Baguio Botanical Garden

Coordinates: 16°24′52.42381″N 120°36′47.49145″E / 16.4145621694°N 120.6131920694°E / 16.4145621694; 120.6131920694
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Baguio Botanical Garden
An overview of the gardens
Map
TypeUrban
LocationBenguet, Cordillera, Philippines
Nearest cityBaguio
Coordinates16°24′52.42381″N 120°36′47.49145″E / 16.4145621694°N 120.6131920694°E / 16.4145621694; 120.6131920694
Owned byLand Management Bureau[1]
Visitors100,000 monthly[2] (in 2022)
Open6AM-6PM
StatusOpen
CollectionsDahlia, cactuses, and succulents

The Baguio Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in Baguio, Philippines, located on Leonard Wood Road between Wright Park and Teacher's Camp.[2]

Names[edit]

The garden goes by a few different names,[1] including:

  • Botanical & Zoological Garden, the former name for the park when it was a zoo
  • Centennial Park, for being "the Summer Capital" of the Philippines for 100 years
  • Igorot Village, for the culture-inspired carvings, sculptures, and huts scattered around the park
  • Imelda Park, for the former first lady

History[edit]

The garden, which was previously a zoo,[1] was renamed to the Imelda Park by Ferdinand Marcos for his wife in 1970.[3]

The park closed for ten months in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] During that time, it underwent a renovation which made the park more aesthetic and added ramps.[4]

Features[edit]

The sign at the entrance

The park has art galleries provided by the Baguio Arts Guild, and sculptures displaying the culture of the Igorot people. A statue by Ben Hur Villanueva commemorating the people who built Baguio can also be found.

The park also contains a friendship garden featuring the countries United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Thailand, which contain elements of the country's culture, such as temples and statues. It also contains a sunflower farm and gardens spotlighting Dahlia, cactuses, marguerites, orchids, and succulents.[4]

One of the garden's main attractions is a 150 m (490 ft) long tunnel which was dug out by Japanese Imperial Army soldiers during World War II for use as storage, treatment, and a bunker.[2][5]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Baguio Botanical Garden – Go Baguio!". Go Bagio!. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  2. ^ a b c d Ergino, Jervis (2022-12-24). "Baguio Botanical Garden Complete Guide". Hike To Mountains. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  3. ^ Aaron, Jerome (2015-10-27). "From Imelda Park to Botanical Gardens to Centennial Park". Cush Travel Blog. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  4. ^ a b M, Lea (2022-03-19). "Botanical Garden Baguio City Travel Guide". Baguio City News. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  5. ^ Agranum, May (2016-09-05). "Revisiting the Botanical Garden of Baguio City". Jeffer's Odyssey. Retrieved 2023-06-27.