Flora Filipina 2012 : More Fun in Growing Native Plants

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City -Philippines

Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society Incorporated  PNPCSI exhibit booth was done by the tandem of Architect Patrick Gozun , Mr. Anthony Arbias  and some plants were supplied by Jardin Isabel .

Dischidia oinantha

Being a member of the society, I also took time during the ingress period to help in the mounting of  Dischia oinantha clumps  from the top of the bamboo poles . The hanging plant is commonly called Manaog Ka Irog , Hanging coin vine . This is also widely used in the landscaping of big gardens and popularly grown as a hanging plant on the eves of the homes or hung on big trees.

adobe stone blocks, pebbles, old wooden poles, old railroad woods , bamboo poles and coco coir dust are just some of the materials used in the landscaping.

Although not the most colorful exhibit , the different green color combination of the plants , ferns, native trees and vines ,  style of the landscaping and the wise choice of  native materials like bamboo poles , abaca twine and adobe stones . Truly reflects the mission and vision of the society, which promotes the propagation, preservation and eventual use of our Philippine native  flora species for landscaping in urban centers and parks.

Ardisia pyramidalis (Cav.) Pers

This particular flowering trees had won the ” Best other Genera – Flowering ” exhibited by Mr. Carlos Valeriano C. Lazaro during the show.

Ardisia pyramidalis is locally called  aunasin , rugrusu . This is a small tree which can reach its height up to 8 feet tall . Although is not considered as endemic, it is indigenous also being found in other neighboring countries like Malaysia, Indonesia  and the Philippines.

 farm propagated Phalaenopsis species and other native orchids being sold at  a commercial stall .

I have seen that there is growing awareness from the public the need to cultivate native plants not just to collect them in the wild but to propagate them in local nurseries using modern and traditional techniques in propagation.

 Dendrobium anosmum with its 7- feet long canes

Locally called Sanggumay orchid, This is one of the old -time favorite among Filipinos not just in the city but all throughout the country. This orchid is widely grown in the backyard and is believed to bring good luck and fortune to those growing them. Its raspberry scent can be a bit nauseating for some,  Hence the Tagalog etymology  was derived from ” sangsang ” and ” umay ” or  nakaka-gumay .  This orchid species used to be found growing natural on big trees  in Novaliches area several decades ago, until the rapid development of the place after the second world war.

Medinilla magnifica

Locally known as Kapa-kapa because of the cape hood-like  flower bracts, Hence the Tagalog etymology  is  ” Kapa ” which  surround  its flowers .  The genus of Medinilla has about  is about 140 to 160 species which is widespread to the tropical regions of the Old World.

The genus was named after Juan de Medinilla governor of the Mariana islands in 1820.

This plant can reach more than 2 meters (6 feet) tall and is considered by horticulturalists to be a “shrub”. In tropical climates like those in Laguna they can  grow larger than 2  meters.

Often found as an epiphytic form (growing on trees) in  Philippines, Medinilla magnifica possesses deep green leaves that are thick, waxy, rich and very glossy.  Leaves reach about a foot long and have pale green veins.  Its small pink bracts (flowers) spring from “berries” that bear seeds and are produced throughout spring and summer in pendulous fashion.

For more information about Flora Filipina 2012 show , Here are some of the links:

https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/flora-filipina-2012-ornamental-exhibits/

 https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/flora-filipina-2012-exhibits/

 https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/flora-filipina-2012-opening-highlights/

 https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/flora-filipina-2012-pre-opening/

 

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Flora Filipina 2012 Ornamental Exhibits

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City- Philippines

The Flora Filipina ornamental exhibits are  superbly landscaped by some of the top  industry  practitioners using their own plant collections.  Some of them had accumulated  their plant collection over several years, while some collectors are into plant collecting for several decades.

                   Tillandsia capitata variety ” Peach “

An array of Tillandsia capitata variety  ” Peach ” on display . Originally found in the jungles of Mexico, Cuba , Guatemala , parts of Florida and Latin America. Now , plant aficionados of this rare peach / pink form  from all over the world  collects and propagate this variety.  There are some serious collectors of this variety  from the Philippines ! This is one of the “must have” if you are into Tillandsia plant  collecting.

