Tropical Gardens of the Philippines. Elizabeth Reyes
Moon Garden
200 Organic Garden at San Benito
224 Acknowledgments
THE PHILIPPINE TROPICAL GARDEN
The Philippines—from rice terraces that climb to the heavens to little cottage plots found along the outskirts of towns combining orchard, vegetables and flowers—is one big garden. A varied topography, diverse tropical climate, cultural assimilation from outsiders, and an inate love of nature all contribute to the huge variety of gardens we find in the Philippines today.
The Philippines did not have royal palaces and water temples that in places like Bali and Thailand helped define a garden model. The early Filipinos believed that spirits called anitos animated the forests. They worshipped the spirits along with nature in forested groves. Plants were grown mainly for food and medicinal purposes.
Prior to Spanish colonization, there was no tradition of ornamental horticulture in the Philippines. A 17th century depiction of a Philippine garden from the book Our Islands And Their People cites palm, nipa, banana and fruit trees of the village as surrounding the house. “The rice fields are nearby, as are the streams and rivers where men can fish or sail and trade with the Chinese junks at sea.” It was only after the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century that gardens planted for viewing pleasure came into being. Along with a newfound affection for water, the Filipinos developed a fascination for the plants introduced by foreigners from Mexico and Spain. Flora de Filipinas, published in 1837 by priest and scientist Fray Manuel Blanco, documented the rich plant life of the Philippines and was lauded by botanists all over the world. By the 19th century, townhouses with gardens and courtyards featuring fountains and flat open terraces called azoteas where old-fashioned favorites were grown in pots became the norm.
The concepts and implementation of landscape design came much later with the arrival of the Americans who also brought with them a love of lawns and open spaces. The Japanese subsequently introduced their disciplined traditions of pruning and plantsmanship. Stories abound of Japanese spies working as gardeners in the Philippines before the outbreak of World War II.
So, what are the influences that have made their mark on today’s Philippine garden? Certainly, the formality of the Chinese and Japanese garden which the Filipinos somehow minimize and modernize at every turn with unexpected plant combinations; the Latin flamboyance of the Mediterranean garden which they fine-tune with a more selective plant palette; and the fertile and skilled tradition of Philippine plantsmanship that plays like a melodic refrain through their gardens. Today, a spirit of innovation and creativity is sweeping the gardening world.
The Philippine house and garden draw their vitality from the country’s rugged geography and diverse tropical climate. The balcony of the home of Ely Bautista and Bill Lewis overlooks the lush tropical vegetation of Meros and the surrounding Laguna countryside.
Orchids are among the favorites of tropical gardeners not only for their wide variety but also for their long lived blooms. Below is one of many Dendrobium hybrids and at bottom is a yellow-orange Staurochilus loheriana sp. This small to medium sized monopodial species is endemic to the Philippines on the island of Luzon.
A contemporary country house with a huge garden designed by Noel Saratan was inspired by Philippine traditional architecture. A mural by Emmanuel Cordova depicts some of the country’s diverse plant life that can be found on the property.
A renewed interest in modern architecture has seen a similar interest in the garden. The garden is becoming a laboratory where new materials, plants and local artifacts can connect with the Philippine design heritage to create fun and livable contemporary spaces that exude a type of tropical modern vibe. There is the “high style” of the contemporary Philippine country house and garden, the “new style” look of the modern, chic suburban garden in and around Manila, as well as the “exotic style” of the romantic garden where the Filipino is at his best. Along with this comes a new breed of landscape designer and gardener, all trying to define a Philippine gardening style that is truly unique.
Jerry Araos, perhaps best described as a “philosopher gardener,” has long been an exponent of the “enhanced nature” or nature-inspired movement that is steadily gaining ground in the USA and Europe to the advantage of wildlife and biodiversity. Like Piet Oudolf and other German proponents of the New Wave Movement, he has crafted his own earth-friendly approach to horticulture and landscape design. For more than 20 years he has been designing wild, naturalistic gardens that call for dynamic, ecological plantings that are wildlife-friendly and at the same time self-sustaining without pesticides, complicated water systems and a large labor force. He is credited for redesigning the Manila Hotel gardens in time for the APEC Conference of 1997. A decade earlier, he had created a garden for himself and his family in a swampy piece of land in Antipolo. Today it is a tropical paradise where his poetic and sensitive interpretation of the garden form offers an inspiring and timely model for Philippine gardeners. Araos’ approach brings natural elements—earth, stone, water and plants—into a harmonious whole to convey personal philosophies about humanity and man’s relationship to nature.
The Philippines benefits from an extraordinary array of exotic and native plants available in the country. The sanggumay, Dendrobium anosmum, is one of 60 recorded orchid species in the Philippines.
Kapa kapa, Medinilla magnifica, is one of the most beautiful tropical epiphytic shrubs. Endemic to the Philippines, it is grown for its lush foliage and brightly colored flowers.
Mussaenda ‘Dona Luz’, an old-fashioned favorite named after one of the Philippine first ladies. This shrub is native to the Philippines.
The jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys), a native of the tropical forests of the Philippines, is marked by a deep blue-green color and has the texture of jade, hence its name.
Yuyung LaO’, a master landscape artist, is another name on the contemporary scene who has mentored many of the country’s young landscape designers. His innovative use of plants gives an international appeal to his landscape design, and also offers fresh ideas for how these plants can be used in a modern tropical landscape. The garden designer, Ponce Veridiano, is outstanding in creating tropical gardens. His career now extends into Sarawak, Hongkong and Brunei, but his breakthrough project was the Pearl Farm Resort in Samal Island, Davao. Here, he showcased his skill in combining the exuberant growth of native and introduced plants with an exacting attention to detail, texture, color and decorative accents. Recent work at his own home shows how his work continues to