Philippine Cherry blossom, So Like ;)

And you think you are seeing the Japan's famous cherry blossom? Nope! You're wrong.

The picture above is the Palawan's cherry ;)
Taray 'di ba? Bonggacious ang Palawan.....!

I've read it when I log out my yahoo mail and taddaaaaa!!! (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/places-to-watch-cherry-blossoms--103421881.html)

"Palawan, Philippines
Although the Palawan cherry is not a close relative of the cherry blossom, it resembles the latter greatly with its light pink flower petals. Called Balayong by the locals, the popular flowering trees are widespread in the city and can be seen in parks and gardens. They can also be spotted at the edge of forests. Their festival occurs between March and April."

It looks like it's the sakura, I am super liking it....
I really dream of visiting Japan to take a good photo of it and know how it feels like sitting under the Cherry Blossoms...
Nanamnamin ko ng bonggang-bongga!

And what is this tree really is?

I've read http://www.pcsd.ph/photo_gallery/flora/palawancherry.htm:

 " Palawan cherry is a small to medium-sized tree,15m or taller and 50 cm in diameter. The leaves are pinnate, 40 cm long while the leaflets are ovate, with acute tip, 7 cm long and 3.5 cm wide, green in color and smooth on both surfaces. Flowering branches are usually drooping, 30 cm long. The flowers are in loose panicles. Light pink, 5 cm across. The fruit is cylindrical,hard, smooth, 30 cm long, and black when mature while the seeds are ovate, smooth and black when mature."

And Palawan is celebrating the founding of this lovely tree:

http://www.visitpuertoprincesa.com/index.php?Itemid=&did=20&func=details&option=com_eventlist
"The Balayong Festival
The festival commemorates the founding anniversary of the City of Puerto Princesa highlighted by balayong tree-planting, street dancing and colorful floral parade depicting the Palawan Cherry Blossoms from which the festival derived its name."

Wanted to know the history of this event?
Because I'm super excited to know, my fingers are busy typing the Balayong in Palawan:

http://www.puertoprincesa.ph/tourism/march-4-%E2%80%94-balayong-festival

"The term is the local Cuyuno name for Palawan Cherry, a small-medium sized tree that is the symbol of feminine dominance, female beauty, and love in the language of herbs
Through the concept of First Lady Ellen M. Hagedorn, she has put back the Balayong tree in the limelight to further improve the image of the City.  She imagines that one day it will be a niche of the woody plant’s stunning blooms during the months of February and March."
"Because of the victory of the first fete, the City Council of Puerto Princesa unanimously passed Ordinance No. 288 on October 28, 2005, declaring the 4th day of March as Balayong Festival. This is in celebration of the founding anniversary of the City of Puerto Princesa.
On March 4, 1872, Spanish colonizers scanned the province’s shorelines to look for a place where a capital could be established, they came upon a hill and discovered out an extensive plateau that was ideal for a settlement.  A portion of that hill was where the first mass in Puerto Princesa was held and where the Eualia Park now stands.  This year, the 6th Balayong Festival commemorates the 139th year when Spaniards first set foot in the city.

The town was converted into a city on January 1, 1970 under Republic Act 5906 as amended by Presidential Decree No. 437.  On February 23, 1994, Republic Act 7684 was approved declaring March 4 as a special non-working holiday in the city.  The day is celebrated with the popular participation of the residents, meaningfully eliciting community support towards development goals and cultural progress."
I'm sorry for the copy and pasting, but... it's the fastest way to share about it because... (in whispering manner) I'm at the office and the boss might see me not doing my weekly report...Shhhhh.....

God is so kind, right?

Mark this, next year I will personally witness the blossoming of this tree.

So freaking excited........