Lunch & Tour at the Manila Yacht Club

We were invited by Ms. Mitch Pellicer board member of the League of Orchid Conservationists of the Philippines for a lunch and a brief tour within the historic Manila Yacht Club, this was after the successful opening of the Flores de Mayo last May 14. His husband family is a member of the yacht club.

Photo courtesy of Ms. Mitch Pellicer, group photo

This is not my first time to visit this place, Since there are collecting clubs which held their monthly meetings and auction at this historic place.

Manila Yacht Club 

There are some protocols that one must bear in mind , when visiting the club. like proper dress code .

Manila Yacht Club historical marker

dining and meeting area

We arrived shortly before 12:00 noon, just in time for the lunch . There are few members dining the restaurant and we got the place almost to ourselves . There is an enclosed area with air-condition were the group ate the lunch.

Lunch Meal

fried calamares, garlic bread and buttered shrimps

sinigang with raddish and eggplant

I liked the sinigang soup which had a mild spicy flavor

pinakbet 

fried chicken

pancit canton

crispy pata

dessert

Then after the sumptuous lunch , we were given a grand tour of the docking area of the yacht and boats.

boats and yachts

former governor singson boat

The group end the sight seeing tour after about an hour or so

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Flores de Mayo Exhibit at Orchidarium

National Parks Development Committee, Department of Tourism in partnership with League of Orchid Conservationists of the Philippines (LOPHIL) will be having an exhibit and bazaar at the Orchidarium within Rizal Park.

It used to house the collection of Madam Amelita “Ming” Ramos but has been neglected for quite sometime. There will be a landscape exhibition and contest, as well as sellers of plants. Participants come from different parts of the country. Judging of landscapes, opening of exhibits will be on May 14 ,2017morning, followed by 9-days of plant selling (14-22).

The event is called ” Flores de Mayo ” which will showcase blooming flowers this May. There will also be a ceremonial presentation of Dendrobium orchid hybrids named after the president.

League of Orchid Conservationists of the Philippines Christmas Party and Eyeball

718 Quirino Ave. Tambo, 1701 Parañaque City 

A simple get together of friends and colleagues organize by League of Orchid Conservationists of the Philippines ( LOC-Phil ) with over 800 members FB close page at the office of UniBall . Doc John flew in from Bacolod, Mr. Jim Basaysay , Mr. Peter Paolo Rivera and the rest of the members came.

group photo

The event started at around past 10:00 am with an opening remarks from the president of the organization . The close knit group hosted several free lectures ,talks and  orchid laboratory seminar  in partnership with the Philippine Horticultural Society , Inc.

The Lechon de Cebu, Paella Marinara, Roasted Chicken and Fern Paco Salad was served. For Dessert was Fresh Pineapples, Piyaya and Butterscotch were sponsored by LOC-PHIL board members.

special piaya 

lechon 

paella

LOC-PHL supporter and stalwart member Ms. Mitch Pellicer also brought 1 whole lechon and her home-made paella .

lechon manok with sauce

There were a lot of foods brought by the members  . There were games , on the spot talk about the future projects of the organization and raffles.

waling-waling seedlings

Loc-Phil stands firm in its commitment of imparting the next generation with the Love, the knowledge and the dedication of conserving Philippine Native Orchids through is Junior Members, the ” Keiki Club”.

There was a de- flasking demonstration taught to the keikis, orchids planting on the trees and LOCPhil’ s office.

There were simple prizes for the raffle .. (orchid  keikis) from members custodianship collection.. donations for the event.. there was even some karaoke singing

Unfortunately , the author got some unannounced appointment with a relative almost the same time and was not able to make it to the event.

Note : Photos credit: Mr. Niel Maceda and Ms. Mitch Pellicer

Happy Orchid Growing and Conservation !

