Last 30 September 2025, we marked a historic 2-in-1 milestone for the La Salle Botanical Gardens (LSBG): the very first LSBG, Inc. Board of Trustees Meeting and the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Phase 1 of development.
We are honored to be led by Br. Iñigo Riola FSC as Chairman of the Board and Br. Felipe Belleza Jr. FSC as President, together with our esteemed Trustees and Officers: Mr. Jorge Buenaventura, Atty. Isabel Tolosa-Datu, Mrs. Kirtida Mekani, Mr. Butch Rufino, Mr. Jay Calleja, Mr. Tito Fernandez, Mr. Bong Borja and Br. Bong Servando FSC (Treasurer). We also acknowledge with gratitude our Trustees who could not join us today — Br. JJ Jimenez FSC, Br. Normandy Dujunco FSC, and Dr. Josette Biyo — whose support will continue to guide this vision.
A heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Kirtida Mekani, who graciously accepted her role as Trustee and joined us all the way from Singapore. Mrs. Mekani also serves on the Board of Directors of Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), bringing a valuable global perspective to our mission.
We also extend our deep gratitude to our key partners — DLSU Science Foundation, Inc., Ayala Land, Inc. and Leonio Land Holdings, Inc.— for their steadfast support in bringing the LSBG vision to life.
This groundbreaking is more than the start of land development — it’s the beginning of transformation to a greener future where plant conservation, research, education, and communities grow together at LSBG.
