One Pinus insularis or Benguet Pine that was declared dead by the environment department last year was carved into a 50-foot tall “Mother Earth” monument. This 200 year old tree is now a famous artwork that symbolizes the life and protection of the city’s remaining pine forests.

One of the top tourist spots in Baguio City, Philippines, is Mines View Park. Visitors would need to pass through Barangay Pucsusan. Just before entering Mines view is this beautiful giant sculpture which was blessed by a ‘Mansip-ok or mambunong’ - a chosen spiritual leader or native priest who is well versed in the local area’s belief system.

This impressive and intricate sculpture shows an image of ‘Iddaya’, a generous Ifugao woman from traditional wisdom who is said to be a perfect representation of Mother Earth because of her beauty and kindness; Iddaya’s son – a figure of a small boy standing on a branch with outstretched arms; a lizard carved near the hip of Iddaya – a symbol of fertility; a ‘bul-ul’ – a wooden figure on the treetop that is believed to be the protector of the Ifugao rice granaries; a face of a hunter, two dogs, a rooster and other details.

Talented Cordillera woodcarvers unveiled this ceremonious tree on January 23, 2012 after working on it for 11 days.