Balayong Trees

Balayong trees are flowering trees known for their soft pink blossoms, often compared to cherry blossoms. In the When the Sky Turns Pink universe, the Balayong tree appears repeatedly as a quiet symbol of memory, friendship, and generational continuity.

Within the history of the families connected to the Young dynasty, Balayong trees are associated with places where relationships were formed and legacies quietly shaped.

One of the most significant locations connected to the Balayong trees is the Espaldon Manor in Siargao. Surrounding the estate is a carefully planted forest of Balayong trees that acts as a natural enclosure for the property. During the blooming season, the blossoms cover the grounds in soft pink petals, transforming the estate into one of the most recognizable landscapes within the family’s history. The Balayong forest around Espaldon Manor became closely associated with the private life of the Espaldon and Young families.

Balayong trees also appear in Metro Manila at the Forbes Park mansion located at 34H Tamarind Road. The trees in the garden were planted by Cherrie Espaldon-Olañeta Young and her closest friend, Kristina Medina, grandmother of Alex Gil Medina. Their shared decision to plant the trees created a garden that would later become part of the childhood memories of their granddaughters.

Because of this shared garden, the grandchildren of both families grew up surrounded by the same blooming trees, a quiet symbol of the long friendship between the two women.

The Balayong tree later reappears within the creative work of Alex Gil Medina. In her children’s book, The Garden with No Walls, the image of a garden filled with blossoming trees echoes the spaces where she once played as a child.

Through these connections, the Balayong tree becomes more than a decorative element in the landscape. Within the universe of When the Sky Turns Pink, it represents continuity across generations, linking estates, friendships, and childhood memories across different places and eras.