2nd Flora Filipina Horticultural Expo 2009

Mabuhay and Warm Greetings in the World of Plants!
The Philippine Orchid Society, together with the country’s major horticultural organizations  hosted  the 2nd Flora Filipina International Expo 2009 at Quezon City Hall grounds (Lagoon area) from February 6 to 16, 2009. The theme of the of this year’s event was “Discovering the Best and Rarest Philippine Flora”.

The show partners were the Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry , and Natural Resources Research and Development – DOST, Department of Education Culture and Sports , CHED, National Commission for Culture and the Arts , Quezon City government , City Tourism Authority of Quezon City , Quezon Memorial Circle and various horticultural societies across the country.

Xavier school – one of the campus visited as part of the promotion of the event.

Department of Education Culture and Sports had also endorse the project with memorandum circular 242 series of 2008 issued on October 21, 2008 memorandum circular 242 series 2008.

Part of the publicity and promotion for the show was to invite schools and notable universities to come to the show and as part of the program , Lectures were given for free about basic  orchid and plant care during the campus tour where a lively Q and A portion was delivered .  The orchids and posters were given as part of the promotion during the Flora Filipina Expo. As part of the exchange deals,  some of the universities featured the show in their on-line websites, communities and groups.

Schools and various universities across the country had conducted a field trip into the site . Noticeable universities which had a large contingent were Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila, University of Makati, University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University , National University,  La Salle- Gregorio Araneta University , University of Santo Tomas , Rizal Technological University, Xavier High School , De La Salle, Ateneo de Manila University , Arellano University , University of the East , Colegio de San Lorenzo , Bicol University , Mapua Institute of Technology, Lyceum of the Philippines , Pamantasan ng Pasig , University of the Philippines – Diliman and Laguna among others…

Television live questing was also part of the elaborate publicity of the show like UNTV channel 37 ( program Kay Kuya  and Pundahan ) aired February 2 and 3, 2009. various radio programs also featured the show.

Special mention are Hon. Anna Maria ” Bambi ” Harper ( Intramuros Administration head),   Dr. Jaime An Lim dean  of Institute of Arts and Sciences  , Dr. Juliet Sarabia – head Biology Department-Far Eastern University ( Nicanor Reyes)  Dr. Lorna Basug – University of the East -Recto  and Head of Biology division of Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila whom the author personally met during the show.

Nepenthes truncata an endemic pitcher plant from Mindanao was exhibited

The main objectives of the event is to unite and uplift the ornamental plant industry and showcase what is new, encourage research and production and to disseminate new horticultural technologies and information.
The show is  to be one of Southeast Asia’s biggest gardening and plant event, which envisions to gather under one single international gardening event  horticulturists, flower and plant connoisseurs, collectors or rare plants, traders, suppliers, landscapers, architects,  manufacturers  and traders of  gardening tools, fertilizers, pesticides, garden equipment, environmental government and non-government organizations, private and government universities and colleges, government departments and agencies, foreign embassies, including local and foreign visitors. There will be 120 commercial booths and 60 exhibits featuring an assortment of plants including new hybrids and species..

Flora Filipina conference
The Flora Filipina had a 2-day Scientific Conference on Philippine Plants from February 6 to 7, 2009 at the Bureau of Soils, Visayas Avenue. corner Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City.  which,  there was an organized tour to various plant nurseries and tourist destination in the Laguna, Cavite, Makati , Quezon  and Batangas area.

Special mention to Dr. Benito C. Tan a Filipino Bryophytes ( moss ) expert now based in Singapore , He is also a graduate of FEU summa cum laude and University of the Philippines. who was one of the speaker at the recent 2-day conference.

Opening ceremonies were held on February 5, 2009 with Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., Meralco Chairman Manolo Lopez, and Department of Tourism Undersecretary Cynthia Carreon as guests of honor and dozens of foreign dignitaries and ambassador wives in attendance.

on the spot painting winners ( blue -first place, red-second place, white- third place )

Special  on the spot painting event was organized last February 7, 2009 and participated by public high school students from at least 20 schools around Quezon City . The participants were given a token Php 500.00 by CITAOand cash prizes , ribbons and glass trophies by the Philippine Orchid Society .

Ramon Magsaysay High School students  in Cubao won 2 first prize category. landscape and individual painting category. Notable foreign and local judges were invited.

Best Orchid Landscape Exhibit – first place

Media partners included NBN channel 4, UNTV channel 37, Manila Bulletin , World News,  Greenculture Singapore , Orchid Board , Filipino Forum. net , Market Manila , Tsinoy forum, Asiafinest,  Pinoy Horticulure blog, Abante Tonite , Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Standard , Sulit etc…

Other companies like Allied Botanical Corporation local distributor of Peter’s Osmocote , Goodwill Bookstore , Purificacion Orchids and Ornamental Plants  among others…

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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