Baguio City and Benguet Province - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 4

frustratedarchitect

February 23rd, 2008, 09:04 AM

200,000 visitors expected at Panagbenga feast

By Vincent Cabreza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:21:00 02/23/2008

BAGUIO CITY – It may be better for tourists to take a bus to see this weekend’s street dancing and float parades of the 13th Panagbenga Flower Festival.

The city expects almost 200,000 visitors when the main downtown streets are partly, or completely, closed for nine days due to the parades and the annual “Session Road in Bloom” where street cafes and diners take over the usually busy thoroughfare, said Benedicto Alhambra, city tourism officer.

The city police have imposed a special routing scheme for motorists that will allow them to encircle the business district to cross the town.

So vehicles using Kennon Road may have to go to South Drive to circle around the downtown area while those coming from Marcos Highway could use Legarda Road to go to Burnham Park where most festival activities are scheduled.

The Panagbenga Festival has grown into a major tourist attraction because of the street dancing performances of school children and villagers.

Almost all hotels have been booked solid since the start of February, Alhambra said.

Former President Joseph Estrada is joining at least one of these weekend parades, according to Dangal Guevarra, chief of staff of this year’s Panagbenga organizing committee.

This is Estrada’s first trip to the city since his 2001 ouster and imprisonment. He visited the City of San Fernando in Pampanga and Urdaneta City in Pangasinan on Friday.

The city has taken pains to de-politicize the event, but the parades have drawn their share of political and entertainment celebrities.

Also expected to join the parades are Senate President Manuel Villar and Sen. Richard Gordon, a former tourism secretary.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes has been in the city for a week now, while large signs welcoming Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane and Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. have been put up at the compound of the Department of Public Works and Highways here.

A 58-member orchestra from the city of Taebek in South Korea is also joining the parade.

Alhambra said many conferences here have been scheduled to coincide with the festival week, including the First Pambansang Sining Festival (Festival of the National Arts) next week. The arts festival will be the starting ceremony of the centennial celebrations of Teachers’ Camp in April.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080223-120660/200000-visitors-expected-at-Panagbenga-feast

http://static.zooomr.com/images/751660_90b57ee845_b.jpg

allan_dude

February 23rd, 2008, 02:18 PM

^^ Wow ala Rose Parade sa Pasadena, CA! more pics pls :)

frustratedarchitect

February 23rd, 2008, 07:20 PM

they got the concept from the rose parade.:) ive got no pics of the recent festival coz baguio is full with cars and tourists making travel to downtown difficult. all establishments have their cash registers full for days and major throroughfares are packed with tourist buses, cars and people.

Zodiac18

February 23rd, 2008, 10:12 PM

^^ Good for business, eh? :)

Zodiac18

February 23rd, 2008, 10:15 PM

i'm not fond of baluts but when i'm in baguio i loved having them. there's one occassion i won't forget though. together with some friends, we cornered one lady balut vendor near teachers' camp. as i was about to take my fourth consecutive balut that night, the lady stopped me and said, 'three is enough, more than that is not healthy'.. galeng ano, she's not after your money. service with personal concern. :)
^^
Mababait ang mga tiga Baguio kasi, eh. :)

Zodiac18

February 23rd, 2008, 10:18 PM

^^

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9915/picture2008xg0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

session road

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/2193/picture2007ga2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

abanao street

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1676/picture043vv3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

City camp Barangay

Thanks for posting FA!

frustratedarchitect

February 24th, 2008, 11:59 AM

flickr find: courtesy of koolitz

http://re3.yt-thm-a03.yimg.com/image/25/f11/172346790

Thousands join Baguio City's Panagbenga festival
02/23/2008 | 03:54 PM
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BAGUIO CITY - The country’s summer capital was once again transformed into a blooming paradise where over thousands gathered here Saturday to watch the annual Panagbenga or Baguio flower festival.

Mayor Reynaldo Bautista Jr said more people were expected to watch the festival on Sunday, where 34 floats are expected to be paraded in the city's thoroughfares.

The street parade started at 8 a.m., and lasted until 2 p.m. At noon, drizzle sprinkled the dancing human flowers, bu this did not dampen the spirits of young girls and boys who filled the air with music from their drums and lyres.

High school and college student performers gyrated with painted bodies and attires adorned with flowers. Bare-skinned Igorot warriors swayed their armaments with beats from the gongs.

