Springtime in Summer: Chasing Pink Blossoms of Trumpet Trees in Bukidnon
I don’t know about you, but I personally find the Spring season the most beautiful time of the year to see cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom is a famous symbol of the arrival of Spring in Northeast Asia such as South Korea, Taiwan, mainland China and Japan (also called Sakura, its National flower).
Chasing cherry blossoms is one of the top activities that both local and tourist anticipate during Springtime. Well, who wouldn’t be amazed with the lovely spectacles brought about by its vibrant pale pink and white flowers? Although not all pink flowers are cherry blossoms, they are nevertheless pretty and worth viewing wherever they are located. Let’s take for example the pink blossoms of Trumpet Trees in Bukidnon.
I just got back in Cebu from my Shanghai trip where I had the opportunity to attend to the Annual Shanghai Sakura Festival, the reason the visual sight of blooming cherry bloosoms is still fresh to me. Upon traversing to Dahilayan, Bukidnon the day after Shanghai, I noticed that the sidewalks are decorated with a plethora of pink ornamental trees. And I immediately thought – Cherry Blossoms!
Well, as the saying goes, to clearly see is to believe. I was very determined to take a closer look, so my travel buddy tagged along with me, got out from the van and enthusiastically raced to the area. It was breathtaking. To claim that it is instagrammable is an understatement. I took some photos and realized they were not cherry blossoms, rather pink trumpet trees that similarly resembles sakura trees. For validation purposes, a friend of mine who is also a local of Bukidnon likewise confirmed that these trees are indeed Tabebuia Trees.
Also known as Pau D’arcu (scientific name: Tabebuia heterophylla), Trumpet Tree is a moderate grower from 25 to 30 feet, with a smooth gray trunk and originated from West Indies and Central America. It is adaptable to any soil condition and prefers the sunny location or warmer temperature just like the Philippines.
I also learned that during summer (mid March to early May), the bell-shaped pink blossoms of Tabebuia Trees lining along the highway of Bukidnon burst into color in a beautiful display of floral fireworks. Although this is my first time to actually see it in flesh, I couldn’t deny the fact that I was totally astonished.
These flowers are known to be a “springtime in summer” spectacle with an inch to 4 inches wide blooms that hang in clusters. In case you are still wondering where the name trumpet tree originated, it obviously comes from these blooms, which are tubular and lightly frilled at the top with multiple stamens.
Although the Philippines is a tropical country, this magical phenomenon clearly demonstrates that the showy tabebuia trees of Dahilayan announce springtime in Bukidnon, with heavy spring blooms in light pink, rosy pink, lavender-pink. As you can also observe, all are deciduous – lose its leaves as the flowers come out.
These outstanding trees serve a purpose of adding a pop of color and beauty to the already unique mountainscapes of Bukidnon, thus giving a spectacular sight for passersby to behold en route Dahilayan. Not overly large, a tabebuia strategically planted along the roadside can also create welcome summertime shade in these outdoor areas, increasing positive vibes to the tourists and locals alike.
What are you waiting for? Fancy spending a moment amid an astonishing backdrop of towering pink blossoms in this newly discovered floral attraction. Take a side trip to Bukidnon from CDO and relish the beauty of spring blossoms this summer as Pink Trumpet Trees bloom anew, awaiting to stage your selfies.
And did I mention that viewing this pink blossoms is totally free?
How to Get to Bukidnon
Being a landlocked province, Bukidnon is only accessible via land and air.
BY AIR. Bukidnon’s nearest commercial airstrip is located in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental in which Cagayan de Oro is the capital city. It can be reached via air through various major local airlines such as Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines as major cities (Manila, Clark, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao) have routes going to Laguindingan Airport. From the airport, take a van going to CDO downtown that will pass by Agora Market Terminal (Php 199).
BY LAND. The fastest way to get to Bukidnon is via van or private car. I don’t recommend riding a bus if you’re time constraint as it will rest on various bus stops or when passengers would like to get off. From Cagayan de Oro, take a van from Agora Market Terminal going to Dahilayan, Bukidnon for Php 60.00. Travel time will take about forty-minutes to one hour depending on the traffic. Tell the driver to drop you off at Camp Philips in the town of Manolo Fortich. You’ll pass by scenic rows of Pink Trumpet Trees in the sideways alongside wide pineapple plantation.
Responsible Tourism
No matter how beautiful the place is, if the people visiting it are irresponsible or without regards to the property being visited, then its tourism activities cannot be sustained. This is to remind every tourist when visiting a tourist spot to respect the place and consume tour activities in a more responsible way so that a healthy relationship will be created by making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.
Sustainability principles defined “Responsible Tourism” as a practice of doing business by attracting, accommodating, and entertaining people who travel which aims to minimize negative social, economic and environmental impacts, generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the well-being of host communities. In other words, it encourages respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local consensus and confidence for a sustainable future.
Wherever you go, may you be guided by the “Leave No Trace” Principle, to wit: “Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.” Mother Earth’s natural creation or man-made attractions are not ours to destroy so better respect and preserve the place and exercise responsible tourism.
