Waling-Waling Festival 2011

The Negros Occidental Orchid Society Inc. held its 9th Waling-Waling Festival in a week-long exhibit of orchids and plants starting Aug. 15 and ended today, Aug. 21 at Robinson’s Place-Bacolod. This is a yearly event since this magnificent orchid blooms during in July to September after the monsoon rains.

Waling-waling with scientific name Euanthe sanderiana orVanda sanderiana is endemic to the Philippines specifically in Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga. The festival aims to awaken old enthusiasts, inspire new hobbyists and promote public awareness on the value of the waling-waling, one of the symbols of the richness of our culture.

Waling-waling is already considered endangered since it is very rare in its natural habitat. Because of its beauty, it’s hailed as the “Queen of Philippine Orchids“. It is rather expensive so I can only afford to buy small seedlings priced at P50 each. It will probably take several years to see them bloom but I can wait. That’s one of the things I learned as a neophyte gardener, you should have a lot of patience but I know it will all be worth it.

The festival also featured other plants such as succulents and cactus, bromeliads, bonsai, and fruit trees. Those who don’t want to wait years for trees to bear fruits, bought grafted fruit trees such as batwan which is priced at P250.

I’m glad to see a lot of native Philippine plant species at the festival since I’d like to add them to my small garden. There was Medinilla magnifica locally called Kapa-Kapa. I already have one bought from Don Salvador Benedicto at P150 last year. It’s easy to grow and mine has produced really beautiful flowers which incidentally are also edible and has medicinal properties according to Marketman.

My biggest find was the Jade Vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys). Locally called tayabak, the jade vine is a related to the pea family and another endemic plant in the Philippines which is also considered rare and endangered. Don’t worry, the one sold at the festival were cultivated and not harvested from the wild.

I tried to haggle for P300 but the seller won’t budge so I gave in and bought it at P350. I suck at haggling. But I don’t mind buying it at P350, I just look forward to the day when I will see my first bloom of the claw-shaped flower.

The Waling-Waling Festival is an annual event so if you were not able to visit this year, wait for announcements on this event next year which will be held in August 2012. The Negros Occidental Orchids Society also hold other garden shows all throughout the year.