Defending champion dancers in the college category from the University of the Cordillera retained their crown, with their Diwata ng Cordillera performance. The Saint Louis University dancers won second place, followed by performers from the the Pines City College.

In the high school category, the Baguio City National High School Main Campus won the first and second places in the dancing match. The Pines City National High School Main placed third.

In the elementary category, Magsaysay Elementary School aced the competition, followed by the Baguio Central School, and the Doña Nucasia Puyat Elementary School.

In the open category, the Manaoag National High School in Pangasinan was first place, followed by the Saling Lahi Dance Troupe of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, and Osias Educational Foundation of La Union.

First place winners were awarded P30,000 each. Second placers received P15,000 each, while third placers got P10,000 each.

Former President Joseph Estrada, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, and former Senator Ernesto Maceda witnessed the events.

US Ambassador Kristie Kenney also attended the gathering. Delegates from South Korea and Japan also joined the festival. - GMANews.TV

frustratedarchitect

February 25th, 2008, 12:14 PM

1.5 Million Watch Baguio’s Panagbenga
By: Mike Guimbatan Jr.

Posted: February 23, 2008 11:13:00 PM GMT(+8)

BAGUIO CITY-- The country’s summer capital and only mountain resort city was once again transformed into a blooming atmosphere where over 1.5 million gathered here Saturday to watch the annual Panagbenga or Baguio Flower festival.

City Mayor Reynaldo Bautista jr said more are expected to watch the float parade Sunday where 34 floats are expected to roll down the city’s thoroughfares. Accordginly the lonbgest,

The street parade started at 8:00AM until 2:00 PM. A drizzle showered the dancing human flowers at noon but did not dampen the high spirits of young girls and boys filled the air with their musical drum and lyre compositions while high school and college student performers gyrate with painted bodies and flower adorned attires.

Dancers magnified native sunflower prevalent in Baguio slopes in life size artistry while colorful indigenous tapestry adorned with floral designs match bare skinned Igorot warriors skillfully swaying their armaments following indigenous tunes from gongs and combined with musical compositions.

Defending Champions dancers in the college category from University of the Cordillera retained their crown. The UC dancers wowed the crown with their improved Diwata ng Cordillera surrounded by yellow clad fairies crisscrossing and dancing while gymnastic dancers swayed and vibrate around the Diwata. The Saint Louis University Dancers were second and the Pines City College won third place.

In the high School Division, the Baguio City National High School Main Campus was proclaimed winner with second place won by the same school but from the Special performing Arts Class. The third was Pines City National High School Main.

In the Elementary Category, Magsaysay elementary school was first place followed by Baguio Central School- second, and Dona Nucasia Puyat Elementary School as Third.

The open category was actively participated by neighboring Ilocos, La Union and Pangasisnan. First place was won by the Manaoag National High School in Pangasinan, followed by the Saling Lahi Dance Troupe of Vigan, Ilocos Sur as second and Osias Educational Foundation of La Union.

Cash prize of P30,000 for first, P15,000 for second and P10,000 for third were awarded. However, former President Joseph Estrada added P10,000 each for the first prize making a P40,000 take home for the winners in each category.

Gerry Evangelista said this is the biggest crowd in the past 13 years. Visitors consider Pangbenga as the prime festival in the entire country. With every individual spending at least P200 minimum, that will translate to an active business environment.

Former President Joseph Estrada along with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and former Senator Ernesto Maceda witnessed the street dance. The former president said they are here for a meeting of the opposition.

International flavor of Pangbenga with US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, the Ambassador of Australia and New Zealand among others. Sister cities joined like the Choral group all the way from Taebek, South Korea and a delegation from the city of Japan.

It was learned that hundreds of Baguio bound passengers were stranded in bus Manila stations for nearly five hours. Rhyzl, a college freshman said she and others bought a ticket for 12:50 Am but have to sleep at the Victory liner station until they boarded their bus at 5:50. They missed the street parade. (Mike Guimbatan jr)

http://www.baguiocity.com/index.php?cmd=news&item=4032&region=9&cat=1

frustratedarchitect

February 26th, 2008, 11:18 AM

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6408/picture002rq0.jpg

Before: January 12, 2008

http://www.i-baguio.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/baguio-ub-fire-8.jpg

After: February 16,2008

tj_brewed

February 26th, 2008, 12:12 PM

Waldenstrom

February 26th, 2008, 01:26 PM

I'm hoping to see Panagbenga next year! :)

metrosuburban

February 26th, 2008, 08:24 PM

^^

Thanks for posting FA!

shoot, i wonder if you have a sewege treatment system in place. and where is your dumpsite btw?

frustratedarchitect

February 27th, 2008, 10:50 AM

^^ whoa.Of course there is! Baguio has a sewage system, and sewage treatment facility located at sanitary camp which has the advantage of not flooding into homes when the monsoon season arrives.

