Belonging to the orchid family (Orchidaceae), the Nervilia pudica is endemic to the Philippines, meaning it cannot be found naturally anywhere else in the world! What’s in a Name? If you look closely at its structure, its name tells a story. The genus name Nervilia comes from the Latin word…
If you have recently walked along the shaded stream corridors of the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, you might have caught a glimpse of a tiny, shimmering gem darting over the water. Meet the Jewel Damselfly (Rhinocypha colorata), also known as the Colorful Flutterer—Makiling Botanic Garden’s featured Wildlife of the Month!…
While the month of May has come to a close, the stories behind our blossoms are evergreen. We invite you to discover (or rediscover!) eight remarkable flora species that graced our gardens this season. From native Philippine treasures to exotic global beauties, these plants remind us of the rich botanical…
Among the trees growing at the Makiling Botanic Garden, few capture the imagination quite like balsa — a giant that can soar to 30 meters tall, yet produces one of the lightest and most versatile woods known to humanity. Getting to Know Balsa Native to the Americas, balsa (Ochroma pyramidale)…
The Mount Makiling Forest Reserve ASEAN Heritage Park is home to an incredible array of biodiversity. For the month of May 2026, the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME) is proud to spotlight a small but vital avian resident of our forest canopy: the Red-Keeled Flowerpecker (Dicaeum australe). If you’ve…
This month, the Makiling Botanic Gardens features a remarkable climbing plant known for one of nature’s most elegant seed dispersal mechanisms: kabatete (Alsomitra macrocarpa (Blume) Roem.), a member of the Cucurbitaceae family that produces winged seeds capable of gliding through the forest canopy. Where It Grows Kabatete is native to…