The Singaporean government has named a new hybrid of orchids after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise "Liza" Araneta Marcos.
During his visit to the National Orchid Garden on Wednesday, Marcos and his wife were welcomed by Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and other local officials, who presented them with the orchids.
Called the "Dendrobium Ferdinand Louise Marcos", it is a robust and free-flowering orchid hybrid.
It produces semi-arching inflorescences of 50 to 70 centimeters in length that bear 20 to 30 well-arranged flowers, each measuring approximately four centimeters in width.
The elegantly curled sepals have a white background adorned with lavender striations, while the distinguished petals are white with bluish mauve.
They are complemented by a violet lip.
Marcos expressed his "deepest gratitude" to the Singaporean government "for having the 'Dendrobium Ferdinand Louise Marcos' orchid named in honor of myself and the First Lady of the Philippines, my wife, Louise Araneta-Marcos."
Naming an orchid hybrid when foreign leaders visit the city-state has been the initiative of the Singaporean government, which it calls "orchid diplomacy". It serves as a gesture of strengthening the bilateral ties between Singapore and other countries.
Marcos Jr. is on a two-day state visit to Singapore. He is scheduled to return to the Philippines on Wednesday evening.
