Anyone who grew up in Baguio will remember the ride up either Kennon or Naguilian Road from the lowlands. From the tropics up the mountain we would go, passing waterfalls and hair pin turns. And then, suddenly the terrain would change and that first freshness of pine scented air would fill the lungs. The temperature would be twenty degrees less than the steamy base of the mountains.
Up in Baguio, things were different. If you were so lucky to be a Baguio native, you had a rarified tropical childhood. Baguio is in a geographical area called a cloud forest. Sunsets were magical. Fog would be tinted green, pink, lavender.
As a teenager, my Baguio was safe. I could walk from my home, in front of the main gate of Camp John Hay, past Quezon Elementary School, past the grand Pines Hotel to the top of Session Road. I’d walk past the Post Office, the cathedral stairs, down the street with friends to go to the movies. Afterwards we’d have a snack at Tesoro’s Bakery and continue our walk. We’d pop into the Indian bazaars, Pohumull’s, Bheromull’s, Bombay, our friend Richie Cardenas’ gift shop and look at the latest sweaters and purses and all the little things that sweetened an afternoon with friends. On the way back up we’d pass Ompong Tan’s family hardware store.
We would walk up Session Road in the fog, arms linked, and go into CID Educational Supply to see the latest books, and on up to D & S Fine Foods, to get something to bring home. The second floor of D & S was a stationery heaven, full of diaries and papers and pretty pens and folders.
Across the street was the Old Pagoda, Madame Chang’s gift shop where if she liked you she might read your palm and tell you things you knew about yourself but perhaps needed to hear from her wise face. Her shop had jade and dishes and curious carvings and her stories. Madame Chang would transport you via storytelling to pre-communist China and the Hague, where her daughter was in graduate school.
At the top of Session Road, you could stop for either ice cream at Magnolia’s – choosing the Flavor of the Month, or on special occasions go into Mario’s – still a wonderful restaurant run by the Benitez family.
When I was a child, Baguio was all I wanted and all I needed. I never knew we would lose our house, that an earthquake would flatten it, that Camp John Hay would close, or that pell mell urbanization would turn it into something that looked like the favelas of Rio de Janeiro than the tidy American city it was built to be.
This is only my own personal small routine on a weekend in Baguio. There are many other stores and places to visit, bakeries, a comic book store, the Baguio Market, Tiongsan Bazaar, Session Cafe – so many places that were owned by people we knew.
At six in the evening, the cathedral bells would ring the Angelus. Everyone would stop for a moment, while the bells were ringing. Then, we would turn to each other and say, “Good Evening.” and carry on.
The sunsets, oh! The sunsets! The clouds would be blowing around us, tinged with gold and green and purple and pink. The sky would be like a kaleidescope. This light show would darken to a Maxfield Parrish blue.
Sunny days in Baguio were bright and crisp. The branches would catch the sun. On walks in the forest we would come upon flowers and mushrooms peeking through the canopy of pine needles. Nature was everywhere, and unlike the hot provinces, nature was relatively safe to walk in. There weren’t dangerous snakes or wild beasts to contend with.
People from Baguio knew each other. Many of my childhood friends growing up were classmates of my mother, their grandparents knew my grandparents. They had survived World War II together. We were FROM Baguio. Little did we know that the winds of change would blow us all over the world.
Through Facebook, I’ve found out that Shoe Mart, the humongous chain that dominates the Google Earth map of Baguio (bigger than the cathedral’s footprint), is planning to cut down the pine trees facing Governor Pack Road. (Go to Google Earth and put in Baguio, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines, and search for SM Baguio). The plan, according to news and Facebook group posts, is to put up a parking lot.
In Baguio, pine trees should be protected.
What has happened to Baguio is a horrible ecological tragedy.
There are valiant people who are actively trying to make Baguio the beautiful place it was meant to be. There are thousands and thousands of us abroad who love Baguio and want to do something.
At this time, we can sign this petition, and pray that the pine trees keep standing. Join ecological expert and Baguio native, Dr. Michael Bengwayan in this important civil action. Here’s the petition link. Please sign and forward. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-cutting-uprooting-of-trees-at-sm-baguio.html
This is all in the wake of the horrible deforestation tragedy in Cagayan de Oro that took hundreds of lives in a flash flood. Baguio has had its share of landslides caused by illegal logging, stupid building, and lack of respect for the importance of trees.
Baguio was the Philippines’ first green heaven, a place built for respite, renewal and happy family memories. During the American era, it was a legendary place, a Shangri-la. Alas, the bonfires of change have obliterated most memories of the way it used to be.
Mayor Halsema, who died in the bombing of Baguio at the end of World War II, lies in a nearly forgotten grave in the city cemetery.
To Shoe Mart, (whoever makes the decisions there) the trees are expendable. Perhaps if they see the uproar they will change their mind. For me, it’s bad enough that I don’t have a place to call home in my hometown. I would camp on the ruins of Casa Blanca if only to see the sunset (I know the view still isn’t blocked).
