Asian Bird Fair & Philippine Bird Fest

Davao City intensified its bid to become the country’s top eco-tourism destination as it played host to the 1st Asian Bird Fair and 6th Philippine Bird Festival that started September 24 to 26, 2010 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel.

Davao City is the first Mindanao city that hosted the two-day Philippine Bird Festival, the country’s premier avian conservation and eco-tourism event. Various cities and provinces in Luzon and Visayas, such as Puerto Princesa, Bataan, Cebu and Quezon City, already have hosted the said annual environmental event.

More than 30 foreign and local bird-watching organizations and thousands of students from all over the region participated in the event. Delegates were welcomed with a fiesta-themed dinner hosted by City Mayor Sara Duterte at Matina Town Square.

Activities, such as lectures, exhibits, film showing, workshop, story-telling, and interactive learning included in the event’s activity.

Various talks and presentations on bird-watching were also presented by the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand, Bird Conservation Nepal, Chinese Wild Bird Federation, Borneo Bird Club, World Wildlife Fund, Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network, Hornbill Research Foundation, Philippine Eagle Foundation, among others. The controversial, Oscar -winning documentary, The Cove, was also shown for the first time in the city.

The festival sought to enrich eco-tourism through bird-watching and promoted the natural and cultural heritage of its host cities. It was also a significant occasion to draw attention to critical environmental preservation issues and find a common ground in protecting the birds in the region.

For further information, contact the Davao Tourism office at (6382)222-1956, telfax (6382)222-1957, email info@davaotourism.com, dabaw_madayaw@yahoo.com or visit the website http://www.davaotourism.com.

WEAP 5th Annual Convention

The Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP) Inc., a member of the association of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) of the United States held its 5th Annual Convention last August 5 and 6, 2010 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino Lahug, Cebu City.

This year’s theme is “Climate Change: Act Now for Future Generations.” Andrew T. Montalbo and Artemio F. Baylosis, WEAP president and president-elect respectively, welcomed delegates and the representatives from the various water districts, private companies, LGUs, manufacturers, environmental practitioners and pollution control officers that attended the event.

On the other hand, the technical sessions highlighted the following topics: “The Basics of Global Warming,” “The La Niña and El Niño Phenomenon,”“Sewerage and Sanitation: The Emerging Challenge,” “Combined Sewage and Septage Treatment: The FTI STP Experience,” “Renewable Energy: The Alternative Source of Energy”, and “Mitigation and Adaptation of Climate Change and The Green Design”.

For more inquiries, contact WEAP Secretariat, (632) 775-2030, email weaphil@yahoo.com, or visit the WEAP website http://www.weaphil.com.

7th Vegetables Congress in Mindanao

Consolidation and marketing opportunities in the domestic Vegetable trade were highlighted at the 7th Mindanao Vegetable Congress held at the Almont Hotel and Inland Resort, Butuan City last August 4 to 5, 2010.

“Sustaining the gains of the vegetable industry in Mindanao amidst challenges” was the theme of this year’s Congress, that showcased industry trends, provided presentations on the latest vegetable production technologies, and held “market-matching” meetings between growers and retail and institutional buyers.

The event is supported by the city government of Butuan, the provincial governments of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, the Department of Agriculture, the Southern Philippine Vegetable Council (SPVC), and USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

“This annual event has given a boost to vegetable growers in Mindanao,” said Valeriano Palco, president of the Caraga High-Value Cluster, Inc. (CHiVeCC), lead organizer of this year’s congress.

CHiVeCC is among several vegetable industry groups engaging in private sector – private sector collaboration to improve the production and domestic out-shipment of selected vegetable varieties from the region to Luzon and the Visayas, with GEM assistance.

For further information, contact the Butuan City Government office at (6385)342-3074, fax (6385)225-5737 or visit http://www.butuan.gov.ph.

Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines 38th Annual Scientific Conference

The latest international standards in veterinary practice will be introduced by respected speakers during the 38th annual scientific conference of the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines this June 10 – 11, 2010 at the Heritage Hotel Manila in Pasay City.

The event will carry the theme, “Achieving International Standards for Veterinary Practice.” Dr. Tomas Acorda, Professional Regulations Commission Board of Veterinary Medicine will deliver the keynote address. The annual conference is an excellent opportunity for veterinary and related companies to introduce their products and services to veterinary practitioners and update themselves with the latest developments and trends in veterinary practice.

