One of my favorite trees in the city is a century-old Acacia outside the Shoe Museum in Marikina City that I frequently pass during bike rides. For decades, this beautiful tree provided a breath fo fresh air and respite for generations. It endured countless storms, including “Ondoy,” which unleashed killer floods in the city in 2009. Unfortunately, the tree got uprooted by a freak tornado in September 2018. Despite this, locals managed to revive and save the tree, and it’s grown back lushly from its fallen trunk. Residents consider this tree a symbol of their own survival and resilience.
This tree is just one of the historic trees under the Heritage Tree Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – NCR. Launched in 2009 to protect the remaining trees in Metro Manila, the program aims to identify, protect, and promote historically significant trees. While prioritizing native or endemic species, it also recognizes rare/threatened and exotic species that have been naturalized over the years.
Despite their immense environmental value, trees are often forgotten and neglected in favor of progress and development. In fact, in many areas, mature trees that have stood for decades and shielded communities from harsh heat are routinely chopped down to make way for infrastructure projects, road widening and expressways.
Trees are living landmarks of history, marking specific events, people, and community identity. In fact, healthy trees that are at least 50 years old and have significant historical, cultural, or aesthetic value can be nominated to the DENR to receive special protection to ensure that they live longer to preserve their historical legacy.
As detailed in the coffee table book Puno ng Kasaysayan: Exploring the Roots of Metro Manila (2023), published by DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the initiative hopes to deepen public understanding of the ecological and environmental significance of trees in fighting pollution and climate change.
As of 2026, there are at least 46 heritage trees in Metro Manila, recognized through the DENR-NCR Heritage Tree Program.
Where are the heritage trees located?
Most heritage trees are located within older institutions, like schools, hospitals, government institutions, churches, and even cemeteries, which have protected them from rapid urban development.
The heritage trees are spread out over different cities, with the majority found in Quezon City (11), followed by Manila (8). Other cities with designated heritage trees include Caloocan, Pasig, Pasay, San Juan, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Makati, Taguig City, Valenzuela City, Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, and Pateros.
The Kamagong Tree or Mabolo Tree inside Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City is said to be the very first heritage tree declared in Metro Manila. Kamagong is prized for its extremely hard wood and is considered a symbol of Filipino strength and endurance.
Further north of the metro, Amparo Nature Park in Caloocan City serves as a “mini forest” containing four preserved heritage trees, including rare mature specimens of Narra, Dita, Tangisang-Bayawak, and Antipolo.
An ancient Balete Tree inside Malacañang Palace in Manila is another tree with an intriguing history. Believed to have been planted in the 19th century, this tree has been a silent witness to Philippine history, spanning colonial regimes to modern administrations. Like other balete trees or strangler figs in the country, this tree was once believed to be haunted and home to a giant kapre named Mr. Brown. Rather than being feared, the tree was given protection under the program.
Walking distance from the trendy bars and cafes in Barangay Poblacion, century-old twin acacia trees can be found framing the Baroque Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church of Makati. Based on archival photos, these naturalized acacia trees were believed to have been planted after the Philippine-American War. These trees, now named Pedro and Pablo after the church, serve as twin guardians of Makati City’s Heritage District.
A century-old acacia tree can also be found inside The Pasig Catholic Cemetery, behind Pasig’s old stone cathedral. The cemetery once served as a camp for American Troops during the war, making the tree a living landmark of local history, and adding to cultural identity of Pasig.
What kind of protection is given to heritage trees?
The DENR works with local government units (LGUs) to mark heritage trees with special plates and protect them from urban development. Trees included in the program reportedly receive special attention and protection from a pool of foresters to ensure that they live longer and preserve their historical legacy.
So if there are trees in your city that you feel might be in danger of being cut for yet another parking lot, high-rise building, or road widening project, think of their history, cultural value and significace. Perhaps they could be protected under the Heritage Tree Program.
What makes a heritage tree?
The DENR Heritage Tree Program relies on nominations to identify potential Heritage Trees. Criteria for consideration include:
• Age: At least 50 years old
• Size: Must have a minimum girth/circumference of 100 cm (1 meter) measured one-half meter above the ground.
• Health: The tree must be free from major pests and diseases
• Species: May be native or endemic, exotic, rare, threatened, or endangered trees
• Value: Has significant historical, cultural, or aesthetic value
Heritage Trees around Metro Manila
● Kamagong, Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City
● Acacia, St. Theresa’s Collage, Quezon City
● Duhat, Kaligayahan Elementary School, Quezon City
● Balete, Malacañang Palace, Manila
● Narra, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center (Children’s Hospital), Quezon City
● Baliteng-baging, Lichauco Heritage House, Sta. Ana, Manila
● Sampaloc, Narra Street, Barangay Amihan, Project 3, Quezon City
● Indian rubber tree, San Francisco High School, Quezon City
● Duhat, Star Woods Manufacturing Inc., Karuhatan, Valenzuela City
● Dita, University of the Philippines Manila
● Botong, Philippine Women’s University, Jose Abad Santos Memorial School, Quezon City
● Acacia, Philippine School for the Deaf, Pasay City
● Acacia, Tomas Earnshaw Elementary School, Sta. Ana, Manila
● Betis, Narra and Ipil, Manila North Cemetery, Sta. Cruz, Manila
● Dita, Batasan Hills, Quezon City
● Kamagong, House of Representatives, Quezon City
● Acacia, Santuario del Sto. Cristo Parish, San Juan
● Acacia, Shoe Museum, Marikina City
● Acacia, Our Lady of Abandoned Parish Cemetery, Marikina City
● Mango Tree, Alabang Elementary School, Muntinlupa City
● Acacia, Tata Dune Catholic Church, Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City
● Narra, Tangisang Bayawak, Dita and Antipolo, Amparo Nature Park, Caloocan City
● Mango Tree, San Roque Parish Church, Pateros
● Acacia, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (DJNRMHS), Caloocan City
● Acacia, Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church, Barangay Pobalcion, Makati City
● Balete and Acacia, National Center for Mental Health, Mandaluyong City
● Twin Acacia Trees, Rizal High School, Pasig
● Acacia, Pasig Catholic Cemetery
● Balete, Maybunga Rainforest Park, Pasig
● Botong, Barangay 13, Pasay City
● Balete, PUP Oval, Sta. Mesa, Manila
● Duhat, Metro Manila College, Quezon City
● Acacia, Don Antonio Heights, Quezon City
● Dita, Kalayaan C, Batasan Hills, Quezon City
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