A vibrant mix of environmental stewardship, cultural celebration, and community spirit came alive once again as Puerto Princesa City marked the annual Balayong Tree Planting and Nurturing Festival at the iconic Balayong People’s Park. Held on July 26, 2025, this year’s event drew participants from local residents and students to government officials and environmental advocates. 

The Balayong Festival, celebrated annually every last week of July, not only commemorates the planting of the native cherry blossom-like Balayong tree but also reinforces a vital part of the city's commitment to sustainability. What sets this festival apart is its nurturing component: participants revisit the trees they planted in previous years, watering the saplings, and ensuring their healthy growth. 

Puerto Princesa’s Balayong Festival is more than an event — it is a living legacy. In every tree tended, every weed pulled, and every drop of water poured, the city continues to sow seeds not only of shade and flowers, but of shared purpose and enduring hope.