BCI Chairman Chen Chang was invited to attend the 2026 Philippines Bonsai and Stone Exhibition

By Guangzhou Baowen Gardens · June 5, 2026

Recently, at the formal invitation of the Bonsai and Stone Appreciation Association of the Philippines (BSAPI), Mr. Chen Chang, Chairman of Bonsai Clubs International (BCI), traveled to the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, Philippines, to attend Punla at Pamana (Sprouting and Heritage), the Philippine National Bonsai and Stone Appreciation Competition and Bonsai Pilipinas 2026, a major industry event. He was appointed as a professional judge for the competition, deeply participating in this highest-standard national bonsai and stone appreciation event in the Philippines, and as a guest of honor, he took part in the opening ribbon-cutting, award ceremony, and a full series of industry exchange activities.

This event was hosted by the Bonsai and Stone Appreciation Association of the Philippines (BSAPI), The event was held at the Philippine Arena, with an exhibition period from May 28 to 30. The theme "Punla at Pamana" signifies sprouting and heritage, making it the top-scale bonsai and stone appreciation cultural festival in the Philippines this year, bringing together renowned bonsai masters, collectors, and high-quality exhibits from across the country. Prior to the event, BSAPI President Michael M. Morden formally wrote to Chairman Chen Chang, sincerely inviting him to serve as a competition judge, relying on his extensive professional experience in the bonsai field and international industry influence to uphold professional standards in the selection of competition works.

I. Judging and Evaluating Masterpieces, Taking the Stage for the Ribbon-Cutting to Open the Grand Event
On the judging day (May 27), Chairman Chen Chang officially performed his duties as a competition judge. With profound bonsai artistic attainments and rich international judging experience, he rigorously evaluated all categories of bonsai and stone appreciation entries from multiple dimensions such as styling techniques, artistic conception, plant care, and creative philosophy. He selected award-winning works with a professional perspective, setting a judging benchmark for the local bonsai industry in the Philippines. His rigorous and pragmatic judging style and unique artistic commentary earned unanimous praise from the judging panel, the organizers, and participating artists. After the competition, BSAPI specially presented Chairman Chen Chang with an honorary certificate of appreciation, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the competition.
At 4:00 PM on the opening day of the exhibition, the opening ceremony officially commenced. Chairman Chen Chang was invited as a guest of honor for the opening and joined local government representatives of Bulacan, all members of the BSAPI Board of Directors, the head of the Philippine Orchid Society, and local horticultural industry veterans on stage to complete the opening ribbon-cutting ceremony. After the ribbon-cutting, a traditional Halamanan folk cultural dance unique to Bulacan was performed, enhancing the local horticultural cultural atmosphere.
At 5:00 PM, the official agenda began, with the singing of the Philippine national anthem and the organizer's opening remarks. The speech segment first welcomed Michael M. Morden, the President, who delivered a speech. He extended a warm welcome to all guests and enthusiasts, expressed heartfelt thanks to the participants who contributed to the event, and paid high tribute to the government leaders, association veterans, and international friends who have consistently supported and cared for the Bonsai and Stone Appreciation Association of the Philippines. Subsequently, Bulacan Vice Governor Alexis Castro, Dr. Richard G. Daenos, and a special representative of Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando took the stage to deliver speeches. In their remarks, the three guests highly affirmed the significant importance of this Punla at Pamana exhibition for the inheritance of local bonsai, stone appreciation, and traditional horticultural culture in the Philippines. They praised BSAPI's long-term dedication to cultivating the local bonsai industry, and expressed sincere gratitude to international bonsai experts represented by Chairman Chen Chang for traveling from afar to assist in competition judging and empower the development of the Philippine bonsai industry. In his speech, the Governor stated that the Bulacan provincial government will continue to support the development of the local bonsai and stone appreciation cultural industry, helping local horticultural art move towards internationalization.
Finally, Atty. Jemina “Jem” Sy, the incumbent mayor of Marilao, Bulacan, delivered the closing remarks. Mayor Jem is the first female mayor of Marilao since its founding and one of the youngest municipal leaders in the area. In her speech, Mayor Jem grounded her message in Marilao’s cultural tourism development strategy, viewing the art of bonsai and viewing stones as a distinctive local cultural calling card. She highly recognized BSAPI’s long-term efforts in promoting local bonsai culture, warmly welcomed international bonsai experts led by Chairman Chen Chang to visit the Philippines for industry exchanges, and proposed using this exhibition as a bridge to promote the deep integration of bonsai horticulture with the local cultural tourism industry. During her tenure, the mayor actively participated in the entire exhibition process, and her official social media platforms continuously posted updates about the event, providing comprehensive publicity and promotion for this bonsai and viewing stone extravaganza.
After the speech, the local-themed cultural performance “Hiyas ng Bulacan (Gems of Bulacan)” took the stage, fully showcasing the regional folklore and natural and humanistic characteristics of Bulacan.

