30 heritage trees take center stage on Arbor Day for withstanding the tests of time

By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz Many trees in Metro Manila are fast disappearing in the wake of rapid urbanization, but at least 30 trees managed to keep up with the metropolis' hustle and bustle in the last couple of decades. Called "heritage trees," these trees "withstood the passing of time and witnessed the urban transformation of Metro Manila," according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR). They are particularly chosen by the DENR regional office following a recommendation by the host community due to their shared common history with the people and places where they are found. Nine heritage trees are found in Quezon City, seven in the City of Manila, five in Caloocan City, two each in San Juan City and Marikina City, and one each in the cities of Valenzuela, Pasay, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque, and in the municipality of Pateros. In line with the celebration of Arbor Day on Thursday, June 25, the DENR-NCR is showcasing the 30 "heritage trees" of Metro Manila. They are: 1. Kamagong (Diospyrus discolor), Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City 2. Acacia (Samanea saman), St. Theresa’s College, Quezon City 3. Duhat (Syzygium cumini), Kaligayahan Elementary School, Quezon City 4. Balete (Ficus sp.), Malacañan Palace, Manila 5. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Quezon City 6. Baliteng –baging (Ficus benghalensis), Lichauco Heritage House, Santa Ana, Manila 7. Sampaloc (Tamarindus indica), Brgy. Amihan, Proj. 3, Quezon City 8. Indian Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica), San Francisco High School, Quezon City 9. Duhat (Syzygium cumini), Star Woods Manufacturing, Inc., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City 10. Dita Tree (Alstonia scholaris), University of the Philippines, Manila 11. Botong (Barringtonia asiatica), Philippine Women University, Jose Abad Santos Memorial School, Quezon City 12. Acacia (Samanea saman), Philippine School for the Deaf, Pasay City 13. Acacia (Samanea saman), Tomas Earnshaw Elementary School, Sta. Ana, Manila 14. Betis (Madhuca betis), Manila North Cemetery 15. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Manila North Cemetery 16. Ipil (Intsia bijuga), Manila North Cemetery 17. Dita (Alstonia scholaris), Batasan Hills, Quezon City 18. Kamagong (Diospyros discolor), House of Representatives, Quezon City 19-20. Rain trees (Samanea saman), Santuario del Sto. Cristo Parish, San Juan City 21. Rain tree (Samanea saman), Shoe Museum, Marikina City 22. Rain Tree (Samanea saman), Our Lady of Abandoned Parish Cemetery, Marikina City 23. Mango tree (Mangifera indica), Alabang Elementary School, Muntinlupa City 24. Rain tree (Samanea saman), Tata Dune Catholic Church, Brgy. San Dionisio, Parañaque City 25. Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City 26. Tangisang bayawak (Ficus variegate), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City 27. Dita (Alstonia scholaris), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City 28. Antipolo (Artocarpus blancoi), Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City 29. Mango tree (Mangifera indica), San Roque Parish Church, Pateros 30. Acacia (Samanea saman), Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium, Caloocan City Established through a DENR-NCR memorandum issued in 2009, the Heritage Tree is part of the urban greening and tree protection program of the regional office. Under the program, "trees that are old, rare, native, or endemic, with a minimum girth or circumference of 100 centimeters and measures one-half meter above ground" are chosen by the DENR-NCR from nominations made by the host community. Trees included in the program receive special attention and protection from a pool of foresters of DENR-NCR to ensure that they live longer and preserve their historical legacy.