Malacañang’s ‘haunted’ balete declared a heritage tree

MANILA, Philippines—An ancient balete in front of Malacañang Palace has been declared a Heritage Tree by President Benigno Aquino III on Monday.

The President made the declaration in a speech delivered during the launching of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and International Year of Forests in Southeast Asia at the Palace.

Mr. Aquino also signed a proclamation declaring 2011-2020 as the National Decade on Biodiversity in the Philippines, in support of the United Nations.

“In making it a Heritage Tree, it will constantly remind us of our obligations, both as citizens of this country and as stewards of this planet,” Aquino said.

He later led officials in unveiling the marker for the more than 100 year-old-tree, said to be haunted by a “kapre,” known to Palace staff and former occupants as Mr. Brown. (A kapre is a tree-dwelling creature of Philippine folklore often depicted as a tall, brown, hairy man smoking a huge cigar.)

Balete is the most common name given to strangler figs in the country.

To be declared as a heritage tree, it has to be a healthy native or endemic, exotic, rare, threatened and endangered with a minimum girth of 100 cm. Also to be considered is its aesthetic, historical, cultural, social and educational significance, according to a paper prepared by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Under the DENR Heritage Tree program, the tree will be provided with a marker and the area of at least five meters from the edge of the tree crown will be considered as the tree protection zone.

Speaking to reporters after he unveiled the marker for the balete, Aquino said he has no fears about the tree which he said he passes “even at night.”

“I’ve heard so many stories (about Mr. Brown) but I have yet to experience the same,” Aquino added.