The New Leaf

September-October 2024

Makati Garden Club Newsletter

Over the Bougainvillea

It’s time for some Ikebana! One of Makati Garden Club’s directors, Marjorie Balatbat (or Joy as she is fondly called) is an esteemed member of the Ikebana International Chapter 108, and serves as an Ikenobo professor.

Joy is the first and only Filipino to be invited to the Autumn Tanabata Festival, the biggest Ikebana festival in the world in 2011-14 held in Kyoto Japan. She trained in Ikenobo Ikebana in six fall seasons from 2009-14 at the Ikenobo Headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, and has held various commercial exhibits in Rustan’s and other malls in the Manila Area. Joy wrote and published KYOTO MORNINGS IN AUTUMN, a coffee table book in 2022. It relates her kado, or journey with flowers, and how the path led her to become the first and only Filipino exhibitor at “The Tanabata Autumn Exhibition” held in Kyoto, Japan.

She is a member of Museum Volunteers of the Philippines, and has served as president of the Ayala Alabang Villager’s Garden Association.

Makati Garden Club is honored to have such a prestigious Ikenobo artist as a member of our Board. She has offered to do a demonstration on Ikebana/Ikenobo arrangements. Learn the difference between the subtle styles of Ikebana and Ikenobo, and the arrangement types under Ikenobo as in Rikka, Shoka, Jiyuka.

Ikebana/Ikenobo Professor, Marjorie Madrid Balatbat

Various Ikenobo creations of Joy Balatbat in the
Rikka, Shoka, and Jiyuka styles

MGC Cafe Announcements

Love Marina

September 3, 2024 talk given by Malu Veloso

A few days ago, Makati Garden Club hosted a talk by Malu Antonio Veloso, who shared with the attendees the life of her mother, Marina Reyes Antonio. There were over 20 attendees who, after the short talk, were treated to a scrumptious merienda (hosted by Malu Veloso and Ninit Paterno). On display was a lovely wedding dress, designed and created by her mother 75 years ago. Malu’s father was the famed architect, Pablo Antonio, who designed the Manila Polo Club and many beautiful art-deco edifices in Manila. Her mother, Marina, was a noted clothing designer of evening gowns in the 50’s and 60’s. There will be an exhibit of her gowns from September 10 – 24 at SM Aura in BGC.

Thank you, Malu, for an inspiring talk, and with President Ninit Paterno, our grateful thanks for hosting the merienda.

We share below a wonderful write-up by Kingsley Medalla about the event, that was posted on his Social media page.

Below, Malu Veloso displays the 75 year old wedding gown that her mother created to the attendees.

Above top left: Attendees at the talk;
Top right L-R:
Chona Reloza, Sylvia Roces Montilla, Chit Santos;
Bottom left L-R:
Eunice Acosta, Avelino Antonio, Malu Veloso, Manuela Suarez;
Bottom right L-R:
Sandra Fernandez, Ruth Duque, Kingsley Medalla.

L-R: AnneMarie Dizon, Techie Ysmael Bilbao,
Ninit Paterno, Ching Caluag

Henceforth, MGC will include all our members’ birthday celebrants for the month!

To all the September and October celebrants,

we wish you many happy returns!

September

Ninit Paterno, Ching Caluag, Mindy Perez-Rubio,

Nikki Breedfeld, Christina Cruz, Mitzi DeDios,

Carmelita Rosales, John Tan, Connie Lacson,

Maya Dayaram, Yoly Delos Reyes, Dulce Fernandez,

Rona Dayanghirang

October

Tull Traisorat, Jocelyn Reyes

Count your life by smiles, not tears.

Count your age by friends, not years.

NOTE:
If your name is omitted,
it is because we do not have a record of it.
Kindly ring or email MGC to update your profile.