A Tree Planted at the Beginning of a New Chapter
BACOLOD - The Tindalo Tree was planted on October 19, 1938, during the commemoration of Bacolod's official inauguration as a chartered city. The planting brought together President Manuel L. Quezon and Bacolod's first mayor, Alfredo Montelibano Sr., making the tree part of an important moment in the city's history. Decades later, the tree remains connected to that chapter, giving today's residents something physical to look at while imagining what Bacolod was like generations ago. Its presence in the Public Plaza makes the city's history feel closer and more tangible.
A Marker Helps Keep the Story Alive
A new marker adds another way for residents and visitors to understand why the tree matters. Historical landmarks can easily become ordinary parts of the scenery when people no longer know the stories behind them. By identifying the Tindalo Tree and remembering its connection to Bacolod's beginnings, the community can help ensure that its significance is not forgotten. The preservation effort involved civic organizations, the provincial government, the Negros Occidental Historical Council, and other individuals committed to protecting local heritage. Together, these efforts show how historical preservation can become a shared responsibility.
The Past Still Has a Place in the Modern City
Bacolod continues to grow, but its identity is also shaped by the places that have survived that growth. The Tindalo Tree offers a simple reminder that history does not always live inside museums or old buildings. Sometimes, it can stand quietly in a public plaza where families gather, visitors pass by, and new generations grow up. Protecting the tree and the story attached to it gives future Bacolodnons an opportunity to understand where their city came from and why its heritage matters. Long after today's celebrations are over, the Tindalo Tree can continue doing what it has done for generations—standing as a living memory of Bacolod.