“Gardening in the City “exhibit won Third Place  ” Best in Ornamental Plant  Landscape “

This exhibit above  showcase rare ornamental ferns like Platycerium species imported from Africa and Asia.  Rare Tillandsia species and its hybrids, variegated  Zamioculcas zamiifolia , Aglaonema hybrids .

Zamioculcas zamiifolia has become a popular plant in recent years though the species has been known to science for over a century,  ( However it didn’t really enter the horticultural industry until around ten to fifteen years ago, While it became popular in the Philippines only about 7 or 8 years ago introduced  by plant traders coming from Bangkok and Taiwan ) The plant can  unbelievably tolerant of a wide range of conditions. It is now extensively grown in the country  since the plant can withstand indoor growing conditions and can be readily propagated with the use of of old leaves.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia grown as an indoor house plant

The plant is called under different names,  The most popular were “good luck plant” , zz plant – taken from the initials of the genus name and binomial name, fat boy, money plant, zu -zu plant , zamzibar gem, ever green plant, timbuktu gem,  card board gem , feng shui green, Taiwan green zem  among others !!!

Some of the enterprising people would also put red and yellow ribbons ties on its leaves to make the plant more attractive. During last month Chinese New Year celebration in Binondo . Filipino- Chinese bought a lot of these potted plant for obvious reason.

Aglaonema ” Red Majestic ”  won  ” Best in Aroid- A ” category

 Aglaonema is locally called ” La Suerte ” or ” Buenas Suerte ” plants . The name was derived from the Spanish word  lucky , auspicious  or good . There are some 40 species of Aglaonema of foliage plant in the  family of Araceae.

  old variety of Aglaonema

Some people also called this plant variety as ” Chinese Evergreens” since the original species are evergreen. In the 1970’s to late 1980’s  Asian plant collectors went crazy over this plant . Some of them tried exploring the forest of Malaysia, Thailand , Indonesia  while there are some species that was discovered in Tanay, Rizal in the Philippines.

When the craze was over, plant breeder in Thailand , Indonesia , Taiwan and other parts of the world begun experimenting on several species and its hybrids which resulted in the current red, pink , yellowish and other colors.

More Fun on Fern exhibit

This exhibit was done by a team of workers of Mr. Modesto Manglicmot – a well known Pteridophyte ( fern) collector , bonsai, ornamental plant , furniture and vintage car collector.

” Tropical Plants from Bacolod ” by Mrs. Celia Pandong won the Second Prize for ” Best in Ornamental Plant Landscape “

MassKara is coined from two words: Mass, which means “many, or multitude,” and Kara, a Spanish word for “face,” thus MassKara is “a mass or multitude of smiling faces.” One of the most famous festivals in the Philippines today.

different face masks complete with native baskets and throw pillows accentuate the tropical garden landscape of Bacolod city  .

Perhaps the happiest festival in the country, it rose from the gloom that enveloped the city in 1980s, a period of tragedy and economic dislocation.

Ms. Vangie Go  landscape exhibit ” Arya Abra ” won the First Place in the ” Best in Ornamental Plant Landscape “

Ms. Evangeline ” Vangie ” B.  Go landscape exhibit entitled ” Arya Abra ” which reminds  her of  Abra, Her home province .

old jars serve as additional garden accents along with rare ferns and ground orchids

The exhibit had old wooden poles,  capiz window panels  , furniture ,  old-jars , old bottles , native baskets and adobe stones to complete the garden set- up.

Ms.  Vangie is one of the few Filipino individuals in the horticultural community that is respected  internationally. Her worldwide fame had led  international breeders to name plant hybrids in her honor. She is also known to bid for rare plants in the international plant auctions  whenever she goes abroad .

