3rd Bonsai and Suiseki Alliance of the Philippines 2012 Show

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak , Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City , Metro Manila- Philippines.

Ms. Becky Buenaventura , Mr. David Du – External Vice President , Mrs. Leticia P. Ligon in orange kimona  (President ), Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe in pink  Chinese style Filipiniana  ( Treasurer ) ,  Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales ( six from left ) one of the  guests of honor, Mrs. Rosie Lovely – Romulo -wife of  former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Mr. Bernabe

It was a cloudy and rainy afternoon when i got a chance to get invited to the exclusive opening of the  Bonsai and Suiseki Alliance of the Philippines Show  May 4, 2012 Friday held at the Hardin ng Bulaklak simply called HB garden or Flower garden . I was warmly met by the club’s President Mrs. Leticia P. Ligon and she also gave me a copy of their the souvenir program . This year’s theme ” It’s More Fun in Bonsai and Suiseki In Zen Gardening ” .  Connotes the fun and relaxation  in bonsai cultivation .

Ms. Victoria Camille Tulad a reporter from GMA Channel 7 and QTV channel 11 interviewed Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe and Mrs. Leticia P. Ligon

This year’s show person is Mr. Victorio De Rona Jr. He is fondly called VIC by plant and bonsai lovers .  The group was formed sometime in 2009 and their first show was also held at the Quezon Memorial Circle. The author was fortunate to be invited in their 3 in 1 show  last June 25 , 2010.   The sudden heavy downpour of the afternoon rain did not dampen the mood of the visitors and invited guests .  ” They call it a blessing from the Almighty ” .

a ceremonial  gong beater dress in bagobo costume

The special guests of honor included Quezon City Mayor Herbert ” Bistek ” Bautista ,  Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte , ambassadors wives , diplomatic consulate , and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio -Morales whom is said to be a plant and a bonsai lover .

Mayor Herbert ” Bistek ” Bautista of Quezon City

In an opening speech prepared by the youthful Mayor Herbert Bautista ,  He warmly welcome everyone who attended the event and the need of urban green spaces such as Quezon Memorial Circle .

Mr. Herbert Bautista admiring the different kinds of natural stones on display

        I was shock also to hear from his speech that the old house of former President  Manuel L. Quezon in New Manila will be dismantled and will be re-located within the QMC to be renamed Manuel L. Quezon presidential museum . According to Mr. Bautista , The house and lot is being sold by the immediate family member who needed medical assistance .  President Manuel L. Quezon stayed in that house for several months .

L-R Professor Serapion Metilla, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales and Ms. Becky Buenaventura lightning the candle ceremony

According to the event organizers,  They had to keep a low key  on their guest of honor , since there are several threats in her life.

L-R Mr. David O. Du, Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe , Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales , Mrs. Leticia P. Ligon and Ms. Becky Buenaventura appreciate the different suiseki on display

The author being well- entrenched in the horticultural community kept mum on this issue and decided to have a news black -out on the information .  I guess being an Ombudsman  does have a pit falls in going to a public events  like a bonsai  show  . It was for her safety and security that the organizers decided not to announce her as  guest of honor in their  publicity .

Professor Serapion Metilla showing his exhibit

The show attracted about 70 commercial plant stall holders selling a variety of bonsai, potteries and gardening equipments .

exhibit booth landscape by Architect Bimbo Vergara

The talented landscaper exhibitor  included Mr. Constancio Basis , Mr. Vicente Ferrer, Mr. Benedict Dela Cruz , Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie ” Canicula, Mr. Sonny Luna, Mr. Cliff Coloma, Mr. Jesz ” Bimbo ” Vergara , Mr. Jonathan Commendador and Mr. Jhun Llaga .

This suiseki is one of the most photographed exhibit

The natural stone above is one of  the most photographed item on exhibit , some think this is a phallic object .

a miniature bonsai

There will be daily seminar-workshops throughout the duration of the show. On May 5, 3 p.m., Professor Li Tiong Hong will conduct a bonsai workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. Then from 3 to 5 p.m. he will demonstrate Bonsai Branching Techniques.

