Flores De Mayo Plenary Talks: Advancing Floral Heritage Conservation through Arts and Science

May 19, 2025

Text by Cherry Madrideo
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit and screen grabbed from the Zoom

Speakers and participants of the day 2 of International Flores De Mayo Festival and Conference enjoyed a group pose after an insightful discussion on Philippine plants, taxonomists, and advocacies for plant conservation, propagation, and promotion.

The second day of the 2025 International Flores De Mayo Festival and Conference continued with two plenary sessions featuring experts and professionals from the Philippines and Southeast Asia, who shared the current practices and research in their respective disciplines, for a meaningful discussion on conserving our native flora through the arts and sciences, on May 6, 2025.

The first plenary session, “The Arts and Floral Heritage Conservation,” via Zoom, was moderated by Department of Arts and Communication Chair Arwin Vibar. Its first speaker, Ms. Carrie Ann Lee, president of the Botanical Art Society Singapore, gave a lecture on “Cultivating Connections: Botanical Art in Asia,” where she highlighted the Botanical Art Society’s impactful collaboration with local gardens that foster a deep appreciation of native plants and showcase the power of art to connect communities with nature.

The next speaker was Ms. Angelina Bong, vice president of the Sarawak Artists Society and the lingual art director of the Malaysian Delphic Council, who took on discussing “Floral Art, Conservation, and Community Engagement in Sarawak (Malaysia),” where she presented her work and experiences in conservation, environmental awareness, and community engagement; her studio’s involvement in the Sarawak art scene; her role as the artist-in-residence and work with the coastal fishing village in Kampung Pasir Pandak; and her engagement with other artists who promote the beauty of Sarawak’s nature, flora, and fauna.

Meanwhile, the second plenary session, “Science and Floral Heritage Conservation,” was held at the Museum of a History of Ideas (MHI), with Special Assistant to the Chancellor for the MHI Honey Libertine Achanzar-Labor welcoming the speakers and participants. College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Jasper John Obico and Department of Biology Chair Kimberly Benjamin served as the moderators.

University Scientist and Professor Emerita Rosario Rubite, the only specialist on the plant Begonia in the country, discussed “Philippine Flora Too Many but Filipino Taxonomists Too Few?” where she shared insights on the flora and conservation challenges of the Philippines as one of the 17 mega-diversity countries and enumerated the notable Filipino taxonomists who contributed greatly to the local forest studies and native plant conservation societies.

Retired Career Scientist I Fernando Aurigue, a registered agriculturist and a member of the National Research Council of the Philippines, elaborated on “Advancing Selected Plants of Philippine Aroids to International Horticulture,” where he advocated for the promotion to the global horticultural market, conservation, and propagation through hybridization of the Philippine aroids (family Araceae) under R.A. No. 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.” He articulated his suggestions to this advocacy, such as inter- and intra-specific crosses for hybrids, gamma irradiation to induce mutations, and promotion of the aroids as Philippine products to the world.

In observance of the National Heritage Month, the International Flores de Mayo Festival and Conference 2025, which centers on the theme of floral advances through a series of insightful events, is presented by the Museum of a History of Ideas, The Faura Project Inc., and the College of Arts and Sciences.