The old jeepney slowly negotiated the forested area of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna, its engine screeching as it struggled up the steep road. 

At the foot of Mount Makiling in this part of the UPLB campus, towering trees greeted everyone alighting from the jeepney. Many trees stood behind the gates of the Makiling Botanic Gardens (MBG), casting great shadows as a gentle breeze led the leaves in a subtle dance.

According to legend, the goddess Maria Makiling, with her long black hair and olive skin, made the mountain her home. She provided food for the villagers and cared for the sick, and they were grateful for her kindness. 

But the legend also goes that Maria Makiling disappeared and was never seen again. Some say it was because of a mortal man’s betrayal of their love; others believe she vanished because of humanity’s disregard for nature, and now watches over the mountain as its guardian.

The 300-hectare Makiling Botanic Gardens, where different species of native, endemic, and exotic plants and trees can be found, is also aimed at protecting the flora and fauna on the mountaintop. It is divided into stations, each featuring a distinct grouping of flora, such as the Philippinensis Row, the Dipterocarp Arboretum, as well as a collection of palm and bamboo.

The MBG is part of the 4,244-hectare Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, which was declared an Asean Heritage Park in 2013. Per the Asean Center for Biodiversity, heritage parks are “protected areas of high conservation importance, preserving in total a complete spectrum of representative ecosystems” in Southeast Asia.

There are 2,038 known species of flora in the Makiling forest reserve.

The MBG allows nature education and recreation activities for the public. An entrance fee of P45 for students and P60 for regular visitors is collected for the garden’s maintenance. Guided tours, led by trained UPLB students, are also offered for a fee of P300.

Exploring the garden

“Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time. Leave nothing but footprints,” our tour guide, a forestry student, began.

The tour primarily focused on the background of the MBG and an introduction to the flora and fauna in it. 

Nestled near the garden’s entrance, the magenta Kapa-kapa flowers stood out against a backdrop of varying shades of green. The Kapa-kapa is endemic to, or grows naturally only in, the Philippines. It is featured on the P10 coin.

“This is its main flower and its sepal,” the guide said, pointing to the cape-like part of the Kapa-kapa. “Essentially, the main purpose [of the sepal] is to protect the flowers and attract pollinators, which is why it has a vibrant color.” 

A few steps further, two Bagtikan trees—dipterocarps known for two-winged fruit—stand side by side.

The fact that the fruit is two-winged “helps the species to disperse widely,” the guide said. “Dipterocarps are also usually the home of Philippine eagles because they grow straight and reach such great heights.” 

The MBG was officially established in 1963 under Republic Act No. 3523, to support professional instruction and research in forestry and plant sciences while also serving tourism, education, and public recreation.

“For UPLB, the garden aims to serve as an outdoor laboratory, especially to us forestry students. We practice taxonomy of forest plants here,” the guide said.

“This is a Mangkono or Philippine ironwood,” he said, pointing at a tree. (He introduced the flora in the way that environment advocate Celine Murillo, who features Philippine biodiversity in her work, does.)

The presence of the Mangkono indicates that “an area is rich in minerals,” the guide said. “Experts say that cutting down this tree usually takes three to five days due to its hardness.” 

Beside the Mangkono stands a tree that appears to grow candles on its branches—the candle tree, native to Panama. The guide said its candle-like fruit is edible, but no one among us had the courage to try it. 

The tour continued to the National Corner where some of the Philippines’ national symbols are featured, such as Sampaguita and Anahaw. 

Forest musical

As we ventured deeper into the garden, the air became noticeably cooler. The buzz of unfamiliar insects grew louder, occasionally joined by the humming of birds. The sound of a creek gently flowing added to what seemed like a forest musical.

“This is the Molawin Creek. The water is a bit murky because it just rained,” the guide said.

A concrete stairway leads down to the creek. Around it, images of various endemic birds commonly seen on Mount Makiling are displayed, such as the Luzon Bleeding Heart and Tarictic Hornbill.

In a 2013 paper published in the Journal of Nature Studies, UPLB researchers wrote that Mount Makiling is home to 120 bird species, 50 mammal species, 19 reptile species, and six amphibian species.

Both the dipterocarp forest and palm plantation are located in the upper part of the MBG and are visited by scientists and researchers. 

But beyond learning about the garden’s rich flora and fauna is the comfort of being surrounded by thriving forms of life. 

The tour, though brief, was a rare experience. Being introduced to various plant species, both familiar and unfamiliar, was enough to make one realize their value in the environment. 

The MBG opens its doors to give the public this opportunity of discovery.

“Conserve and protect our forest,” the guide said, concluding our tour.

Isa Jane Acabal, a journalism student of the University of the Philippines’ College of Media and Communication in Diliman, is an intern at CoverStory.ph.

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