The Mount Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) celebrated its 115th anniversary through a week-long series of activities last 17-22 November 2025, with the theme “Resilient Foundations, Sustainable Futures: Collaborative Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation Amid Emerging Challenges.” MakiGunita was one of the activities that featured historical and interactive exhibits about the MMFR and its management, which everyone could freely visit.
In this year’s MakiGunita, For. Leonardo Barua prepared the exhibit through virtual reality, and it was physically set up at the Toyota Environment and Education Theater of the Makiling Botanic Gardens. Within the virtual exhibit, there were three monitor setups showcasing audio-visual presentations about the MMFR and the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME). Several podiums were also present, showcasing a 3D model of the MCME Building, three relief models depicting the MMFR and its surrounding area across three different time periods, and a model of the drone that was used to capture some of the images displayed on the models. It offered a new perspective on experiencing the history of the MMFR, allowing everyone the opportunity to engage with it freely. (Article by For. Carl Carada, photo by RTCabral)