FYI, Baguio also has a dump facility in Irisan which will be closed this year for its conversion into a landfill.

Hey, this is also the ugly truth in every Philippine city...or any city for that matter. Cities sometimes do stink. Here, forummers just have the guts to post or rant about their city's ugly side...and not point out flaws in other cities which they haven't been to anyway.

me_mickey

February 29th, 2008, 07:27 PM

Ang ganda naman ng Panagbanga Festival... hehe

Sayang ng facade ng UPB... prominent mid-rise pa naman sa Baguio skyline...

frustratedarchitect

March 1st, 2008, 10:15 AM

http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/42987/2419232460068377371S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2419232460068377371Dnmvle)

Kisad Road

http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/30288/2103065080068377371S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2103065080068377371ykjciN)

SM city Baguio

http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/26070/2024656760068377371S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2024656760068377371pnRXFz)

Legarda Road

http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/28672/2485270720068377371S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2485270720068377371oZERdL)

Lower Session road

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/861/2356995110068377371S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2356995110068377371RCByPg)

Middle Session road

frustratedarchitect

March 1st, 2008, 10:16 AM

allan_dude

March 1st, 2008, 10:24 AM

^^ Miss ko na Don Henrico's Pizza sa Session Rd! Haba ng pila dun tuwing holiday season. :)

icarusrising

March 4th, 2008, 10:19 AM

BUSINESS

Baguio ecozone investment inflow up

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The Manila Bulletin

Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ), one of the four public ecozones under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, expects to realize a minimum of P6.887-billion investments inflow this year doubling last year’s P3.667 billion following the developments of more ecozones and tourism retirement facilities within Baguio City, the summer capital of the country.

In a report to PEZA director-general Lilia B. de Lima, BCEZ zone administrator Tereso O. Panga said these new ecozone developments within the summer capital of the country include SM Cyberzone, Alpha PCM and PR Halili IT.

Panga also cited the development of three tourism ecozones – John Hay tourism; Hankyung Retirement Ecozone and Baguio Country Club Retirement Ecozone.

In addition, PEZA’s annexation of a property by the Bases Conversion Development Authority will pave the way for Moog Control Corporation’s $ 105-million phase 4 expansion program.

According to Tesoro, these projects form part of the 12 committed investments for the ecozone this year.

Projects with pending PEZA Board approval include the Baguio Country Club Retirement Ecozone, a new project with an investment cost of P100 million.

Korean-owned Hankyung Retirement Ecozone has also a pending registration with PEZA. It has an estimated cost of $ 10 million.

Other new projects with pending applications include JFS Precision Technology Corp., a precision tooling venture with P30 million investments; Mobilution, a Korean own mobile phone folder assembly and CDMA manufacturer for $ 1.5 million investments; Apha-PCM IT building and PR Halili IT Center with P5 million each investments.

The expansion projects for this year are estimated to add P4.472 billion in new investments including Moog’s phase 4 expansion project with $ 105 million. Moog, an American-owned firm, is a supplier to Texas Instruments, which is BECZ’s single biggest exporter and one of PEZA’s top exporters.

Other expansion projects include NTUI Phase 2, a Filipino-owned call center with P4.5 million project cost; Sitel (formerly Clientlogic) Phase 3 with investments of $ 5.5 million; LTX Asia International Phase 2 with $ 1.3 million; Contaq Masters, a Filipino-owned facilities provider with P5 million; and a Norwegian facilities provider.

In 2007, BCEZ reported a slight 5 percent decline in total exports of $ 3.373 billion from $ 3.538 billion in 2006.

Panga explained in his report to De Lima that the slight drop in overall annual exports in 2007 over 2006 was a result of Texas Instruments’ slightly lower sales volume.

BCEZ’s output accounts for 98 percent of the region’s manufactured goods. Its electronics exports accounted for 39 percent of the Cordillera Autonomous Region’s total gross output and its 2 percent gross income tax remittances to the local government unit averages P100 million.

