and poet for Buddhist organizations and Temples in Taiwan and the Philippines.

a fine sample of a bonsai ( ficus)

1985 to present lecturer extra-extraordinaire on many subjects involving the three main topics mentioned above mostly within the Chinese community and guest to most major Chinese Buddhist Temples’ cultural events.

Triphasia trifolia ,  Triphasia aurantiola Louror popularly called Lemonsito

 This  favorite plant  is  also called  lime berry, limeberry , red lime berry,  lemoncitong kastila , limonsito, kalamansito , limon de China is commonly used as bonsai material . It has a colorful and edible fruits . It is an indigenous to several tropical Asian countries from Malaysia, Thailand, Indo-China , Philippines.

Uses:

It is probably called Lemonsitong kastila for a number of reasons, according to some gardeners –  It is one of the favorite plants cultivated during the Spanish regime -its leaves and fruits are used as natural insecticides .

It become naturalized in many Pacific islands .  An example is in Guam and Northern Marianas islands – It is called Limon de China – probably introduced during the Spanish regime .  Plants and seeds was  introduced from the Philippines but was mistakenly called – Limon de China as inhabitants “thinks’ that the plant had originated from China.

  Indian ocean archipelagos , sub -tropical areas of the United States like Florida .    Triphasias are very close relatives of citrus.  It is a spiny srub can can grow from 6 to 12 feet tall.  An ornamental plant , it can be grown as hedge or bonsai material .

My aunt also used the fruit as jellies .   My grandmother on the maternal side had propagated several lemonsito and gave them away as gifts for special occasions.

The fruit is a small berry-like . From green and when it is ripe the fruit turns from light orange , red to dark red .

 

A participant patiently watching Mr. Chua Hu Hua  while trimming his bonsai

Teaches and provides inspiration to serious cultural buffs of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy.

He shared with the participants his passion for bonsai and even admitted that he had his own share of trials and errors in maintaining his collection.

After his lecture, he was awarded a plaque and photo opportunity with the participants . Due to the warm reception and great interest of the public to his bonsai lecture. The organizers are planning to conduct another FREE public lecture before the end of this year.  All the participants were also treated to a light afternoon snack .

Upcoming Exhibit:

His works can be seen on the forthcoming Chinese painting/Calligraphy exhibit (October 27, 2013 – Sunday, 10am to 5pm) on the 6th floor of the annex building beside the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Binondo, Manila along Dasmarinas St. This cultural exhibit involves pupils and associates of Master Arcenia Chua who has actively kept the art of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy in the Philippines with high esteem.

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Salumpuwit,Bangko , Silya atbp… Exhibit

THE Block- SM North EDSA, Quezon City -Philippines

poster of the exhibit

National Commission for Culture and the Arts ( NCCA),  Metro Bank Foundation , Inc. , and SM Super malls invites everyone to attend the exhibit .

Different kind of chairs

The exhibit entitled Salumpuwit, Bangko , Silya atbp. from the book of Dr. Gerald Lico . There were about 38 different chairs representing different eras.

Rocking chair and a Butaka chair

 Rocking Chair / Rocker or Tumba-tumba / Lumba-lumba was the in- chair fashion during the Spanish regime . This is a type of chiar with two curved bands (also known as rockers) attached to the bottom of the legs, connecting the legs on each side to each other. The rockers contact the floor at only two points, giving the occupant the ability to rock back and forth by shifting his/her weight or pushing lightly with his/her feet . Old heirloom family pieces would include a rocking chair made from Philippine finest hardwood species  .

Butaka or Butaca ( chair with  with long arm rests )  is sometimes called The quintessential impolite chair . The butaka is a native lounge chair with a lengthy back that is reclined down and extended arms for resting legs. It is made up of wood and intertwined rattan strips. It is also common in households in Northern Luzon.

 When the Spaniards came to the northern part of Luzon , a reclined chair was discovered in the midst of native aristocrat’s houses and called it “butaca”, a Spanish word for arm chair. Finding it very relaxing, the Spaniards adopted and even brought it to their mission houses and mansions. They also used it during special occasions. A lot of the old heirloom pieces were  made from finest Philippine hardwood species .

Batibot chairs

 Batibot means ‘small but strong and sturdy.’ The wooden seats and tabletop are wrapped in sheet iron, and the legs and seat backs are made of bent iron rods; even the studs and rivets are made of solid iron. The chairs were popular in the Philippines in the late 1950’s to the early 1960’s .  Recent trends in chair fashion enable batibot chairs make a come back . Instead of black or brown paint – Some chairs were painted with pastel colors.

