Pacquiao wife's ob-gyne wins bonsai contest

KIDAPAWAN, Philippines – An obstetrician-gynecologist from General Santos City won this year’s Mindanao bonsai contest held last week in Davao City. Dr. Jim Agad, who is the ob-gyne of the wife of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, bested more than 70 entries all over the region, according to Herden Pedrajas, president of the Mindanao Bonsai Society and the show’s organizer. Agad’s entry, the multiple trunk Tugas-sa-Bato (scientific name: Vitex triflora) was adjudged the Best Bonsai during the three-day show held at the Event Center of SM Mall in Davao City. Agad’s Tugas sa Bato Clump style also won as second runner-up. The Red Balete entry of the 19-year old Marcel Calungsud from Midsayap town in North Cotabato got the first runner-up. The show bannered its theme, “Growing Peace in Mindanao, Bridging Friendship through Bonsai." Pedrajas said it was the first indoor Mindanao open bonsai exhibit ever held in five years. During the show, Pedrajas told audience that bonsai artists in Mindanao considered themselves as “advocates of peace." “By integrating peace in shows like bonsai is in itself advocating the ‘culture of peace,’" he stressed. Besides, he said, bonsai-making is a practice that requires peace of mind, patience, perseverance, and harmony with nature. “It is an instrument that bridges friendship especially those who do bonsai no matter of the stature, race and culture," he added. During the show, the bonsai trees were appreciated based on their character in nature. Two police generals from Mindanao – Directors Felizardo Serapio and Andres Caro of the Directorate for Integrated Operations (DIPO) in Mindanao – attended the show. Also present also during the occasion was Bobby Gopiao, president of the Philippine Bonsai Society Inc., (PBSI). Gopiao and another bonsai master, Romy Dino, served as judges of the contest. During the show, free lectures and demonstrations were provided by bonsai master Dino and Mindanao bonsai artists Calungsud and Pedrajas. Pedrajas was the first Mindanaoan to win a national bonsai competition. In 2006, he was included in the Top 50 international winners in the World Bonsai Contest. - GMANews.TV