This plant won three major prizes during the Flora Filipina 2012 expo, exhibited by Ms. Vangie B. Go

BEST IN SHOW – ORNAMENTAL PLANT

BEST MUTANT

BEST CULTURED ORNAMENTAL PLANT

Name of plant: Anthurium hookerii x marie

WOW Bountiful Bohol exhibit won First Place ” Best in Bonsai Exhibit”

The award winning bonsai exhibit was landscaped by Mr. Romy Dino . Majority of the award winning bonsai trees were from the personal collection of Mr. Manuel and Ms. Susan Lee of Makati City who were bonsai aficionados before they joined the Philippine Orchid Society in 2007 .

“A Garden of One’s Own “exhibit showed several bromeliads , ferns, tillandsia  species and hybrids.

Another eye catching exhibit was done by Ms. Doreen and Mr. Rene Dofitas of Bacolod City .  They are internationally known for their bromeliad hybridization and are considered Tillandsia experts . The husband and wife tandem are frequent speakers in horticulture shows .

a lady in Philippine terno  bedeck with an array of  Tillandsia ionantha , Tillandsia schiedeana, Tillandsia usneoides

Tillandsia usneoides was used as a wig in the lady mannequin . Locally called buhok ni ester ( hair of ester ) or buhok ni sabel ( hair of sabel) The plant looked -like an entangled mass of grey hairs  .  This tillandsia species was said to have been introduced to the country during the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade in the late 16th century. Most of the plants were used as stuffing in cargoes arriving  from Acapulo, Mexico.

The husband and wife are also well- known collector of rare Tillandsia species . I have bought several varieties of Tillandsia ionantha from the couple during the last Flora 2009 exposition. Their exhibit is one of the most photographed booth in the exposition.  A foreign visitor said ” It was on of the most bizarrely beautiful exhibit that i have seen ”  .

Note: All photos are taken by the author, any person who wish to use them for any reason can take them , but please cite this blog or link as a source.

For those who wanted to be update with Flora Filipina 2012 expo, Here are the links to other articles :

https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/flora-filipina-2012-exhibits/

https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/flora-filipina-2012-opening-highlights/

https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/flora-filipina-2012-pre-opening/

Flora Filipina 2012 Orchid Exhibits

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City- Philippines

In line with the Flora Filipina’s theme of this year , All  landscape exhibit in the exposition area represented a particular geographical area, fiesta , province or farm.

 Malvarosa Orchid won First Place  for the ” Best in Orchid Landscape ”

Malvarosa Orchid Farm from  Malvar, Batangas adopted the theme ” Fiesta Time is Fun ”  with festive buntings, bamboo arch  and bamboo plant holder . On the background is a typical bahay kubo or nipa -hut found in rural areas throughout the country.

a group of college students  from Arellano University – Pasay branch and their professor had their educational trip to the site.

Colorful mokaras, oncidium, doritis and cattleya hybrids were used in the exhibit . While  most of the cattleyas  were hybrids made by Dr. Hernando B. Perez himself.  He started growing cattleya orchids in the  late- 1970’s . According to Dr. Perez, He started growing orchids that were given to him  by his colleagues.  He then started to  collect cattleya species during his travel abroad from Costa Rica , Mexico, Hawaii , Thailand and Singapore.

BLC. Cory Aquino was named after the former Philippine president

This orchid hybrid was bred by Dr. Hernando B. Perez ( former cabinet member, congressman , and now the president of University of Batangas )

Website Link : http://www.ub.edu.ph/

He started to breed his own ” celebrity ” orchids and naming them after famous people, celebrities like Ms.  Christine Bersola -Babao ( a television host, news presenter ) , Governor Vilma Santos-Recto ( governor , movie actress, singer and celebrity) , former president Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino ( president of the Philippines 1986 to 1992) .

Purificacion Farm won Second Place for the ” Best in Orchid  Landscape ”

“Harvest Time in Cavite ”  was adopted by the tandem of  Mrs. Corazon Purificacion and Mrs. Anna Purificacion- Conde . Their farm is located in the town of Alfonso  near Tagaytay City.   The mild climate is suitable to growing Phalaenopsis orchids, native Philippine orchids , cattleyas and tillandsia species.

