Dr. Jim Agad topped the more than 70 entries all over the region, according to Herden Pedrajas, president of the Mindanao Bonsai Society and the show’s organizer.
Agad’s entry, the multiple trunk Tugas-sa-Bato (scientific name: Vitex triflora) was adjudged the Best Bonsai during the three-day show held at the Event Center of SM Mall in Davao City.
Agad’s Tugas sa Bato Clump style also won as 2nd runner up.
The Red Balete entry of the 19-year old Marcel Calungsud from Midsayap town in North Cotabato won 1st runner-up.
The show’s theme was “Growing Peace in Mindanao, Bridging Friendship through Bonsai”.
Pedrajas said it was the first indoor Mindanao Open bonsai exhibit ever held in five years.
During the show, Pedrajas told the audience that bonsai artists in Mindanao consider themselves as ‘advocates of peace.’
“By integrating peace in shows like Bonsai is in itself advocating the ‘culture of peace’,” he said.
Bonsai making, he explains, is a practice that requires peace of mind, patience, perseverance and harmony with nature.
“It is an instrument that bridges friendship especially those who do bonsai, no matter the stature, race and culture,” he added.
Two police generals from Mindanao –- Police Directors Felizardo Serapio and Andres Caro of the Directorate for Integrated Operations in Mindanao, attended the show as show of support.
Also present also during the occasion wasBobby Gopiao, president of the Philippine Bonsai Society, Inc.,
Gopiao and another bonsai master, Romy Dino, served as the judges of the contest.
During the show, free lectures and demonstrations were provided by bonsai master Dino and Mindanao bonsai artists Calungsud and Pedrajas.
Pedrajas was the first Mindanawon to win a national bonsai competition.
In 2006, he was included in the Top 50 International Winners in World Bonsai contest. (Malu Cadelina-Manar/MindaNews)