II. Major Awards Presented, 2027 Philippine BCI International Exhibition Cooperation Confirmed
At 6:00 PM, the centralized award ceremony began, with awards presented in the following order: calligraphy and painting works, viewing stone works, intermission cultural performances, and bonsai works. Chairman Chen Chang assumed two important award-presenting roles: First, as the exclusive award presenter for the overall grand champion, he presented the grand champion award to the creator who won the highest honor in the bonsai category during the bonsai award segment. Second, on behalf of the Bonsai Clubs International (BCI), he presented the BCI Bonsai Special Award on site, using BCI’s internationally authoritative award to commend outstanding exhibited works of great artistic value, thereby promoting the integration of Philippine bonsai art into the international evaluation system.
At the award ceremony, BSAPI President Mike Morden, together with Philippine Orchid Society President Susan C. Lee, officially announced a major plan: an international BCI bonsai and viewing stone exhibition is proposed to be held at the Philippine Arena in late November 2027. Chairman Chen Chang expressed his stance on the spot, highly recognizing the development potential of the Philippine bonsai industry and the hardware capabilities for hosting exhibitions, and formally agreed to and fully supported the implementation of this exhibition. Subsequently, BCI will collaborate with BSAPI to coordinate international resources and jointly advance the exhibition preparations, helping the Philippines to establish a benchmark BCI international bonsai exhibition in Southeast Asia.

III. In-depth visits and exchanges, field visits to renowned gardens and art museums in the Philippines
In addition to the competition duties, Chairman Chen Chang embarked on an industry field visit in the Philippines, successively visiting the personal art museum of BSAPI Vice President Anthony Gedand and the private bonsai garden of Vice President Mike T. Peña. At these two locations, Chen closely appreciated the local Philippine bonsai collections, viewing stone collections, and horticultural landscaping, and engaged in in-depth discussions with these two key figures of the Philippine bonsai community on regional bonsai creation techniques, domestication of native tree species, and garden landscaping concepts. They exchanged valuable insights on the exchange of bonsai techniques, resource linkage, and talent exchange between China and the Philippines, further solidifying the foundation of regular friendly cooperation between BCI and the Philippine Bonsai and Viewing Stone Alliance.
During the event, Chairman Chen Chang also held discussions with BCI Legal Counsel Vic Ceballos on topics such as BCI's global activities, promotion, and dissemination.
This trip to the Philippines not only saw Chen Chang, in his capacity as BCI President, help professionalize and internationalize local bonsai competitions in the Philippines, but also finalized key cooperation for the hosting of the 2027 BCI International Convention in the Philippines, opening up a new channel for long-term exchange between the bonsai industries of China, the Philippines, and even Southeast Asia, and laying a solid foundation of cooperation for the cross-border transmission of Eastern bonsai and viewing stone culture and the coordinated development of the regional bonsai industry.