 

League of Orchid Conservationists Philippines: Thanksgiving Celebration

Philippine Horticultural Society office- Quezon Memorial Circle , Quezon City-Philippines

League of Orchid Conservationists Philippines ( LOC-PHIL) members in partnership with Philippine Horticultural Society Inc. ( PHSI) gave a thanksgiving celebration held at the PHSI office yesterday .

members and guests

LOC-Phil organization started as an informal grouping among young professionals, students, backyard hobbyists , enthusiasts , academe about a year or so ago, mostly interested on native orchid conservation and its cultivation.

The aim of the organization is to have a laboratory and an area for native orchids and plant enthusiasts conservatory where there the exquisite beauty can be appreciated .

native orchids, medinillas , mutant ferns were given by Mr. Ramon Callado for raffle to the attendees

There are some members of the society which have started their own ( DIY) Do it Yourself -laboratory and is actively propagating some valuable native orchid species and plant species .

plants donated by Arids and Aroids

The simple party  meet and greet aims people with same passion over orchids and plants to exchange pleasantries .

Ms. Jo Quimpo, Prof. Fernando Aurigue Jr. and Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe

Tita Adoracion S. Bernabe ( President of the PHSI) and its board members allowed the use of PHSI office for the event. She also sponsored the sumptuous lechon while some PHSI members brought their homemade cuisine and regional delicacies.

Mrs. Alice Javier

There are about 40 to 50 people who came at the party. The atmosphere is very light and everyone is on a light mood.

I also had the opportunity to get some important information about the upcoming 40th anniversary and upcoming HortiKultura Extravaganza 2016 from February 4 to 15, 2016 at the Tropical Garden within Quezon Memorial Circle.

paella

Special mention are the cassava cake brought from Batangas, Piyaya from Dr. John Clifton Martyr, Lumpiang ubod, Kare-Kare and Glazed Chicken  of Ms. Baby de Leon , Paella cooked by Ms. Mitch Frankenberger Pellicer and Mr. Ray Ong among others.

special piaya

We also brought a box of Sponge or Chiffon Cake from Salazar bakery as part of our contribution to the event. Everyone seems very happy with the plant loot . I got Phalaenopsis equestris and Asplenium nidus variety leytensis donated by Mr. Ramon Calado.

2016 Special Calendar Book about Philippine orchid species printed by Manila Bulletin

A special 2016 Calendar book on Native Philippine orchid species were printed by Manila Bulletin in which proceeds of the sale will go to the conservation and laboratory for native orchids of the organization . The calendar is being sold for just Php 150 each .

For orders : Mr. Joel Dela Cruz (northern Metro Manila )

(0917) 539 7247 GLOBE

Mr. Niel Maceda ( southern Metro Manila ) 09062251574

Special mention are Mr. Jim Cootes for uniting everyone under Loc-Phil with his works and his books and Mrs. Adoracion Bernabe for being the wind underneath our wings.

Note:  The organization would like to extend their warmest ” THANKS ” to all the unsung heroes and benefactors whether local or foreigners for the past year of its existence. Maraming Maraming Salamat Po !

A Guide to Dendrobium of the Philippines : Book Launching and Autograph Signing

Tropical Gardens, Quezon Memorial Circle- Quezon City , Philippines

Ms. Jo Quimpo, Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe, Mr. Jim Cootes and Dr. Romeo Gutierrez

The Philippines is considered as one of the centers of biodiversity for the genus. Home to at least 110 species which represents about 8 to 10% of the over 1,200 plus Dendrobium species that are found over a wide range of habitats . The Philippine Horticultural Society in partnership with Mr. Jim Cootes, League of Orchid Conservationists Philippines and other garden clubs and societies were invited to the grand launching held yesterday at the Tropical Garden within Quezon Memorial Circle.

Mr.Mickey Bustos

  Mr. Mickey Bustos ( you tube, Internet sensation and television celebrity ) together with some of his friends. I think they were scouting for a place to shoot his latest  video. People around the vicinity instantly recognized him and followed him wherever he went.

