ORMOC CITY — Bringing vibrant color and natural beauty to the heart of the city, the Ormoc Garden Show officially opened beside the Mini Forest at the Ormoc City Plaza on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The event forms a major feature of the month-long festivities leading up to Ormoc’s 79th City Charter Day on October 20, showcasing an extensive selection of ornamental plants, rare floral collections, and landscaping arrangements curated by local growers.
Mayor Lucy Highlights Joy Of Nurturing Living Plants
City officials led by City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez attended the ceremonial launch alongside Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr., Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Kia Mercadal, and officers and members of the Ormoc Garden Club.
In her keynote address, Mayor Lucy reflected on the therapeutic value of plant care, admitting that while her husband, Congressman Richard Gomez, is the primary gardener in their home, she finds profound comfort in surrounded greenery:
"Plants remind us of the joy and responsibility of caring for something that grows," Mayor Lucy shared. "While I may not have the same green thumb as my husband Richard, who truly enjoys planting, I find a joy in caring for plants that words cannot fully express. I will always choose living plants over artificial ones because there is genuine beauty in having something that needs to be nurtured."
Supporting The Sts. Peter And Paul Parish Dome Restoration
Beyond promoting horticulture, urban gardening, and eco-tourism across Western Leyte, the Ormoc Garden Show carries a charitable mission.
Proceeds generated from exhibit booth fees, plant auctions, and landscape sales throughout the event will directly fund the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Dome Project, contributing to the ongoing structural preservation of the historic city cathedral.
The garden show remains open to the public daily at the Ormoc City Plaza, offering Ormocanons and visiting tourists a tranquil space to shop for greenery, consult with master gardeners, and support local parish restoration efforts.