Art Nouveu inspired living room chairs made from wood

There will also be a FREE lecture on Architecture and Interior Design on August 31, 2013 from 1:00PM to 4:00PM

Contact: Mr. Henri Palma or Ms. Lalaine Calicdan of the Metrobank Foundation , Inc. 898-88-56 or (0922-8464559)

Link: Metrobank Foundation Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MADE-Metrobank-Art-and-Design-Excellence-Competition/115828015145915

BIG Winners at the Philippine Orchid Society’s 67th Mid-Year Show

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak ( Flower Garden ) Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City – Philippines

Senator Cynthia Villar , Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe and Mrs. Remedios Rodis- Santelices

After weeks of  heavy rains and southwest monsoon . Warm and sunny weather prevailed . Everyone hoped and prayed that the opening will have a sunny weather  so that the visitors and guests will not be drench in  the torrential rains .

L-R Ms. Vangie Go , Atty Rodolfo Sanidad and a priest

Orchid and gardening shows also serve as a platform to meet different people and industry experts. You can also meet fellow plant and orchid hobbyists .

L-R Ms. Vangie Go, Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe and Senator Cynthia Villar

The festive and colorful opening  led by  a live band from the Quezon City government .  A priest was invited to bless the commercial booths, exhibit area and the immediate vicinity  . It had been quite some time since  i have witness a priest  at the opening of the orchid show !  Senator Cynthia Villar  , members and invited VIPs,  led the ribbon cutting ceremony .

L-R Mrs. Remedios Rodis-Santelices , Mrs. Susan Lee, Mr. Kelvin Neil Manubay, Honorable Senator Cynthia Villar, Mrs. Corazon Purificacion , Ms. Vangie Go and Mrs. Ana Ruth Purificacion- Conde

L-R Ms. Tess Bong-ao ( First Bloom Orchid and Ornamental Plant Farm) together with Senator Cynthia Villar

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the invited guests and vips were given a short tour of the show much to the of  the stall holders , visitors and media .

Senator Cynthia Villar viewing the flower arrangement

Mrs.  Cynthia Villar had a small pool of media writers and senate media covering her visit at the show. Television stations like PTV channel 4, UNTV channel 37 , Manila Bulletin , Philippine Star , Philippine Daily Inquirer representatives were also there covering the show.

Ms. Dhory Fadriquela, Senator Cynthia Villar, author and Mr. Ronnie Cruz Bernardo ( Helicon Projects)

Well- known social media people also played a very important role in the event .  Plant Chaser  ( Atty. Bom Gomez) , Mr. Azrael Coladilla , Helicon Projects , Collectors’ Connection , LOL Philosopher, Our Philippine Native Trees , Ms. Andrea Agillon  among others,  helped in the information dissemination such as posting them on gardening forums, facebook, twitter accounts, internet sites .

Ms. Vangie Go together with Dr. Elenita Binay

L-R Mr. Kelvin Manubay , Mrs. Ana Ruth Purificacion-Conde, Mr. Manuel Lee and Mrs. Susan Lee, Senator Cynthia Villar, Atty. Rodolfo Sanidad

Mrs. Cynthia Villar and Dra. Elenita Binay received a pot of  phalaenopsis flower and fern as a token of appreciation by the society

After the brief tour of the garden bazaar and landscape exhibit area. There was a short program in which the winners of show were announced.

Major WINNERS of the 67th Mid-Year Orchid and Garden Show

Ms. Dhory Alvendia – President of the Floral Designers’ Circle of the Philippines – Her exhibit won First Place –Paphiopedilum philippinense  ( Best Paphiopedilum )

Contact : (0917) 5302822  GLOBE

FREE- Style Flower Arrangement WINNERS

First Place – Mrs. Ana Ruth Purificacion-Conde with ribbons, glass award and Php 5,000 cash

Second Place- Ms. Baby Alarcon

Third Place: Ms. Dhory Alvendia – Floral Designers’ Circle of the Philippines

Orchid  SHOW Winners

BEST Vanda sanderiana ( Waling -waling ) and BEST Orchid in the Show

Exhibitor  : Ms. Vangie Go

BEST  Philippine Species: Phalaenopsis equestries variety  “alba“
Exhibitor: Purificacion Orchids and Ornamentals

BEST Cattleya & Best Sympodial Orchid – BLC.  Spring Queen ” Blushing Bride” Exhibitor  : Malvarosa Orchids

