Kabuhayan sa Sariling Bayan theme of 9th OFW and Family Summit

Kabuhayan sa Sariling Bayan is this year theme at the 9th Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and Family Summit on November 12, 2019 at Hall-D , World Trade Center, Senator Gil Puyat ( Buendia ), Pasay City.

Ms. Susan Ople and Senator Cynthia Villar

This aims to equip the OFWs with the necessary tools to grow their money here in the country. The press conference was moderated by Ms. Susan “Toots” Ople of the Ople Training Center. The 9th OFW and Family Summit aims to target at least 4,000 participants.

OFW and Family Summit

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, who is also director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG).

“My family and many OFWs always look forward to this event because it has evolved into an occasion where OFWs and their families gather and interact with private and government institutions for concerts ranging from access to financial services, social benefits, legal assistance, among others,” Villar said.

The summit will be graced by former Senate President Manny Villar, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mar Villar, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez.

English Learning Camp Chief Executive Officer Burn Guitterez, author of the country’s first finance-influenced comic book “The Adventures of Pepot Kuripot and Dora Gastadora” will be talking on the growing one’s earnings. Also talking on the topic will be Ecofarm owners Eric Atanacio and Terra Verde; and President and Chief Financial Planner of Wealth Arki Consultancy, Inc.

On the topic of Business Landscape and Trends for Start-ups, panelists will be Emma Tolentino, Eco Natural Integrated Farm owner; Ace Vergel dela Cruz, acquisition executive of Grab Philippines; and Capt. Danny Ricohermoso, Executive Vice President of Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines, Inc.

OFWs turned successful entrepreneurs will also have their own segment led by Gene Gutierrez, owner of Big Ben’s Gourmet and Big Ben’s Kitchen; Bianca Tolentino, owner of Cofficina Cafe + Co-work; and Princess San Diego, founder of What’s Your Flan.i

Do not forget to visit Website: http://ofwsummit2019.villarsipag.org or visit the family desk at any Vista Mall and Starmall branches nationwide: on site registration as early as 6:00 am on the day of the summit.

Submit one of the following documents: copy if the OFW’s passport; proof of remittances; seaman’s book; job contract; copy of the documents establishing the relationship with OFW’s such as marriage certificate and valid ID.

Do not forget to pre-register and get a chance to win house and lot from Lessandra by Camelia, 2 motorcycle from Isuzu -Cavite, Pangkabuhayan Showcase from All Day Supermarket, Applicance Showcase from All Home, Xtreme Appliance and other prizes.

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Dance Festival and Handicrafts Showcase at the 14th Waterlily Festival

Colorful street dancers participated by different school in Las Piñas ,agricultural products and items made from water hyacinth were showcased at the 14th Waterlily festival.

The festival was well-attended by thousands of residents of the city, guests and foreigners. Senator Cynthia Villar, who started the holding of the festivities in 2006, said the festival through the years, has served the purpose of being the show window for the city’s most talented performers and the most beautiful and creative people.

“We are very proud of this festival which we also hold to express our commitment for a lifestyle that is in harmony with nature and the environment, ” Villar said.

14th Water lily ( Water Hyacinth festival)

Unang Hirit of GMA channel 7

Unang Hirit of GMA channel 7 went to cover the festivities and dozens of media correspondents , bloggers and vloggers were present during the event.

different handicrafts made from water hyacinth

The yearly festivity is participated in by more than 2,000 attendees,tourists and spectators coming from nearby areas like Cavite, Parañaque, Metro Manila and as far as Tanay ( Rizal), Bulacan and Laguna provinces.

coin holder, tissue holder for sale

Villar Sipag booth

baskets, bags, plate holder from water hyacinth

Although the water plant is popularly called waterlily . It is known as water hyacinth or ( Eichhornia crassipes ) which was introduced to the country during the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade in the mid-16th century.

slippers, bags made from stalks of water hyacinth

The water hyacinth became naturalized in waterways and tend to clogged the system during rainy season. When floral foam was not yet popular, water hyacinth stalks are also used by florists for their floral wreath.

Prizes

Inter-school street dancing competition was held from 6:00am to past 9:00 am. Groups composed of junior highschool students enrolled in the city competed for the following prizes : Champion :Php 50,000, First runner-up, Php 30,000 and Second runner-up for Php 20,000.

high school students in colorful native costumes made from water hyacinth stalks

Winners of the competition was judged according to their water hyacinth costume, props, choreography and technicality.

Mood was festive and people are anticipating next year’s 15th water lily festival 2020.

Highlights of the 6th Las Piñas Food Food Festival

Re-elected Senator Cynthia Villar, Congresswoman elect Camille Villar, Las Piñas city councilor, barangay chairmans, partner organizations and thousand of people from all walks of life participated at the 6th Las Piñas Food Festival held on May 24, 2019 at the Villar Sipag hall in Barangay Pulang Lupa Uno to join the festivities.

