ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

PHILIPPINE ORCHID SOCIETY, INC. (“Discover Orchids”) Orchidarium Park, Quezon City Hall, August 27, 2004

GREETINGS OF BLISS AND DELIGHT TO MR. REX VICTOR PUENTESPINA, PRESIDENT OF THE “PHILIPPINE ORCHID SOCIETY,” GUESTS AND ALL ORCHIDS ENTHUSIASTS GATHERED HERE ON THIS LOVELY MORNING.

AT THE OUTSET, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO SHOWCASE THE ALLURE AND VARIETY OF ORCHIDS TO THE PUBLIC.

I AM PLEASED WITH THIS INVITATION TO JOIN YOU IN OPENING YOUR ORCHID SHOW BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I PERSONALLY ENJOY IS TENDING TO MY GARDEN—WHENEVER I CAN SPARE TIME FROM MY SCHEDULE, WHICH SEEMS TO GET TIGHTER BY THE DAY. MORE SO, I FEEL THAT I HAVE TO MAKE TIME FOR THE GARDEN because PLANTS GIVE ME A VERY COMFORTING FEELING AND ALLOW ME TO COUNTER THE STRESS OF MY DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES, CONCERNS AND PREOCCCUPATIONS AS YOUR VICE-PRESIDENT.

THIS OCCASION REMINDS ME OF ONE SEGMENT FEATURED IN MAGANDANG, GABI…BAYAN LAST AUGUST 25, 2001 WHEN I WAS STILL THE HOST OF THE PROGRAM.

THE SEGMENT FEATURED THE KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL 2001 OF DAVAO CITY HIGHLIGHTING THE ENIGMATIC BEAUTY AND JOY ORCHIDS BRING TO EVERYONE. ANOTHER ORCHID SOCIETY WHICH WAS CELEBRATING ITS 25TH YEAR THEN, HOSTED THE FLORAL FLOAT PARADE AND IT WAS DURING THAT PROGRAM THAT I SAW HOW DELICATE BUT FULFILLING IT IS TO CULTURE SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL KIND OF FLOWER, AND I HEAR THAT ORCHIDS ALSO OFFER A SOUND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.

WHEN I READ YOUR INVITATION, I REMEMBERED A TRUE STORY FROM THE PUENTESPINA FAMILY ON HOW THEY STARTED THE ORCHIDS BUSINESS IN DAVAO. THE PUENTESPINA MOTHER WHILE ATTENDING A FLOWER EXHIBIT, SAW A TAG FROM AN ORCHID DISPLAY THAT SAYS, “DON’T GO HOME WITHOUT ME.” THIS NOTE MADE HER BUY THE ORCHID NOT KNOWING THAT THIS WOULD BE THE START OF HER PASSION FOR ORCHIDS AND EVENTUALLY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY.

AND THIS LEADS ME TO WAY WE SHOULD PROMOTE GARDENING AS A POPULAR ACTIVITY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEED FOR EITHER FOR LIVELIHOOD OR JUST FOR RELAXATION.

AS ALTERNATE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-POVERTY COMMISSION, I ENCOURAGE AND STRONGLY SUPPORT THE FLOWER INDUSTRY BECAUSE I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT THIS CAN TRULY HELP ALLEVIATE POVERTY.

I AM PUSHING FOR THE AVAILABILITY OF MICRO-FINANCING INSTITUTIONS TO THE FARTHEST REACHES OF THE COUNTRYSIDE. FROM THESE INSTITUTIONS, OUR COUNTRYMEN WOULD BE ABLE TO BORROW MONEY AT VERY LOW-INTEREST WHICH THEY CAN USE IN STARTING UP, LET US SAY, A FLOWER BUSINESS.

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET AND BAGUIO CITY, BOTH KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO BE THE VEGETABLE CAPITALS OF THE PHILIPPINES ARE NOW SHIFTING TO THE FLOWER INDUSTRY. HAVING SEEN THE NEED AND THE APPRECIATION OF FLOWERS IN THE GLOBAL MARKET, LA TRINIDAD AND BAGUIO MAY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO FLOWER EXPORTING.

THIS WILL, IN TURN, PROVIDE JOBS TO MILLIONS OF FILIPINOS IN BOTH RURAL AREAS AND URBAN CENTERS. TODAY, WHEN MANY OF OUR PEOPLE ARE EITHER UN-EMPLOYED OR UNDER-EMPLOYED, THE GROWING OF CASH-GENERATING PLANTS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE BIG AREAS OF LAND MUST BE PROMOTED.

AND THIS LEADS ME TO AN AREA OF CONCERN CLOSE TO MY HEART: eNVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION.

BECAUSE OF MASSIVE DEFORESTATION, OUR VERY OWN ORCHID VARIETY, THE POPULAR WALING-WALING, IS NOW FACING EXTINCTION HERE IN IT’S NATIVE HOME. I SUPPORT THE PHILIPPINE ORCHID SOCIETY INC. IN ITS NOBLE CAUSE TO UPLIFT ORCHID CULTURING AND ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME. AS YOU HAVE SHOWN, NOT ONLY IS THIS A FULFILLING FORM OF RELAXATION, IT IS A VIABLE BUSINESS VENTURE AS WELL. I AM WITH YOU AND WILL STRONGLY SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION’S MISSION AND VISION FOR THE ORCHID INDUSTRY.

DESPITE THE ENACTMENT OF A LAW MEANT TO PROTECT PHILIPPINE FLORA NAMELY: REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147, THE PLUNDER OF PHILIPPINE WILDLIFE CONTINUES AND I BELIEVE THAT ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU WILL STRENGTHEN IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THIS LAW. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT MY OFFICE WOULD SUPPORT A DRIVE TO ENACTBE A SPECIFIC LAW THAT WILL ENHANCE THE ORCHID INDUSTRY AND WILL REHABILITATE OUR VERY OWN WALING-WALING.

I AM HAPPY TO LEARN THAT THE PHILIPPINE ORCHID SOCIETY INC. HAS A VERY ACTIVE GROUP WORKING FOR THE CONSERVATION OF PHILIPPINE ORCHID SPECIES. EQUALLY GRATIFYING IS THE INFORMATION THAT THE SOCIETY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE BANTAY-KALIKASAN ABS-CBN FOUNDATION IN DEVELOPING AN AREA CLOSE TO ABOUT A HECTARE IN THE LA MESA DAM ECOLOGY PARK INTO AN ORCHID SANCTUARY. THIS IS GREAT NEWS AND I SINCERELY COMMEND YOU FOR THIS.

I AM VERY PLEASED BY THE REALIZATION THAT THE SOCIETY, WHICH CAN NOW PROUDLY CLAIM OF A MEMBERSHIP THAT COMPRISES OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, TRULY CARES, NOT ONLY WITH THE CULTIVATION OF THESE EXOTIC SPECIMENS OF NATURE, BUT IN ENSURING THAT ENOUGH ATTENTION IS GIVEN FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

MARAMING SALAMAT PO AT ISANG MABULAKLAK AT MASAGANANG UMAGA PONG MULI SA INYONG LAHAT.

MABUHAY ANG PHILIPPINE ORCHID SOCIETY!

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