BAGUIO CITY – Officials and some elected members of the Baguio Country Club (BCC) recently planted eight cherry blossom or sakura trees within strategic portions of its tee box area below its veranda to serve as an added attraction for its guests when they start to blossom.
The planting of the sakura or cherry blossom tree seedlings was part of the activities lined up by the exclusive club in commemoration of the 17th death anniversary of its founder, Atty. Potenciano Ilosorio, which was recently conducted within the club’s property.
The 8 sakura or cherry blossom seedlings was brought to the country by one of BCC’s members, Maria Paz Gonzaga-Suzuki, to help in the introduction of new attractions within the club to entice more guests and members to patronize the club for their various engagements.
BCC customer services department manager Andrew Pinero explained that the newly planted sakura or cherry blossom seedlings actually differ from those commonly seen in Japan and those that were planted in Paoay- Atok, Benguet because the variety that was brought to the club has a wonderful scent aside from serving as an added attraction for members and guests viewing the tee box area from the veranda.
Pinero claimed that the sakura or cherry blossom tree species are expected to blossom in 2 years, thus, club officials expect a surge in the number of guests wanting to view the state of the planted sakura seedlings inside the club’s property.
He expressed confidence that the sakura or cherry blossom trees will blossom so that it will serve as a gauge whether or not the club will look into the possibility of producing seedlings from the existing variety which could be propagated in strategic areas of the club to serve as an added attraction for members and guests frequenting the club for their different engagements.
“We hope that the sakura seedlings will grow and eventually blossom so that we could consider planting additional seedlings in other parts of the club to help in further enhancing the state of the environment within the club’s property,” Pinero stressed.
According to him, the planted sakura or cherry blossom seedlings will serve as an alternative attraction for residents and visitors alike to compliment the sakura or cherry blossom that have been propagated by the Japaense government to the Benguet provincial government that was planted in Paoay, Atok, Benguet which is now reportedly thriving.
If the propagation of the sakura tree seedlings will be successful in the club, Pinero said that there will be bright prospects for the mass propagation of the cherry blossom tree seedlings in other parts of the city to serve as an added attraction for residents and visitors alike that will help boost the robust growth of the local tourism industry.
BCC is the only exclusive club in the city which is supportive of environmental preservation and protection programs being initiated by the concerned government agencies, the local government and the private sector purposely to help in improving the state of the city’s environment which is the source of its natural air-conditioning that serves as its natural pull for people to keep coming back to the city to spend a well deserved break from their busy schedules in the lowlands.
By Dexter A. See
Banner photo: SAKURA TREE PLANTING – Members of the Baguio Country Club plant several sakura or cherry blossom tree seedlings near the tee box of the city’s only exclusive club as part of its effort to improve the scenery within the club’s premises. ROSALIA T. SEE