Senator Cynthia Villar, managing director of the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance ( Villar Sipag ), Welcomed visitors and participants to the yearly event which showcase the city’s culinary heritage and Las Piñeros’ world-class cooking skills.”

The Cooking festival was held in the city’s 20 barangays. Each team presented 1 viand ( ulam) and 1 dessert ( pang himagas) expressing the theme ” Cook Healthy , Eat Happy.”

Highlights

Winners of the competition got Php 20,000 as grand prize; Php 15,000 as first prize and Php 10,000 as second prize.

A contest for urban gardening was also held with three categories- Barangay Homeowners Association, Public Elementary Schools -one winner per category which got Php 50,000 per team.

urban gardening vegetable products

Magic 5 Soy Sauce, Vinegar

There were also about 30 stalls which sell different home made products, canned foods, kakanins, delicacies, process foods, vegetables, fruits and potted plants.

These represents the backyard growers, micro, small , medium and large scale enterprises.

Among this year’s partner enterprises includes San Miguel Beer, Giligan Ilsand, Mama Sita’s, Masflex, Dowell Cook Ware, Kitchen Pro, Lucky 3R Trading,PCAP, CIK among others.

( l-r Chef Neth Madrona, Mr. Noel Paguia, Chef Lea Besana) judges for this year’s cook -off challenge

Big Winners

Urban Gardening Winners Inter Barangay – BF International CAA (Php 50,000) Special Award got (Php 20,000) Brgy. Talon 4 Inter Homeowners Association – Castellan Classic Talon 2 (Php 50,000) Inter School Champion – Las Pinas East National High School (Php 50,000) Inter Brgy. Cooking Competition Winners 2nd Place (Php10,000) Brgy Daniel Fajardo 1st Place (Php 15,000) Talon 4 Champion (Php20,000) Brgy. Pamplona Uno.

Exciting Displays at the Philippine Bonsai Society ‘s Show

Ayala Triangle , Ayala Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas , Makati City -Philippines

The Philippine Bonsai Society in partnership with Natural Stone Society of the Philippines , Bonsai Clubs International ( BCI ), and Ayala Triangle presents to the general public the 42nd annual Philippine Bonsai Society’s international exhibition and competition.  The foreign delegates arrived a few days before the opening ceremony and traveled some tourist spot like Tagaytay , Cavite area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senator Cynthia Villar  and international delegates

The event started with the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony and different bonsai delegates from Asian countries like Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippine Bonsai Society board of director and members

Special guest of honors includes Senator Cynthia Villar and international bonsai delegates . The special opening was held on March 17 at around past 4:00pm with members wearing their finest Filipiniana costumes .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cultural show

One of the highlights of the opening is a cultural presentation and dance featuring different dances from Asian countries .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

natural stones

 

 

 

 

 

bonsai exhibit

There were 350 different kinds of bonsai on display . They range from flowering shrubs, fruit bearing trees to native trees and imported ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cascading type of bonsai

There is a free bonsai lectures and demonstrations, basic and advance bonsai workshops, a Suseiki competition with a critique session, a driftwood arts exhibition and a plants and garden bazaar offering bonsai plants, ornamental, garden supplies and other garden products for sale .

 

 

 

 

 

 

multi-awarded bonsai

The Philippine Bonsai Society, Inc. (PBSI) has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1973, continuously spreading its mission and vision in all corners of the Philippine archipelago.

 

 

 

 

gala opening

The event is well attended and there are several hundred of people attended the opening gala . There are also invited guests from diplomatic offices and media people.

 

 

 

flowering ixora / santan bonsai

Ixora or locally known as santan is another beautiful shrub that can be used as a bonsai material .

 

 

bonsai with award

The PBSI, started as an informal group of enthusiasts back in 1973, and became a non-stock, non-profit association in 1975 with Rose Laurel Avanceña as the founding president. Today, PBSI is an internationally recognized association with close to 500 active members and a sizable and growing followers  among provincial bonsai clubs. The organization’s roster includes some of the country’s top practitioners who have earned distinctions in renowned local and foreign competitions.

 

flowering bougainvillea 

Flowering bougainvillea seem to be a favorite material  among bonsai growers, the flowering shrub can be trained and made into beautiful specimen .

The show is open to the public until tomorrow March 20, 2016 . The exhibition does not have any entrance fee and a good spot to take photos or learn new knowledge .

For further information about bonsai and also how to learn bonsai growing, kindly contact the Philippine Bonsai Society at (+632)5717818, email bonsaipbsi@ gmail.com or their website at http://www.philippinebonsaisociety.org

BIG Winners at the Philippine Orchid Society’s 69th Mid-Year Orchid and Garden Show

Hardin ng mga Bulaklak, ( Flower Garden ) , Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City, Philippines

Dr. Elenita Binay, Mrs. Amelita” Ming” Ramos and Senator Cynthia Villar together with distinguished members and officers of the Philippine Orchid Society

There was bit rain this afternoon when i arrived at the orchid show site. I saw Mrs. Amelita ” Ming” Ramos ( honorary member ) walking around the commercial booth section and busy chatting with the sales people .