I’m going back this year, either alone or with my tribe. I have heard from many people that it is not the same. Some people say it isn’t worth going back. Some people tell me to brace myself. One of my dear cousins said, “There are still corners of Baguio that feel like old Baguio.” I hope so. Please join me in speaking out. Sign the petition. Stand on that hillside with Dr. Bengwayan. Do something.
I have pictured the way you tell about old Baguio because I do have the same views and sights about my beloved hometown. I maybe the same age as yours. No fear at all when you walk anywhere around the city when night falls. It is totally silent with all residents respect their neighbors respite. On sunny days, as if there are happy things to come. Rainy seasons are expected dilemna never did it detracts us from living because still it is a common way of acceptance after all we don’t expect any slides or floods. Just as you said the smell of pines will ever haunts us wherever we go, we can not smell it anymore because of so many people waste scattered all around to defeat this aroma of the city. In other words our council let the city devoured by outside business beasts who came to destroy instead to bulit. The SM euphoria that dominates the whole Philippines Mega Malls should now think twice. Time will come that this piece of store land mark will definitely collapse by fury of nature, a big land slide that will earmark a morning daily. I definitely one that strongly petitioned to detract this big mogul refrain from cutting our dear signature trees. I love Baguio because my heart lives there.
Baguio is so very crouded and lots of people,baguio is my place pero sa ngayon i hate na kasi sa totoo lng mas nagagandahan ako dati when i was young kaysa ngayon,nawala na yong ganda niya dahil alam ninyo kung bakit dahil puro na lng buildings and houses ang nakikita sa paligid grabeh,….ang masasabi ko lng dapat yong mga taong resposable jan sa baguio like mayor ba yon ay wag niyang mahintulotan na paramihin ang mga buildings sa paligid ng baguio at wag din niyang pahintulatan ang mga tao na sige putol jan,putol doon ng mga trees para lng may pagtatayuhan ng mga bussness, dapat alam niyang pahalagahan ang nature lalo nat jan sila kumikita,dahil yan ang lugar kung saan binibisita ng mga taga ibang lugar di ba nila naisip yon na mas income pa yon ng baguio imbes na pagandahin mas pinapapangit eh .aanhin mo ang maraming bahay kung wala namang mga puno di ba,…dahil al final niyan pag nawalan na ng mga pines trees at kalbo na lahat ,tapos di pa inaalagahan yong lugar kung saan pinapasyalan ng tao ay naku aywan ko lng kung di kayo magsisi dahil lalo lng di magkakaroon ng tourista ang bagiuo at di ba ninyo naisip pag wala na ang tourista na pumunta jan di mawawalan din ng income ang baguio so wala na silang pangbayad sa mga taong taga linis sa kalye,taga alaga ng mga halaman sa mines view or burnham park ect,,,comon sense naman nohhhhhhhhhh…………..saka dapat yong lugar na memorable dapat yon ay pangangalahan din nila(come john hay)dahil jan naka base ang mga americano before dahil may estorya yon kasi kung pati mga yon nawala ano pa ang eexplain mong history ng baguio sa mga bibisita..like come john hay my ghost kapangitpangit na now kasi di na cia totalmente na katulad dati na kung mamasyal ka mawawala ka dahil sa sobrang laki ng park niya eh samantalng ngayon mabibitin ka dahil wala ka ng makikita puro hauses dahil naging subdivision na ano ba yan………mga pilipinos nga naman oo.di tulad dito sa ibang bansa mauutak kaya laging gumaganda ang bansa nila eh dahil como alam nilang tourist pot yong lugar na yon ay talaga nga namang pinapahalagahan nila dahil alam nila yon din ay income na tutulong sa lugar nila dapat ganyan din tayong mga pilipinos……at take note kahit nasa city ka as in marami kang makikiatng puno kaya tuwing summer di lng buildings ang makikita mo kundi mga punong nagigislap sa kagandahan dahil sa kulay niyang color green……..at siempre dapat maisip din ninyo yan ay tumutulong pag oras ng tag ulan cia ang mag absorved ng tubig,,,kaya nga di ba ninyo napapansin sa lahat ng lugar na plain tuwing tag-ulan or bagyo nababaha di ba, kasi nga wala ciang mga puno…………kaya please stoppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp cutting the trees…………………………….kaya lahat ng mga taga bauio pls help baguio coz para din satin…………….ciao,adios……….thnank you………tak-tak——-salamat………
Hi its me again. Im writing from my phone and I apologize for any errors. =D
It is sad how things have become here in Baguio. The Camp John Hay I used to go to with my cousins to play freely on the grass, eat french fries and slide down slopes in cardboard boxes are gone. Today, John Hay ha been stripped off its beauty. The old play ground is now filled with log cabins put up by rich people. The locals dont freely come anymore because everything is too fancy and expensive. What used to be lush green is now dry brown.
But I know there is still hope. Just recentlythe local Baguio artists/musicians initiated a tree planting concert called Pine for Pine to proteat against the tree cutting. I pray this be heeded.
Again thanks so much for the inspirarion. I signed the petition,too. God bless!