Baguio's Botanical Garden gets new name

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – In celebration of this city’s centennial on September, the Botanical Garden will be having a facelift. Baguio Centennial Commission chairman Virgilio Bautista said the former Imelda Park located on Leonard Wood Road, will be renamed to Centennial Park in time for the city’s celebration of its centenary on September 1. A P13-million budget has been allotted for its rehabilitation intended to highlight the 100 year history of the city. "It will not just be the 100 years of the city but also before that," Bautista said. Bautista said a diorama will be set up with portions of the park tracing its history from the pre-American era, the old Baguio and its residents, the coming of the Americans, the Japanese war and the rebuilding after the second world war and the post-earthquake that saw Baguio rise from the destruction. He said that talks with Baguio's sister cities have been made and that each sister city will host a certain period. The Japanese cities will have the 1940s, while the other cities like Taebek, Korea, for instance, will have a portion as the Koreans have made their presence felt in the city. Local architectural students will also in the design, with a sculpture made by Ben Hur Villanueva adorning the entrance of the 16-hectare park. The park traces its history as the Botanical Park, becoming Imelda Park during the Marcos era and finally reverting back to its original Botanical Park today. - Maria Elena Catajan, GMANews.TV