Bohol the Nth Time

High-low tide beach

The quite narrow beach

View from Amarela balcony resto

The balcony resto

I arrived again in Amarela Resort in Libaong Beach, Panglao Island.  This time around our flight was in the afternoon so we got to the resort almost nearing sundown. There was still barely sun, enough to see that the plants are still lush, but some are overgrown.  The sea water was quite high for low tide. The exposed portion of the beach is narrow. It is always nice to come back here.      

The Hi-Street Session

At Bonifacio Hi-Street

Sketching Specific Gravity

It was my third time to join the monthly sketching session of Urban Sketchers Philippines. September's session brought us to the urban landscape of Fort Bonifacio, specifically Bonifacio Hi-Street.  We were to meet at the infamous Specific Gravity sculpture of Reg Yuson.

Sketchers at work

We were pegged to meet at 3:30 PM but no one was still in the vicinity of the sculpture cum fountain.  I made a quick scan of the surrounding shops and spotted USP fixture Eileen Escueta sitting at Figaro's, already doodling her selected scene.  I sat down with her company, so I could also bring out my drawing paraphernalia and start sketching.

Without any pencil lines

A few minutes into my contour line composition, one by one the USP members were popping up, steadily filling up the seats of Figaro's al fresco dining.  Different sizes of sketch pads and varying kinds of drawing and coloring media were eventually pulled out from bags.

The favorite subject was the Reg Yuson sculpture, though that day the cascading water element was turned off. But that did not hinder the boys and gals from finding the perfect angle to depict the large synthetic stone and metal art installation.    

Unfinished sketch

At around 430, we were asked to transfer to the covered pathway near Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and start a new drawing.  But eventually the chosen subject taken was still the same familiar sculpture. All were racing to finish their quick sketches as it was already nearing dusk.  The color of the landscape surface are turning from bright tints of color into shades of dark tones and grey. 

My first attempt

Urban Sketchers

At 530 pm, the sketching session abruptly came to an end, testing the USP's ability to quickly capture the essence of Hi Street with just a few fast strides of pen or pencil. I myself did not get to finish my last drawing.  But somehow I managed to make 2 small drawings to mark my brief participation in this USP activity.  Can't wait till next month, when I again get to add something worth sketching in my small notebook.  

The City and the Country Tea

Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic Garden in Laoag

The NUEBG tsaang-gubat

NUEBG tree house

Located at one corner of Northwestern University Ecotourism Park and Botanic Garden in Laoag City is a very nice and attractive specimen of Carmona retusa which they commonly call Fookien tea or tsaang-gubat. There is nothing unusual with the scene except that this plant is big and healthy.  But you would expect to see healthy specimens in the city as tsaang gubat is a known and popular garden plant.  It is much propagated in Tabang, Bulacan and sold as topiary in the shape of balls, cones and animals. 

The Carmona retusa was planted at a nice shaded spot, along a prominent pathway.  I am not certain where the NUEBG tsaang gubat came from, but I am sure it is given utmost care by the staff of the university, especially the botanic garden's superintendent, Michael Calaramo. As a result, it is tall and lush, with robust branches forming a compact crown. The leaves have a glimmer, as if they were sprayed with lacquer. It really is a handsome addition to any landscape.

Dwarfed forest of Burgos

The wild tsaang-gubat

About two hours away from Laoag is the craggy shores of Burgos town.  It is a windy part of Ilocos region so the vegetation are quite wind swept and naturally maintained low. Here another Carmona retusa grows at the other end of the spectrum. 

The Burgos tsaang-gubat might be a wild specimen.  It is low and gnarly, almost hugging the ground, trying to blend with the other dwarfed species growing on the rocky slopes. It is mixed with resilient shrubbery and weeds, including Phyllanthus, Tabernaemontana, Celtis and a lot more. The specimen here does not have a lush crown or the perfect foliage, which goes to show that a lot of natives do not actually grow in perfect conditions, but they do adapt and manage.        

The Windy Landscape

The famous Bangui windmills

There was a wedding photoshoot!

I was fortunate to come back for the 3rd time to Bangui and stand at the base of the famous wind turbines. This time around I was with quite a number of members of the Philippine Native Plant Conservation Society, some of which are first timers. They had fun taking their numerous pictures against the back drop of the sleek Ilocos windmills. 

