News » 09.05.2025 - Philippines: Celebrating a floral tradition
The vibrant colors and deep-rooted traditions of Philippine flora took center stage as the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila launched the 2025 International Flores de Mayo Festival and Conference, centering on the theme "Floral Advances," on May 5, 2025 at the UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas (MHI). Organized by The Faura Project, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and the MHI, this celebration merges heritage, science, and creativity in preserving and appreciating the country's rich floral culture.
Participants, organizers, and keynote speaker Prof. Pablito Magdalita of UP Los Baños gathered for a group photo at the UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas during the opening of the 2025 International Flores de Mayo Festival and Conference.
"This is more than a festival—it is a living tradition, a reflection of who we are as Filipinos," said Prof. Jay Dalet, CAS Associate Dean for Planning and Development, who delivered the message of Dean Ma. Teresa De Guzman.
"As we move forward into modern times, it becomes even more important to keep traditions like Flores de Mayo alive—not just for nostalgia, but to inform, inspire, and empower the younger generations about who they are and where they come from," the dean said, underscoring the significance of remembering one's roots and celebrating identity. She also reiterated the core values of the college—Puso, Husay, at Dangal (Heart, Excellence, and Honor)—as essential to celebrating and preserving culture. "Let us take this day as an opportunity to reflect on our heritage, to grow in excellence and purpose, and to move forward with puso, husay, at dangal in all our cultural endeavors."
Professor Honey Libertine Achanzar-Labor, special assistant to the Chancellor for the MHI, opened the conference with an overview of the celebration of Flores de Mayo festival in UP Manila since its inception in 2018.
"Despite the academic rush in May—deadlines, defenses, and exams—heritage just has to be celebrated," Achanzar-Labor said. She recalled how the festival was first organized alongside The Faura Project, a group of UP Manila faculty, students, and alumni who shared a sense of urgency for cultural preservation. She said that the month of May happens to coincide with Heritage Month, declared by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 439, which requires all government institutions to contribute to creating among Filipinos a deeper consciousness, respect, and love for the legacy of the nation's cultural history.
In his message, Chancellor Michael Tee emphasized the cultural richness of Flores de Mayo is about the celebration of art, history, and culture. "It's also about offering our gratitude to the Virgin Mother, and it brings the barangay together. People gather in the streets–that is the culture we grew up with. A culture where we didn't worry about rain; we just prepared the best arko, decorated with real flowers."
Chancellor Tee thanked MHI for spearheading the program and expressed appreciation to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) for building a sense of community among students "for ensuring that our students continue to feel a sense of barangay—a sense of community—here at UP Manila, in the Barangay of the University of the Philippines Manila, as we celebrate our shared history and culture."
The event's keynote address was delivered by Dr. Pablito Magdalita, UP Los Baños (UPLB) professor and university scientist and a globally recognized expert in plant breeding and biotechnology, who spoke on "Heroes and Achievers: Breeding and the Discourse on Selected Philippine Ornamental Plants," showcasing how flora and national identity intertwine.
"The Philippines is blessed with so many ornamental plants that we admire every day in our gardens," he said. His research team has released more than 45 outstanding hibiscus hybrids, many of which are named after pioneering Filipino women such as Dr. Perla Santos-Ocampo, Dr. Fe del Mundo, and Dr. Carmencita Padilla.
"The ornamental industry has evolved from backyard hobbies to a flourishing commercial enterprise," Magdalita noted, citing a 2020 report from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics which recorded over 752 hectares dedicated to ornamental crops and an estimated ₱1 billion in retail value for the industry. "Flowers are needed to turn events into moments," he remarked.
Despite the success, Magdalita urged further research and innovation. "While there is abundant supply of these materials, their potential as ornamental plants for climate change adaptation, functional foods, and other novel applications has not yet been fully explored. That's why there is a need to tap into these potentials and open new avenues for the commercialization of unexplored, endemic, and indigenous ornamental species found in the Philippines."
As the 7th edition of the UP Manila International Flores de Mayo Festival continues in the coming days, participants can expect a series of talks, exhibits, and creative collaborations that highlight the role of flora in shaping cultural, ecological, and artistic narratives. Activities to look forward to include plenary lectures on floral heritage conservation, an art exhibit on edible blooms, a floral graphic arts workshop, a tree walk and painting session at Arroceros Park, a creative Dress Up Santacruzan, the UP Manila Heritage Trail, the Moving Blooms fashion show, and a Flores de Mayo Bazaar.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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