Once there was a bamboo child who lived underground below a bamboo forest. Her name was Shiro, meaning "white". She was a member of the TAKENOKO family of Japan. She had ten siblings so happy among themselves beneath the surface of the earth until one day Shiro got curious about what grew above the soil.
So, Shiro shot up above her subterranean home and saw another world: it was a vast forest planted by huge bamboo growths swaying in the breeze. The light emitted by the sun filtered by the sashaying bamboo stalks shone in chartreuse on the ground. It somehow gave Shiro a sense of magic, stunning to behold!
Her older sister pleaded for Shiro to come back to the underground, but the beauty was too mesmerizing with the chirping birds hopping from one bamboo to another, the dragonflies in red, blue and orange gliding in the air, swans whooping at a pond nearby, and so much of creation going on all at the same time.
Soon enough, her siblings were inevitably drawn by the same enchantment. That's how we humans have our bamboo shoots!
In honor of Shiro, a group of members from Ikebana International has named their make-believe ryokan Takenoko (bamboo child).
And in it, each member of this ikebana group of 11 has arranged an ikebana piece in the style of two schools in Japan, i.e., Ikenobo and Sogetsu, using bamboo containers or materials. The group which is chaired by Joy Balatbat and composed of Teacher Clarissa Gonzalez, Jean Año, Nikki Chato, Jane Chilip, Father Jason Dy, S.J., Leny Fabul, Nonnette Hubilla, Celia Lazaro, Lettie Ligon, and Dotz Lorenzo held a celebration of its ikebana life with an exhibit entitled
"Ikebana Arrangements at Takenoko, Hotel in the Style of Ryokan" at the LRI Design Plaza in Makati.
The occasion was a spectacular show of flowers formatted in the styles of Ikenobo and Sogetsu with Joy Balatbat and Clarissa Gonzalez presenting their creations in a demonstration before membership and guests.
The event is a monthly presentation organized by the Board of Trustees of Ikebana International Manila Chapter 108 headed by President Tin Abalos aimed at fostering camaraderie. Members participating are assigned themes that they execute. "HOTEL" is this group's theme.