Urban garden of native trees turned over to UP Diliman

MANILA, Philippines - A tree garden at the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines showcasing native species was handed over to the public in a simple ceremony last July 5.

The garden carries with it the hope that it will inspire more greenery in the urban landscape using native trees, as the list of threatened plant species in the Philippines continues to grow, with only 24 percent of forest cover remaining in the archipelago.

The 4,700 sqm Washington SyCip Garden of Native Trees, a tribute of the Zuellig Group to their esteemed friend and director, was turned over to the university in a symbolic tree watering ceremony, led by eminent businessman and philanthropist Washington SyCip, Caesar Saloma, chancellor of UP Diliman and Daniel Zuellig, director of Bridgebury Realty Corp. (BRC), affiliate of the Zuellig Group.

Situated in what was once a parking lot, the garden is a model site for the National Greening Program created by Presidential Order 23, which aims to establish urban native forests by planting indigenous and endemic trees in public schools. Native trees, rather than foreign varieties, are more suited to local conditions and allow for a healthy, sustainable ecosystem.

Located behind the carillon, between the UP Film Center and the UP Theater by Magsaysay Avenue, the Washington SyCip Garden of Native Trees has over 100 species of Philippine native trees. 

BRC, owner and developer of the Zuellig Building in Makati, in cooperation with the Department of Education, will sponsor dendrological tours of the garden for high school students from 90 public schools in the National Capital Region to further encourage public participation in the protection of the environment.

The Zuellig Group also sponsored the publication of a guidebook to the garden, which serves as a map of the tree species planted. It was compiled and written by Imelda Sarmiento of Hortica Filipina Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes the use of Philippine plants, and Emiliano Sotalbo, one of the pioneers in the development of the National Botanic Garden at the UP, together with professor Edgardo Gomez of the UP Marine Science Institute. The guidebook will be given away to high school students who will participate in the educational tours of the garden and will be given to the libraries of the public high schools.

The ground breaking of the Washington SyCip Garden of Native Trees was in April 2012 and the garden was completed in July 2013.  The turnover ceremony was attended by Education Secretary Armin Luistro and Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages Mario Deriquito.

“We are confident that these trees will thrive, now that the garden is under the care of the UP faculty and students. We are also optimistic that this garden will inspire the youth to participate in the national effort to save and protect the environment through native trees,” said Daniel Zuellig.