Philippines Participates in the Ikebana Exhibition at Kyoto’s Daikakuji Temple
Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez and Madame Maria Teresa L. Lopez in front of the Philippine flower arrangement at the 2013 “Beautiful Earth Arrangement” Ikebana Exhibition at Daikakuji Temple, Kyoto.
The Philippines, as represented by Madame Maria Teresa L. Lopez, spouse of Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez, is participating in the 2013 Annual Exhibition of Ikebana of the Saga Goryu Ikebana School entitled “Beautiful Earth Arrangement” which began on 12 April 2013 and will last until 14 April 2013 at the Daikakuji Temple in Kyoto.
Daikakuji Temple is a historic building connected with Japan’s Emperor Saga (785-842). It was also known as a center of cultural, religious and political developments of great significance. The Saga Goryu Ikebana School maintains its headquarters in the Temple.
The highlight of the 2013 Exhibition are the flower arrangements created by Ikebana teachers in cooperation with the spouses of the ambassadors of eight countries including the Philippines, Thailand, India, Morocco, Germany, Russia, Finland and Costa Rica.
Ambassador and Madame Lopez attended the opening ceremony of the Exhibition held last 12 April. They were accompanied by Philippine Consul General in Osaka Maria Teresa L. Taguiang as well as Minister Angelica C. Escalona and Cultural Assistant Mary Jane A. Mariano of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.
The Philippine flower arrangement, entitled “Paraiso,” featured plants indigenous to the Philippines such as bamboo, bananas and orchids.
In her speech during the opening ceremony, Madame Lopez explained that the bamboo is an environment-friendly plant used widely in the daily life of Filipinos. She noted that bananas are one of the top Philippine exports to Japan, with more than 90 percent of bananas sold in Japan coming from the Philippines. As to orchids, she explained that many orchid species originally came from the Philippines. These were later hybridized with other species to create new varieties.
Madame Lopez ended her speech by inviting the guests at the Exhibition to visit the “paradise” that is the Philippines.
A close-up of the Philippine Ikebana flower arrangement.
