Hortikultura Extravaganza 2015 Opening Highlights

Tropical Garden, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City- Philippines

Special guests of honor includes ambassadors, Hon. Maria Josefina ” Joy ” Belmonte ( Vice Mayor of Quezon City ) Mr. Joselito ” Butch ” Campos ( Del Monte, Philippines )

Philippine Horticulture Society Incorporated in partnership with Quezon City government , Quezon Memorial Circle management , Del Monte Philippines, UNAGROW a division of UNAHCO , Department of Agriculture , Department of Tourism , San Miguel Corporation, Texas Eagle , TORO, The Turf Company  different plant and horticultural organizations from all over the country. This year’s theme “ Yaman sa Paghahalaman ” that there can livelihood opportunities and how to generate money in the horticulture industry .

L-R Dr. Romeo Gutierrez , Vice Mayor Maria Josefina” Joy ” Belmonte and Architect Patricia ” Wendy” Regalado posed at the Japanese-themed landscape by Mr. Vic de Rona

Ms. Maria Josefina ” Joy” Belmonte together with Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines president Ms. Becky Buenaventura posed at the East-West Company landscape exhibit

Quirino High School Choir led the invocation and national anthem

It was a full week of activities which included a 2-day Horticulture Congress held at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management on January 21 and 22, 2015 . 10 floral floats which were accompanied by street dancing , battle of the bands , landscape exhibition, competition , trade fairs and horticultural tours in Laguna and Cavite provinces.

Mr. Jonathan Badon

Mr. Jonathan Badon is ” Best Global Pinoy ” awardee  . He serenaded the crowd in Italian, French love songs .

Ms. Adela Ang – Herbal plants

There were at least 200 trade fair participants from different parts of the country . One of the biggest agriculture group AANI ( Agri-Aqua Network Incorporated ) had proudly showcased different agriculture produce and technologies .

Mr. Noel Vincent ” Botchie” Canicula with his award winning landscape exhibit ( His landscape won -Special Commendation )

Garden Wedding by East West Seed Company

An eye catching landscape exhibit was the booth executed by East West Seed Company . The company is one of the largest producer of vegetable seeds, flowering annuals in the country.

Website: http://www.eastwestseed.com/philippines/ph/

Allied Botanical Corporation

Another fascinating exhibit is the vertical landscape with flowering marigolds , petunias, vincas herbs and vegetables .

Website: http://www.alliedbotanical.com/

 Address: No. 15, 21st Avenue, Brgy. Tagumpay,Cubao 1109, Quezon City Philippines
Email: sales@alliedbotanical.com
Tel. Nos.: +63-2- 911-0836 or +63-2-437-6606 to 08
Cell. Nos.: 0917-812-0264; 0922-815-0031; 0922-815-0056
Fax No: +63-2- 911-0159

Mr. Ralph Soriano together with Dr. Elenita S. Binay

 Binondo Fireworks and Firecrackers Lover  Association-president Mr. Ralph Soriano led the fireworks countdown .

The  mission is to  preserve and continue the use of fireworks in celebration, like fiesta, anniversary, funerals,weddings, debuts , inauguration, birthday,tourism,and other pertinent events Along with this giving safety precaution about using fireworks firecrackers is what the organization acquire to achieve

Vision:
To protect the history of fireworks firecrackers tradition culture in Binondo Mla. and local fireworks industry.

Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/groups/439655816135493/

BEST FLOAT

Del Monte Philippines – 3rd Place

The float was inspired by pineapple which is the main product of the company. The company won Php 40,000 cash , Trophy

Villar Foundation- 2nd Place

The Villar Foundation float was inspired by water hyacinth plants which are made into various handicrafts, bags, organic fertilizers , slippers and even costumes.  The foundation won Php 60,000 cash and Trophy

King Louis -Grand Prize

King Louis Ornamental Flowers and Plants emerged as the overall champion of this year’s float parade. The company is a veteran in Baguio Panagbenga Flower Festival  . The company bagged home Php 100,000 Cash and Trophy.

Mr. Francis Gener conceptualize and executed the float.

The company had a stall within Quezon Memorial Circle and is one of the biggest potted flowering plant grower in the country.

The event was highlighted with the awarding of the Best in Show, Best in Landscape , Best Float . There will be twice a day lecture which will start on January 24 until February 2, 2015 .

* Note: Special Mention is the League of Orchid Conservationists of the Philippines and Best Fern Group in Thailand .

Website Links:

 UNAHCO:http://unahco.com/global/

San Miguel Corporation: http://www.sanmiguel.com.ph/

Quezon City :http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/

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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.