Papaitan and Coke early lunch

While most my companions were enjoying the sights in the wind turbine site, immersing themselves int the hot and sunny weather, I chose to sit inside a small makeshift cafe cum carinderia at around the vicinity of windmill no. 5.  It was barely past 10amand I was already sampling a bowl of papaitan, rice and a plate of dinakdakan. Yum! I downed all of it with a cold bottle of regular Coke. How's that as alternative to baking under the sun in the Bangui shores. Talk about mixed priorities! 

The wiser PNPCSI members who stayed indoors

Wrightia pubescens

But seriously, I love this part of the Philippines, particularly the long coastal areas of Ilocos Norte.  Which is probably why there are a lot of other tourists there with us, trying to get the feel of the nice beach, the tall waves and the unique coastal landscapes.

But another highlight of this return-to-Bangui trip is finally seeing a specimen of laniti or Wrightia pubescens in flower.  It has the pinwheel flowers, trademark of Apocynaceae members.  Also very beautiful.  I can't wait collecting the lanite seedlings over at U.P. campus.

Lanite flower detail

 

The Cootie Catcher

Max's cootie-catcher

Reminds me of a flower

I was with PNPCSI friends Ernie and Lanie yesterday and we decided to eat in Max's while waiting for Ronald and Anthony.  Of course if you are in Max'syou have to order their traditional very tasty and crispy fried chicken, which we did.  While waiting for our order we noticed something different in Max's table set up. They had  origami art which the waiters call the 'cootie catcher'.  

The witty answers

It reminds me of the paper flower my neighbors used to make in my childhood days in La Loma. My former playmates pencil in words behind the paper flaps to answer simple yes-or-no questions. They sort of use it for fortune-telling. Then they ask question like if their parents will buy them new toys or the sorts.

From flat sheet

To pass-off time we sampled Max's cootie catcher.  Lanie was contemplating if she should attend mass in UST.  The cootie catcher answered: 'Only if you are very good'. So Lanie felt guilty and decided to attend mass.  We also asked if Ronald and Anthony will be coming soon.  Answer: 'Do you really have to ask?'.  Then our chicken lunch arrived.

In between eating our sumptuous chicken we asked more questions which we let the cootie catcher answer.  The replies are funny and really entertained us.  Question: does the cootie catcher work? We did not have the chance to ask this.  But Ronald and Anthony arrived way after our meal was finished, which made us had more time playing with the paper toy. 'Do you really have to ask?'

Disclaimer:  Not in any way affiliated with Max's and its subsidiaries.  Hope I am so I could enjoy more of the spring chicken. Hehehe!

A Smaller Orchid Display

Green wall booth

Vangie Go's winning entry

I was back at Quezon Memorial Circle, this time for the Philippine Orchid Society's Mid-year Show. The selling area and the exhibits are again in Hardin ng mga Bulaklak complex, the same place used in the last show. But the booth displays are recognizably much smaller. The organizers alloted a tiny area for display entries so that more exhibitors could join the competition. Orchid booths are cuter, but not that luxurious and extravagant looking. Still, I enjoyed going around and looking at the different orchids, native and not, in bloom. 

The Orchid Show is open 8 to 6 PM from Aug 30 to Sept 10.



Phalaenopsis hybrids in Purificacion booth



Puentespina display



Another orchid display combined with other ornamentals



Malvarosa Orchids display



Nurturing the Young's Interest

Members of UP Green League with Ron Achacoso

The endemic Adonidia merrillii in AS walk

Last Wednesday I was invited by UP Green League to hold a tree walk as an ACLE session.  ACLE means alternative class learning experience which aims to give a different education from what you could basically learn inside the classroom. In line with this, the regular U.P. classes were suspended from 1 to 4 P.M. so students could attend the ACLE sessions.  But on my way to Palma Hall at 1 pm, crowds were already lining up to ride jeepneys going out of the campus. The ACLE sessions on the fourth floor of A.S. building had sparse attendance.  Green League's was not different as the session intended for 30 had only 9 attendees. But we went on having the tree walk anyway as 9 people are still worth teaching about the importance about the presence of native tree species in the environment.

We went on a different route going from A.S. to the lagoon, Melchor Hall, the library, the pavilions and ending up in MSI. Eventhough the group was small, the students seemed really interested in every tree that we went through.  They were actively smelling, touching and even tasting the fruits of each species. Hopefully what they learned would help them appreciate native species.