The 100-year-old Acacia tree inside the Pasig Catholic Cemetery was officially unveiled as the second heritage tree in Pasig City on Tuesday, April 18.
The ceremony was led by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), Department of Education (DepEd -NCR), and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (ICC) in Pasig.
Other attendees to the event were Congressman Roman Romulo, members of the City Council, CENRO, and the ICC.
(Pasig PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The old tree is estimated to be 18.6 meters tall and more than five meters wide, with a circumference of 533.8 centimeters and a diameter of 170 centimeters.
It has been a witness to many significant events in the city’s history, even prior to the 20th century. The local government cited the Spanish-American war in 1898 as one of these historical events, wherein American troops used the catholic cemetery as a camp during the war.
Rev. Fr. Roy Rosales of the ICC said the tree also served as a boundary marker of the new and old cemetery when the Belgian fathers took over the administration of the Pasig church and expanded the cemetery.
Situated beside the church, Rosales noted that the tree must have been planted between 1722 and 1760 at around the same time the church was built.
Aside from being a site of folklore where elders would tell stories of "kapres" living in the trees to scare children so they would behave, Rosales said the tree has given shade and respite to grieving families for decades.
"These acacia trees watch the tears of those who send their loved ones to their resting places. They have been witnesses to the sadness, sorrow of the people who have come here for many, many years, shedding tears, for their dearly beloved," remarked Rosales.
City Councilor and Committee on Ecology and Environmental Protection Chairperson Kiko Rustia emphasized the importance of heritage trees as "living reminders of our past and a testament to the resilience and longevity of nature."
"Preserving heritage trees is critical for many reasons. Firstly, these are trees that are essential to maintaining biodiversity. They provide habitat for wildlife, support pollinators, reduce climate change. Secondly, heritage trees can also represent cultural and religious beliefs, provide a link to our past, and even inspire creative works of art and literature. They can increase property values, attract tourism, and provide timber and other forest products," Rustia said.
"It is our duty to protect these living treasures, ensuring that they continue to thrive and inspire us for generations to come. It is up to all of us to ensure their continued existence and to celebrate the unique role we play in the history and identity of Pasig City,' he added.
Aside from becoming important landmarks in the city, Vice Mayor Jaworski also said that the heritage trees symbolize the tenacity, longevity, strength, and hope of the Pasigueño people, and tell of society's cultural identity in the past, present, and future.
(Pasig PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Heritage Tree Program
To protect other trees with historical significance in the city, the local government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DENR and the ICC for the “Heritage Tree Program.”
Among the signatories of the MOA were Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski, Jr., City Councilor Rustia, DENR-NCR Protected Area Management and Biodiversity Conservation Section Chief Aida Esguerra, and Diocese of Pasig Chairman for Cultural Heritage Rev. Fr. Rosales.
The Heritage Tree Program is a pioneer program of the DENR-NCR, established in 2009 through Memorandum Order No. 01, that aims to "safeguard the remaining native, and unique trees found in the region, focusing on the rare, endangered, and disappearing trees of Metro Manila."
"Furthermore, the program seeks to encourage and engage the public in the preservation and maintenance of trees and other natural resources, particularly those that have been identified as heritage trees," said Esguerra.
The DENR-NCR has already proclaimed 39 heritage trees in the NCR, she added.
Through the program, trees that are old, unique, are native to Pasig, or are endemic, can be classified as heritage trees. According to the criteria, the trees must also have a minimum circumference of 100 centimeters and have a height of one-half meter above ground.
The trees that will be nominated by their host communities for the heritage classification will undergo review processes by the DENR-NCR and CENRO.
As one of the oldest cities in the country, Pasig is home to many heritage trees that the local government is continuously striving to identify.
The MOA will enable adequate protection and care that must be given to heritage trees from DENR foresters to ensure their survival until the succeeding generations.
The first heritage trees proclaimed in Pasig City were found in Rizal High School last June 2022.
The unveiling was done as one of the city's activities to mark the Month of Planet Earth leading up to Earth Day on April 22. It was also part of the year-long festivities of Pasig's 450th founding anniversary.