Page 14 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2017Q1

Harder Than Stones

Cultivating Tugas Bonsai

By Aries Felipe and Orly Turingan jr., Philippines

Contributing author and editor: José Luis Rodríguez Macias, Puerto Rico
Photography courtesy At Maculangan, Aries Felipe, Orly Turingan jr., Angel “Ogi” Uyehara, José Luis Rodríguez
Macias, Herden Pedrajas and Jonathan Roxas.

Historical and Cultural Background The Molave/Tugas Controversy
Rich in biodiversity, the Philippine’s forests are With the rising popularity of Tugas as bonsai
a rich source of highly prized hardwoods with fine material, there seems to be an ongoing confusion
and unique grain. One such hardwood is the Vitex on its rightful taxonomic classification. Is it Tugas
family, particularly what is locally known as Molave Vitex trifolia, parviflora or negundo? The hardy,
and Tugas. It is utilized for posts and beams, doors commonly found Molave is undoubtedly classified
and furniture as revealed by archeological evidence as Vitex parviflora, while the commonly used tree
and extant, centuries-old churches
and houses. The Molave/Tugas,
Top; A highly-prized hardwood, while once a common endemic
Tugas are utilized for posts and
beams, doors and furniture Philippine tree, is now considered a
as revealed by archeological rare species. Decades of logging and
evidence and extant, slash-and-burn agriculture greatly
centuries-old churches and contributed to the diminishing
houses. supply of the species. However,
Bottom; The cultural practice of the advent of bonsai art in the
slash-and-burn agriculture or
“kaingin,” created burnt stumps Philippines now gives rise to a new
and branches that gave rise to form of appreciation to the tree, that
natural jin, shari and sabamiki. is, as a prized bonsai material.

12 | BCI | January/February/March 2017