Hortikutura Extravaganza Advocacy and Horticulture Tour

Mr. Vicente Chin Jr. personally welcomes tour participants from different parts of the country

Philippine Horticultural Society organizer of Hortikultura Extravaganza 2015 in partnership with Department of Tourism , Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry conducted a tour on several farms, tourist destination spots and livelihood advocacy NGO tour. We left Quezon Memorial Circle at around past 6:00am on our way to Laguna, Cavite provinces . Our first stop is Mr. Vic Chin’s Orchids and Ornamental Farm in Calamba , Laguna.

hundreds of potted flowering plants

The tour open another aspect of agriculture/ horticulture  tourism a fast growing tourism sector . We were also joined-in by Negros Occidental Garden Club with over a dozen members.

caladiums

There are over 1,000 named cultivars of Caladium bicolor from the original South American plant. Many cultivar hybrids are produced with striking foliage and markings . Mr. Chin also shared a lot of stories and growing techniques. His farm is clean and production is at par with world class standards.

aquariums

Aside from orchids and ornamental plants, Mr. Vic Chin is also an award- winning fish hobbyists and breeder . He had several hundreds of fish tanks with different kinds  of tropical fresh water fishes.

cattleya orchid

There are several hundreds of cattleya hybrids that greeted us on our visit his farm.

Ding Hao Restaurant

Mr. Chin farm is located within  Ding Hao Restaurant compound  which is just beside SM Calamba. The farm covers about 3,000 square meters. It is also a favorite tourist destination among travelers and clients of the restaurant.

 restaurant is popular event place

The participants wasted no time in buying orchids and ornamental plants .  For those interested to buy plants in bulk , Please try to contact Ding Hao restaurant for scheduled appointment.

 participants

Itlog ni Kuya

We made a short stop over at Itlog ni Kuya outlet . Participants bought salted eggs, balut and penoy . Among their specialties includes Yummy Leche Flan., Lechon Kilulob na Itik , Pekin Kilulob

Compared to the ordinary salted egg in the market , Itlog ni Kuya salted duck eggs are not that salty and less sodium content. Love the taste !

Ming’s Garden

This is another favorite stop-over and venue place among tourists and garden lovers.

bromeliads , neoregelias and guzmanias

There is a souvenir shop , restaurant , coffee shop and plant selling area where visitors can buy their plant propagation like bromeliads, medinilla , ferns , flowering plants , herbs and garden supplies.

souvenir store

The place is owned by Mrs. Amelita ” Ming” Martinez Ramos – a plant , environment and orchid lover .  She is the wife of President Fidel Valdez Ramos – President of the Philippines ( 1992 to 1998)

comfort room

The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and had catering services . Ming’s Garden had also earned several accolades and awards from different travel magazines and local tourism organization . The comfort room is clean and maximizes the use of natural light.

semi-terete vanda blooming

Alcanterea imperialis

The genus Alcantarea, with approximately 20 species is an offshoot of the much larger genus Vriesea. For such regal plants, the genus is fittingly named after the 2nd Emperor of Brazil. Alcantarea imperialis is the most regal , largest and is considered the prominent species of this genus. It is one of the giants of the bromeliad family.  This Bromeliad grows to a span of more than 1.5 metres, although it can take up to ten years to get to this size.  The thick flower spike reaches up to 3.5 metres in height, producing hundreds of slightly fragrant creamy white flowers.

Strongylodon macrobotrys

This vine is called Jade Vine in the Philippines . It is called jade vine because of the color of the flowers which is bluish-green ( turquoise)  . With its long cascading translucent jade-green flowers beneath a canopy of pale green foliage, the jade vine is one of the most beautiful and elegant of all tropical climbers.  We are quite fortunate that the vine had several blooms that awaited us.

group photo

Address: Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Rd., Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines

Related link: https://renz15.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/mings-garden-and-restaurant/

China Palace

We went to China Palace restaurant located in Tagaytay Highlands . The group were served Chinese style lauriat for lunch

spinach soup

yang chow fried rice

breaded pork

fried chicken with shrimp kropek

sauteed broccoli and baby pak choy in garlic

group photo

Negros Occidental Garden Club members enjoying the cool and windy weather

We toured the Tagaytay highland vicinity and enjoyed the breathtaking views and cool temperature.

Ms. Marvi Tulauan greeted the participants of the tour

Ms. Marvi Tulauan

Email: marvitulauan@yahoo.com

Ms. Delphine from France

The Focolare Movement, present everywhere in the world, is like a vast and varied family. It began in 1943 during the Second World War as a current of spiritual and social renewal.

handmade greeting cards

‘A people born from the Gospel,’ is how it was defined by its founder Ms. Chiara Lubich (1920-2008), a charismatic and significant woman of the 20th century.

Website: http://www.focolare.org/en/

The place is quite spacious and ideal for retreat , vacation and convention. A newly built dormitory -style building was completed to accommodate budget conscious people.

fashion accessories

They have several livelihood projects from arts, craft, baking pastries, greeting cards, jam, fashion jewelries, bags, t-shirts , door opener,  ladies bag, stuff dolls and religious items

wheat bread baking

Their wheat bread production is good only for the day and all orders must be pre-order at least a day or so .  The quality of their bread and prices are even lower compared to commercial bakeries and pastry shops .  Almost the entire production of the day were already ordered by the members of the Philippine Horticultural Society .

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/focolare.org

anthuriums

Arids and Aroids – This is a one hectare farm of different kinds of ornamental, flowering trees, orchids, hoyas, ferns , tillandsias , variegated plants from different parts of the world. They supply a lot of plant nurseries in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao area. Their first farm was located in the municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan before relocating in Barangay Tartaria, Silang , Cavite province.

The climate is very suitable for growing ornamental plants and even orchids. The company is planning to breed small types of sweet smelling orchid flowers for eventual export to other countries.

variegated philodendron

This is a beautiful variegated philodendron which commands a handsome six- figure sum .

After all the shopping , we were treated to a tasty afternoon snacks of toasted siopao and soft-drinks by the gracious hosts.

Note : A visit to Arids and Aroids Farm can be scheduled by appointment .

I would like to sincerely ” Thank” Tita Adoracion S. Bernabe , Tita Norma K. Villanueva, Tita Leny R. Fabul and PHSI family for the accommodation extended to us .

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