20/07/2026
A Story of the TIGA TREE
The Philippine Ironwood
These ancient wooden columns of the restaurant at Sanctuary Garden Resort are the preserved remains of the Tiga or Mangcono tree (Xanthostemon verdugonianus), a member of the Myrtaceae family.
Known as the Philippine Ironwood, it is celebrated for its exceptional density, hardness, and natural resistance to decay.
Discovered beneath the bed of the Pawala River in Sibuyan Island during a de-silting operation in 2009, these logs are believed to have been swept down from the forests of Mt. Guiting-Guiting by powerful floods more than 200 years ago. Buried beneath layers of mud and stone, they remained remarkably preserved until their rediscovery.
For centuries, Tiga timber has been prized for constructing the pillars and beams of Spanish-era churches and ancestral houses, and post war wooden bridges many of which still stand today as enduring testaments to its extraordinary strength.
Today, Sibuyan Island remains one of the few places where these magnificent Ironwood trees continue to thrive naturally on the slopes of Mt. Guiting-Guiting, a living symbol of the island's rich natural heritage.
With gratitude to the Protected Area Office (PAO) – Mt. Guiting-Guiting Natural Park.
Ethan Hernandez thank you for taking notice!
