Soft Opening of Arid and Aroids Living Gallery in Cavite

It was sunny day on May 29 when we visited the soft opening of Arid and Aroids ( AA) Living gallery in Cavite. Traffic was moderate along Mindanao Avenue exit within Barangay Talipapa, Novaliches, Quezon City.

It took us a little over 2 hours traversing the newly opened Metro Manila skyway en route to the province.

This is one of the three known farm location of Arid and Aroids, San Rafael in Bulacan and in Quezon province.

l-r Dr. Jae Silvestre, Mr. Boyet Ganigan and Mayor Socorro ” Corie” Rosario Poblete of Silang , Cavite province

Arid and Aroids Living Gallery

Arid and Aroid Living Gallery entrance

Arid and Aroids Living Gallery is like a living botanic collection of over 30 years by the dynamic tandem of Mr. Boyet Ganigan, Dr. Jae Silvestre and their families. The rare plants is collected from all over the world and meticulously propagated under their farms.

A lot of their plants are award winning collection and highly coveted by many collectors not just in the country but the rest of the world.

The last time we have visited the farm was for the Christmas salu-salo way back in 2019. The 1 hectare location is slowly being developed into world class attraction ideal venue location for pre-wedding nuptial photo, wedding location, intimate parties, outdoor garden setting, corporate events, product launching, debut among others.

The natural contour and landscape setting makes it different from other venue places in the province.

One of the invited guest suggested at they can also open a bar or an art gallery of paintings. There are also in house promo and raffle draw for those guests and buyers. The overall mood was festive but subtle due to the covid 2019 restrictions under general community quarantine with restrictions at National Capital Region plus Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna area.

Celebrity Guests

Mr. Troy Montero and Ms. Aubrey Miles

Mayor Socorro ” Corrie” Rosario Poblete, Vice Mayor Aidel Paul G. Belamide, some councilors and barangay officials were the special guests of honor.

We also happen to see the well known social media and fellow blogger Plant Chaser ( Atty. Bom Gomez) who went together with his daughter.

Mr. Troy Montero and Ms. Aubrey Santos Sandel, Ms. Gretchen Fullido, Mr. Emilio Yap III of Manila Bulletin were among the special guests during the soft opening.

Mr. Boyet Ganigan along with Mr. Emil Yap III and companion during the soft opening

Since strict protocol and health guidelines were in place, there were few on the guest lists. But this is very promising, The place is located within 20 kilometers from Tagaytay City.

La Dexie’s Catering Services

The guests, buyers and friends of Arid and Aroid were treated to a whole day of fun, camaraderie and food. The lunch meal were catered by La Dexie’s Catering Service from Cainta, Rizal province.

#10 Corona Street, Brookside Hills Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal province

Contact : 0920-919-2033 / Landline 8655-5867 or 8656-3894

AA Living Gallery – Address Barangay Tartaria , Silang Cavite

Operations : Everyday 8:00am to 5:00pm by appointment

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Reopening of Sidcor Eton Centris Sunday Market

It was December 6, 2020 when the famed Sidcor Eaton Centris Walk Sunday market bazaar had finally reopens their business to the general public.

This was after more than 8 months of non-operation due to the coronavirus 2019 lockdown. Since the organizers had to observe strict social distancing rules set aside by IATF, Quezon City local government regulations.

a marshal check on one’s temperature, physical distancing, face mask ,face shield and hand sanitation

Fewer that the pre-covid 2019 stall were able to get stalls within the sunday market. From between 400 to 430 stalls before March 15, 2020 the stalls only numbers about 200 which was just 50% few months ago.

Hand sanitizers, an area to wash and bigger stalls were present at the sunday market.

Centris Walk

Sidcor Eton Centris Sunday Market

Eros & Beamth hand made soaps

It is quite good to finally see again some old time vendors selling their products and to hear some of their stories. One of such seller is Eros and Beamth hand made soaps.

Dining area

Yan Ching-Original Fresh Chinese Lumpia

We were quite happy to see that our “suki” Fresh Chinese lumpia / vegetable spring roll is still around. the price of their well-loved lumpia had increased from last March.

We ordered some lumpia rolls and ate them at the dining area.

Bibingka

poinsettias , tillandsia, bromeliads, ornamental plants and flowering orchids are for sale at this stall

Plant Section

Brendz Garden

There are some familiar faces and stalls at the Sunday market , but it was not that lively and not many stalls compared 8 months ago. Ms. Brenda had a lot of ornamental plants , tillandsias, bromeliads, aglaonema for sale.

variegated ficus elastica

Business is still quite slow during the duration of our visit. First visited the sunday market on December 6 then December 13, 2020.

crotons

Hoya publicalyx

Asplenium musifolium aka bird’s nest fern, dapong babae for sale

different types of bromeliads, guzmanias and aechmea in bloom

Microsorum and Huperzia phlegmaria on sale

A specimen sized Microsorum and Huperzia phlegmaria / tassel fern growing together. This was later bought by a doctor.

The sellers are also quick to showcase their plants for sale and hope that they will have bigger sales in the upcoming weeks.

Opening of AgriKultura Farmers Market in Goodwill Homes 1, Novaliches

AgriKultura Farmers Market open to serve customer who lives within Goodwill Homes 1 in Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City

The farmers market used to be known as Doris Wong Chinese Food stall before the coronavirus 2019 lock down last march.

