Different Color Variation of Waling-Waling at Mr. Jaime Chua’s Farm

Waling-waling is in blooming season this time of the year. Its flowering season usually at the start of the rainy season. July , August up to late September are the  blooming season for this orchid species. Some population can bloom by late October or February in higher elevations are also reported in Davao and Cotabato provinces. Orchid fanciers and collectors would always look for outstanding colors, variations, proliferousness.

Scientific Name

Vanda sanderiana or Euanthe sanderiana  better known as the Waling-Waling to common people.

Vanda sanderiana (pale form)

This orchid species was named after Henry Frederick Conrad Sander a noted orchidologist. The orchid is considered to be the “Queen of Philippine flowers” and is worshiped as a goddess by the indigenous Bagobo and Manobo tribes. Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach originally described named this orchid Vanda sanderiana in 1882.

Legendary Goddess

It has two several forms pink and white, also referred to as alba. It was discovered around August 1880 . The natives called the legendary air-plant waring-waring which Roebelin was told, meant “beautiful goddess.” The Diangans -Bagobo who lived around the foothills o the big mountain had another name for it: Diwatang Madayaw. Literally translated, it meants ” Beautiful lady from heaven.”

waling-waling pinkish color

This particular orchid species is the highlight of the annual Kadayawan Festival, the upcoming Negros Horticultural Society Show Augsut 28 to September 5, 2017 and the Philippine Orchid Society forthcoming show from September 2 to 16, 2017 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Mr. Jaime Chua is a plant and orchid collectors for many years and he is also a landscaper, plant judge.

He had about 500 mature Waling-Waling orchids mounted growing on palm tree trunks and on trunks of Anonang trees or scientifically called Cordia dichotoma . His farm boasts of different color variations and sizes.

He had a farm located at Busay , Cebu province. Busay is about 304.01 meters or 997.42 feet elevation , which is still considered as lowland. But the topography and his cultural techniques, fertilization, climate are some of the reasons of his success in growing this particular orchid.

This orchid species does not like a lot of wind movement unlike the typical Vanda species.

Vanda sanderiana with 9 spikes

Mr. Jaime Chua has been collecting outstanding Waling-Waling specimen orchid which he uses in his breeding program. He had several Waling-Waling crosses which he multiplies through tissue culture. He also breeds other Philippine orchid species.

The latest has 9 flower spikes that were still unopened as of August 19, 2017. Aside from the common form and color of Waling-Waling, Jaime has Waling-Waling with dark pink petals, petals with a tinge of orange, albata and alba.

Vanda sanderiana variety albata Photo courtesy: Mr. Jaime Chua 

The Philippine Orchid Society which was founded in 1946 also uses the orchid in the logo .

Bibliography and References :

Graphic Magazine 1957

pages 227 to 229 Philippine Orchids, Reg S. Davis and Mona Liza Steiner ,published M & L Licudine Enterprises , 941 Quirino Avenue Don Galo, Paranaque, copyright 1952

pages 30 to 32, Davao Floriculture Journal , copyright 2000

online reference:  http://www.orchidspecies.com/euanthesanderiana.htm

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