Imagine yourself immersed
in a sea of green, where the air is soothing as the morning calm and where birds
sing to their heart’s content. The chirping of the birds welcomes as you walk through
the well-manicured foliage and embrace the open blue sky.
You might think of Baguio
or Tagaytay or even the Eden Park of Davao or the mighty hills of Bukidnon to experience
this kind of thrill. The thing is, you don’t really have to because right at the
outskirts of Tagum City lies a perfect getaway for those who want to commune
with nature.
Located in the rural
barangay of San Agustin, just a mere 15-minute ride from the city proper, is
the Tagum Botanical Park. Solely developed by the City Government of Tagum, the
50-hectare park is brimming with lush greeneries, with tropical trees of
different varieties planted in its hills. The sprawling park has several gazebos
perfect for family picnics and gathering and will soon feature a zipline and
trails for both biking and hiking. The Tagum Botanical Park is good alternative
to the well-known and well-loved Energy Park, another city-developed nature
park in Barangay Apokon.