The landscape exhibit also showed pineapples, coconuts and bananas which are some of the popular fruits grown in the locality.

Laguna – The province of our national hero”  landscape exhibit

This orchid landscape exhibit was executed by the tandem of Mr. Carlos Valeriano C. Lazaro , Mrs. Mable Chua, Dr. Olivia Sanchez, Ms. Linda Lim all of whom hails from the province of Laguna.  All the orchids, ferns, ornamental plants came from the farms that are found in the province. Laguna takes pride of being the center of horticulture in the south .  Towns like Bay, Cabuyao, Calamba, Los Baños are known for their  thriving horticulture and plant nurseries.

Summer Time in Zamboanga province

 Zamboanga  province may have been founded in the late 12th or early 13th century, with the earliest people living there being the  Subanen / Subanon , an indigenous tribe of  the area . This exhibit highlighted several vandaceous orchids , tillandsias, oncidium hybrids which are the most commonly grown orchids in the peninsula. Favorable weather is conducive in growing these orchid varieties.  Vanda sanderiana / Euanthe sanderiana or Waling-waling is also found in the forest .

A boat was one of the most important accent to this exhibit which signify the importance of boat in their  daily lives, One of the origins of the place is said to be deprived from Sambuan/ Saguan a Malay word for paddle used by the locals for paddling their boat or vinta.

The Subanen people’s name for Zamboanga, ‘Sung Lupa’, means ‘Pointed Land’.  The name of Zamboanga  may have come  from the word ‘Jambangan’, meaning the ‘Land of Flowers’, is met by others insisting the name derives from the word ‘Saguan’ or ‘Sambuan’, A Malay word for the paddle used by natives to paddle the vintas in the sea. Still another possible origin is ‘Sambon’ which refers to herbal plants that grew abundantly in the city.

Site: http://www.zamboanga.net/

Filipiana inspired orchid landscape exhibit won Third Place for the ” Best in Orchid  Landscape”  .

This exhibit focal point is the ‘ Bahay Kubo’ nipa- hut with accents made from different Philippine materials like throw pillows from the town of  Batangas, capiz shell lamps from the Visayas, adobe stone blocks from Rizal,  traviesa wood from old houses from Quezon and Dendrobium orchids from Bulacan, oncidiums from Laguna and cattleya orchids grown from Santo Tomas , Batangas.

This orchid landscape was done by the tandem of Mrs. Mary Ann-Wu, Mrs. Maritess Amante , Mr. Raph Eugenio . Side view of the exhibit

“Best Orchid Showcase landscape exhibit ” by the tandem of Mr. Manuel and Mrs. Susan Lee ,  a smaller than the usual landscape was opened for hobbyists and backyard grower   in order for them a chance to exhibit their collection.

Vanda lamellata variety calayana

Vanda lamellata variety calayana is found in the islands of Babuyan and Calayan islands which is in Cagayan province. This species was described by Dr. Helen L. Valmayor and Mr.  Danny Tiu in Philippine Orchid Review A–V(3): 24. 1983.

Vanda lamellata variety debutante

This orchid variety is exhibited by Mrs. Corazon Purificacion and Mrs. Anna Purificacion-Conde ,  An avid grower of native orchids. Vanda lamellata variety debutante origin is said to have come from the northern provinces of the Philippines . Originally orchid hobbyists  thought of this orchid as  just a bigger version or mutation of the  Vanda lamellata . This orchid variety is  usually exhibited  during  local orchid shows and is available in some orchid nurseries for the past 7 or 8 years. The flower is larger than the ordinary form, longer spike and darker yellow/ creme .

Madayaw sa Davao exhibit

Grammatophyllum multiflorum, vandaceous orchids, Tillandsia species, Vanda sanderiana and its hybirds are exhibited.

The exhibit derives it’s name  from the friendly greeting “Madayaw“, from the Dabawenyo word “dayaw”, meaning good, valuable, superior or beautiful. The festival is a celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living.