In terms of employment, Panga reported that BCEZ posted a 28 percent increase in average monthly employment with total direct jobs generation of 7,230.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080304118491.html#

allan_dude

March 8th, 2008, 08:15 PM

PCCI chief suggests sidewalk cafes in Baguio

LAMENTING the Philippines still trails behind its Asia Pacific neighbors in terms of tourist arrivals, and which therefore translates to lower income to those in the tourism industry, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Samie Lim said more has to be done to at least meet the five million tourists mark and the US$1 billion income by 2010.

In Baguio, Lim suggested the setting up of sidewalk cafes along Session Road, similar to those found in Paris. "It is something the people will love," said Lim.

The sidewalk cafes are usually set up in Baguio only during the annual Panagbenga or Baguio Flower Festival.

Several proposals were made to close the city's main artery to allow a promenade area and the put-up of sidewalk cafes, but were opposed by some businessmen who claim this would only benefit SM mall.

The stench of the drainage at Session also does not fit well with sidewalk cafes.

Lim added that the usual tourists sites here must be developed including the public market.

The traffic system and over development also has to be addressed he said, as he pointed out houses now dot the hills which used to be covered by thick vegetation and pine trees.

Lim said woodcarvings should likewise be a major product here.

Lim was the guest speaker in Saturday's business and tourism forum sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the Cordillera and the Baguio-Benguet Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

Lim said if the country's tourism industry improves, business would prosper and more could have jobs. (RO)

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/03/09/news/pcci.chief.suggests.sidewalk.cafes.in.baguio.html

allan_dude

March 12th, 2008, 12:55 PM

'Unusually' cold, rainy Holy Week up in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Tourists who will be trooping to the country's Summer Capital this coming Holy Week would have to bring their jackets and umbrellas as the unusually cold spell is expected to extend until the end of the month, a local weather bureau said on Wednesday.

Efren Dalipog, weather observer for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in the city, said rains would be expected during the Holy Week because of the La Niña which is expected to prevail in the country until June.

Dalipog also said that a "frontal system" affecting Luzon and the moderate to strong northeasterly winds affecting Luzon and Visayas are causing the extended cold spell in the city.

Temperature here dipped to 10 degrees Centigrade last March 4 - the lowest recorded temperature in Baguio for the month. So far this year, the lowest-recorded temperature in Baguio City is 9 degrees.

Traditionally, the Holy Week break has been the height of tourist influx into Baguio City.

Meanwhile, although the temperature is usually two to three degrees lower in Western Benguet, no cases of frosting or "andap" of temperate vegetables being cultivated there have been reported so far, an agriculture official said.

Robert Domoguen, Department of Agriculture's public information officer in the region, said strong winds are helping blow off the frost from vegetables. - GMANews.TV

allan_dude

March 12th, 2008, 10:34 PM

'Visit Baguio': centennial slogan offered by PCCI

"VISIT Baguio" may be a simple phrase but this could be a compelling way of enticing more tourists here (Baguio City), said Samie Lim, president of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

The phrase can be a slogan or a title for a coffee table book for next year's 100th birthday of Baguio, Lim said while urging those in the hospitality industry and the City Government to invest in tourism.

"You have to work to achieve the five A's of tourism," Lim said referring to having adequate arrival, access, accommodation, attraction and activity facilities during their stay in Baguio City.

Lim said there has to be a variety of what one destination could offer so as not to bore tourists and extend their stay. This eventually leads to add spending on the part of a tourist and add revenue to those in the tourism industry including souvenir shops and vendors.

The PCCI president earlier suggested for officials of Baguio to transform the sidewalks of Session Road into a cafés similar to what is done in Paris. This plan was proposed in the past but objected to by some residents, businessmen and even the traffic police.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/03/11/news/.visit.baguio.centennial.slogan.offered.by.pcci.html

allan_dude

March 15th, 2008, 09:32 PM

Reunion reconstructs history of Baguio businesses

By Vincent Cabreza
Northern Luzon Bureau

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—One of the summer capital’s largest Chinese-Filipino families has reunited all its former employees from 1940 to 1980, helping to reconstruct the story of how Baguio’s business industry was born.

Descendants of the late Leung Kwan Ling began organizing these homecomings in 2005, to give homage to Cordillera workers who toiled to build a working Baguio economy.

Michael del Rosario, Leung’s grandson, said without these workers, his grandparents could not have built the old Mountain Supply Store that catered to the booming mining industry of the early 20th century or the Sunny’s Bakery of the 1940s, named after his father.