  Dr. John Clifton Martyr and  Ms . Mitch Frankenberger Pellicer emcee of the event

Ms. Ofelia Gelvezon- Tequi

Ms. Ofelia Gelvezon- Tequi is an avid orchid collector and represented the French Orchid Society

Dr. Nelson T. Geraldino

Dr. Nelson T. Geraldino is from University of the Philippines – Manila , an avid Philippine orchid species collector, photographer, professor and doctor by profession. He had a  collection of wide array of native orchid species ( and photographs)  that were featured in several international publication, magazines and calendars.

 ( LOC-PHIL ) League of Orchid Conservationists -Philippines members

Quote:”  Just came in from PHSI, where I introduced a person who needs no introduction. He brought a couple of orchid publications from Sydney, Australia, Orchids Australia February 2015 issue, where an article of his showed three of my photos of Bulbophyllum papulosum, and Orchid Digest July-Sept 2014 issue, where an article of his showed four photos of my Coelogynes. I got to have a free signed copy of Dendrobinae of the Philippines, where nine of my photos were published. Thank you very much, Jim Cootes . ”

League of Orchid Conservationists Philippines

L-R Mr. Christopher Castillo, Ms. Rowena Aben Daquioag, Mr. Joel dela Cruz and Mr. Niel Maceda

Architect Andrew Patrick Gozon

Mr. Andrew Patrick Gozon is an architect , professor, book author , tropical fish collector, native trees advocate and a blogger.

Doctor John Clifton Martyr

Doctor John Cliffon Martyr is a long time Philippine orchid species collector . I met him several times at the Philippine Orchid Society shows . He is also breeding some orchids species native to his home province.

Mr. Jake Gaw and Ms. Ressie Paz-Navarro

Mr. Jake Gaw is the current president of Fern and Nature Lovers Society of the Philippines and ( Avilon Zoo)  . He is an avid animal , fish , orchid and fern collector. Ms. Ressie Paz Navarro is also a exotic animal and native orchid species collector.

Mr. Dennis Dy Kho

Mr. Dennis Dy Kho – He is a car enthusiast,  blogger, internet shop owner, stamp ,  fish and now native orchid collector .

Atty. Bom Gomez ( Plant Chaser)

Atty. Bom Gomez is a plant enthusiasts,  blogger and orchid species collector.

Website: http://www.plantchaser.com/

Mr. Dennis Umali

Mr. Dennis Umali is from Cavite area.  He had several dozens of native orchid species in his home.

Mr. Kurt Tan

Tita Baby de Leon catering staffs

The food were catered by Tita Baby de Leon , resident caterer. Some of the members brought siopao, native delicacies ,  cupcakes , piyaya, biscuits ,noodles ,  pop corn and puto .

biscuits

pastries

Every member of the organization had contributed something from setting of tents , shelling out money  for catering services, bringing foods and regional delicacies which reflect the BAYANIHAN style of preparation.  The mood was very festive and everyone had the opportunity to meet on-line friends .

fried banana flower chips

piyaya and biscuits

maja blanca

egg pancit

sapin-sapin

 ( Sweet Lab) Puto Macapuo from Novaliches, Quezon City

fried chicken loli pop

fried lumpia ( spring rolls)

brownies

sliced carrots, picama ( singkamas) young beans and cucumber

Ms. Rowena Aben Daquioag holding her famed cupcakes

 For bulk orders : 0922-3807118

Note: The book is finally out of the press,  I will rank this book at 8.75 – I wish it could be hardbound for several reasons . For schools and public libraries which may purchase this book , soft bound book tend to tear easily . Sanggumay- ( Dendrobium anosmum ) only three varieties were mentioned in pages- 28,29 and 30.  Based on other orchid journals and magazine – There was around 5 to 7 varieties ( hope the author focused more on the other variation ) . Sanggumay is one of the most observed , studied and cultivated species and I think there is no reason why the author limited his description to just three.   Photography is  quite superb.

Cultural requirements and  synonyms were  not mentioned, despite some of the Dendrobium species are widely cultivated. Conservation status is also not mentioned . The 142 pages book is worth buying especially those collect and study Philippine native orchid species. This is quite handy