Wednesday, August 29, 2007 Waling Cup: Canvass for Filipino florists
SELDOM are there opportunities to highlight the creativity of Filipinos in the field of floral arrangement. It is in this light that the Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants Inc., on the occasion of their 30th anniversary, organized a competition that puts on center stage floral artistry and creativity.
Serving as the canvass for professional and promising floral designers, the 4th Waling Cup aims to inspire and encourage the creative and practical use of different cutflowers and foliage available in the Philippine market, while providing in the process of the competition, artistic growth among floral arrangers.
The competition was held last August 4 at the Entertainment Plaza of SM City Davao. The hall was literally filled up with spectators cheering on the competitors as they worked on the different artworks.
The center of the hall was a sight to behold, with the rich textures and colors of literally tons of lowers set on pails and containers for the choice of the competing florists.
Some of the flowers were liliums, chrysanthemums, gerberas, orchids, lisianthus, roses, heleconias and new items like pumpkins and gourds.
Competitors were provided with equal volume of lowers and foliage as well as supplies of ribbons, floral foams and other supplies. They were however, responsible for their respective tools and other special accessories.
There were 12 competitors in the professional category -- two came from Cebu City, three from Manila, one from Dipolog City, another one from Cagayan de Oro City, and the remaining five from Davao City.
They were asked to arrange three different types of artworks; the thanksgiving basket, bridal bouquet and the body piece.
All entries were judged according to overall impact, technique, workmanship, design elements and principles, creativity and theme interpretation.
The results of the professional competition are: 1st placer with P10,000 and trophy is John Villanel of Pink Flora Flowership in Cebu City; 2nd placer with P5,000 and trophy is Roel Yap of Christian Flowership in Cagayan de Oro and 3rd placer with P3,000 and trophy is Allen Villena of Schneider Flowershop in Davao.
The inclusion of the student category is the new feature in this year's 4th Waling Cup, participated in by 11 competitors representing the different HRM schools in the city.
The results are: 1st placer, winning P3,000 and trophy is John Reyes of Gabriel Taborin College; 2nd placer with P2,000 and trophy is Fritz Gerald Arabis of the University of Mindanao, and 3rd placer with P1,000 and trophy is Darwin Jamero of the Philippine Women's College of Davao.
One of the judges was Mark Pampling, an Australian floristry teacher and demonstrator. He has just concluded a successful floral demonstration a day earlier which was attended by over 160 participants coming from as far as Manila and Cebu.
The next judge was Alfonso "Ponchit" Ponce Enrile, a flower arranging instructor and floral designer now based in Davao and operates the Aseya Restaurant specializing in Asian dishes.
The chair of the board of judges was Evelyn F. Aldaba. She is the first Filipino member based in the Philippines of the AIFD or the American Institute of Floral Designers. She is the florist designer and event stylist of Lily Flower Boutique, the official florist of Edsa Shangrila Hotel and the Manila Hotel.
The results of the tabulations were audited by Babes Cabebe, CPA, assistant manager of Casino Filipino Davao, representing the Davao Tourism Association.
The 4th Waling Cup was organized by the Puentespina Orchids and Tropical Plants, Inc., in cooperation with Smithers and Oasis Malaysia, Jasam Floral Sundries, Chrysanthemum Breeders Association, Bio Flora Columbia, Florist de Kwakel, Duo Plant Holland, SM City Davao, Department of Tourism Region 11 and supported by the Davao Tourism Association.
