Wednesday, February 27, 2008 Serapion Metilla: The bonsai expert By Henrylito D. Tacio Regarding Henry
BONSAI (pronounced "bone-sigh," with accent at the end) has always been conveniently attributed to the Japanese. After all, the word "bonsai" comes from the Japanese words "bon," which means "pot" and "sai," which means "to plant." Unknown to many, bonsai is really Chinese in origin. Ask Serapion S. Metilla, the country's foremost expert on bonsai.
"It is highly likely that the Chinese were the first civilization to plant plants in pots because their paintings and scrolls, which date back before the 12th century, reveal images of plants in pots," Metilla surmised, adding that it was the Japanese who really developed the art to perfection.
And it is Manong Metts -- as he is fondly called -- who perfected bonsai in the Philippines.
"Actually I started appreciating miniature plants when I was still teaching in Dalawinon Primary School in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur," he reveals. "I used to plant them in tin cans placed on the veranda ledge. Probably because of the limit of soil, they became dwarfed."
And he wondered why. It was not until he met the late Mario Basa that he came to know the reason. "It did not take me a long time to learn the art because I have already been growing dwarfed plants," he said.
When Manong Metts learned further the techniques of growing plants to look old and artistic, some garden clubs and other associations requested him to give lectures and demonstrations on this particular art. "I exhibited some of my dwarfed plants in garden shows," he says.
One of the bonsai plants he raised fetched a whooping price of - would you believe? -- P100,000. "The buyer was a Chinese who own a car accessory business in Divisoria," he said.
Because of the knowledge of bonsai and ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arrangement), he was able to travel not only in various parts of the country, but in such countries as Australia, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
"My principle in life is to work hard to achieve the goals not minding hardships, poverty and criticisms," he says. "I found out that poverty is not a hindrance to education, most especially if you put pride out of your mind."
Manong Metts is talking from experience. Born the sixth of nine siblings in Tudela, Cebu in November 1928, he worked as a houseboy in Cebu City to be able to study high school. Because of poverty, the Metillas moved to Bansalan, Davao del Sur through the Sacada, a government program offering lands to the landless people coming from the Visayas and Luzon. This was in 1938.
In 1949, Manong Metts who just graduated from high school came to Bansalan together with his brother Juanito. "My first glimpse and impression of Miral (as the town was then known) was a backward community," he recalls. "The main highway going to Cotabato was rough and dusty, the houses were improvised without water system much less electricity."
When Manong Metts read a news item that emergency teachers were wanted and that high school graduates might apply, he immediately went to Davao City to take the qualifying exam. He was hired and taught in Dalawinon until he passed the civil service exam in 1955.
In 1958, he transferred to Kamuning Elementary School in Quezon City. With the aim of improving the efficiency rating of the school, Manong Metts organized a Boy Scout troop that became famous not only in Quezon City but also Metro Manila. He also organized a choral group, a Junior Garden Club, a dance troupe and an art club that was at par with private schools. "I'm proud to mention that the famous singer and celebrity Dr. Nonoy Zuniga was under me in scouting, garden club and choral group when he was in Grade V and V1."
In 1972, he was awarded the Most Outstanding Elementary School Teacher of Quezon City and was promoted school principal from 1972 to 1974. In 1974, he got out of teaching and managed for four years the Aurora Gardens, a project of the former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
In the early 1980s, he established an ornamental business, which deals on various plant arts like bonsai culture, dish gardening, flower arrangement, terrarium making, and waterfall gardening, among others.
He also became a garden features for various newspapers like "The Manila Times," "Manila Bulletin," "Philippine Star," and "Philippine Daily Inquirer." For three years, he was a garden columnist of the "Woman's Home Companion."
Manong Metts initiated the founding of the Philippine Bonsai Society, the Cactus and Succulent Society and the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Davao. Still currently involved in the Philippine Orchid Society and the Philippine Horticultural Society as honorary member, he is also a member of the Ikebana International (Manila Chapter) and currently the president of the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Manila.
With all these achievements in life, Manong Metts has only this statement to say: "I can now proudly say that poverty is not a hindrance to education."
