Waling-waling: Queen of Philippine Flowers

By Apolinario Villalobos

The country has always been represented by Mt. Mayon and the Banaue Rice terraces in Luzon, Chocolate Hills in the Visayas and the colorful vintas of Mindanao in the old postcards. For the horticulturists, however, from all over the world, the Philippines, particularly the fastness of the Mindanao highlands, is home to the Waling-waling.

The rare Philippine orchid was brought to light by a German, Roebelen in 1880. He “discovered” it with the help of the Sanders, English couple who owned a large nursery, and who financed his expedition to the country. Roebelen heard about a strange orchid with gigantic flowers that thrived in the jungles of Mindanao. The hostile natives did not discourage Roebelen who pursued his quest. He was later joined by a Chinese trader into the hinterlands, but later parted ways after a disagreement and a clash with two hostile tribes. Roebelen was fortunate to have befriended a chieftain who even offered him a tree house.

Roebelen found the “strange” orchid while he was living with the natives and during a dramatic incident, yet. An earthquake occurred and destroyed the village. After the incident, Roebelen looked up through the hole of the destroyed roof of his hut – and there hanging from a tree was the elusive plant, with its “wreath of huge lilac and cinnamon -colored flowers” set against the pinkish sky. It was a sight to behold that the German could hardly believe to be true.

To show his gratitude to his benefactors who financed his trip, he named the newly-discovered orchid after them, hence, the name, Vanda Sanderiana.

The discovery brought forth into the world’s attention, the delicate and invaluable treasure of the country, that blooms only once a year.

The Waling-waling has inspired not only a few of the horticulturists here and abroad with its fantastic beauty and rarity that they strived hard to cross the original species with other varieties. Others were already successful in this scheme that several mutants and hybrids had been produced out of the local stock.

In Hawaii for instance, an orchid collector was able to produce a rare variety – a mutant of the local Waling-waling. The characteristics of the said result resemble exactly the original kind, except for some tints of its flower, which are yellowish and greenish.

A prominent Thai orchid man also attributed to the local Waling-waling the successful result of his orchid cross-breeding that at the end produced a beautiful but hardy variety – the Kagawara Yuthathong Beauty. The resulting flower has a thick texture which makes it more lasting. Besides, the Thai crossbreed was a year-long bloomer.

Orchid growers have amassed wealth from this sophisticated trade, especially, from the cut flowers of the vanda. The local market alone has a great demand for both the original and crossed vanda varieties. The phenomenon prompted enthusiasts to organize themselves into horticulture clubs, with some, specializing in vandas.

The government has formulated protective measures for the preservation of the prized local species. Republic At No. 2983 limits the collection of vanda to those holding licenses issued by the Bureau of Forestry, and who are either collectors or dealers.

During the early ‘80s, Jaime Catanghal, a retired pilot of Philippine Airlines devoted his time in breeding vanda, and even went to the extent of having them gold  or silver-plated, using a process used in Thailand. Despite his success in this venture, he remained a private enthusiast/collector. The farthest venture he made was joining the vanda-specializing horticulture clubs throughout the Philippines.