By By Patricia Bianca S. Taculao
A four-day festival that celebrates three favorite plant varieties has formally commenced last Thursday, June 20.
The 2019 Cactus, Succulent, and Bromeliad Festival aims to encourage the public to
venture into gardening while supporting local plant breeders and gardens.
Present during the opening ceremonies held at SM Mall of Asia’s (SM MOA) Main Mall Atrium are National Cactus and Succulent Organization of the Philippines, Inc. Vice President Boyet Ganigan, SM MOA Senior Vice President for Operations Perkin So, Manila Bulletin Agriculture Monthly’s Managing Editor Yvette Tan, and Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Evelyn Laviña.
“The objective of this event is to gather plant enthusiasts without any barriers, while also promoting the local horticulture industry,” Ganigan said.
Usec. Laviña, on the other hand, said that the event is a chance for people to experience growing new kinds of plants aside from the ones that many are accustomed to.
She also said that the Department of Agriculture is creating road maps to help the rising industry reach its full potential.
Guests and mall-goers can enjoy the lush plants on display at the pop-up stalls made available for sale by more than 40 exhibitors in the venue. Some exhibitors came from as far as Nueva Ecija and Davao, as well as from our neighboring countries like Taiwan and Singapore.
To invite more visitors, SM MOA will flash the event’s logo on its Globamaze, the famous LED globe located at the MOA rotunda during the duration of the event which will run until tomorrow, June 23 from 10 AM to 10 PM. Entrance is free.
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