Davao Garden of Eve

Big news

2006-09-27T08:17:00.000+08:00

I got a big surprise yesterday.

My efforts to help beautify the campus of my alma mater - Philippine Women's College - for the 2nd PWU-PWC Global Reunion last month paid off in a big way.

The school asked me to use its idle land - about 4 hectares - as my plant production area.

The site is at the back portion of the campus in Juna, Matina where the school used to have a fishpond when we were young. It has not been utilized for many years and has grown thick grasses and became the lair of mosquitos.

I have many plans in my mind for this area.

Singapore

2006-09-24T10:23:00.000+08:00

I must attend this first garden festival in Singapore.

I first visited the city-state almost ten years ago. On the way to Australia last May, I had a brief stop over but didn't find enough time to see its beautiful gardens again.

Explosion of colors

2006-08-18T16:02:00.000+08:00

This is the way leading towards my secret garden at the back of our house. I love the explosion of colors at this time of the year.

Back to busy work

2006-07-03T09:59:00.000+08:00

My helper is pregnant so she has to leave.

This compounded my work - at home, in school for the kids, my little business, and all my civic associations.

I'm back to landscaping, and hopefully, to regular blogging.

My current landscaping work are at the campus of the Philippine Women's College at Juna Subdivision and at the Nakashin Davao International, Inc. food processing plant in Panacan.

Study is not yet over

2006-06-18T09:28:00.000+08:00

Our study tour in Australia was hectic. It has been two weeks since our return but I have not yet even recovered. That is because our study in not yet over.

For four days starting Monday, we will be back in class with our Australian partners joining us here. They flew in yesterday.

I have to cancel some landscaping jobs just to complete this task. I need to push with this program to help strengthen our industry association. Hopefully, we will be able to set strategic directions for the local floriculture industry, and work in achieving this direction.

Incidentally, I need income too so I have a new contract - landscaping the new food proceesing plant of Nakashin Davao International, Inc. located in Panacan. Also, I am trying to complete the huge job at the campus of the Philippine Women's College, which is hosting the global reunion of PWU and PWC alumni this coming August.

Brisbane, Australia

2006-05-22T17:38:00.000+08:00

We have been busy with our studies at the Queensland University of Technology and we had problems with computers, both in the school and at our apartment. So, I was not able to post since I left Davao two Sundays ago.

Here are some fotos of our activities and sightseeing. Sorry, garden fotos will come later.

Visit at the Queensland Chamber of Commerce & Industry. That's me at the back.

Chamber officials from Davao and Fil-Australia display copies of signed Agreement

Not wanting to miss Australia's icons, the kangaroo...

... and koala

At Curtis Waterfalls. We are ending our study trip Wednesday, board a flight to Singapore at 11 p.m., and will be back in Davao Thursday afternoon.

Flying Down Under

2006-05-13T12:50:00.000+08:00

It's final and official. I'm flying Down Under tomorrow. I'm headed to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia via Singapore.

I'm joining a group from the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc., which was granted assistance through the Philippine-Australia Human Resource Development Facility.

I'm representing the floriculture sector in this HR program meant to strengthen not only the Chamber but various trade associations as well. In my case, that of the Floriculture Industry of Davao, Inc. (FIDI), where I sit as board member and past president.

Our two-week training will be at the Queensland University of Technology just in the heart of Brisbane, Australia's third largest city.

I missed the Euroflora 2006 Fair in Genoa, Italy last month. But I earned a bonus in Australia. Now, aside from the training, I would be able to go to the ABC Gardening Australia Expo to be held on May 19-21. Where? Well of all places, in Brisbane.

Please click here for related story.

My business logo

2006-05-08T08:04:00.000+08:00

This is my business logo. It was created by my son LA. It depicts a lotus flower. He employed three colors - Red, Green and Gold.

Himmels Blumen means heavenly blooms in Austrian.

