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| Certified plantitos and plantitas who visit The Plant Gallery exhibit from Nov. 18-22, 2020 in Tagbilaran City include Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell "Baba" Yap II and his wife Jane, Dr. Mimi Dumaluan, fashion designer EJ Relampagos, Rotarians Alex Bongawan and Louella Gulle-Bantol, educators Edison Gumapac and Butch Bernas, Elvie Bongosia, Joy Bonita Sevilla, Fiel Angeli Araorao-Gabin and Merlyn Diez-Bantugan. Some of the exhibitors are Dr. Amce Marie Pinos of The Green Box, Reichyl Dumaluan-Vallente of The Mayana Garden and Fr. Felix Hora. Photos: Anthony Ceniza and Helen Castano |
Wake-uppers:
Scene:
From Jeycelle Espejo-Inting of Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School:
Pride can seep into a relationship when disagreements occur. The longer
you sit and stew over your disagreement, the harder it is to reconcile.
Pretty soon, days, weeks, and years pass by and you become accustomed
to the way things have become in the relationship. Every passing moment
without reconciliation makes it that much harder to turn around and say
you are sorry. Don't let your pride get the better side of you. Make it a
practice to hurry and settle your differences quickly.
Scene:
Aniana "Anyang" Agunod celebrated her 83rd birthday last Nov. 18. Ma'am
Anyang, a retired teacher at Booy South Elem. School, involves herself
in church activities. Family and close friends came out to wish her a
Happy Birthday. Her grandkids also brought balloons and presents for
her.
Scene: Rufino Palma Persigas, a former
village councilor of Barangay Buenavista in Ubay town, turned 88 last
Nov. 16. Family and friends said Rufino’s 88th birthday was definitely
one to remember, and bigger plans have started for his 89th.
 |
| Aniana Agunod and Rufino Palma Persigas celebrate their birthdays this
month with the love of their families. Contributed photos |
***
Even
before the novel coronavirus pandemic hit, my Mama Inday was already a
certified plantita. Back in 1990s, she was already showing how big and
small plants can transform a home into a relaxing space.
Gardening
also appealed to nostalgia for the passing of a more relaxed life.
Thus, only a few of her plants survived. Of course, she can’t help but
have favorites. One of her most precious plants is an Alocasia zebrina,
which has been with her for four decades.
The coronavirus pandemic has set off a global gardening boom.
Since the lockdown began, I’ve watched my Mama and my sister transform our neglected backyard into a blooming sanctuary. My Mama turned to the soil in moments of upheaval to manage anxieties and imagine alternatives. Now, she has more than a 20 plant species in her collection.
To look carefully at the mayana ornamental plant, one must look closely at the patterns and colors to appreciate the plant.
Coleus
blumei is the botanical name of the mayana, also known as the
lampuyana, dafronaya, tampunaya, daponaya, painted nettle, among other
nicknames.
While you might have childhood
memories of the mayana plant traditionally used for folkloric medicine
for pain, sore, swelling and cuts, the "The Plant Gallery" exhibit is
meant to give you a new appreciation for that particular 100 varieties
of its kind as well as other plants.
“The
Plant Gallery,” is on view Wednesday through today, Nov. 22 at the 2nd
floor of Alta Citta Mall in Tagbilaran City. It showcases local
gardening enthusiasts’ passion for sprucing up the home with greens.
Jose
Owen Quimson, one of the orgnanizers, says there are 23 exhibitors from
different towns of Bohol who display and sell indoor and outdoor house
plants.
Jessa
Mae Suarez sells mayana for P50-P70/pot at her "Mayana Garden" with 100
varities of mayana. Her assistant, Anthony Ceniza, has turned their
booth into a magical mayana garden accentuated with giant alocasia
plants.
Fr. Felix Hora, a known horticulturist
from Panglao town, showcases his collections of cacti and other plants
such as philodendron and succulents at his "Foliage Garden."
Other
exhibitors showcase their alocasia, anthurium hookeri, rubber plants,
monstera, black cardinal, Chinese evergreen and orchids.
The
most expensive plant at The Plant Gallery is a variegated green congo
worth P300,000. Yes, you read that right: three hundred thousand
pesos!!!
The most in demand types of plants
now are anything that’s variegated—meaning they exhibit different
colors, especially in the form of irregular patches or streaks.
 |
| Your VRS with the most expensive plant at The Plant Gallery, a variegated green congo worth Php300,000. |
Another expensive plant is the Monstera borsigiana albo which is worth P180,000.
Some
of my friends who are avid plant collectors even during the
pre-pandemic period say they've noticed the huge price difference of the
plants between now and before the March lockdown.
Elvie
Bongosia has thrice visited the exhibit to buy some succulents to add
to her collections. As a means to destress, she started caring for
succulents and cacti, until she eventually tended to variations
ornamental plants.
In five months, Bongosia has
amassed more than 200 potted plants in her home and has transformed her
abode into a fresh green spot.
Elvie has been
dubbed a certified "plantita" - a portmanteau of plant and the Filipino
word for aunt (tita) -- because of her love for plants.
Other
plant enthusiasts, Merlyn Diez-Bantugan and Fiel Angeli Araoarao-Gabin,
have said plants give them joy that money can't buy.
And
so if COVID-19 underscores an age of distancing, gardening arises as an
antidote, extending the promise of contact with something real.
Note: Being a plantito/plantita is not exactly a cheap hobby.
* * *
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