Plant-Parenting Saved Our Wits
Eugene Sangalang: From plantito to super vlogger
When he was young, Eugene Sangalang never really had an affinity for plants. “The closest bond that I had with plants is when my mom would ask me to water them — which, back in the day, really bored me,” he says.
During the pandemic, his friend started a small business selling plants, and as part of Globe’s Small and Medium Business Group and a supporter of small businesses himself, Eugene ordered five to start. “The five became 12, 26, 58… 131. Now, I’ve lost count already,” he shares.
Although he lives by himself, his home has become a sanctuary with all his plants. “It really makes me happy, to nurture life and wonder in its little miracles every day,” Eugene shares lovingly. It’s allowed him to connect with other people—with the plant community and his mother, who lives in Batangas. “Ang lagi naming topic, ‘O, tumubo na ba ‘yung ganyan? Bibigyan kita nitong propagation.’”
As an extrovert and performer, Eugene started a vlog called EuGreens PH Plants not long after he started collecting plants. Here he shares tips, his trips to plant nurseries, and other plant adventures.
Apart from giving him a sense of joy and peace, his hobby also gave him an opportunity to give back. At the height of community pantries in the first half of 2021, Eugene organized The Plantry Sale, a drive that asked his fellow plant parents to donate plants and give the proceeds to community pantries. The sale was able to raise a total of PHP 84,380, which was distributed to 17 community pantries in Bulacan, Payatas, Batangas, and even Naga.
Eugene’s hobby has allowed him to find a place of respite. If anything, his love for plants shows that if you water something and nurture it, fulfillment is only waiting to bloom.
COVID-19 survivor Manuel “Boyet” Dolor celebrates his new lease on life through plants
For Boyet Dolor– an Ayala employee of 25 years – caring is second nature. When he isn’t at the clinic going the extra mile for patients, one can find him tending to a newfound passion: propagating common and rare plants.
After recovering from COVID-19 late last year, Boyet had an epiphany that changed his lifestyle and perspective: “I realized that our life here on earth is short – that’s why we must do the things we are passionate about.” He kickstarted an active lifestyle, one that merged his desire to stay healthy and the need to de-stress after work. Alongside following TikTok dance trends to fuel his creativity, Boyet discovered the thrill of riding bikes and e-scooters. What was initially a mere means for getting around safely became a fervid source of joy and fulfillment. More than anything, he is recognized as Healthway’s resident plantito, an advocate for the environment who believes that “nature heals our minds and keeps our well-being in its optimal state”.
Populating his home with plants has cultivated a cleaner, peaceful atmosphere. His lush, leafy wards – large-leafed behemoths and potted, petite pretties alike – have also found their place in the clinic, adding a refreshing vibe that benefits staff and patients alike. By sharing his passion for plants and personal enrichment, Boyet seeks to start a green movement in our communities, hoping to inspire others with the same eager pulse to live bolder, defy limits, value life, and pursue happiness.
Neal Corpus and Inna dela Torre
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