It was suggested by my college best friend Nancy who now resides in Austria. Our college gang includes Meredith (pharmacist in Saudi Arabia), Madelyn (pharmacist in Manila), Evelyn and Nancy (airline crew in Austria) - the "men" in this unique name.

Sansevierias

2006-05-03T07:36:00.000+08:00

I was on television again this morning at the Maayong Buntag Mindanaw show at ABS-CBN. I shared three tips on how to propagate Sansevierias:

1. Separation of a bunch;
2. Separation of a single leaf; and
3. Cutting of leaf

Plant them in any soil medium. Make sure to water the new plants immediately. In the last manner, be sure there is constant moisture till new shoots appear.

To know more on Sans, here is a book by my good friend Ben Vergara.

PWU-PWC 2nd Global Reunion

2006-04-28T05:38:00.000+08:00

With the theme "Sharing our achievements, Living our commitments," Davao's Philippine Women's College (PWC) will host the 2nd Global Philippine Women's University (PWU) - PWC Congress and Reunion on August 16-21 in time for the Kadayawan Festival.

The 1st global reunion was held in Las Vegas, USA in April 2004.

Preparations are now underway including the greening project that I am undertaking at the PWC campus at Juna Subdivision. I practically grew up in this campus during both my elementary and high school years.

PWU is now 87 years old; PWC 53. Indeed, it's high time to celebrate. To time it with the Kadayawan would doubly encouraged our kababayan's to visit Davao and join the reunion.

Olivia Montecillo-Villafuerte and Amelia Bonifacio head our steering committee. Others in our working group are Erlinda Cano-Chincuanco, Ma. Loreto Abella-Lopez, Ma. Lisa Nitorreda-Tonogbanua and Desiree Munda-Fanlo.

Why am I in gardening?

2006-04-25T17:50:00.000+08:00

I studied pharmacy for five years. I taught pharmacy thereafter and worked with Mercury Drugs. How come I am now into gardening or in this landscape business.

I dug this answer in our old picture box.

That's me on the extreme left with Peter. We were tending to the nursery of trees we planted in Pasonanca Park in Zamboanga when we were still in college.

This picture is 27 years old next month.

I was then President of the Youth Community Service Club (YCSC) chapter at the Immaculate Concepcion College (now UIC) while Peter was President at the YCSC chapter at the University of Mindanao.

Bulletin features Ching's bromeliad

2006-04-22T18:43:00.000+08:00

My peer Cirilo "Ching" Chua's winning bromeliad was featured in today's issue of the Manila Bulletin Today, page E4.

Agriculture section editor Zac Sarian had a picture of the winning best bromeliad. It was a neoregelia cube.

I have no picture of it but I asked Ching to send me one.

The Bulletin also featured a story about the recent Flora Filipina Expo and cited the following as key factors for the vast potential of the horticulture industry in the country:

> strong labor force;
> proximity to Asian markets;
> favorable growing climate; and
> joint venture opportunities

Going down under but not down!

2006-04-20T09:24:00.000+08:00

I should have been in Genoa, Italy by now probably doing final touches to our Philippine display at the Euroflora 2006. But except for the botch in our visa application by some Manila organizers.

Anyway, my husdand told me if one door closes, another opens.

I was invited to join the delegation from the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry for a mission down under next month. I will represent the floriculture sector.

This time, I am more confident on the people who would handle our travel papers for Australia.

Calathea loeseneri

2006-04-16T17:48:00.000+08:00

This is Calathea loeseneri from the Marantaceae family of plants. It originated from Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.

I propagated this plant in Davao and I first used it at our landscape exhibit at the Davao Agri Trade Exhibition (DATE) in 1999. The same year, it was awarded 3rd prize at the Kadayawan plant contest.

This plant requires shade, regular watering and constant moisture. Its beautiful white-to-light-purple flower lasts up to three months in potted plants. As cut-flower, it would last two days in water (not in flower foam).

BBC names garden design winners

2006-04-15T14:56:00.000+08:00

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corp, not barangay business club) has just announced the winners of its home eco-friendly garden design contest.

