Manila Chapter ＃108 Philippines
8 July 2025
Chapter Meeting THE BADJAO STORY
Our focus of the presentation of Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 Group 1 on July 8, 2025 is the Badjao people that fully think and feel the Sulu Sea is their home. In the Philippines, they are identified as sea gypsies that live in the Sulu archipelago, primarily in Tawi-tawi, Sulu and Basilan.
The Badjaos coexist with the highs and lows of the tides of the Sulu Sea in their daily lives. The vinta houseboats are their homes. Their way of life has given them an unmatched skill of travelling between coasts of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. They are famous for their free-diving powers with lungs that can adapt to stay submerged for up to 10 minutes at a depth of 200 feet.
Sadly today, the Badjaos forced to resettle on land are considered outcasts and stateless. The small number of 100-200 that remain in their vinta settlements in the area off Mindanao is decreasing fast.
Though caught in all the challenges of nature and circumstances, the Badjaos in the vinta settlements continue to follow and enjoy the Badjao way of life and find fulfillment in the simple ways of old. They revel in their freedom of life at sea, and take pride in the brightly colored and linear patterned sails of their vintas. Their big delight is finding the elusive South Sea pearl in oyster shells.
As followers and students of history, culture, and ikebana, the members of Group 1 have chosen to celebrate the Badjaos, a Philippine indigenous tribe of nomadic connections around the Sulu Sea, in the way that we know; the ikebana way with flowers.
The members of Group 1 are: Ma. Antonia M. Hubilla (chairperson), Amelia T. Robles (vice chairperson), Clarissa S. Gonzalez (teacher), Carmen Linda Atayde, Marjorie M. Balatbat, Jason Dy, S.J., Bernadette Marshall, Maria Corazon Mendoza, Lora Rivera, and Anna Maria A. Tinio. Each of them presented their individual arrangements and related them to the Badjao story.
12 July 2025
Demonstration
kebana Manila Chapter 108 Demonstration at the Mother Butler Guild National Assembly World Trade Center – July 12, 2025
We were honored to present a well-received demonstration at the Mother Butler Guild (MBG) National Assembly, held at the World Trade Center on July 12, 2028, and attended by more than 6,500 members from across the country.
According to MBG President Amb. Henrietta T. De Villa, the Ikebana segment was “a big hit,” offering participants a rich blend of artistry, liturgical relevance, and practical floral techniques. Fr. Jason Dy, SJ, also a member of our chapter, showcased arrangements appropriate for various liturgical seasons, while Chapter experts demonstrated how altar and celebration floral designs can remain beautiful and meaningful without requiring an abundance of blooms.
Carissa Singson shared valuable tips on prolonging the life of flowers and plants, adding practical benefit to the aesthetic inspiration. Cynthia Cabrera’s heartfelt introduction to Ikebana deeply resonated with the audience, while the demonstrations by Clarissa S. Gonzales, Joyce Kato and Romeo P. Balderama, Jr. further enriched the program with their artistry and skill. Chapter President Leonila R. Fabul extended an invitation to the MBG members to view the chapter’s exhibit and demonstrations at the forthcoming Asian Regional Conference in 2026.
The event not only highlighted the creative depth and spiritual dimension of Ikebana but also strengthened the connection between floral art and meaningful celebration within the faith community.
