A balete tree called "Millennium Tree" in Barangay Quirino, Maria Aurora, Aurora province is claimed to be the largest of its kind in Asia. It is estimated to be about more than 600 years old and 60 metres (200 ft) tall with its roots about 10 metres (33 ft) to 15 metres (49 ft) in diameter.

Balete, officially the Municipality of Balete (Tagalog: Bayan ng Balete), is a municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 24,055 people. [3] The people from Balete is called Baleteños. Balete is well known for its location on Taal Lake, providing a panoramic view of the Taal Volcano.

Feb 18, 2025 · At present, the Century-Old Balete Tree on Siquijor Island is a popular destination for tourists. Its impressive age and enchanting ambiance draw numerous visitors. The Balete tree is more than just a natural wonder–it is a site of reflection and a sacred space shared by generations of Filipinos.

Sep 23, 2022 · The Balete tree, located in the Barangay Campalanas area of the town of Lazi in the Siquijor province of the Philippines, is a truly extraordinary natural wonder. Not only is it believed to be the oldest and largest of its kind in the entire province, but it also possesses a highly unusual characteristic in the form of a spring that originates ...

Oct 31, 2022 · The Balete tree’s eeriness has made it such an object of fear that it has become the “least endangered” tree, says an ecology professor.

May 10, 2024 · The balete tree is a big part of Filipino pop culture and media. It’s often seen as a home of the supernatural and mystical. For example, Balete Drive in New Manila, Quezon City, got its name from a huge balete tree in the middle of the road.

Balete is a strangling, smooth plant, assuming a tree form and reaching a height of 15 meters or more. Branches are drooping. Leaves are leathery, oblong-ovate, 6 to 9 centimeters long, with prominent and rather slender point, rounded base, entire margins, smooth green and shining; the nerves slender and spreading, not prominent.

The Balete tree, known scientifically as Ficus balete, holds a significant place in Philippine mythology and folklore. This majestic tree, often found towering in rural landscapes, is deeply intertwined with supernatural beliefs, legends, and spiritual practices. Considered both mystical and eerie, the Balete tree is regarded as a dwelling ...

Jan 6, 2013 · The balete or banyan tree is believed to be the abode of the ogre (Filipino kapre) that guards the tree and causes harm to those who attempt to cut it. They attribute these afflictions to supernatural beings because they happen to pass by or approach a Balete tree.

Jun 5, 2019 · The Balete tree is infamous in Philippine folklore for being the dwelling place of engkantos or supernatural creatures and nature spirits such as dwendes (dwarves), kapres (tree demons), diwatas (fairies) and tikbalangs (demon horses). If you grew up in the Philippines, you’ve probably been told by superstitious folk not to go anywhere near ...