MANILA – Can’t go to Japan for sakura viewing? Dasmariñas, Cavite has the next best thing.

For years, visitors and staff of De La Salle University Medical Center have been enjoying the sight of what looks a lot like pink cherry blossoms.

The sakura-like flowers are actually called balayong and are native to Palawan.

Several photos of the balayong have been circulating online, with many wanting to check out the country’s so-called cherry blossoms.

• In this part of Japan, cherry blossoms appear twice a year

Here are some of them:

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