The bakery operated with no more than 10 workers at a time.

Del Rosario now operates the city franchise of the American fast-food chain McDonald’s, and Hotel Veniz in downtown Baguio. He also helps run the family’s Sunshine Supermarket.

About a hundred employees attended the Feb. 26 reunion, carrying with them rich stories about old Baguio.

Common to these stories was the fact that they all managed to finish school using wages they earned from baking bread for “Sunny’s,” says Ernesto Matuday, a former mayor of Kabayan town in Benguet. “Tuition [then] was P5 a unit,” he says.

“Baguio was still empty back in the early 1950s,” Matuday says. “Session Road was the only [part of town] that did not change. Sunny’s was the biggest store then.”

A retired teacher, one of the family’s former grocery clerks, says people walked for miles to buy loaves of “Sunny’s” bread.

“I used to work for the family. But even when I left to finish at the teachers’ college, I patronized the bakery. I walked for a day carrying these loaves back to my town so I could let a dying aunt taste the bread,” she says.

She says many employees had to hike to the city from neighboring Benguet towns to work for Leung.

According to a Sunshine fact sheet, Leung was a “pioneer” businessman in 1906 when the American colonial government first opened the doors to what was then a Baguio “wilderness.” The city was chartered in 1909.

“The 1906 Commission Report stated that at the time in Baguio, there was one American store and a few shops operated by the Chinese and the ‘natives,’” wrote retired University of the Philippines professor Bienvenido Tapang Jr. in an article on “The Ibaloy Cattle Enterprise in Benguet.”

Tapang’s study dissected how the Ibaloi’s communal economy was disrupted by the American colonial government and by 20th century American lifestyle.

He noted that “American policy was directed toward creating a viable mining industry and developing a Western hill station [that became Baguio].”

To this end, the colonial government sold Baguio’s townsite lands to finance the city’s construction, and shaped mining policies to enable American prospectors to take over mines set up by Europeans during the Spanish colonial era, Tapang wrote.

Leung was among many Chinese-Filipinos who were drawn to the mining boom, and was employed as a carpenter by the Benguet Consolidated Mining Co.

“It was in the mines that he discovered his knack for business. He opened a small store to cater to his co-employees,” the Sunshine fact sheet says.

Like in stories about America’s Wild West beginnings, Leung’s shop was robbed and his employees murdered. But it compelled him to build instead a grocery and bazaar from where the local economy picked up steam.

His fortune grew, allowing him to develop a virtual monopoly of hardware and food stores that branched out to the mines of Itogon.

Tapang’s study listed Mountain Supply Store among the first establishments that boomed here, alongside the Japanese Bazaar (operated by an ancestor of the Carino family, the city’s prominent Ibaloi clan), the Mountain Studio and Bazaar (which still operates today), and the Pine City Beauty Parlor.

Hubert Whitmarsh, who was appointed Baguio-Benguet governor, was credited for opening the Baguio Commercial Store, described as “the first of its kind” in the city.

World War II decimated most of these businesses when Japan invaded the Philippines and set up its headquarters in the summer capital.

The Del Rosario clan was forced to hide in Kapangan, cementing the family’s ties to its Ibaloi and Kankaney residents.

“Sunny” took over after World War II to rebuild the family business, and some of its oldest employees at the homecoming realized that many of them originated from Kapangan.

Del Rosario and his older brother, Rodolfo Jr., grew up working side by side with many of these employees.

Alon Sia, one of the family’s oldest bakers who showed up at the homecoming in a wheelchair, was one of those who virtually raised “Sunny” Leung’s children.

Sia, who worked for the Leungs from 1950 to 1995, had lost a leg to a disease. During the reunion, he appeared pensive but he brightened up whenever the Del Rosario brothers acknowledged him.

It was Matuday, the former mayor, who took most of the brothers’ ribbings during the reunion. “I remember him when I was growing up. He used to stay inside the bakery’s comfort room, reciting things in English. He was locked in there practicing English,” Del Rosario says.

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080315-124924/Reunion-reconstructs-history-of-Baguio-businesses

Farirah

March 17th, 2008, 06:28 AM

Fil-Estate eyes cable car in Baguio City

LISTED HOLDING firm Fil-Estate Corp. is looking at investing in new businesses such as power, water, and transportation, including a cable car project in Baguio City.

