Bonsai in the Philippines
Birth of the Philippine Bonsai Society Inc. (PBSI)
The PBSI started as a non-formal group in 1973 and was finally organized as a non-stock, non-profit association in 1975 with Rose Laurel Avaceņa as its founding president. The initial core group of 15 members has eventually mushroomed to over a hundred active bonsai enthusiasts. The PBSI, being the pioneer of the Bonsai Community initiated the formation of provincial clubs that actively participated in PBSI-sponsored bonsai competitions nationwide. These challenge and inspire the local bonsai clubs to enhance heir horticultural art skills for global bonsai competitiveness.
The PBSI is internationally recognized in the Bonsai Global Community, i.e. the Bonsai Club International (BCI), Asia-Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Friendship Federation (ABSFF) and World Bonsai friendship Federation (WBFF).
Bantigue (Pemphis acidula) is one of the most popular specimens used as Bonsai materials here in the Philippines. Aside from Bantigue there are many other tree could be trained as Bonsai. There are some trees with scientific name listed below.

Local Name: Alagaw
Scientific Name: Premna odorata

Local Name: Agoho / Casuarina Tree
Scientific Name: Casuarina equisetifolia
Family: Casuaranaceae

Local Name: Balete / Microcarpa
Scientific Name: Ficus microcarpa (Materials not available in the Philippines)
Local Name: Red Balete
Scientific Name: Ficus concina
Local Name: Baleteng Bilog
Scientific Name: Ficus nandina
Local Name: Baleteng Intsik
Scientific Name: Ficus chinensis

Local Name: Bantigue
Scientific Name: Pemphis acidula
Family: Lythraceae

Local Name: Bantolinao
Scientific Name:Maba buxifolia
Family: Ebenaceae

Local Name: Bayabas / Guava
Scientific Name: Psidium guajava
Family: Myrtaceae
Local Name: Bayabas / Guava (Seņorita)
Scientific Name: Feijoa sellowiana
Family: Myrtaceae

Local Name: Bignay/ Antidesma
Scientific Name: Antidesma angustifolium
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Local Name: Blue Bell
Scientific Name: Desdemonium Sp.

Local Name: Bougainvillea
Scientific Name: Bougainvillea
glabra,Bougainvillea spectabilis
Family: Nyctaginaceae

Local Name: Camachile
Scientific Name: Phithecellebium dulce

Local Name: Crab apple(Materials not available in the Philippines)
Scientific Name:

Local Name: Don Manuel
Scientific Name: Hamelia Patens
Local Name: Duhat (Black Berry)
Scientific Name:

Local Name: Holly (Chinese)
Scientific Name: Ilex sp.

Local Name: Jasmin (Sumei)
Scientific Name: Wrightia religiosa

Local Name: Juniper (Comon)
Scientific Name: Juniperus commonis
Local Name: Kalyos
Scientific Name: Streblus asper

Local Name: Kamagong/ Mabolo/ Philippine ebony
Scientific Name: Diospyros blancoi
Family: Ebenaceae

Local Name: Kamuning binangonan (Jasmin)
Scientific Name: Muraya paniculata

Local Name: Kamuning diospyros (Bilog or round leaf Jasmin)
Scientific Name: Muraya exotica

Local Name: Lagundi
Scientific Name: Vitex negundo
Family: Lamiaceae
Local Name: Lemonsito/ limeberry
Scientific Name: Triphasia trifolia
Family: Rutaceae
Local Name: Mansanita
Scientific Name: Zyziphus jujuba
Local Name: Molave / Sagat
Scientific Name:
Local Name: Molave / Tugas sa Bato
Scientific Name: Sarangani var

Local Name: Mulawin aso
Scientific Name: Gmelina elliptica

Local Name: Mulawin daga / surot
Scientific Name: Vitex sp.
Local Name: Mulawin pusa
Scientific Name: Gmelina exotica
Local Name: Mulawin / Bulaso
Scientific Name: Gmelina mola

Local Name: Podocarpus
Scientific Name: Podocarpus neriifolius
Family: Podocarpaceae
Local Name: Rosal
Scientific Name:

Local Name: Sampaloc / Tamarind
Scientific Name: Tamarindus indica
Family: Fabaceae

Local Name: Santan
Scientific Name: Ixora chinensis

Local Name: Tsaang Gubat
Scientific Name: Ehretia microphylla
Local Name: Red doggie / Bitongol
Scientific Name: Pyracanta sp
Local Name: Yellow doggie
Scientific Name:
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