Nat’l bonsai exhibit, competition draws crowd in Binalonan;
Mayor accepts hosting international bonsai show in 2019
Bonsai collectors, growers and suiseki artists from the different parts of the Philippines on Nov. 24 converged at Ramon J. Guico, Sr. Sports and Civic Center for the Opening and Awarding Ceremony of the 2018 Bonsai Liga BSAPI National Show.
Staged for the second time in Binalonan and participated in by 52 bonsai clubs from all over the country, Bonsai Liga is considered the biggest bonsai exhibition and competition in the country today.
Around 400 bonsai plants of different sizes and species are on display at the Binalonan Town Plaza from November 24-December 1, 2018.
Binalonan Mayor Ramon V. Guico III, who was assisted by the foreign guests, Bonsai Liga Board of Directors, presidents of the different bonsai clubs, and other guests, did the ribbon cutting to formally open the exhibit.
Due to the “accessibility and beauty of Binalonan and warm hospitality” of the municipal officials led by Mayor Guico, the directors and officers of Bonsai Liga requested Binalonan through Guico to host the 2019 International Bonsai Show in April next year.
The center of attraction is a bonsai which is reportedly costs 1.5 million pesos. Also on exhibit at the center’s lobby are Suiseki art pieces made of river stones.
Pre-judged by the bonsai artists from Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, and China, the collectors of the winning entries in the different categories were awarded trophies and certificates. Bronze, silver, and gold winners were awarded for the various categories in suiseki, innovative bonsai, bantigue category, and tropical category.
Certificates were also given for the special awards and Bonsai Liga winning clubs.
After the opening and awarding program, dinner was served, pictorials of the officers and members of the different bonsai clubs, and jamming with a live band followed.
During the exhibit, lectures on bonsai and suiseki were conducted on November 25 by international masters held at the Tent Events Center, Rock Garden.