In love with nature…

During the past weekend, nature lovers gathered under one roof to attend the trade exposition dubbed as the much awaited and most comprehensive flora and fauna garden event of the year.

Student participants line up to register for the three-day Expo at the World Trade Cen

Nature advocate RPN Flora & Fauna Inc. with event manager ICE Inc. (Ideas, Concepts & Events) spearheaded the Philippine International Flora & Fauna Garden Expo 2008 last 18-20 July 2008 at the World Trade Center.

With the theme “Bringing Back Nature,” the organizers envisioned the event to gather under one roof nature lovers, international and local horticulturists, flower and plant growers, garden enthusiasts, landscapers, collectors of rare plants, traders, suppliers, distributors, experts and manufacturers of garden products and services (for flora); and hobbyists and breeders of birds, butterflies, bees, fishes, snakes, reptiles, with the special participation of Avilon Zoo (for fauna), and other related nature-based products and services like spas, health and wellness, art and photography, herbal and organic products, exotic fruits and vegetables, garden wedding venue and event places, indigenous products and souvenir items, new product inventions, nature and leisure resorts to name a few, joined in the Expo.

Gracing the event were Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar and Environment Secretary Lito Atienza. 

Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar graces Expo 2008.

The Philippines is blessed with a conducive and favorable environment for plant and animal life as seen in its biological diverse forests and ecosystem. With this, gardens are in almost every home and each can grow a variety of plants and animals. With this present setting, a lot of exotic or introduced garden plants and animal pets can thrive in our country with almost minimal care, giving us the possibility to somehow create our own world within our homes.

A garden brings to our home the beauty of nature as seen in our country side, bringing a different view of the outside world into our home. It breaks the monotonous routine of everyday city living and adds a bright dimension in our domestic scene. Through years of selection and breeding of these living treasures from tropical rain forests and arid deserts, a rich choice for garden plants and animal pets can now be enjoyed. Flowers and foliage with brilliant colors and fragrances adorn our surroundings, while lovable and colorful and huggable pets entertain us. Ornamental fishes adorn ponds and aquarium, while the chirping of birds adds distinctive sounds in the background.
 
Agriculturally, some plants and animals provide us food, medicine, clothing, materials for shelter and services. Growing garden plants and raising pets are a big worldwide industry, thus, an event like this was organized to unite our love of life with that of nature.

Thus, the Philippine International Flora & Fauna Garden Expo 2008 intended to bring into one roof the plant and animal industry, including other related industries which have developed from it. As much as possible, the Event encourages the incorporation of real plants and animals in the garden homescape, how to maintain them and to promote their conservation. Conservation could be achieved by protection of native habitats, mass propagation and breeding of endangered and threatened plant and animal species, regulated collection and public information.

Expo organizers with Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and Rep. Cynthia Villar release doves and butterflies.

The three-day event gathered highly respected authorities and speakers from different fields of expertise to conduct skills seminars and demonstrations. There were also different competitions among exhibitors and among participating students and art and photography contests among guests and visitors. Some 10,000 guests and visitors attended the Expo, including students on field trips from local and international schools, group tours from foreign embassies, flower and garden clubs and associations and retailers from the neighboring provinces, suppliers, hobbyists and enthusiasts among others. With a report from Ideas, Concepts & Events, Inc.