There will be plenary sessions tackling topics such as farm inspection system, animal nutrition, household investigation, standards in disease diagnostics, treatment of animal patients, use of electrocardiography, breeding behavior, among others.

There will also be case presentations and the annual awarding of the Outstanding Practitioners in Companion Animal Practice, Poultry Practice, Swine Practice, Large Animal Practice, Laboratory Animal Practice, Veterinary Practice and Academe, and the prestigious VPAP Grand Award.

On-site registration fee is P4, 000.00 or members and P4, 700.00 for non-members. International participants will be charged $130.00. Convention fee will be inclusive of kits, conference documentations, and lunch and refreshments throughout the two-day affair.

For more information, contact the VPAP secretariat at (632) 926-6603 or email vpapsecretariat@yahoo.com.ph.

4th Country Fair at Tagaytay City

Two days of wonderful summer art and nature were showcased at the beautiful gardens of The Flower Farm Corporation on its 4th Country Fair last May 1-2, 2010 in Tagaytay City.

The event’s special highlight was an exhibit of the “Vanishing Scenes” paintings by the late Lino Severino—the pilot-turned-artist brother of Ging delos Reyes. He is recognized of his valuable works that captures the Nostalgia of Negros Occidental’s grand ancestral homes. One of his best works is the “Paris of Negros” on canvas, was one of the highlight displays.

Two members of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artist and local photo enthusiasts joined as new exhibitors in the said event. They presented on-the-spot painting, and showcased the Philippines’ most scenic spots by the association’s photographers in the events’ photo exhibit.

Apart from gallery displays and exhibits, visitors also enjoyed shopping in the garden bazaar where a variety of fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, imported fabrics, garden accessories, and home décor items were available. Specialty Food items from Silay City are also offered, with the proceeds going to the Home for the Aged in Silay City, Negros Occidental. Via Mare, on the other hand, served sumptuous meals for everybody who needs their stomach after feeding their eyes and minds with beautiful displays of painting and photographs.

The Flower Farm Corporation can be reached through 815-6665 or email info@theflowerfarm.com.

LBHS Staged Flower and ‘Garden Wedding’ Show

As a way to recognize the popularity of garden weddings and receptions in the Philippines, the Los Baños Horticulture Society (LBHS), formerly Los Baños Orchid Society, held its summer show last April 23 to May 2, 2010 at the Senior’s Social Garden in University of Los Banos, Laguna.

With this year’s theme “Garden Wedding”, the event was filled with creative displays of numerous flora that are ideal for garden wedding setups. Invited speakers also talked about how to use plants and garden accessories — seeds, seedlings, flowering plants, garden bells, and lamps — as wedding giveaways.

VS Orchids, Vic’s Orchids & Ornamentals, Valesol, Flower Box, Gintong Talulut, Exotica, Varunee Garden, Robelle Garden, Malvarosa, Earth Keepers, DAP, Tony Pajaro, Mabuhay Orchids and Genesis participated in the landscape exhibit and showcased their arrangements in the center hall.

Among the special guest include Mr. Vic Chin who gave a talk on “Wedding Cake Decoration Using Fresh Flowers”, Dr. Monina Siar, noted specialist on Hoya, Mussaenda and other ornamental plants; and Mr. Danny Tiu, author of Grammatophyllum of the Philippines, which was recently published by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). The book was on sale during the garden show.

Like previous garden shows organized by the LBHS, seedlings, fruit crops, exotic fruit trees, foliage plants, flowering plants, and orchids were available and sold to guests and participants throughout the event.

For more information about the event, contact the Los Baños Horticulture Society at (63920) 577-6552 or visit their website at http://losbanosorchidsociety.org/

Flower and Garden Show in QC

Green is in. We have heard and witnessed different kinds and gimmicks in promoting care for the environment. We have participated and supported planting trees and voluntary waste management tours and lectures. But do you know that there are more than seeds and leaves that also cares for the environment?

Last January 30 to February 8, the Horti 2010 Flower and Garden Show parades and displays colorful and beautiful flower arrangements at the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation  in EDSA corner Quezon Avenue Q.C.

The show is composed of three sections: the exhibits of landscape and individual collection of plants that will make our world green; the lecture-demonstrations on how we can implement and maintain our environment beautiful through the green technologies; and the commercial section where one can shop for all the materials for the greening of our environment.

