UP unveils hibiscus named after ‘great woman’ with ‘passion for truth’

An elaborate and colorful ceremony was held yesterday at Quezon City Hall to unveil a gumamela (hibiscus) flower variety dedicated to the founder of the Philippine STAR, the late Betty Go-Belmonte.

Dr. Luis Rey Velasco, chancellor of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Los Baños, Laguna, officially handed to Mrs. Belmonte’s husband, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and his family a fully-grown Hibiscus rosa sinensis Betty Go-Belmonte plant with a flower.

“The hibiscus rosa sinensis BGB is dedicated to a great woman and outstanding UP alumna,” Velasco said amidst the cheers of city hall officials, the Belmonte family, and guests who attended the event at the Bulwagang Norberto Amoranto.

Also present were Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and UP officials led by Dr. Jose Hernandez, director of plant breeding, Dr. Pablito Magdalita, and Reynaldo Pimentel.

Mayor Belmonte and son Kevin gave their response to the tribute and thanked the UP community for honoring the memory of BGB through the special flower.

“Thank you for the wonderful honor and beautiful flower, for my mother was a woman of great passion to get the truth. It’s been 14 years after her death and we still remember her. Her influence is still with us, influencing a lot of us. Her legacy will always be with us,” Kevin said.

The mayor described Mrs. Belmonte as a woman of steel who stood by her principles, whatever the cost.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis BGB has lemon-yellow petals with a red eye and white halo. It is a prolific bloomer, with flowers that reach five inches in diameter.

The program included a mini-play, entitled “Sweetness of Yellow,” that depicted the life of BGB from her roots, education, her struggles, to her rise to become the STAR founder.

The three-hour program also included songs, poems, a film presentation and dance numbers.

The official launching of the Hibiscus rosa sinensis BGB also highlighted the end of the celebration of women’s month in Quezon City.

Magdalita and Pimentel were also given citations by the city government for breeding a variety of plants named after Tandang Sora or Melchora Aquino, who helped wounded revolutionaries against Spanish colonizers.

The hibiscus rosa sinensis BGB is the latest variety since the UP Los Baños researchers introduced new plant hybrids know as The Oblation Series, which was launched in 2006.

The hibiscus breeding program at the UP Los Baños started in December 1994.