Philippines first bonsai school opens in Batac University

FIRST BONSAI SCHOOL IN PH. Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos (fourth from right), with Prof. Amy Liang (fourth from left), President of the Asia-Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation, MMSU Pres. Dr. Miriam Pascua (third from right), and members of the Philippine Bonsai Society, cut the ribbon signifying the opening of the Bonsai School in Batac City January on 6. The school was established by MMSU in cooperation with the Provincial Government. (PGIN-CMO)

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

Batac City—Ilocanos love for plants go beyond planting agricultural crops in sprawling farm lots and backyard gardening. This time, they are now ready to ascend to the next level and learn the art and science of bonsai making.

To make this possible, the country’s first bonsai school formally opened on January 6 at the Mariano Marcos State University here with not more than 30 expected enrolees to land a promising career as bonsai technicians here and abroad, after graduating from this basically hands-on and short term bonsai course in less than six months.

Attended by bonsai masters from Taiwan and the Philippines, Professor Amy Liang, president of the Asia-Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation said she and several bonsai lecturers from Taiwan are willing to share their expertise and teach basic art of Bonsai making or the so-called art of growing miniature  trees or shrubs in containers that resembles an aged tree.

Not known to many, the bonsai industry in the Philippines like in Ilocos Norte promises a huge potential in the export market.

Like Rizaldy Bitagon, president of the Ilocos Norte Bonsai Association with at least 16 active members said the province is gifted with lots of materials for bonsai and a good source of livelihood for plant lovers.

“Growing bonsai is delicate and it requires extra patience and hard labor. For you to become successful, you must be a plant lover. As it gets older, it becomes more beautiful,” said Bitagon citing a hunter from Pasuquin town who was able to send his children to college because of collecting and selling materials for bonsai.

But knowing the art of bonsai is simply not enough, MMSU Pres. Dr. Miriam Pascua said, expressing the need for a bonsai school to cater to the global demand for bonsai technicians worldwide particularly in Asia, Europe and the United States.

“It’s not just knowing the art, we should teach them the science of bonsai making such as physiology, anatomy and morphology of these species as each species is different from the other and needs a specific treatment. For now, we have our horticulture students to compose the first batch. This will also be open to out-of-school youth or anybody who is a plant lover,” Pascua said who is also a plant biology expert.

To keep pace with the global market, Pascua has cited the need for continuous research and development as the biggest challenge of bonsai making is how to rear a miniature plant in the shortest possible time but may look like an aged tree.

“We foresee there’s a great demand for it. Offices need a therapeutic way of de-stressing. Dish garden is becoming popular like in call centers. There is also a demand abroad similar to pet lovers. So, we try to balance it with plant lovers,” she added.

According to Pascua, the bonsai school is expected to start classes in mid-January with the support of the Philippine Bonsai Society, Ilocos Norte Bonsai Association and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte through the Office of the Provincial Agriculture and in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

As the collection and selling of rare and endangered plant species like bantigue is now prohibited, hobbyists are now shifting to forest trees as bonsai materials such as damortis, kamatsile, tamarind, guava, bugnay and bougainvillea among others.

For her part, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos said the bonsai school is a great addition to horticulture. She however cautioned any further damage to the environment is totally unacceptable hence the need to plant and reproduce more species with the application of right technology.

World-renowned bonsai artist Prof. Amy Liang (second from right) points out to Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos the aesthetic features of the bonsai exhibited outside the newly opened Bonsai School in Batac City January 6. The school was established by the state university in cooperation with the Provincial Government. (PGIN-CMO)