Some of the participants in the landscape design are King Louis Flowers and Plants, Jorge Mendoza, the Philippine Bonsai Society, Natural Stone Society, the Cactus and Succulent Society, Vic de Rona, Botchie Canicula, Constancio Basis, Lardy Abundo with Tess Baldonado, Rhea and Chito Luna, and the study groups on ferns, aroids and hoyas.

For more information about the show, you may call Buth Duque at 490-5239; Wendy Regalado at 0917-8417860; or Mett Metilla at 514-7223 or SMS 0917-8321352.

PSSN Holds 9th Annual Scientific Conference in Lanao del Norte

The Philippine Society for the Study of Nature, Inc. (PSSN) will be holding its 9^th Annual Scientific Conference on November 11 – 15, 2009 at the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

The event will carry the theme, “Nature in Crisis: A Look at the Social Responsibility of Universities, Media, Government, private Sector, and Grass Roots”. The convention will feature interesting plenary topics that will be delivered by well-known personalities in the academe, media industry, government, and private organizations. Updates on the various fields of nature study will likewise be presented by researchers from all parts of the country. An exciting post-symposium tour to major tourist destinations in the area awaits every participant.

The first day of the convention will have activities to reach out to young high school and college researchers from all over the country. They will be presenting their research projects in the form of oral and poster research papers, films on nature in crisis, protection and conservation issues to be shared to all members and participants of the convention. Outstanding research projects of Philippine scientists will be competing for this year’s Best paper Awards.

The second day of the convention will feature plenary papers of invited speakers who are known personalities in the academe, conservation and protection of nature. The third day of the convention will feature the presentation of research papers and academic posters

For inquiries or details about the event, contact MSU-IIT at (063) 221-4050 loc 137, (0928) 996-0185, or visit the conference website at http://pssnposter.webs.com/

Specialized Pavilions Highlighted Agrilink 2009

Three specialized exhibit pavilions that caters to agribusiness, food and aquaculture industry players highlighted Agrilink, Foodlink, Aqualink 2009 held last October 8 – 10, 2009 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Organized by the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development, Inc., (FRLD) the international exhibit will carry the theme, “Sustainable Food Production: Focus on the Filipino Market”. This year’s Agrilink, Foodlink, and Aqualink aims to focus on micro-enterprises that cater primarily to domestic consumption, which can help assure sustainable local food production.

One of the highlights of the three-day international event was the grand aquaculture exhibit which has live fresh and salt water fish species such as pompano, siganid, grouper, vannamei, seabass, koi, abalone, snapper, red tilapia, sea urchin, macrobrachium (ulang), sea cucumber, seaweeds, pangasius, tilapia, milkfish (bangus) and other tropical and ornamental fishes.

The International Livestock, Dairy, Meat Processing, and Aquaculture Expo (ILDEX) pavilion showcased the latest technology and business solutions from Argentina, China, Korea, Thailand, the Netherlands, the Philippines, UK, and USA.

Finally, the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (Le Club) housed 15 leading French agricultural firms that displayed a wide range of French products and services that could help boost the growth of the local and global agribusiness industry.

Other highlights of the event included international indoor and outdoor exhibits, live plant and animal displays, product launches and demos, technology and marketing presentations, onsite contests, wholesale and retail, and many other business activities.

Agrilink, Foodlink, Aqualink 2009 is supported by Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Agricultural and Fishery Council, and sponsored by San Miguel Foods, Inc., (B-MEG, San Miguel Animal Health Care, Monterey Foods Corp., and Magnolia Chicken), Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company (Univet, Pigrolac, and Thunderbird), and Belmont AgriCorp.

For more information, contact the FRLD at (632) 838-4549, 838-4852; fax 838-4573; or email frld@pldtdsl.net.

POS 63rd Mid-year Orchid and Garden Show Celebrates Waling-waling Season

The Philippine Orchid Society (POS) in cooperation with the Quezon City Government will hold its 63rd Mid-year Orchid and Garden Show from August 27 to September 7, 2009 at the Orchidarium Park of Quezon City Hall.

Carrying the theme, “Growing Orchids for Health and Wellness”, this year's show will also feature traditional landscape exhibits, trade fair, plant competition, as well as health, wellness, and cultural activities.

The event is highlighted by the flowering season of various local and imported orchid species and hybrids, which include the Vanda sanderiana, popularly known as Waling-waling.

