Sakura Blossoms in Baguio After Seven Years

Joanna Garingarao
1 hour ago
2 min read

Baguio City, the country’s Summer Capital, welcomed a rare sight this January 2026: the first Sakura blossoms at Baguio Country Club (BCC). After seven years of careful cultivation, one of the cherry trees donated to the club finally flowered, marking a milestone for both the institution and the city.

The trees were gifts from Japanese nationals Shinji Okomora and Shingeru Tsunashima, together with BCC member Paz Suzuki, planted in June 2018 and May 2019. Since then, the club’s gardeners have tended them patiently, aware that Sakura are known to take years before producing their iconic blooms.

On January 24, BCC shared photos of the blossoms, noting that the cool climate of Baguio provided conditions similar to those in Japan. According to the Philippine Information Agency, temperatures in the city from January 1 to 21 ranged from 13.2°C to 15.8°C in the early mornings and 20°C to 24.2°C in the afternoons—ideal for cherry trees to thrive.

The club described the bloom as a “testament to patience, nature, and time.” While fleeting, the blossoms carry symbolic weight. In Japan, Sakura are celebrated for their beauty and brevity, often seen as reminders of life’s transience. For Baguio, the event is both cultural and environmental, highlighting the city’s unique climate and its ability to host flora not commonly found elsewhere in the Philippines.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the bloom represents a bridge between cultures. The donation of the trees was an act of friendship, and their flowering years later underscores the enduring ties between Japan and the Philippines. Visitors to the club now have the chance to witness a sight rarely seen in the country, adding another layer to Baguio’s reputation as a destination for both natural beauty and cultural experiences.

Though only one tree has bloomed so far, the event has sparked excitement and curiosity about whether more blossoms will follow in the coming years. For now, the Sakura at Baguio Country Club stand as a quiet reminder that some rewards take time—and when they arrive, they enrich not just the landscape but the story of the community that nurtured them.