he garden of the City of Davao is now a permanent attraction in Nanning, China. Mayor Sara Duterte graces the 12th China International Garden in Nanning with People’s Republic of China Consul General Li Lin, officials from the Davao City, and Kalumon Performing Ensemble. Photo courtesy of City Government of Davao
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/ 21 December) – A 1,500-square meter garden in Nanning, China sporting the cultures of Davao City’s indigenous tribes has become a permanent attraction there along with other gardens of countries in Southeast Asia and Europe.
Davao City Investment Promotions Center head Lemuel G. Ortonio said in an interview on Thursday that the city’s “garden” inspired by the local cultures of Davao and the iconic Mt. Apo was developed for the biennial 12th China International Garden in Nanning recently.
Mayor Sara Duterte graced the expo last December 6.
Ortonio said the garden, adorned with two structures designed after houses of the Matigsalug and Tausug and water fountain inspired by Mt. Apo, was sponsored and maintained by the Ministry of Housing and Rural Development of Nanning.
However, the investment chief said the flowers, mostly red and yellow with a few purple ones, were sourced locally in China due to the strict quarantine measure that prevented them from bringing the indigenous plants from Davao.
He said the designers and architects commissioned by Nanning came from Manila and Cebu but added they were consulted on the designs, including the colors, patterns, and other elements that are associated with Davao.
Ortonio said Davao was selected among other cities in the Philippines to be featured in the garden expo because it has been a sister city of Nanning since 2007 when President Rodrigo R. Duterte was still mayor.
The “very colorful” garden of the city government of Davao was one of the most visited and the liveliest, the investment chief boasted, what with the cultural performances offered by the homegrown Kalumon Performing Ensemble.
Other sister cities of Nanning were also featured. All 10 ASEAN member states as well as Italy, France, and United Kingdom, among other European countries, were also featured.
He said the cooperation that Mayor Duterte firmed up with Nanning was mostly on exchange of cultural and government best practices. The city was also gifted with two brand new Sunlong buses. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
