Ming’s Garden and Restaurant

bromeliads , guzmanias

Ming’s Garden in Tagaytay a couple of weekends ago. The garden restaurant is owned by former first lady Amelita ” Ming” Martinez  Ramos, hence the name.

Mrs. Amelita Ramos is an honorary member of the Philippine Orchid Society, an orchid lover , environmentalists, educator, sports enthusiast , writer etc…

An orchid was named after her by a Hawaiian breeder Miyamoto registered in 1982 in honor her.

Ascocenda Amelita Ramos

The seed parent is Ascocenda Pokai Victory x Vanda sanderiana variety alba ( pollen parent).

The ambiance is so nice that even inside their comfort rooms have a garden in it. orchids, medinillas , mums, bromeliads, euphorbias, yellow vines and angel’s trumpets, suntans and marigolds are just some of the many species you can find there. The resto also serve nice bibingka, halo-halo and a lot of native delicacies. This place is favorite stopover when visiting Tagaytay.

restaurant menu

When we went to the garden, the place is being used as a location shooting for the late afternoon television series ” Bud Brother” of ABS-CBN channel 2.

Cydista aequinoctialis locally known as Ahos-ahos , garlic vine

The garlic vine is one of the most rewarding, flowering vines that you can grow, unless that you are a vampire. Interestingly  it smells like garlic, Hence the common name implies .  However, it doesn’t smell if the plant is left alone, only when the leaves are crushed. Flowering twice a year you will find it quite often covered with flowers. Flowers start off purple and change to a lighter shade of lavender with age. Eventually fading to almost white. You will see 3 different color of flowers at the same time on the plant. It can be grown in containers or trellis  and should be trimmed after the flowers are gone.

According to the caretaker , television network ,  film makers, bloggers and travel magazines had featured their venue.

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Jo’s Chicken Inato

Good old-fashioned chicken barbecue that’s really delicious that you can’t help but come back for more.

Jo’s Chicken Inato restaurant  located in 27 Visayas Avenue corner Congressional Avenue in  Quezon City

Why not try it in “Inato” style? Jo’s Chicken Inato has branches scattered all across the country—from far-away Cagayan de Oro to local Quezon City.

house specialty – barbecue chicken inato with atchara

Based on the story – Jo’s Chicken Inato started in mid 1980’s. It is owned by Jesse and Josephine Ng of Negros , where the name of the place was derived. The name originated from a shorten word “atin ito” thus  “inato” meant the way they cooked chicken.  compared to other Visayan  styled grilled barbecue ,this recipe is not salty and has a sweeter taste ( due to ingredients and special way of marinating )

The restuarant is not only famous for their chicken inato but also buko halo-halo , lumpia, pancit macao, bicol express  and special lechon kawali .

Christmas party conservation group of Philippine Orchid Society

The place had several nipa hut ideal for small meetings. The restaurant had an interesting aquariums stock  with kois, pangasius, tilapias  while a  special glass coop had several small bantam chickens . The place is perfect venue to hold medium to large  reception . Orchids and ornamental plants are distributed  all over the place . The high ceilings allows heat to escape during hot morning  with interesting banga ( jars) in place for washing hands.  People are encourage to used their hands when eating at this place ala “kamayan style” .

The Visayas avenue branch accepts delivery , catering and venue place.

Local celebrities like Kapuso Mo- Ms. Jessica Soho , Atty. Anthony Taberna -host Umagang Kay Ganda / Kalye and DZMM ,Ms. Charlene Gonzales- Mulach, Ms. Winnie Cordero, columnist Mr. Zacarias Sarian , GMA channel 7 reporter Mr. Cedric Castillo, former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo  were  said to be frequent patrons of the place.

native delicacies and pastries

THE original branch, located at Siliman Ave., Dumaguete City. This branch is famous for its charbroiled chicken, making it one of the culinary must-trys in the city. If you want to enjoy dining by the beach, you can visit this resto’s another branch in the city—Jo’s by the Sea. The good thing is, whichever branch you find your place in, you’re sure that you won’t spend much just to have a delightful chicken meal because you’re in Jo’s Chicken Inato.

Jo’s Chicken Inato also had provincial branches in  Cebu, Mandaue, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Ormoc, Tagbilaran, Roxas, Bacolod, Iloilo, Dipolog.

The owner had a bakeshop and a resort style garden with a huge blessed mother .

Contact Information:

27 Visayas Avenue Corner Congressional Avenue Quezon City,  Metro Manila
Phone: +63(2)9279224

Victory Garden

Last May 23, 2009 the members of the Philippine Orchid Society went to the province of Cavite for a field trip.

collection of bonsai and ornamental plants

One of the gardens  that was included in the itinerary was Victory Bonsai & Ornamental Garden in Cavite. The place had an impressive collection of cactus and succulents, bonsai, fruits trees,  orchids, ornamental plants and also accepts landscaping jobs  . The family also sells beautiful ceramic and potteries at retail and wholesale price.

specimen sized opuntia cactus in a flat dish

The proprietors of the garden is also an active members of the Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines, Philippine Horticultural Society , Philippine Orchid Society .

The garden is also perfect hub  for meetings, weddings and birthday parties. tour  group  was treated with late morning breakfast which consists of instant coffee ,   a pancake meal from a fast food restaurant.

members and guests posed for a group shot

The group happily pose for a group shot and  went into a buying spree .

For inquiries:

Telephone ( 632) 2531286

Fax (632) 255-8626

Mobile (0917)5397841 / (0922)875 7539

Jardin De Miramar

Jardin de Miramar is situated on a three-hectare property in San Jose Extension in hilly Antipolo, a quiet, genteel area. Little used now by the family, the property was converted into a garden-like venue for parties, and welcomed its first visitors this Christmas season- There is a special house called Casa Santa Clause which housed the vast collections of the owner Ms. Edna Del Rosario accumulated since the late 1990’s . Their were over 1,500 pieces of Santa collections from different parts of the world.

The family decided to convert the place into a party, event, venue place . The property was divided into different themed areas. The family decided to open the place to the public in 2006 and various movie outfit, television stations, morning shows , magazine , travel channels and BLOG sites had already featured the place.

Jardin de Miramar—as the place is called—hosts parties, receptions and other functions in its lush multi-level gardens landscaped by Tony Leano with stately royal palms and serenity waterfalls. Hammocks strung between tall trees tempt visitors to laze an afternoon away with a good book or a nap, lulled by the soothing sounds of water and the wind rustling through the trees.

Galleon replica

A unique feature is a 30-foot boat, reconstructed from an actual 50-year-old fishing boat used by the owner’s family in their deep sea fishing business- The Angelica was retired and some of its wood was used to build the “Noah’s Ark” in the Galera section of the garden, which also features a lighthouse, totem poles and a marine-themed metal sculpture by Eduardo  Castrillo. Dramatic lighting was done by renowned lighting designer Shoko Matsumoto, who also designed the Santa House.

House of Santa

The rest of the wood from the boat Angelica was used for the trellises, benches and other accents throughout the garden.

Behind the Santa house is an area called Intramuros, a mini version of Manila’s old walled city. Featuring adobe walls with an aged look, it is reminiscent of turn-of-the-century Spanish architecture.

This season—and anytime of the year—visit Santa and all his relatives at this very special venue, and put some ho-ho-ho into your life. Likewise enjoy the rest of the place and you’ll surely have a memorable day of your life!