A century-old batigue emerged as overall winner or Best in Show at the National Bonsai and Suiseki Show and Competition at the Flower Garden of the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.
The bantigue, nurtured by Dr. Ronnie Ramos of Cabanatuan Bonsai Society in Nueva Ecija, impressed the judges with its shape, dramatic effect and presentation, including the pot used. The judges included bonsai masters from Taiwan and Indonesia.
In the suiseki/biseki competition, judges chose a grayish stone with a white image that they agreed looked like a woman eating a banana. It was owned by Joseph V. Tayag. Suiseki refers to natural stones with unusual shapes, colors and designs achieved without any assistance from human hands.
Attractive hues and shapes
Exposure to the elements has made the stones look like human figures, animals or plants or given them attractive hues, geometric shapes or decorative markings.
The annual garden show of the Bonsai and Suiseki Alliance of the Philippines Inc., with Leticia P. Ligon as president, had for its theme this year “It’s More Fun with Bonsai and Suiseki in Zen Gardening.”
Aside from the bonsai and suiseki exhibits, it also held lectures on bonsai and suiseki and the Market Place, where ornamental and tropical plants and various gardening materials and tools were sold. An on-the-spot painting competition was held on the first few days of the competition.
Aside from individual bonsai plants, this year’s exhibit showcased miniature Zen gardens and penjing landscapes. Bonsai master Serapion Metilla explained that penjing refers to an arrangement of rocky mountains with a few small bonsai with moss, pebbles and other small plants.
The other winners were: garden bonsai, Michael Santiago; penjing, Tonette Gedang; tropical bonsai, Dorie Bernabe; small bonsai, Sonny Luna; best fruiting, Dr. Alexander Rodriguez; forest, Ana de Rona; literati, Ligon; exposed roots, Charlie Miranda; windswept, Benedicta Galgana; cascade, Juan Lim; and rockgrown, Erwin Fabros.
Ricky Mandilag won first prize in the on-the-spot painting competition.