In an interview, Fil-Estate Chairman Robert John L. Sobrepeña said the firm’s new ventures are in line with its plan to reorganize.

"[F]rom the [Metro Rail Transit] franchise plus all the other related businesses, it’s blooming into other businesses already, from power, water and transportation. Probably within the year, we’ll be able to put in more businesses and augment [our] capital," he said.

Fil-Estate Corp. was one of the 15 capital-deficient firms earlier identified by the Philippine Stock Exchange, and has been asked to submit business or rehabilitation plans.

"So what we’ve done in Fil-Estate is we’re repackaging it to go into other things," Mr. Sobrepeña told BusinessWorld.

"We’re just focused on putting in maybe two or three different business lines and go back to our advisers on how to raise the funds. Perhaps it will be increasing the capitalization, [which is usually] the first step. That [will happen] maybe towards the end of the year and the actual capital raising will be next year," added Mr. Sobrepeña.

Mr. Sobrepeña said Fil-Estate would like to build a cable car along Session Road in Baguio City, a project estimated to cost between $10 million and $12 million.

"We’d like to pursue a cable car project, down the Session Road up to the marketplace. We’re talking to the local officials about that as well as [the Transportation department]," he said.

For power and water investments, the Fil-Estate chairman said initiatives would begin with-in the company’s tourism and leisure projects in Baguio and Boracay.

"If we reach power and water sufficiency on our own, the next thing to do is to look at the entire surroundings and that way tourism can grow not only for us but for everyone," Mr. Sobrepeña said.

Infrastructure is important to sustain tourism growth, he said. "That is the reason why we lag behind our competition [in] other countries like Thailand, their infrastructure is well developed and there’s no problem with power and water," Mr. Sobrepeña said.

Among Fil-Estate’s projects in Boracay are Balaihara Newcoast Villatel, Mulligan’s Golf Hotel, and Boracay Villas.

Fil-Estate is also redeveloping the Camp John Hay tourism and leisure complex in Baguio City with residential, hotel, and commercial components.

For property subsidiary Fil-Estate Land, the holding firm is allotting P2 billion this year to launch six projects and begin the construction of three more. — L.N.P. Lee

:applause::applause::applause:

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW031708/content.php?id=041

lightsaber46

March 18th, 2008, 10:54 AM

bak makasagasa yan,siksikan sa baguio ang daming tao ang nasa kalye...will this be safe??

Waldenstrom

March 18th, 2008, 12:42 PM

elevated naman yung cable car. ok lang yan. :)

allan_dude

March 19th, 2008, 03:03 PM

Fil-Estate eyes cable car in Baguio City

Mr. Sobrepeña said Fil-Estate would like to build a cable car along Session Road in Baguio City, a project estimated to cost between $10 million and $12 million.

"We’d like to pursue a cable car project, down the Session Road up to the marketplace. We’re talking to the local officials about that as well as [the Transportation department]," he said.

— L.N.P. Lee

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW031708/content.php?id=041

Parang sa SF siguro gagawin nila, o kaya modern version.

http://justinsomnia.org/images/looking-towards-powell-and-bush-from-cable-car.jpg
http://justinsomnia.org/images/looking-towards-powell-and-bush-from-cable-car.jpg

Weina

March 20th, 2008, 11:50 AM

Tourists discovering Banaue
03/20/2008 | 01:53 PM

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Tourists are now discovering Banaue, records from the Department of Tourism show.

The DOT 2007 tourism index showed that 46,481 tourists visited Banaue Rice Terraces.

DOT said that a big chunk of these visitors are foreigners with Germans touted as the top foreign arrivals with 1,077.

They are followed by the French with 964. Others include Americans, Israelites, Canadians, British and Japanese.

Koreans, usually registered as students, are not included in the foreign registry.

More tourists are expected in Banaue this season with the holding of the Igorot Global Organization biannual conference here next month. IGO is the biggest organization of Igorots expatriates.

Also scheduled next month in Banaue is the Imbayah which is the grandest cultural celebration of Ifugao culture.

For its part, the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (Sitmo), a nongovernment organization, has been conducting the tour of the different rice rituals in the province as a way of reviving the Ifugao rice culture through cultural tourism.

Part of the proceeds from the Sitmo tours goes to rebuilding abandoned rice terraces in Banaue, Hapao, Mayaoyao and Kiangan.

