PMSEA Garden, A Garden Within a Garden or Could it be a Park Within...

Hello, everyone and welcome to barriotic2020tv! But before we start, please allow me to ask this question: Have you ever been to a garden... within a garden? I asked you that question because that's exactly what I featured on my vlog for this week's Wednesday Walk.

This beautiful and tranquil forest park or shall I say eco-park isn't just a random part of the park. It's a project developed and being overseen by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, or PMSEA and this organization is composed of various mining companies that is not only concerned with safety on mining operations but also prioritize in protecting the environment as well as in rehabilitating mined-out areas.
The PMSEA garden is a concrete and sound example of that commitment, right here in the heart of Baguio City. Come on and let's take a look!

At the entrance of the garden, the visitors will be greeted by two signages associated with the organization. First is the PMSEA official seal of which tells a story with the mountains, a pine tree, and the tools that represents their strong dual commitment to mining as well as in environmental protection which signifies a powerful of their mission. Second is a signage that says "Pusong Minero" or Miner's Heart in English language. This is about the organization's deep care and commitment, not just for the industry but for the community and the environment as we can see a figure of a heart formed by a hands wearing safety gloves and a hard hat with a flashing light on it which symbolizes how their work is done with safety, passion, and care.

After passing to the area where the signages are found, a fern-covered arch will lead you to a flagstone walkway, and a concrete stair can be seen. At this point, one can immediately notice that some of the plants have tags to indicate their species or their scientific, common, and/or local names. These plants are composed of 50 percent native species, 40 percent are endemic, while the remaining 10 percent are plants that were outsourced from other Southeast Asian countries.

A very striking pink flower caught my eye near the bridge over a free-flowing spring, and when I searched its name via Google Lens, I learned that the flower is from an orchid known as Medinilla magnifica, or popularly known as the Philippine orchid, and is known as kapa-kapa by its local name.

As I continued with my walk, I noticed the lush greenery all around me. The garden was home to numerous species of ferns, from the short ones that carpeted the ground to magnificent giant ferns that stood taller than a person. In fact, it was sometimes hard to tell the difference between a fern and a palm tree in here! But that's part of the fun of exploring this peaceful sanctuary. It was truly a showcase of diverse plant life.And here was the one that took center stage, and this was none other than the Baguio pine, or as it can also be called, the Benguet pine. Its scientific name is Pinus kesiya, and as the name suggests, they're native to Baguio City or the Benguet province. The sight and scent of these pines are a signature part of the Baguio experience.

At the end of the video, a replica of a nipa hut can be seen which reminds me of our house from the lowlands and this is where I will end my vlog for this week's Wednesday Walk by @tattoodjay. Thanks for your time!