A landscape booth will feature rare orchids and ornamental plants while the commercial section boast some 70 suppliers carrying the widest assortment of plants and garden supplies. POS members and officers will also conduct a lecture-demonstration on the various arts and techniques of orchid growing, indoor gardening, and flower arrangement, among others.

Entrance fee is P30 for adults and P20 for students and senior citizens with valid ID. Group discounts are also available. For inquiries, call (632) 929-4425, 906-5036, (63917) 848-5468 or (63922) 895-9544; e-mail philorchidsociety@yahoo.com, philorchidsociety@gmail.com or visit www.philippineorchidsocietyph.org.

The POS 63rd Mid-year Orchid and Garden Show is sponsored by Department of Tourism, Department of Education, National Commission for Culture and Arts, Dai-Ichi Electronics, and the following media partners: UNTv 37, C/S 9, NBN 4 (Mag-Agri Tayo), Manila Bulletin (Agriculture Magazine), The Philippine Star, Philstar.com, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times, Abante Tonite, Buy and Sell, and DZRH.

Philippine Biodiversity Highlighted at PIFGEX 2009

The conservation and protection of the country's endemic plants and animals was highlighted during the 2^nd Philippine International Flora and Fauna Garden Expo (PIFGEX 2009) held last July 16 – 19, 2009 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Organized by RPN Flora and Fauna, Inc., managed by Ideas, Concepts and Events Inc., (ICE, Inc.,) and co-presented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the event carried the theme “Protecting and Sustaining Nature”. PIFGEX 2009 aims to promote the concern of Philippine Biodiversity among the youth. Furthermore, the event aims to showcase the Philippine plants and animals to the world, their uses, their conservation status, and the protection of their habitat.

DENR Secretary Jose 'Lito' Atienza, Ms. Philippines Eco-Tourism 2009 and Ms. PAGCOR Adie Adelantar, ICE, Inc., Event Manager Mr. Bon Reyes, RPN Flora & Fauna, Inc. Representative Mr. Stephen Kamphuis, and Las Pinas City Representative Congw. Cynthia Villar, were among the personalities who graced the opening of PIFGEX 2009.

In his speech, Secretary Atienza stated that the knowledge shared through the event will help boost efforts to protect Philippine biodiversity, particularly as it continues to face threats from habitat destruction, over-exploitation of natural resources, pollution as well as weak enforcement of environmental laws. In addition, he urged people nationwide to increase their knowledge about the country's biodiversity so they can protect and sustainably use this resource.

An array of live domesticated Philippine and exotic birds, small mammals, snakes, lizards, butterflies, and fishes were displayed during PIFGEX 2009. Daily lectures were conducted throughout the three-day event. Topics discussed include global warming, roof gardening, banana farming, organic farming, bee keeping, hydroponics, orchid and mushroom growing, cactus cultivation, wheat grass benefits, flower arrangement, landscaping, backyard vegetable gardening and more. Notable representatives from various environment and plant organizations spearheaded the two-day Conference on Flora and Fauna.

The 2^nd Philippine International Flora and Fauna Garden Expo is in cooperation with the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Bureau of Plant Industry, and Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau.

The event is sponsored by Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc., Sony Philippines, Scandinavian Woodworks Corp., Brother International Philippines Corp., Sterling Paper Products Ent., Inc., Schering-Plough Corp., East-West Seed Company, Inc., Ramgo International Corp., EDSA Garden House, Zoobic Safari, King Loius Flower and Plant, Inc., Philippine Orchid Society, Pentel, Philippine Association of Landscape Architects, World Flower Council, Flower Club Philippines, Philippine Horticultural Society, Cactus and Succulent Society of the Philippines, Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society, Rizal Technological University – Research and Development Center, Animal House Pet Clinic and Grooming Center, Philippine Canine Club, Inc., Paradizoo Theme Farm, Philippine Arowana and Luo Han Society, EWK Aviaries, Red Ostrich Farm, and the following media partners: Manila Bulletin (Animal Scene and Agriculture Magazine), Business Mirror, Business World, Marid Agribusiness Digest, Philstar.com, and HerWord.com.

For more information about the event, contact ICE, Inc. at (632) 584-5321, (632) 584-5316, (632) 727-2151, email ice.incorporated@yahoo.com, info@ice.com.ph or visit the event website at www.philippinefloraandfauna.org.