Orchid named in honour of Arroyo

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was honoured yesterday by officials of Singapore's Botanic Gardens by naming a locally-bred orchid variety after the Philippines leader, reports reaching Manila said. The red orchid called 'Rattanakosin' (scientific name: Arachnis Ishbel), was personally picked by the President and was renamed Aranthera Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her honour.

Naming an orchid is a practice and courtesy extended by the Singapore Botanic Gardens to heads of state and other VIPs of world stature. The Aranthera Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will share the same greenhouse as other orchids named after South African President Nelson Mandela, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Japan's Empress Michiko, former Philippines first lady Amelita Ramos and the late Princess Diana among others.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a major tourist draw in the city state where Arroyo arrived on Friday for a three-day state visit following a trip from Brunei. After a 15-minute tour of the 52-hectare gardens, Dr Tan Wee Kiat of the Singapore Botanical Gardens presented Arroyo with four varieties of orchid in red, yellow, lilac and pink. From among the four varieties, President Macapagal-Arroyo chose the vibrant red orchid.

According to Dr Tan, the red orchid of Philippine origin has a strong sway (stem) representing the President's strong character. "She liked it because it's sway is so strong and it's a very powerful orchid," he said, adding that the President made an excellent choice because the orchid variety is of Philippine origin (Arachnis Philipinensis).

The President also chose the yellow and lilac coloured orchids for her late father and mother, respectively. Dr. Tan pointed out that what pleased the officials of the National Parks Board was that the President granted their request to have two other orchids named after her father Diosdado Macapagal and her mother Evangelina Macaraeg. He noted that the orchids produced in the gardens are the "results of continuing research, hence the existence of many hybrid orchids."