Pemphis  acidula or locally called Bantigue won the top prize

A century-old Batigue bonsai emerged as overall winner or ” Best in Show” at the  Bonsai and Suiseki  Alliance Show and Competition .  The owner not only earned the top prizes and  but also accolades from bonsai collectors and hobbyists .

Dr. Ronnie Ramos of Cabanatuan Bonsai Society received the award for ” Best in Show ” award from Mrs. Leticia P. Ligon – President of BSAPI 

The bantigue tree , nurtured by Dr. Ronnie Ramos of Cabanatuan Bonsai Society in Nueva Ecija, impressed the judges with its shape, dramatic effect and presentation, including the pot used. The judges included  well-known international bonsai masters from Taiwan and Indonesia.

miniature village with small trees and plants

The other winners were: garden bonsai, Michael Santiago; penjing, Tonette Gedang; tropical bonsai, Dorie Bernabe; small bonsai, Sonny Luna; best fruiting, Dr. Alexander Rodriguez; forest, Ana de Rona; literati, Ligon; exposed roots, Charlie Miranda; windswept, Benedicta Galgana; cascade, Juan Lim; and rockgrown, Erwin Fabros.

Seminars and Workshop

Other speakers in succeeding days include  Mr. Al Villareal on Basic Bonsai; Mr. Vic de Rona on Zen Garden; Professor  Serapion Metilla on Indoor and Vertical Landscaping; DENR representative on PAWD CITES Regulations; Fernando Aurigue on Use of Gamma Rays in Plant Variety Development; Professor Serapion Metilla on Innovative Bonsai; and Mr.  Elmer Villareal on Guide on Selection and Appreciation of Suiseki. There will also be an on -the spot painting contest on May 6, 2012.

table arrangement courtesy of  Chef Velmor – Purple Dish Catering

representatives from QC parks , event organizers ,  Allied Botanical Corporation (one of the major advertiser in the souvenir program)

The author would like to thank  all the organizers , caterer ( Purple Dish Catering and Chef Velmor ) for the sumptuous meal ,  wonderful and relaxing time visiting the  bonsai and suseki alliance  opening . Until the next show !

Sources:

Souvenir Program , 2012 The Bonsai & Suiseki Alliance of the Philippines Incorporated

Office of the Ombudsman  : http://www.ombudsman.gov.ph/index.php

Purple Dish Catering : http://www.purpledishcatering.com/

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Amazing display of Cactus and Succulent

Cactus ,  succulent enthusiasts , plant lovers and garden enthusiasts were in for a visual attraction as the officers and members of the Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines (CSSP) organized a grand display of their rarest , most coveted  and favorite plants. As part of the program,  instead of the usual cutting of ribbons ceremony a unique opening presentation untying of garland was  made from a succulent plant scientifically named  Dischidia oiantha or commonly called as  (Tagalog :  Manaog ka Irog) . This versatile plant is a favorite hanging plant in almost every homes throughout the country. The theme of the show was ” Gardening for a Better Environment” .

The event was formally opened by Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., together with  Ms. Joy Belmonte, president of the Quezon City Ladies Foundation, Quezon City  councilor– Mr. Jorge “Bolet” Banal Jr., with Vice Mayor – Mr. Herbert Bautista , presidents of major plant societies across the country were present last November 20,2010 at around 4:00 p.m.

VIP guests posed for a souvenir shot

The opening and awarding  program was held at the Mabini Hall inside the premises of the Quezon Memorial Circle in cooperation with the Quezon Memorial Circle Administration headed by a Engineer Zaldy dela Rosa and the  Quezon City government . There was a live musical numbers by the tandem Peter and Vangie which serenaded the  members and guests of the society.

An interesting display of cactus dish garden ( keeping the Christmas season)

Media partners -Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, bloggers  among others .

The various lectures and demonstrations  attracted many plant lovers, students, and enthusiasts. Commercial participants included an array of  ornamental and flowering plants, cacti and succulents, fruit trees, garden materials, Suiseki or Natural stones, organic fertilizers, natural medicine, bonsai plants, antique furniture, Christmas  décor,  orchids, ferns, garden tools and equipment etc.., While the daily raffles of plants , soy sauce , cellphone, home furniture and other items were a big crowd drawer for the event !

