Negros Occidental (CNN Philippines, April 6) — Famous for its “Bailes de Luces” or festival of lights, La Castellana in Negros Occidental has a new attraction — its cherry blossoms.
The town is getting a lot of buzz after photos of the lush pink blossoms recently went viral.
Despite the incoming summer heat, the abundant flowers have flourished at the foot of the Kanlaon Volcano in Barangay Biak-na-bato, La Castellana.
Read: Native cherry blossoms to flourish in Puerto Princesa park
The trees have not yet been officially identified, but are said to be Palawan cherry blossoms, a local variety of flora that resembles the famous ones in Japan.
While they carry the same name as Japan’s trademark flower, they belong to a different plant family.
La Castellana’s Mayor, Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan, has already asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to study the trees and how to propagate them.
Read: First sakura park in the country to bloom in Benguet
The local government is also looking into the possibility of turning the site into another tourist attraction.
The photos first went viral when Facebook user Alain Borja uploaded them.
Borja spotted the cherry blossom on the highway of La Castellana, going to Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
No notices have been issued if tourists can go to the area where the cherry blossoms grow.