AgriKultura Farmers Market

The concept of the AgriKultura Farmer Market is to bring fresh vegetables, meat, poultry, spices, fish, fruits and basic food essentials like rice, sugar, salt, soy sauce, sauce, cooking oil, honey to the general public who had a hard time buying fresh produce in public market at a reasonable price.

Mr. Narco Atienza -manager of AgriKultura Farmers Market

There are two sections of the market, one caters to retail/ per kilo and wholesale- those purchasing per sack or more.

The organizers are planning to add live potting plants and herbs among other produce in the following weeks.

The farmers market is located just beside Don C Lechon manok and liempo and near Goodwill Homes community center.

Those living within Kingspoint Subdivision, San Pedro IX, Kasiyahan Town homes, Grand Monaco Villas, El Pueblo One condominium, Kingsville (Barangay Bagbag), Goodwill Homes 1, California Village, Sierra Vista, Torres Village (Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon) and immediate surrounding may try to visit this farmers depo.

Note: The author is not the owner and is not connected with the management of the AgriKultura Market

AgriKultura Market

Address : Lot 1, Block 3, Katipunan Avenue,Goodwill Homes 1, Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City

Contact : 0906 430 4599

Operations : Everyday from 5:00am to 9:00pm

Sneak Peek of Master Landscape Artist Yuyung LaO’s Garden

Master Yuyung LaO is a well-known, famous and respected master landscape artist in the country. The group were given a sneak peek at his garden last sunday,despite being a busy person.

several Buddha statues

One of the few landscape artists which drew his inspiration from mother nature, planting materials, natural contour of the land.

aglaonema hybrid

Despite his stature, Master Yuyung LaO is a respected member of plant societies, a simple down to earth person with a lot of ideas and full of artistry.

Master Landscape Projects

Mr. Yuyung LaO together with the group

Some of his project includes the Tropical Garden within Quezon Memorial Circle, private garden within Forbes park, well-known personalities, resorts, venue places in many parts of the country. His contemporaries in Southeast Asia is Mr. Wade Wijaya of Bali, An Australian -Indonesian who had several popular resorts projects.

variegated fern

Another recent landscape project was the recent APEC and ASEAN meet in the country.

staircases going up

I have seen a lot of variegated plants within the property. The landscape is compact with a lot of beautiful plants. Every nook and cranny of the property is very photogenic.

According to the master landscaper, It took him over 20 years landscaping in phases within the 1 hectare of property. He harness the natural creek flowing within the property and natural sloping landscape.

He was able to construct two layers of pond in which giant gouramis and kois lives.  The pond also had a a filter system built on the side of the pond.

variegated dracena

concrete staircase with landscape accents

Another nice feature were the tall tree ferns and epiphytes. The key to his success were irrigation, misting system and right media.

 Buddha statues potteries, owls figurine, turtle figurine are located within the pavilion area

lunch buffet

mini greenhouse

There were at least 1,000 known plant species, cultivar varieties, ferns, begonia, bromeliads,water plants, palms which are cultivated.  He also had a small greenhouse in which is cultivates Phalaenopsis orchid hybrids, ferns and other plants.

begonias

Our group had a fun time at his garden, enjoyed the hearty lunch of grilled tilapia, grilled green mussels, lechong manok, tuna, brownies, orange juice and soft drink.

Yuyung LaO garden, water features and accents

It was a fun filled day of adventure, sight seeing and learning experience. The private garden is located within San Mateo,Rizal province. It is not open to the general public and thus the author cannot reveal the exact location and other contact details.

Note: Maraming Salamat po, for the warm hospitality and sharing your great knowledge

 

Dance Festival and Handicrafts Showcase at the 14th Waterlily Festival

Colorful street dancers participated by different school in Las Piñas ,agricultural products and items made from water hyacinth were showcased at the 14th Waterlily festival.

The festival was well-attended by thousands of residents of the city, guests and foreigners. Senator Cynthia Villar, who started the holding of the festivities in 2006, said the festival through the years, has served the purpose of being the show window for the city’s most talented performers and the most beautiful and creative people.

“We are very proud of this festival which we also hold to express our commitment for a lifestyle that is in harmony with nature and the environment, ” Villar said.

14th Water lily ( Water Hyacinth festival)

Unang Hirit of GMA channel 7

Unang Hirit of GMA channel 7 went to cover the festivities and dozens of media correspondents , bloggers and vloggers were present during the event.

different handicrafts made from water hyacinth

The yearly festivity is participated in by more than 2,000 attendees,tourists and spectators coming from nearby areas like Cavite, Parañaque, Metro Manila and as far as Tanay ( Rizal), Bulacan and Laguna provinces.

coin holder, tissue holder for sale

Villar Sipag booth

baskets, bags, plate holder from water hyacinth

Although the water plant is popularly called waterlily . It is known as water hyacinth or ( Eichhornia crassipes ) which was introduced to the country during the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade in the mid-16th century.

slippers, bags made from stalks of water hyacinth

The water hyacinth became naturalized in waterways and tend to clogged the system during rainy season. When floral foam was not yet popular, water hyacinth stalks are also used by florists for their floral wreath.

Prizes

Inter-school street dancing competition was held from 6:00am to past 9:00 am. Groups composed of junior highschool students enrolled in the city competed for the following prizes : Champion :Php 50,000, First runner-up, Php 30,000 and Second runner-up for Php 20,000.

high school students in colorful native costumes made from water hyacinth stalks

Winners of the competition was judged according to their water hyacinth costume, props, choreography and technicality.

Mood was festive and people are anticipating next year’s 15th water lily festival 2020.