CSSP -President Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe

In 2006 , CSSP  organized a xerophyte (cactus and succulent) garden show.This year can be judged as one of the best show so far. Members and guests have exhibited their best and rarest collections which  competed  for the top honors. The judges did not have an easy time of determining which are the best from all the entries. For the first time in CSSP, a  landscape competitions for  ornamental and flowering plants. The judges, headed by Mr.  Kevin G. Belmonte and  Dr. Nena Evidente among others , eventually came out with the following winners.

Mr. Herbert Bautista was given a cactus dish garden as a token of the society for gracing the event.

President’s Landscape booth – Mrs. Adoracion S. Bernabe ( a non-competing booth )

The grand top placers are the following: the Best Plant in Show and also the Best Succulent was a caudiciform plant, the Dioscorea machistachys — sometimes called the “turtle back” plant — owned by Anna Ruth Conde and Cora Purificacion of the Purificacion Garden. The Best Cactus was given to an Astrophytum ornatum, “Fukuryu,” was won by Mrs. Rebecca C. Buenaventura ( CSSP) Corporate Secretary .

Winners of the garden show

The following groups were adjudged winners:

Dish Garden Competition

First place – Group 5, head: Becky Buenaventura, members: Elvie Peczon, Julie Hipolito, and Reuben Almazan

Second place – Group 2, head: Aireen Bernal, members: Nolie Perez, Jeff Patiag, and Chit Rufo

Third place – Group 3, head: Tess Gomez, members: Elisa Montecastro, Vicky Valle, Siony Ng, and Charing Tiongco.

Cacti And Succulent Landscape Competition

First place – Arid and Aroids, owned  byMr. Boyet Ganigan and Dr. Jay Silvestre

Second place winner

Second place – DAP Garden owned by Mr. Daniel  Palentinos

Third place – Mett’s Plants Arts, owned by Mr. Serapion Metilla

Ornamental Plant Landscape Competition

King Louis Flowers and Plants- First Place

First place – King Louis Flowers and Plants, executed by Francis Gener

Second place – Constel Nature’s Garden, owned by proprietor Tansing Bais

Third place – Purificacion Orchids by Anna Ruth Conde and Cora Purificacion

Best Ornamental Plant

Aglaonema “Dona Carmen,” owned by the Purificacion Orchids

Here are the results of the other categories for the Cacti and Succulents table exhibit :

