Respected artist raises cherry blossom tree

Manila: Manuel Baldemor, a respected Filipino artist who draws inspiration from nature for his paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings, is also a devout gardener.

He has a blooming 18-year-old cherry blossom tree, which he has nurtured from a seedling, near his art studio in suburban Pasig City to show that his passion for the soil is not a fling but a life-long devotion. Baldemor belongs to an artist's clan of Paete, a town known for its woodcarving.

He is a notable artist of illustrations, abstract paintings, prints, ceramics and sculptures.

An avid traveller, Baldemor has held numerous exhibitions in Korea, China, Israel, Russia and the US.

He takes special pride in his sakura or cherry blossom tree, among the few samples of the tree that is revered in Japan.

"I am so fortunate to have Sakura or a cherry blossom tree now in full bloom beside my art studio in Pasig," he told reporters.

He said the seedling of the sakura was given to him by family friends 18 years ago and he has taken care of it since.

The remaining seedlings of his friend withered after he received his gift.

Now, his friend visits his place every year to see the sakura in bloom.

"They had planted their own cherry tree seedlings in between the mahogany trees in their garden. But not one survived," he said.

"Now, my friends visit 'their' cherry blossom tree in my front yard."

He said the original seedlings probably came from Davao province in the south, where the Japanese planted many cherry trees during their occupation of the Philippines from May 1942 until July 1945.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan.

Baldemor said that while the practice of hanani or "flower viewing" in Japan is popular, it is only outside his studio that Filipinos can experience the same.

The cherry blossom trees bloom for about five days, after which these quickly fall to the ground and rot, a reminder that youth, beauty and happiness are temporary and that we should live a full life on the time allotted us on earth.

But Baldemor said his tree has adapted to Philippine weather.