BEST Foreign Species & Best Monopodial Orchid :

Christensonia vietnamica – Exhibitor : Malvarosa Orchids

Christensonia vietnamica Haager 1993- A newly discovered genus and species in early 1990’s  that is found in Vietnam in semi-deciduous and deciduous dry lowland forests and savana-like woodlands at elevations of sea level to 700 meters as a small to medium sized, hot to warm growing, monopodial epiphyte with a stem enveloped by leaf bearing sheaths carrying 2 ranked, leathery, praemorse leaves that blooms in the summer on a axillary, short to 4″ [10 cm] long, to 7 flowered inflorescence. This orchid used to be classified under Vanda . Blooming season is from June to late August .  Flowers can last for several days and even weeks.

Best Dendrobium : Dendrobium heterocarpum

Exhibitor: Ms. Vangie Go

Best Paphiopedilum : Paphiopedilum philippinense – Exhibitor : Ms. Dhory Alvendia ( Floral Designers’ Circle of the Philippines )

Best Oncidium Alliance  : ( Oncidium florida x lanceanum ) ‘annette’

Exhibitor: Malvarosa Orchids

Best Phalaenopsis : Phalaenopsis Hsinying Charm ” Sakuraame” Exhibitor : Purificacion Orchids and Ornamental Plants

Best Cultured Plant : Kagawara Christie Low – Exhibitor: Mrs. Susan & Manuel Lee

Ornamental Plant WINNERS

Best Bonsai : Pemphis acidula – Exhibitor: Mr. Manuel and Mrs. Susan Lee

Best  Fern Allies :  Psilotum nudum – Exhibitor :  Professor Serapion Metilla

 BEST Other Genera -Foliage Plant : Nepenthes truncata 

 Best Bromeliad : Neoregelia Johannis -Exhibitor : Malvarosa Orchids

Best Cacti and Succulent : Euphoria sp. – Exhibitor: Architect Bimbo Vergara

Best Flowering Plant : Medinilla sp. 

Exhibitor : Mr. Oliver Ang

Best  Foliage Plant : Beutcarnia recorbata ‘ variegated’

Exhibitor: Ms. Vangie Go

Best Aroid: Agalaonema White Diamond

Exhibitor: Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie” Canicula

BEST Ornamental Plant in the SHOW – Asplenium musifolium ( mutant form)

Exhibitor: Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie” Canicula

BEST Orchid Landscape Showcase  Exhibit – the word showcase was used since 2012 because of the smaller area that was covered

Third Place: Purificacion Orchids

Second Place: Purificacion Orchids

First Place: Ms. Vangie Go

Best Ornamental Landscape Showcase

Third Place: Philippine Horticultural Society, Landscape by : Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie ” Canicula

Second Place: Lambana Tropical Garden -Landscape by : Ms. Vangie Go

First Place: Susan and Manuel Lee

Landscape by: Mr. Kelvin Niel Manubay

The Philippine Orchid Society’s 67th Mid-Year Orchid and Garden Show will run  until September 9, 2013 . The next orchid show will be held by late February 2014 or the 68th Annual Orchid and Garden Show.

Note: I will be posting some interesting plants and other highlights of the orchid show in my next post !!!! To all those who came , Maraming, Maraming Salamat Po!

Philippine Orchid Society’s 67th orchid and garden show sneak preview during the ingress

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak ( Flower Garden) Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City- Philippines

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak ( Flower Garden)

After several months of preparation and promotion thru various forms of media – newspapers, television, radio, posters, internet and other social networking sites.

Secretariat complete with office equipments

The ingress had started last August 27, 2013.  Setting the tents, shade nets for the commercial  and exhibit areas.   While the secretariat had to bring their office equipments to the pavilion area together with trophies, medals , ribbons and even speakers  !

delivery trucks

Some commercial exhibitors came in early, The tried to bring their plants , gardening materials and their stocks. Some traders came from as far sa Visayas and Mindanao .

Mokara and Kagawara orchid hybrids neatly tied . Their inflorescence & flowers were wrapped in newspapers to avoid wilting and bruises .

These are Mokaras and Kagawaras orchids came from the  First Bloom Farm in Laguna.  Some of the orchids were already purchased by landscapers and orchid wholesalers in other provinces.

Vanda Tan Chay Yan neatly packed

The mokaras and kagawaras intergeneric hybrids were an old time- favorite among orchid growers and floral arrangers .

