The Biggest Stairway to Heaven

Freycinetia multiflora

Anthony Arbias dwarfed by the 'stairway'

Quick Post: We visited the UP Bonsai Garden and found the biggest Freycinetia multiflora we ever saw.  It stands taller than I am and much much wider. Really makes a very nice addition to any garden.  I looked around for a specimen to add and rear in my garden. Already found a small one in seedling bank but will probably take long long years before it reaches comprarable size to the one over at the bonsai garden.  It really is a patience game for most of us gardeners, but it would be much sweeter once my own specimen take off and become a big 'stairway to heaven'.

Dine and Design in the Room Upstairs

The TRU logo

I found myself last Saturday meeting up with former UP classmates Arch Dino Delotavo and Interior Designer Pinky Peralta in Market, Market!  We went around Alabang but eventually ended up in Pinky's shop in LRI Building over at Reposo. It is aptly called The Room Upstairs or TRU for short, located at the second floor and just above the stairs.  Pinky and her husband Ari had been keeping a furniture shop cum coffee corner.  But in recent years the coffee shop part have already overtaken the sales area, becoming popular with LRI clients, designers and recently with internet users, named one of the most popular coffee shops (in a foodie website) around the metro.

Salad

Tuyo pesto

The Room Upstairs has the eclectic look of furniture showroom but is also cozy, perfect for coffee-goers. We sat at a deep corner and Pinky ordered away their specialties. They got me a salad, tuyo pesto pasta and for desert, Russian cookies.  It was a gastronomic delight, as well as a visual one as the platefuls were beautifully presented. My eyes were further visually stimulated as I went through the furniture pieces which Pinky designed. I would definitely go back and try the other stuff on their menu.  Hope the comfy couch we sat on would be available the next time I am back at TRU.

The different dining sets to dine in

Flower Market, Market!

The flower stalls at Market Market!

A bevy of flowers

Instant flower corridor

I was at Market Market! this morning.  I was surprised to find the flower section transformed into a second Dangwa.  The stalls were stacked with all kinds of flowers. There were also makeshift stalls where you could have made-to-order arrangements.  It was starting to become a frenzy.  The commotion will probably build-up more towards the next few days.  Really shows how much Pinoys honor their departed loved ones.  I myself will be making the pilgrimage to North Cemetery on November 1 to visit my mom.  But will probably carry orchid blooms coming from my own garden, from my mom's own pet orchids.

The Mystic Balete Tree of Baler

The Baler balete

The super root structure

Into the cavity

Today we got to see the 500 year old humongous balete tree located in one of the remote barangays of Baler municipality.  The historic tree has long been standing as one of the pride of Aurora province but sadly has been deemed a tourist spot. It constantly is plagued by influx of tourists and enterprising locals. Now we were among them, trying to check out the marvel of this fig tree's natural wonder.

Ficus hugging

The balete is a Ficus, probably F. balete,  F. philippinensis or a close relative.  It is a strangler that probably started from the branches of another tree bringing out numerous aerial roots and branches over time.  The five hundred year history has built a formidable fortress of root network.  It already choked its former host and remnants of it have vanished without a trace.  In its place is a cavity void allowing people to climb the magnificent tree.  Local children are the expert climbers, doing the feat to the amusement of spectators and of course a fee.

The Ficus' side view

My companions from U.P. Diliman number 30.  They tried to encompass the diameter of the balete tree by measuring it collectively at arms' length. Thirty was not enough to circle the tree trunk's circumference.  But some faculty, especially the history and theory of design teachers were hesitant in joining in. They said they felt the presence of elementals and a couple of 'tikbalangs' (supernatural beings half man half horse). The tikbalangs were apparently sleeping and the U.P. Arki crowd's commotion was disturbing them.  So we decided to cut our curiosity short and head back to our hotel, to leave the supernatural beings in their tiresome peace. The balete's super structure will give them the proper shelter they need for their mystical slumber.

Teachers' Baler Weekend

Mam Espina and paparazzi

Teachers in frenzy inside bus

I am surfacing from checking duties to join the other Arki professors in a weekend trip to Baler in Aurora. We left U.P. Diliman exactly at 6 am and boarded luxurious Genesis buses enroute to the Western Luzon town.  After a very comfortable ride through the NLEX and the rice fields of Nueva Ecija, we reached Pantabangan and the Border of Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya at around 10 am.

Down the Pantabangan waters

Phalaenopsis

Our very animated dean, Arch Mary Anne Espina, could not resist forcing us to alight from our comfy transpo and immerse ourselves into the spectacular view of the dammed waterway.  We walked towards the main highway, obvious as tourists to onlooking locals. My companions took their wacky shots and mountain man poses. And while they were doing it I was surveying the trees at the roadway adorned with local orchids. I found a flowering butterfly orchid which I think is Phalaenopsis aphrodite, but I still have to confirm with the experts. There were other orchids which i think would be more suited for higher altitude growth.

Bahia de Baler

Platycerium coronarium

An hour after we reached Baler and Bahia, our home for the next 3 days.  Bahia de Baler is a small inn with cozy rooms designed by Arch Espina. It had a very simple landscape.  But nevertheless it still delighted me because it had Platycerium coronarium specimens and large Aspleniums integrated into some nooks and crannies. Hopefully I will get to explore Baler and its hidden treasures in the next couple of days.  It would mean more  blogs about them if I do.  Let us cross our fingers.

Flowers from the Visayas

Pittosporum pentandrum

Tabernaemontana

 Quick Post: I was checking my plants in the garden and found 2 of my seedlings from seeds now tall and flowering:  The first one is Pittosporum pentandrum, which I brought back from a friend's property in Bohol.  My specimen is now taller than I am and flowering.  The flowers are frequented by bees.  The second one is Tabernaemontana which I collected from a resort in Puerto Galera in Mindoro.  3 specimens grew from seeds and brought out minute white flowers. The flowers developed into the unique seed pods.  Can't wait for them to turn red. 

The Trees Students Used

Sorry I have not been blogging lately because I am checking students' plates and exams.  Look at the pile I am hurdling to check. And it is just one pile for one subject, I have 2 more! Just imagine how much paper students use in a semester. How many trees were cut to make such pile of useful paper?