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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider Fil-Canadian Youtuber and artist Mikey Bustos to grace Horti Filipina International Plant Show at SMX Convention Center on Feb. 21-23

Fil-Canadian Youtuber and artist Mikey Bustos to grace Horti Filipina International Plant Show at SMX Convention Center on Feb. 21-23

Published Feb 16, 2025 01:59 pm

At A Glance

  • Mikey, 43, is a multi-talented entertainer, educator, and the brilliant storyteller and curator behind the infamous AntsCanada YouTube channel.
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Mikey Bustos (Facebook)

Popular Filipino-Canadian YouTuber and artist Mikey Bustos will be the special guest at the much-awaited Horti Filipina International Plant Show, which will be held at the SMX Convention Center from Feb. 21 to 23.

Mikey, 43, is a multi-talented entertainer, educator, and the brilliant storyteller and curator behind the infamous AntsCanada YouTube channel.

The former Canadian Idol contestant is a nature enthusiast. Late last year, he shared his giant home aviary on social media, full of birds, tropical plants, and a waterfall pond.

"It's a three-storey aviary that's viewable from all three floors of my home," he said. "I love that the birds have endless enrichment in this aviary all day. I especially love watching the birds bathe. "

In August 2024, Mikey's AntsCanada Youtube channel hit six million subscribers. 

"I feel such incredible gratitude to reach this 6M milestone because I never imagined, when I first started the channel back in 2009, that others would identify with the true biological stories of the micro creatures living at our feet. I feel honoured to have narrated their mind blowing tales of love, war, struggle, and victory, stories that mirror our own lives and show us that we aren't so different from all other animals that share our planet.

"Thank you for tuning in to the series every week and for loving nature. So much more is coming up ahead! Ant love forever!" Mikey wrote on Instagram.

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The Horti Filipina - International Plant Show 2025 has become a five-dimensional event that will go beyond it being a horticultural showcase when it is staged on Feb. 21 to Feb. 23 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

In the event’s latest Facebook post, its organizers disclosed that booths showcasing exotic pets and fur babies, game fowls, Koi breeds, and chili spice will also be included in the three-day staging.

The organizers said these new attractions will add more color and interest in the wide array of plants from all over the world that will be presented in the show.

“From Ecuador to Thailand, Japan to Indonesia, Vietnam, and our country the Philippines, discover breathtaking species from across the globe,” Horti-Filipina’s FB post said.

On the first day of the plant fair on Feb. 21, the following will be featured: Melissa Travis (Plant Parenthood), Ethan Hernandez (Native Plants for Medicinal and Culinary use), and esteemed Japanese plant expert Kunzo Nishihata for an exclusive meet and greet. 

On Feb. 23, the following experts will be discussing their respective specialties. They are Dr. Ephraim Cercado (Philippine Timbers and Flora), Dr. Jasper John Obico (Philippine Rafflesias), Fernando Aurigue (Philippine Hoyas), Dr. Rosario Rubite (Philippine Begonias), Wally Suarez (Conservation and Horticulture), Dr. Victor Amoroso (Philippine Ferns and Lycophytes), and Dr. Maria Melanie Medecilo-Guiang (Philippine Alocasias).

On the last day, Michael Caballes will be speaking on flower tourism, Australian Michael Ferrero will be sharing his horticulture experience from his country, Ponchit Ponce Enrile will be talking on the topic ‘Gardening for Others’,  Cris Siegfried Onari (Philodendron Hybridizing), Rey Pimentel (Hoya Hybridizing), Dr. Maria Luisa Guevarra (Mussaenda), snf Prof. Raymundo Lucero (Mussaenda Pest Management).

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