La Union Centennial Tree is located in Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines.

 

In the municipality of Bacnotan, which is widely popular for its cement deposits and Sea Urchins, there’s a Barangay called Carcarmay, named after a tree that bears a sour-sweet yellowish fruit that grows abundant in the area. It is not however famous because of Carmay but because of an Acacia tree that has become the place’s witness of its growth in the various stages of our history. More than a hundred years old, it still stands majestically at the center of Carcarmay Community School, giving shade to countless graduation rites and various school and community programs. The oldest living thing in the area, this huge tree from the Mimosa family, provide priceless comfort to residents and visitors alike. Its green and cool leaves from its huge and long branches are comfortable and relaxing to the eyes.Like a mother taking good care of its children, the umbrella-like tree seems to engulf the whole school ground and hug grateful seekers of shade and uncompromised rest. Its gigantic trunk is so huge that it takes 8 people, with their arms sideward and holding hands, to determine its size. According to locals, years after World War II, a group of former Japanese soldiers returned in Bacnotan for a personal visit in the area where they were one then stationed as soldiers. The problem is, they could no longer remember the exact place of their former base. Bent on looking for the exact spot to reminisce their memorable friendship with the locals, they thought of an object that could act as marker. Until one day, one of the Japanese remembered of a tall old tree that they used to hang around for much needed sleep. After only a couple of inquiries from the local, the Japanese were able to locate the exact spot of their former refuge and were amazed of the tree’s undying beauty. Some people, especially treasure hunters, even believe that the tree was used as marker and reference of numerous buried gold chests because of its size and location.

 

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