For more information about the  Flora Filipina 2012  event expo , please try to visit the links:

https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/flora-filipina-2012-opening-highlights/

https://renz15.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/flora-filipina-2012-pre-opening/

Flora Filipina 2012 Pre-Opening

Hardin ng Bulaklak, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City – Philippines

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak

The preparation in one of the biggest gardening in Metro Manila and perhaps in the country  is slowly on its way , massive tarpaulin posters were hung in several strategic areas within the city, ingress started several days before and tents were set -up by the physical arrangement committee staffs, while electrical lines were also installed at the exhibition site.

 a worker  rush  the Flora Filipina 2012 signage in a vertical garden

Almost everyone is on a hurry and on a massive landscaping spree.  potted plants and live orchids were carefully unpacked , while the plant registration committee members and the SECRETARIAT were also busy in its preparation.

Flora Filipina 2012 tarpaulin poster

Some of the volunteer members were already there since the morning , Plant registration had also begun by noontime.

Commercial section  – some stall holders enjoyed good sales a day before the opening

Everyone who had a quality plant, rare plant ,   big specimen sized plant  and unusual plant  are eligible to join. Unlike other competitions, most of the owners entering their prized-collections wait until the late evening to  wee hours of the morning to register their plants and orchids . It was like a big secret ! For a minimal entry fee , these plant owners carefully unpack their plants.

Ms. Doreen Dofitas puts tillandsia species and other finishing touches on their exhibit booth

This is definitely the venue to exhibit those rare , valuable and specimen sized- plant.  Some of the plants were carefully nurtured and been propagated in farms or in private homes by hobbyists and plant growers.

array of Cattleya hybrids and species

Plants came  from different parts of the archipelago , beautiful cattleyas and cattleya hybrids came from the towns of  Malvar , Lipa and Santo Tomas in  Batangas  province .

Some Cattleya hybrids came from the farms from the towns of  Cabuyao , Calamba and Los Baños in Laguna province . While some came from the farms from the towns of Tagaytay , Amadeo , Silang in  Cavite province .

orchids being unpacked as workers rush the hard-scape of Malvarosa orchid exhibit 

Sanggumay orchids ( Dendrobium anosmum )were brought from Bulacan , Isabela , Kalinga and Batangas provinces.  Bromeliads and its allies from Rizal, Bulacan , Cavite , Quezon and as far as Cagayan de Oro and Davao provinces . A lot of the plants were flown via commercial airplane flights !

Mike Espeso and a friend caught in a light moment while mounting pitcher plants , tillandsia and orchids on a tree stump

Flowering Dendrobium hybrids came from the big farms in Bulacan , Quezon, Batangas and the nearby  Manila Seedling Bank .

Architect Bimbo Santos , Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie” Canicula together with their team of workers in a candid  moment , while doing their landscaping jobs.

Cacti and Succulents were carefully brought to the exhibition site from the personal collections of Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe , Mr. Noel Vincent  ” Botchie ” Canicula , Architect Bimbo Santos, Ms. Aileen Bernal , Arids and Ariods , Atty. Pepito Mercado , Mr. Serapion Metilla and other well-known collectors of these plants.

Specimen sized ferns ,  Some of them have been well-taken cared off for  several years if not decades were brought in to be publicly displayed from the personal collections of Mr. Modesto ” Moody ” Manglicmot of  UP Bonsai Garden , Mr. Serapion Metilla , Mr. George Mendoza , Ms. Vangie Go , Mr. Jun Golamco .

flowering plants on sale at the commercial section

bonsai , suiseki  in stone pedestal are already in place ,  waiting  final touches from the landscaper

workers on their finishing touches and planting of bermuda grass

Prized not only for their beauty and shapes , Bonsai and potted plants from the personal collections of Mr. Manuel Lee and Susan Lee Garden in Makati,  Mr. Vic de Rona personal collection at Lugar la Huerta in Manila Seedling Bank .

Ms. Vangie Go busy arranging her prized anthuriums, bromeliads , variegated plants and other rare collector item plants from different parts of the world.

