BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The City Government of Baguio and San Antonio, Texas in the United States of America have strengthened their sisterhood ties with the inauguration of a tribute garden at the Baguio Botanical Garden on Feb. 22, 2025.
The San Antonio, Texas Garden showcases plants that are similar to what this US city has. It also features a Texas Cowboy Boots installation which represent many elements of its culture.
“We finished up now stage one of our garden project, and you can now explore examples of the species, colors, and textures of plants that are similar to what we have in our own city and region,” San Antonio City Mayor Ronald Nirenberg said.
He expressed gratitude to the city of Baguio for the unwavering efforts in making this project which signifies the blooming connection between the two cities, a success.
“We see what you’re doing here with arts and green spaces but the opportunity now in creating a bridge between our two cities officially that Mayor Benjie and I have done is to really encourage and facilitate new partnerships and economic partnerships as well,” Nirenberg expressed. He noted that the two cities are already engaged in cultural and artistic exchanges.
Homer Garcia III, Director of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Office, shared that the installation is inspired by boots, which is a really good representation of many elements of their culture.
“These boots are in a high-profile area in San Antonio, less than a quarter mile from the airport. We have a big shopping mall, and these boots can be seen from miles away. People drive by them all the time, every day. So, we wanted to do something that people would remember of San Antonio. When you ask them, they’ll talk about the River Walk, they’ll talk about the Alamo, and they’ll talk about the boots, and so this is very iconic,” he shared.
The San Antonio Garden was sponsored by the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Office in partnership with the Communities Aligning Baguio and San Antonio, Texas (CABSAT).
CABSAT president Melinda Rodriguez described the occasion as momentous, a milestone, and an enduring bond between two beautiful cities brought to life through the spirit of friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect.
The group plans to do an overall transformation of the entire garden with many other San Antonio elements. (JDP/DEG/Jairus Gabriel Cardinoza-PIA CAR-SLU Intern)
