Soft Opening of Arid and Aroids Living Gallery in Cavite

It was sunny day on May 29 when we visited the soft opening of Arid and Aroids ( AA) Living gallery in Cavite. Traffic was moderate along Mindanao Avenue exit within Barangay Talipapa, Novaliches, Quezon City.

It took us a little over 2 hours traversing the newly opened Metro Manila skyway en route to the province.

This is one of the three known farm location of Arid and Aroids, San Rafael in Bulacan and in Quezon province.

l-r Dr. Jae Silvestre, Mr. Boyet Ganigan and Mayor Socorro ” Corie” Rosario Poblete of Silang , Cavite province

Arid and Aroids Living Gallery

Arid and Aroid Living Gallery entrance

Arid and Aroids Living Gallery is like a living botanic collection of over 30 years by the dynamic tandem of Mr. Boyet Ganigan, Dr. Jae Silvestre and their families. The rare plants is collected from all over the world and meticulously propagated under their farms.

A lot of their plants are award winning collection and highly coveted by many collectors not just in the country but the rest of the world.

The last time we have visited the farm was for the Christmas salu-salo way back in 2019. The 1 hectare location is slowly being developed into world class attraction ideal venue location for pre-wedding nuptial photo, wedding location, intimate parties, outdoor garden setting, corporate events, product launching, debut among others.

The natural contour and landscape setting makes it different from other venue places in the province.

One of the invited guest suggested at they can also open a bar or an art gallery of paintings. There are also in house promo and raffle draw for those guests and buyers. The overall mood was festive but subtle due to the covid 2019 restrictions under general community quarantine with restrictions at National Capital Region plus Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna area.

Celebrity Guests

Mr. Troy Montero and Ms. Aubrey Miles

Mayor Socorro ” Corrie” Rosario Poblete, Vice Mayor Aidel Paul G. Belamide, some councilors and barangay officials were the special guests of honor.

We also happen to see the well known social media and fellow blogger Plant Chaser ( Atty. Bom Gomez) who went together with his daughter.

Mr. Troy Montero and Ms. Aubrey Santos Sandel, Ms. Gretchen Fullido, Mr. Emilio Yap III of Manila Bulletin were among the special guests during the soft opening.

Mr. Boyet Ganigan along with Mr. Emil Yap III and companion during the soft opening

Since strict protocol and health guidelines were in place, there were few on the guest lists. But this is very promising, The place is located within 20 kilometers from Tagaytay City.

La Dexie’s Catering Services

The guests, buyers and friends of Arid and Aroid were treated to a whole day of fun, camaraderie and food. The lunch meal were catered by La Dexie’s Catering Service from Cainta, Rizal province.

#10 Corona Street, Brookside Hills Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal province

Contact : 0920-919-2033 / Landline 8655-5867 or 8656-3894

AA Living Gallery – Address Barangay Tartaria , Silang Cavite

Operations : Everyday 8:00am to 5:00pm by appointment

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Christmas Salu-salo at Arid and Aroids Farm in Silang, Cavite

It is the season for fun, shopping, outing, What a great way to explore a beautiful farm located within Silang, Cavite province.

collection of several cycad from all all over the world

This is not my first time to visit this farm, It was part of the several horticultural tours and farm tour organized by different plant societies and organization. The last tour that we have participated was organized in 2015 by Hortikultura Extravaganza by the Philippine Horticulture Society Incorporated.

Arid and Aroids also have farm located in San Rafael, Bulacan and in Quezon provinces.

Christmas Salu-Salo at Arid and Aroids Farm 2019

The Christmas salu-salo was a simple get together with friends and buyers of the farm. The meals, desserts, fruits, drinks are brought in by those people who are invited.

visitors are delighted with buffet meal

Mr.Njah Alvarez brought some banana cakes for sharing, while some brought buko pie ( coconut pie), lechon manok, pancit , sushi, espasol, chicken binakol and Chef Marlon and wife gave us some of their home made ham. They also find time to cook their own version of shawarma.

Tillandsia capitata and other varieties are also grown

The 1 hectare farm is a treasure trove of variegated plants, cacti, succulents, philodendron, ferns and mutant plants not just in the Philippines but the rest of the world.

It was a Christmas get together by friends, relatives and buyers of the farm. The food was delicious and the roasted pig (lechon) was a delight to behold.

The owners are planning big for the 3 known farms of Arid and Aroids. For more update, they have several known social media accounts.

Those who wanted to visit the farm, is by special appointment.

Arid and Aroid Farm

Location: Barangay Tartaria, Silang, Cavite

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 .

Far Eastern University – Cavite tour

Far Eastern University campus – Metrogate Estates, Silang, Cavite, Philippines

Far Eastern University – Cavite ( High School Building )

In January 2009, a ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of the construction of the Far Eastern University Silang campus which will rise on a six-hectare area at the Metrogate Subdivision. The school offer basic education and tertiary courses such as Hotel and Restaurant Management, Tourism, Business, Education, and health-related degrees. The alumni affair office conducted several  tours  in FEU -Cavite when the buildings are still yet to be finished. The author is quite fortunate to have signed-up in one of the tour organized by the alumni office.

Map of Far Eastern University – Silang- Cavite

Architecture : FEU-Silang campus boast of a world class sustainable  green architecture  designed by Architect Daniel A. Lichauco to maximized the use of the  the wind and having high ceilings in order for the natural air flow to pass the building, This  also to allow the structure to breath  .

facade of FEU- Building with flowers

 Ms. Mona and Soler Santos are the artists who designed the artwork which became the basis for the facade of the buildings in FEU Cavite.

The place is much cooler compared to Metro Manila and very windy .  Hence putting additional electricity within the building is minimized .Sustainable architecture is framed by the larger discussion of sustainability and the pressing economic and political issues of our world.

ceiling

In the broad context, sustainable architecture seeks to minimize the negative environmental impact of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderation in the use of materials, energy, and development space.

hotel laboratory

The hotel laboratory set-up was sponsored by SM foundation . The hotel laboratory rooms are used by the HRM and Tourism students for their courses.

hotel laboratory with spacious living area

L-R Mr. Adolfo Caparas class 1980 ,Mr. Ramon Aganan , Ms.Edna Yao-Lim  Mr. Martin Lopez and Mr. Allan Flores batch 1980 showed off their FEU- collectible memorabilia items.

fresh sliced mangoes and watermelon

lunch buffet set-up

group picture

After the short tour , the group was treated to a sumptuous lunch hosted by FEU -Cavite chapter President Mr. Allan Rodriguez  and Mr. Martin Lopez- FEU Alumni Affairs Office

group picture taken in front of FEU- Cavite building facade

Note : I would like to ” Thank”  FEU alumni affairs office thru Mr. Martin Lopez  and Mr. Allan Rodriguez- Flores (  FEU Alumni- Cavite Chapter President ) for the tour arrangement  inside the campus and for their gracious accommodation to the group. All pictures were taken by the author , to those who wish to use the pictures for any purpose,  Please cite this link.

Website: http://www.feu-silang.edu.ph/