This Is It !,  By the time i left the exhibition site at around past 7 :00 pm , Most of the exhibits have just started its work  .  Most of the landscape exhibits will be rush by late evening in order to be finish before the 6:00 am deadline tomorrow,  This is just in time before the judging of the exhibits by both local and international plant and landscape jurors at around 8:00 am . Most of the landscaper and owners of the exhibits will literally stay awake until wee hours of the morning. Just like what Mr. German Moreno  ( a famous entertainment host ) would say in his show ” Walang Tulugan ” NO Sleeping .

Flora Filipina 2012

The Philippine Orchid Society is pleased to let you know that the time has come for the restaging of our highly successful “FLORA FILIPINA EXPO” on February 24 to March 5, 2012 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, Philippines.

As you may know by now, the Flora Filipina Expo is the Philippines’ biggest Floriculture event that continues to promote the Philippine Floriculture Industry to the International market with the support of the country’s top garden societies and the Department of Agriculture. It is also the event that gives our local growers the opportunity to learn the latest information and technology to make them globally competitive in the field of floriculture.

Since its first inception in 2006, our local floriculture industry has observed a steady rise in the demand for locally grown high value crops by foreign buyers. More foreign buyers have been seen steadily coming in to tap  our local growers as sources for their floriculture requirements confirming the potential of this industry to be one of our country’s dollar earner like our neighbors Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

poster of Flora Filipina 2012 expo

As in the 1st & 2nd  Flora Filipina Expo this event aims to:

• Launch the Philippine Orchid and Horticultural industries to the world market as a viable source of new and unusual quality plants.
• Unite all local plants producers and organizations and link them up to a par with international trade and help uplift the economic state of the local plant industry.
• Bring in new technology that is needed to advance and sustain the domestic plant industry.
• Keep the local industry updated on new trends and demands in the foreign trade of plants.
• Inform our foreign counterparts of what the local industry has to offer in terms of industry innovations, new breeding directors, scientific studies, new finds, etc.
• Promote awareness and interest in the field of horticulture and for it to be recognized as a viable income generating industry.

Towards this goal, we have several activities lined up.

1. An International Flora Festival, showcasing the rarest and most spectacular plants from the country in magnificent landscape displays. The show will also feature foreign exhibits from other countries, with foreign judges participating in the awards selection.
2. A 2-day conference o horticultural interest, with foreign and local speakers and delegates.
3. A trade show of 150 booths of plant and flower companies, for commercial display and sale.
4. Horticultural tours to private nurseries, tourism areas and collections, available for the delegates to the show. We are also working towards developing horticultural tours that we could make available to tourists on a year-round basis.
5. Special events to drum-up interest in the show. Concert, flower-arranging competition, floral painting, workshops for plant enthusiasts, painting sessions, etc.
6. Social events for the delegations to feature Philippine cuisine, music, dances, and entertainment.

The show features an orchid and landscape competition from among the country’s top collectors, breeders and landscape experts at the sprawling open space exhibition area of Quezon City. The commercial section boasts of about 150 suppliers carrying the widest assortment of plants and garden supplies, as well as other specialty booths from the Society’s partners. Entrance fee is only PhP50.00 for adults and PhP40.00 for students and senior citizens with valid ID. Group discounts will also be available.

This momentous social event is also intended to enhance current or prospect linkages and cooperation among domestic and foreign guests and tourists, government attaches, and visionary garden enthusiasts.

This momentous social event is also intended to enhance current or prospect linkages and cooperation among domestic and foreign guests and tourists, government attaches, and visionary garden enthusiasts.

If you have any questions regarding this event please do not hesitate to call me at mobile phone +63917.8431150 (Evangeline Go), +63906.272.0161 (Kelvin Neil B. Manubay) or the Flora Filipina Secretariat at telephone number (02) 929.44.25 and look for Ms. Dhonnah Masaoy.

Press released by : Philippine Orchid Society

Website: http://www.philippineorchidsociety.com/