WATCH: A forest of small trees at the Bonsai Festival

A forest of small trees flourished under the shade of larger ones at the recently concluded National Bonsai Exhibition and Competition at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

As reported by Bam Alegre on "News To Go," the event drew proponents of the art of cultivating miniature trees—a practice the Japanese derived from the Chinese penjing. 

One of the trees was a hibiscus bonsai by the artist BenCab, while 20 others on display belonged to collector Susan Lim, who has cultivated about 200 of the tiny trees.

Lim says that working on her bonsai has done wonders for her health and peace of mind. "May ten years na akong nagbo-bonsai," she said with a smile. "Ang bonsai, pag nakita mo sila, parang nagbibigay siya ng kaligayahan sa tao. Pag masaya ang isang tao, humahaba ang buhay niya at hindi siya masyadong nagkakasakit. Dati, masakiting tao ako. Mula nang nagbonsai ako, parang nagiging healthy ako. Nakikita kong ganyan kaganda ang mga halaman, nae-enjoy mo sila."



Science and art combine in the making of a bonsai, which includes considering the choice of receptacle to grow it in as well as the placement of wires that will train the plant to grow into certain shapes. In the Philippines, a commonly used plant for bonsai is the bantigue (Pemphis acidula), a tropical shrub with a rugged bark and small leaves.

According to the report, bonsai cultivation is flourishing in the Philippines not just as a pastime but also as an industry. Last year, the country's first bonsai school opened in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

"Lumalaban na tayo sa Taiwan, sa Japan, sa iba pang countries," said Augusto Rustia of the Philippine Bonsai Society, which organized the event. "Ang sabi nila kayang-kaya natin silang talunin considering yung mga materyales natin 'tsaka ang pinakaganda, yung mga Pilipino, ang gagaling." — BM, GMA News