In celebration of MCME’s 20th Year Anniversary, planting of edible, fruit bearing forest trees was done on 25th of June 2018 at the Fructus area of the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG). Before the main event, a short program was held, started with welcome remarks from the Deputy Director of MCME, Dr. Rogelio T. Andrada, II, wherein he congratulated the MCME staff on its commitment in managing Mount Makiling Forest Reserve ASEAN Heritage Park (MMFR AHP). Director of MCME, Dr. Roberto G. Visco greeted the MCME staff a happy anniversary during his anniversary message and agreed with Dr. Andrada’s message that MCME staff are the core in managing MMFR AHP. He also emphasized that what MCME achieved over the years is because of the joint effort and work dedication of MCME staff and still have more work to be done in managing MMFR AHP and other mountain ecosystems. For. Leilani A. Castillo, head of the Forest and Watershed Division (FWD) of MCME, gave a background about the Fructus (from Latin word which means fruit) area another theme garden inside the MBG which started in 2011. The area was established to showcase the different edible, fruit bearing forest trees in the Philippines.
MCME staff planted 30 species of edible, fruit bearing forest trees namely: alupag (Litchi chinensis Sonn. subsp. philippinensis (Radlk.) Leenh.); amugis (Koordersiodendron pinnatum (Blanco) Merr.); atemoya (Annona atemoya Hort.); avocado (Persea gratissima Gaertn.); bignai (Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng.); bignai kalabaw (Antidesma pleuricum Tul.); cacao (Theobroma cacao L.); dayap (Triphasia aurantiola Lour.); duhat (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels.); durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.); eboli (Euphoria nepheloides Radlk.); guayabano (Annona muricata L.); kalumpit (Terminalia microcarpa Decne. subsp. microcarpa); kamagong (Diospyros dicolor Willd); kamansi (Artocarpus altilis (Park.) Fosb.); kamias (Averrhoa bilimbi L.); kapulasan (Nephelium rambutan-ake (Labill.) Leenh.); katmon (Dillenia philippinensis Rolfe); lipote (Syzygium polycephaloides (C. B. Rob.) Merr.); makaasim (Syzygium nitidum Benth.); malugai (Pometia pinnata Forst. & Forst.); malugai liitan (Pomelia pinnata Forst. & Forst. forma repanda Jacobs); mangga (Mangifera indica L.); marang banguhan (Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco); nangka (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.); native atis (Annona squamosa L.); pangi (Pangium edule Reinw. ex Blume); pili (Canarium ovatum Engl.); santol (Sandoricum koetjape (Burm. f.) Merr.); and sineguelas (Spondias purpurea L.). The collection of species and site preparation for tree planting was facilitated by For. Valeriana D. Barredo-Parducho, University Researcher of Botanic Gardens, Parks and Ecotourism Division (BGPED) of MCME.
The short program was concluded by a message from the head of Social Forestry Division (SFD) of MCME, For. Nicasio M. Balahadia. After the tree planting event, the MCME staff gathered together for a boodle fight.
MSCanceran
Photos credit to: MBLPutian and AALimpiada