PORTIA FAMILIARAN AND HER AMAZING PLANT COLLECTIONS

Portia Familiaran is an avid plant collector and the owner of the popular “Portia Store”, selling general merchandise in Bacolod City.

Plant Enthusiasts This Time of Pandemic

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Just a portion of the wide collection of Philodendrons and Anthurium of Ms. Portia Familiaran.

One of the fascinating things that happen during pandemic time is the significant number of people who get hooked on plants and gardening.

Most people who are getting information and updates on Facebook will see that the mainstream now are posts about plants. These posts include gardening experiences and tips, trading and swapping of plant collections, displaying rare plant collections, photos of plantitos and plantitas with their precious plant babies, indoor plants, and even their gardens.

The beautiful collection of plants displayed inside the Familiaran residence

It’s fantastic also to see beautiful clay pots getting a new touch by some paints given by the owners; others are recycling scraps as plant containers. Many people in the weaving industry also had their share to display their products being used as basket planters. Of course, there also these Fiberglass Pots and Jars that are lightweight, durable, and are now one of the most in-demand items for many plant parents.

Many posts on social media are enticing. Hence, it could also be one of the reasons why many who were never into plants and gardening in the past are now getting their hands dirty by gardening.

Some of Ms. Portia’s collection of rare plants displayed in her Pavillion

Many plant parents would regularly buy to grow their plants’ collection, while some would swap or barter or ask from people who have extras from their home gardens.

This year is no doubt the best year for many gardeners. Many people who were never into plant selling are now actively trading their beautiful collection online.

Top: Ms. Portia Familiaran with the author; Bottom: with Jang Yap

Plant Parents in Bacolod City

In Bacolod City, several online groups were created by plant enthusiasts. Some of the groups were designs for plant trading, while some are dedicated to sharing experiences and tips for taking care of their plants. I have to confess; I am a member of various groups of plant enthusiasts not only in our city but even in other countries.

Oh well, I have been a plant lover many years back. But unlike other plantitos, I don’t invest much in costly plants, not to mention that a few years ago, ornamental plants were pretty cheap and easy to acquire.

Seeing Ms. Portia Familiaran’s Garden made me conclude that she has the widest collection of rare Anthurium and Philodendron

Meet Portia Familiaran and Her Amazing Plant Collections

One big plant enthusiast in Bacolod City who has a nice collection of ornamental plants is Portia Familiaran. She is the wife of the City’s Vice-Mayor Elcid Familiaran.

Ms. Portia has been an avid “Plantita” with a vast collection of the rare and hard to find ornamental plants. Her love for plants started a long time ago, way before the fad for plants had started.

beautiful foliage at Familiaran’s Garden

“I started to grow these ornamental plants way back, but during the time of the pandemic, my collection even grew bigger,” Ms. Portia.

“Gardening gives me inner peace; my mornings spent with a cup of coffee while enjoying my plants is something that restores my physical being” shares the plant parent. With her plant hobby, she had the opportunity to help small businesses who now find a fortune through growing and selling plants and plant accessories.

She was able to connect with other plant parents who have found the same happiness through gardening.

Portia Familiaran with the Jar named after her. She was using in the past huge concrete pots giving her people so much difficulty in moving the plants. Then she started repotting her precious plant babies using the fiberglass pots and jars. ( All fiberglass jars used in the garden of Ms. Portia is available at Jojo Vito Designs Gallery and Garden )

The Portia Jar

Talking about supporting local businesses, Ms. Portia is one prominent supporter of the designer fiberglass pots and jars of Jojo Vito Designs Gallery. A special pot was designed and named after her, the Portia Jar.

Ms. Portia said, ” I am happy to support local products because it will surely convert to more jobs, thereby helping many of our fellow Bacolodnons.” While I don’t intervene with the business of my husband as the Vice-mayor of Bacolod City, in my little way, at least I can be of help,” she added.

Apart from using the jar for her garden and home, Ms. Portia is also using the jars of Jojo Vito Designs Gallery as gifts to her friends who also love plants.