The winning designs combined gardens with plenty of space for plants, wildlife, pools, and even ecologically-friedly technologies such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Congratulations!

One door closes, another opens

2006-04-11T19:05:00.000+08:00

An alleged foul-up in Manila led to the rejection of our visa application. So, I am no longer going to the Euroflora 2006 in Italy.

My colleague Cirilo "Ching" Chua was really mad. We have been preparing for this event the past three months and we have submitted our visa requirements early. In fact, I have already sent to Manila some of the materials we would use to mount the Philippine display in the Genoa Garden Fair. We really could not understand the reported rejection had our application been processed properly and on time.

Anyway, my husband said when one door closes, another opens. Now, my planned travel time to Europe (April 18 - May 8) can now be devoted to my many projects in Davao and in Manila.

I can also have more time with my family.

Incidentally, my daddy, Virgilio Gonzales originally of Bataan, will mark his birthday on May 1. Perhaps, one thing I will miss in Europe is the birthday on May 6 of my college best friend, Nancy, who is now living in Austria. She was prepared to fetch me in Amsterdam to celebrate her birthday in Vienna.

Flora Expo Fotos

2006-04-10T12:05:00.000+08:00

A colleague requested that I post pictures of the Flora Filipina Expo held in Manila last Feb. 23 - March 6. Here are some of my shots and the individuals/groups that mounted these beautiful displays:

Philippine Orchid Society

Philippine Horticultural Society

Vic Chin

Yoyong Lao

Genesis Garden

Vic Chin

Mindanao Orchid Society

Dish gardens

2006-04-07T06:36:00.000+08:00

I was on tv yesterday. ABS-CBN's Maayong Buntag Mindanaw asked me to present sample dish gardens as part of its special feature. I assembled some samples, shown in this picture.

Dish gardens are good decors, particularly for in-doors. These are miniature gardens in dish or tray or whatever container. It contains greens (plants) and accesories (stones, water, figurines, etc).

There are as many dish gardens as there are containers available. One must be imaginative and creative to make as many beautiful dish gardens. You can do your own set.

Dish gardens are available at Wilcon Builder's Supply branch at Matina, Davao City.

Spathoglottis

2006-04-03T09:04:00.000+08:00

I am now propagating Spathoglottis here in Davao. It is a ground orchid crossbred by Rolita Spowart of VS Orchids located at the Manila Seedling Bank in Quezon City.

It is a dwarf hybrid between Spath kimballiana x spath philippinensis. Its color is yellow and flowers the whole year round.

Anyone interested, please contact me. Either click comment below or go to my profile for my email.

Current projects (March 29)

2006-03-29T19:07:00.000+08:00

What is keeping me busy these days?

Here are my current projects:

1. Landscape concept, design and execution - Beach Farm Project, Samal Island;

2. Residential scape at Ladislawa Village, Davao City;

3. Residential pocket garden at Lizada Village, Davao City;

4. Greening Project at the Philippine Women's College (PWC) campus, Davao City;

5. Tropical stage setting for the Honda Cars new model launching at The Venue Compound, Davao City, April 3, 2006;

6. Backdrop tropical design for the re-launching of Maayong Buntag Mindanao daily news magazine program at ABS-CBN television network, April 3, 2006 and thereafter.

Euroflora 2006

2006-03-29T18:08:00.000+08:00

I am leaving for Europe next month to help mount the Philippine exhibit at the Euroflora 2006 in Genoa, Italy.

It is the largest flower and landscape garden festival in Europe and held only every five years. The floriculture festival will be on April 21 to May 1, 2006.

The Philippine Team is led by Shirley Sanders, one of the famous horticulturist and landscapist in the country. She served as a judge in the Euroflora 2001. She got two from Davao City to help her mount the Philippine exhibit. Cirilo "Ching" Chua and me.

Our exhibit will have a Mindanao motif and will feature our indigenous plants and flowers.

Come visit the Euroflora 2006 and see our Philippine display.