Mrs. Amelita ” Ming” Ramos

She does not want to be stuck in traffic since she lived in the southern Metro Manila area. But even during her husband tenure , I would remember that she is always punctual in every public event that she had attended .

She was greeted by dozens of members , invited guests and well-wishes . There are members coming from Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon, Cavite , Negros , Pangasinan . One of the prominent member from Mindanao is Ms.Salvacion “Sally” Leuenberger  proprietor of SUL Orchids who just arrived from Davao a few hours ago.

Villar Foundation

I also met Mr. Harold Franco of the Villar Foundation , They have a lot of new and exciting products like the citronela massage oil which is just sold at only Php 50 per bottle.

Website: http://www.villarsipag.org/

Senator Cynthia Villar: http://www.cynthiavillar.com.ph/

registration committee members

There were endless photo opportunities and chit chat among the members and invited guests.

Senator Cynthia Villar

excerpt from Senator Cynthia Villar speech ” As an advocate of entrepreneurship and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, I am glad that you are highlighting the many opportunities that can be built or established in floriculture , most especially in orchids, as reflected in the them of this year’s event- ” Enriching Lives and Building Opportunities through Orchids“. There are numerous jo opportunities that can be created, livelihood opportunities that can be generated and of course , business opportunities , that can be developed through orchids. All of which can truly enrich the lives of the most enterprising and entrepreneurial among yourselves.

group photo- L-R Mr. Aldrin C. Cuña ( chief of staff – Mayor Herbert Bautista) Dra. Elenita S. Binay , Senator Cynthia Villar and Ms. Vangie Go – Philippine Orchid Society-President

Many people do not realize that the floriculture industry in particular and horticultural in genera;, has been significantly contributing to the growth of the agriculture sector and the Philippines being an agricultural country , the growth of our country is anchored on the growth of the agriculture sector.

Dra. Elenita Binay, Ms. Vangie Go and Senator Cynthia Villar

I would like to commend the Philippine Orchid Society for putting together a very good and worthwhile lineup of activities during this 11-day event. the daily lectures are really well thought out, in terms of topics and resource persons. I am sure, maraming matutunan ang mga participants o attendees mula sa mga lectures on topics ranging from landscaping and growing orchids for profit to flower arrangement and controlling pests. And of course , the show itself is the highlight.

After all the fanfare here are the BIG WINNERS of the SHOW

Ornamental Landscape Winners

Metts’ Plant Art- third Place

The exhibit had bamboos , ornamental plants , earth stars and some bonsai trees.

Architect Bimbo Vergara-second place

with his exhibit of cactus, succulents and tillandsias

Lee’s Bonsai Haven – first place 

The exhibit constitute the bonsai collection , rare ferns , aglaonema

Del’s Native Plant and Garden

This exhibit was executed by the son of Aling Delia Pionela of Quezon province, She had a store outlet within the Quezon Memorial Circle and have been actively participating in orchid and horticultural shows. Although this exhibit did not won any landscaping awards, This deserves some commendation .

Philippine Orchid Society – Conservation Group. This is done by the dynamic members of the conservation group, most are Philippine native orchid species enthusiasts and growers.

Fortune Restaurant

The early evening buffet meal was catered by Fortune Restaurant for more details and catering services.

Mr. Eric Ang -landline: 254-97-03, 254-96-86 / 0998-5365597

Orchid Landscape Winners

Negros Occidental Orchid Society – third place

Ms. Doreen Dofitas executed the landscape using old wooden capiz panel windows, huge tribal masks which resembles polynesian moai and the use of different kinds of flowering orchids such as miniature dendrobiums  , cymbidiums , vanda hybrids,  earth stars, tillandsias and ferns.

members of the society

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Negros-Occidental-Orchid-Society-Bacolod-City/140440549377119

Purificacion Orchids- second place

Majority of the orchids exhibited in the booth belongs to Purficacion orchid , But there were some orchids added by Dra. Olivia Sanchez of Laguna.

Lambana Tropical Plants- Ms. Vangie Go -First Place

Mrs. Vangie Go’s exhibit is full of pink colored waling-waling ( Vanda sanderiana) with native orchids like Trichoglottis philippinensis and Renanthera mixed with large white, orange and lavander cattleyas . Aside from winning the BEST Orchid Landscape , She also won BEST Philippine Species and Best Ornamental Plant – Vriesia heiroglyphica

Vriesia heiroglyphica- BEST Ornamental Plant

Ms. Vangie Go after the awarding ceremonies- The exhibit booths were properly lighted after the event

Note: Will just keep everyone updated with the individual orchid , flower arrangement winners