Other than Banaue, other Cordillera tourist spots are Sagada and Bontoc in Mountain Province. - GMANews

tj_brewed

March 20th, 2008, 03:14 PM

Parang sa SF siguro gagawin nila, o kaya modern version.

http://justinsomnia.org/images/looking-towards-powell-and-bush-from-cable-car.jpg
http://justinsomnia.org/images/looking-towards-powell-and-bush-from-cable-car.jpg

:applause: :applause: :applause: Beautiful! Wow....this is perfect for Baguio!

mwg12a

March 22nd, 2008, 02:03 AM

Oh wow, they are planning to install trams around Baguio? That would be awesome to see in that area.

Incidentally, Does anybody know if there is still any airlines servicing Manila to Baquio?

allan_dude

March 22nd, 2008, 07:51 PM

Incidentally, Does anybody know if there is still any airlines servicing Manila to Baquio?

Asian Spirit flies the route.

Any Holy Week updates in Baguio frustratedarchitect? :):)

allan_dude

March 22nd, 2008, 07:52 PM

More than 300,000 tourists came up to Baguio for Holy Week

BAGUIO CITY - Tourists came up to Baguio only last Maundy Thursday creating monstrous traffic on Kennon, Abanao, Harrison and Session Roads.

Parking at Burnham Park and SM Mall were also filled up in the morning of Good Friday.

Mary Balagot, assistant regional tourism director, said that there are more people this Holy Week than last year when about 300,000 tourists came.

Traffic chokepoints on Good Friday were reported at Lourdes Grotto, John Hay and the City Market.

Most of the hotels have been booked as early as two weeks ago, Balagot said.

Jun Niebres, supervisor of a pay toilet cum shower room in Burnham, said, however, that there were fewer people at the park this Holy Week.

Niebres said that only 50 came to have a shower early Good Friday compared to 150 last year. Those who want to take hot shower pay P40 each.

He also said that many tourists decided to sleep in their vans or pitch tents at Burnham Park.

Meanwhile, the Baguio Benguet Correspondents and Broadcasters Club chose four first-timers to the city for their 50th Lucky Visitor Program. These are Jasmin Landero, a 25-year-old agriculturist from Surigao del Sur and web designers John Angelo Buntac, Marites Maurana and sister Vanessa from Manila.

These lucky summer visitors would be feted in posh restaurants, toured the usual haunts here and in La Trinidad for free. - GMANews.TV

frustratedarchitect

March 23rd, 2008, 02:49 PM

^^ i think the article has said everything i about baguio holy week in a nutshell.

allan_dude

March 23rd, 2008, 03:14 PM

OK. I'll read my post again. :lol:

How bout the planned cable car system running along session road? Are the locals excited about the planned transport system? I'm from the lowlands and every time we go up to Baguio, traffic along Session Rd is crazy. I guess it will only solve the traffic and tourists movements during low season. Another positive note, this will be another landmark to lure tourist going to Baguio.

frustratedarchitect

March 23rd, 2008, 04:44 PM

A feasibility study has been done many months ago regarding the tram project, but I have no news of its results. There was much excitement before when it was still being conceptualized, pero dahil sa bagal ng process dito sa baguio, the hype wore off eventually. Latest news na yung Fil Estate having interest on the project.

allan_dude

March 24th, 2008, 11:36 AM

Burnham Park is now managed by Baguio City

Arroyo turns over management of park to city at simple rites

Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY — President Arroyo formally turned over yesterday to the city government the administration, operation, and management of Burnham Park, the premier tourist destination in this mountain resort city, to ensure the upkeep and rehabilitation of the park facilities.

President Arroyo made the announcement during a simple program held at the Skating Rink of Burnham Park to celebrate Easter Sunday or the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

She said the turnover of the park’s management from the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to the city government would allow City Hall to do what it wants to do for the maintenance and operation of the scenic Burnham Park which is located in the heart of the city.

"Baguio does not need a tourism-oriented activity to attract tourists. It is the tourists who keep coming to Baguio because of its unique weather condition and scenic spots which should be properly maintained," Arroyo said.

However, the Chief Executive asked the city government to share with the national government a certain percentage of its income from the operation of Burnham Park so that it could be utilized to boost her administration’s pro-poor program which is aimed at improving the living condition of poor people in the countryside.

For the past several years, the city government had been lobbying for the national government to turn over the management and operation of Burnham Park so that it could oversee the rehabilitation of dilapidated park facilities and make it more attractive to tourists.

