In observance of Independence Day, Ayala Land Thursday launched the country’s first “living flag,” a 150-square-meter visual display situated at the heart of the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City comprising of some 4,000 flowering plants.

“This is our tribute to the Filipino for Independence Day,” said Antonio Aquino, president of Ayala Land. “This is also our way of preserving the pre-eminence of Makati.”

The Ayala Triangle Gardens has been open to the public since 2009, and the “living flag” is its newest addition. Blooms of red, blue, and yellow will please the public’s discerning eye and keep the nationalistic pride aflutter. However, at first glance the flowers might appear just that: Mere flowers on display, but a view from the top will certainly shows these colorful flowers in the shape of the Philippine flag.

To make the display more educational, Ayala Land has also put up installations offering historical facts and interesting information about the Philippine flag.

Aside from the floral flag, Ayala Land also launched the first underpass art galleries at the Makati Central Business District.

With the themes, “Looking for Juan” at the Legazpi Underpass and “Everyday Filipino Heroes” at the Sedeno Underpass, pedestrians can now get their fill of art while walking towards work.

Ayala Land, together with Alveo and Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS) and Makati Commercial Estate Association will fill underpass walls with select artworks from CANVAS’ previous exhibitions in the Cultural Center of the Philippines and UP Vargas Museum.

Featured artworks include those from the masters, with the likes of Bencab, Elmer Borlongan, Sajid Imao, Plet Bolipata, among others. These artists explored the true identity of the Filipinos, and gave new meaning to nationalism with their brush strokes.

This project also goes hand in hand with education and sustainability, as CANVAS will be donating published children’s books to Makati public schools, and tarpaulins used for the exhibit will be transformed into art tote bags.