QC to introduce ‘GMA’ ornamental plant

The Quezon City government is set to introduce to the public "Mussaenda GMA," a hard-to-grow ornamental plant named after President Arroyo.

Ma. Victoria Loanzon, special assistant to Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., said she is now coordinating with the Philippine Orchid Society (POS) to include Mussaenda GMA in the list of orchids and plants to be exhibited in their week-long orchid and garden show at the Lagoon Island, Orchidarium Park at the Quezon Hall complex from Aug. 30 to Sept. 11, 2006.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes will be the guest of honor during the opening of the orchid and garden show exhibit at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31.

Loanzon said it is better to include the ornamental shrub among the list of plants to be shown in the exhibit because the public will be surely interested to see it.

The ormanmental shrub was presented the other day by University of the Philippines (UP) president Emerlinda Roman, with breeder Dr. Teresita Lazaro of the UP Los Baños College of Agriculture, to Mrs. Arroyo as a gift in recognition of her outstanding achievements and strong leadership.

Mussaenda GMA, which has oblong rose-colored elliptical petals mixed with creamy white petals and very light pink hairs, is the first Mussaenda hybrid named after a President. It was officially registered with the National Seed Industry Council of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Loanzon added that the new hybrid plant befits Mrs. Arroyo as it is a crossbreed of Mussaenda Doña Aurora, named after Doña Aurora and Doña Evangeline, the President’s mother.

One of the highlights of the forthcoming garden show is an orchid competition.

Participants in the contest need to register on Aug. 30, from 1 to 10 p.m. A P50 registration fee per orchid plant will be charged.

A cash prize of P15,000 and a trophy awaits the winner for the best show category, P15,000 plus trophy for best orchid landscape, and P5,000 plus trophy for best Philippine species.

Organizers said the event is being held as part of the celebrations for the society’s 60th anniversary.

Free lectures on how to take care of different varieties of orchids and garden plants will also be available to the public.

An entrance fee of P20 for adults and P15 for children and senior citizens will be collected for the benefit of the POS and in support of their mission to preserve and crossbreed different orchids and plants.