Astrophytum

First place – Astrophytum ornatun variety “Fukuryo” owned by Becky Buenaventura

Second place – Astrophytum ornatum owned by Mr. Botchie Canicula

Third place – Astrophytum myriostigma Hakuun hybrid owned by Becky Buenaventura

Other Globular Cacti

First place – Frailea cataphracta, owned by Nolie Perez

Second place – Echinocereus grusonii owned by Eliane Daclis

Third place – Ferocactus latispinus owned by Sally Obien

Mammillarias

First place – Mammillaria sp. owned by Lily Ann Tan

Second place – Mammillaria sp. owned by Anna Ruth Conde

Third place – Mammillaria plumose owned by Lily Ann Tan

Clumping Cacti And Succulents

First place – Monadenium reflexum owned by Purificacion Orchids

Second place – Mammillaria elongate rubra owned by Purificacion Orchids

Third place – Mammillaria sp. owned by Botchie Canicula

Columnar Cacti

Mr. Botchie Canicula received the glass trophy

First place – Cepahlocereus owned by Botchie Canicula

Second place – Cereus sp. owned by Botchie Canicula

Third place – Notocactus leninghausii owned by Becky Buenaventura

Monstrous And Crested Forms

First place – Sansevieria “crested Hanii,” owned by Dan Palentinos

Second place – Euphorbia crested owned by Bimbo Vergara

Third place – Euphorbia ingense monstrous owned by Becky Buenaventura

Variegated Cacti And Succulents

First place – Aloe nubilis, variegated, owned by Becky Buenaventura

Second place – Agave potatorum “Kishokan” var. owned by Becky Buenaventura

Third place – Furcraea Variegated owned by Daniel Palentinos

Haworthias

First place – Haworthia cv. tortousa owned by Elaine Daclis

Second place – Haworthia limifolia variegated owned by Elaine Daclis

Third place – Haworthia truncate owned by Aireen Bernal

Aloes/ Gasterias/ Astrolobas

First place – Aloe Nubilis variegated owned by Becky Buenaventura

Second place – Aloe sp. owned by Botchie Canicula

Third place – Gasteria hybrid owned by Becky Buenaventura

Agaves/ Fucreas And Yuccas

First place – Agave potatorum “Kishokan” variegated owned by Becky Buenaventura

Second place – Agave hybrid owned by Bimbo Vergara

Third place – Agave Victoria reginae, variegated owned by Becky Buenaventura

Sansevierias

First place – Sansevieria masoniana owned by Dan Palentinos

Second place – Sansevieria specks owned by Arid and Aroids

Third place – Sansevieria layranos owned by Arid and Aroids

Pachypodium

First place – Pachypodium lamerei owned by Mely Sibayan

Second place – Pachypodium lamerei owned by Purificacion Orchids

Other Caudiciforms And Pachycauls

First place – Dioscorea machystachys owned by Anna Ruth Conde

Second place – Fockea edulis owned by Purificacion Orchids

Epiphytic And Climbing Succulents

First place – Dischidia sp. owned by Tess Baldonado

Second place – Epiphyllum, owned by PHSI

Third place – Hoya buotii owned by Architect Patricia ” Wendy” Regalado

Xerophytic -Bromeliads

First place – Tillandsia andreana owned by Aireen Bernal

Second place – Tillandsia ampla owned by Purificacion Orchids

Third place – Tillandsia xerographica owned by Botchie Canicual

For the Ornamental Plant category, first place went to the following categories and owners:

BROMELIAD – Alcantarea imperialis owned by Botchie Canicula

AROIDS A – Aglaonema “Dona Carmen” owned by Purificacion Orchids

FERNS & FERN ALLIES – Asplenium serratum owned by Mr. Nonito Dolera

ORCHIDS – Vanda Charles Good fellow x Vanda Udom Gold  by the Philippine  Orchid Society

Annual Flowering Plants

Euphorbia pulchemma “Strawberry & Cream” owned by Francis Gener

Special Awards: Bonsai

First place – Pemphis acidula (Bantigue) owned by Vic and Analyn de Rona

Second place – Pemphis acidula (Bantigue) owned by John Mateo

Third place – Malabayabas – owned by Mr.  Lincon Yu

SUISEKI

First place – Water Falls owned by Jerome Bulos

Second place – El Nido owned by Erwin Paolos

Third place – Matang Baka owned by Jerome Bulos

Interesting Notes:

Succulent (plant)  A plant adapted to drought-prone climates or periodic arid conditions (water deprivation) and characterized by fleshy water-storing tissues (stems, roots, or leaves) that act as internal reservoirs sustaining life when external water is not available or periodically insufficient. Succulents   have also adapted plant systems that maintain metabolism with minimal exchange of water with the environment.

( Succulence) meaning the plant adaptation.

Some Philippine  growers tend to include succulent plants such as bromeliads , hoyas , dischidias in the grouping.

Collectors may tell that all cactus are succulents but not all succulents are cactus. Succulent plants come from many plant families.

Cactus make up the family Cactaceae and are mostly spiny succulents. Cacti are succulent xerophytes that have adapted the three main plant parts to survive in low moisture conditions.

A xerophyte is a plant adapted for life to a xeric (or dry) environment with a limited supply of water but does not need to be a succulent. They are often described as drought escaping, enduring, or resisting. All succulents are basically xerophytes but not all xerophytes are succulents

Caudiciforms (appearance of the plant) , Caudex ( bulging plant part near the base)example Adenium obesum locally called Bangkok Kalachuchi.

The terms are derived from the Latin word caudex meaning tree. This is a nontechnical term used to describe a plant which has a thickened root or stem, often of a large bottle or round form. A “true” caudiciform should have a water storage rather than a food storage organ in the fattened portion.

In some Asian countries like in Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan Vietnam collectors often include any plant that has a fat lower portion that they find attractive enough to cultivate.

cactus and succulent collectors are sometimes called xerophyte collector.