Mokara Chark Kuan – a tri-generic hybrid

Mokara Chark Kuan has been registered with the Royal Horticultural Society in the year 1976 by Lum Chin Orchids , an orchid nursery in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  The flowers of the Mokara Chark Kuan hybrids get a size of about 7-8 cm in diameter and are available in several colours, like pink, orange and red. a crossing between Aranda Christine (seed parent) and Ascocenda Cholburi (pollen parent)

Their long  stalks , colorful bright yellow/ pink/ orange/ red colored flowers and longer vase life makes them ideal  to grow them in the garden or in flower arrangements.

members of the Floral Designers’ Circle of the Philippines

This is  to avoid the rush the following day. Their efforts were rewarded with people buying their plants  .   Orders were made by their customers.

Ms. Delia Pionela

Ms. Delia Pionela is one of the “early birds” at the commercial section. A regular participant during plant shows . She had a ready supply of various gardening materials like coco choir, loamy soil, pebbles, driftwood, mosses etc…

She also rents a commercial space within the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation where buyers can purchase plants and gardening materials.

Architect Bimbo Vergara

Architect Vergara is an active member of different plant societies.   His Waling-waling ( Vanda sanderina / Euanthe sanderiana)  paintings were displayed at the lecture area .

Ms. Vangie Go

Ms. Vangie Go– President of the Philippine Orchid Society personally supervises the landscaping job –  She is a perennial winner of various plant and landscaping  competition . Mrs. Go was recently invited to judge in Putrajaya, Indonesia and Kadayawan Festival in Davao City.

madre de cacao / kakawate driftwood

Some landscape exhibitor and park visitors  bought  their plants and other materials from the early birds at the commercial section . While serious orchid and plant hobbyists entered their prized plant or orchid collection in the competition.

Ms. Jenny Rivera and Professor Serapion Metilla

I took some time taking pictures during the ingress period , then I spotted Ms. Jenny Rivera ( POS Secretariat ) and Professor Serapion Metilla – They gamely pose while i took their souvenir photo.

Mr. Noel ” Botchie” Canicula

Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie” Canicula -is a board member of the Philippine Horticultural Society , Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines ,   also an active member of the Philippine Orchid Society.

Mrs. Susan Lee

Mrs. Susan Lee is a bonsai connoisseur and a collector before joining the Philippine Orchid Society – She had 2 showcase landscape exhibit ( bonsai at orchid) .

Note: The author left the venue site shortly after 6:00PM

National Historical Commision of the Philippines unvelies the state of the art Katipunan museum

Museo ng Katipunan, San Juan City , Metro Manila – Philippines

Photo courtesy : of Red Root Artists Cooperative

Executive-Director Ludovico Badoy, NHCP President, Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, Vice-Mayor Francis Zamora and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez led the re-enactment of the tearing of the cedulas (community tax certificate  or personal tax certificate)

The Museo ng Katipunan or Katipunan Museum located in San Juan City formally opened its doors on Tuesday morning. It was built to showcase the contributions of the members of the Kataastaasang Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng bayan (KKK). The group was founded in 1892 as a movement against the Spaniards.

Museo ng Katipunan

The Museum was built at a former Spanish depot site called “El Deposito”, and features relics of weapons, dioramas, amulets used by the Katipuneros. It also houses some notable pieces of art from Pancho Piano.

Photo courtesy : of Red Root Artists Cooperative

Special guests of honor Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Mayor Guia Gomez and Vice Mayor Francis Zamora together with relatives of the Katipuneros

So why San Juan and not Intramuros, Manila?  National Historical Commission of the Philippines’   Executive-Director Ludovico Badoy said  the Katipuneros organized their first raid at the Spanish weapons and ammo dump located in San Juan.

Katipunan heroes gallery on display

Atty. Gregorio Bonifacio, a fourth generation blood relative of the Katipunan founder, said the museum is a fitting memorial for the KKK.

This is a new museum entirely devoted to Bonifacio and the Katipunan, with interactive displays and original Katipunan artifacts. The museum will also present, for the first time, an initial list of members of the Katipunan and others who supported its cause, numbering more than 2,500. The names were obtained from archival sources.

The museum also has an e-learning room where students from grades 5-7 will take online interactive lessons about Bonifacio and the Katipunan—the first in the country—produced by the NHCP. Classes will start at 9 a.m. and every hour a different batch of students will use the room.

National Historical Commission of the Philippines: http://nhcp.gov.ph/locations/kkk-musuem/

San Juan City : http://www.sanjuancity.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=235&Itemid=223