Baywatch and Baycatch

The disputed existing coast of Manila looks the same as it was when I was a child, but it may change drastically when reclamation pushes through 

Shelter behind one of the bollard lights

Had the chance to visit the CCP baywalk once more. It was quite a while back when I last saw the waters of Manila bay in this side of town. When I was a kid we used to frequent the CCP grounds especially the breakwater behind the Folk Arts Theater to buy seafood from peddlers or eat at the fastfood (remember the Orange Julius burgers?). Now it seems CCP baywalk is again a destination for foodies with new restaurants and dining establishments popular with the in-crowd.

Waiting a while for a bite

On a sunny day, a familiar scene are anglers trying their luck to hook fish from the murky waters of the bay.  But what may be different is that before, the fishermen catch fish species that I could not recognize when I was a child. Now the anglers catch the familiar, freshwater tilapia which has already acclimatized with the salinity and pollution. Yikes!

There are a number of people at watch for a bay catch

The more organized part of baywalk is off limits for the anglers

Some of these anglers said they are doing it as a sport.  But others do catch tilapia to eat for dinner.  I asked how the fish catch taste when cooked.  They say there is a funny after taste, but that does not stop them from dropping a fishline and trying their luck to hook some Manila bay tilapia. Probably better to have something than nothing on the table, besides that the fish caught is free, free, free!    

My Horti Favorite

The star burst flowers

For the past years, the variegated specimens of the native Clerodendrum quadriloculare or bagawak-morado has been fixtures in both the exhibit and selling booths in the annual PHS Garden Show.  This year large specimens are bigger than ever, and of course in full blooming glory.  Even though it has been around for quite some time, this horticultural plant continues to impress.  I still am looking forward to grow one in my garden.  I am successful in making my bagawak to grow and even flower, but once they bloom, they regress and die.  I do not now why.  Only after I solve this mystery would I have the guts to procure my specimen of the variegated Clerodendrum. 

The impressive variegated bagawak-morado

 

This Year's Horti Show with a Heart

I need another one of me.  Between making the lectures, exams and checking for 5 different subjects, I made 3 articles for the magazine. Not sure if all 3 will make it to the issue. Only saw 2 with layouts, so probably the third one was done in vain.  Too bad as I enjoyed doing the missing article much.  Will probably post it here if it does not get published. 

Flowers arranged in a large heart pattern

But writing all three articles and doing the lectures made me almost hate writing.  Too much that I had only one short log for January.  But it seems my blogging zest is slowly coming back.  Hopefully I could catch up with my checking so I could clock in more time to blog. And to ease in the habit, will post a few pictures of the on going horti show.

A symphony of rosette plants

Yup, it is garden show season again, ushered in by the very first for this year, the annual Philippine Horticultural Society garden show.  The show's duration might not be as long as the previous years, but it does not mean the organizers did not go allout in preparation and activities. Exhibit booths as always brought out some of the collectors' best specimens.  The designs followed a theme making use of a lot of hearts in layout and design. Below are some of the entries in the both design competition.

Botchie Canicula's rustic booth features outstanding aroid collection including his water banana aroid.

Another aroid display with heart motif

Agave display for the Cactus and Succulent Society