In 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos transferred to the city government of Baguio the administration, operation, and maintenance of Burnham Park through Executive Order (EO) 224 which created the Burnham Park management committee, composed of representatives of both national and local government agencies. Its task was to oversee the operations of the park.

Furthermore, Ramos ordered the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to provide the city government an annual appropriation of P18 million as the national government’s subsidy for the maintenance of the park.

But since the Asian financial crisis, the PTA was not able to fulfill its commitment to the city government, and the annual allocations for subsidy had so drastically gone down to that it was the city government which had been advancing the payment of park workers, among others.

President Arroyo cited the need to improve the park facilities as the reason for the turnover of its management to the city government so that the tourists will have something new to see when they are visiting the city.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080324120111.html

virgil8771

March 25th, 2008, 07:03 PM

^^Is this good or bad for Baguio?

allan_dude

March 26th, 2008, 11:36 AM

Councilor opposes new SM building

By Rimaliza Opiña

THE abundant pine trees at the vacant lot between the Baguio Convention Center and the Court of Appeals (CA) compound might go if the construction of another building by the Shoe Mart Investments Corporation (SMIC) pushes through.

This, as Baguio Councilor Richard Cariño said some personnel begun surveying the site last Holy Week, raising suspicion that the lot may have already been sold, right under the noses of concerned City Government departments.

Measuring about one hectare, the area is classified as an "institutional" zone under the city's zoning law.

Cariño stressed, it was never the intent of the City Government to transform the area into a commercial one, hence, clearing operations through the cutting of trees to facilitate construction of a building should be opposed.

The City Building Official likewise should not issue a building permit, Cariño said, adding that allowing a construction there will bring about irreparable damage.

He said if tree cutting permits were issued by the central office of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the agency have violated Sections 26 and 27 of the Local Government Code (LGC).

Section 26 and 27 states that it is the duty of National Government agencies that prior to the implementation of projects which might heavily affect ecological balance, prior information and consultation with the host local government has to be done.

In this case, Cariño said no consultation with the City Government ever happened.

Identified as one of the few forested areas in Baguio, the site was previously identified by a group of Baguio-based artists as an artist's haven. They proposed to preserve the area and at the same time it will be a venue for the showcase of their works of art.

The plan never materialized, however.

In 2003, some officials of the City Government and non-government organizations (NGOs) opposed the construction of SM Baguio building at Luneta Hill for the same reason that the area is one of the few remaining areas where pine trees could still be found in Baguio.

The construction proceeded and the SM building is now one of the most frequently visited places by both local residents and tourists, as well as the biggest contributor of jobs and local taxes in Baguio.

Also last year, SMIC figured in another controversy when a city councilor accused both the company and the DENR of conniving for the sale of SM property covering the Luneta Hill and the cyberzone properties despite having been identified as a public property and therefore should be disposed should be miscellaneous or townsite sales applications.

The DENR refuted the allegation claiming the area is not public property but a titled property of government, which could be auctioned off.

Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong, who made the expose in his speech, said the SM building and other improvements done at the site should be sequestered in favor of the City Government.

In response, the City Council formed an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.

Headed by Councilor Isabelo Cosalan Jr. the committee was tasked to conclude its investigation last January.

But after only one meeting, the committee has yet to submit its report.

The building, which was then in its early stages of construction now is the site of a fully-operational call center.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=19140372

frustratedarchitect

March 27th, 2008, 08:52 AM

^^i think its a condo project by sm conceptualized just a few months ago.many people in baguio do oppose the project coz it would cost many pine trees.

allan_dude

March 27th, 2008, 09:43 AM

They should save the pine tress! There are still a lot of properties in the city where SM could build a condo complex.

tracymack

March 27th, 2008, 10:03 AM

^^I totally agree. Screw SM. I'd choose pine trees over condos any day. Like allan said, SM should look for another area to put up their condo. One where pine trees need not be cut.

allan_dude

March 27th, 2008, 03:42 PM

Baguio-Nueva Vizcaya Road opens in June

BAGUIO CITY - The Baguio-Nueva Vizcaya Road is set to open on June 21, reducing the travel by almost half, officials said Thursday.

After four years and P2.4 billion later, the road that starts from Pacdal Circle in Baguio to Aritao in Nueva Vizcaya, would finally be completed, said Bial Pelaez, an advisor of the Baguio-Aritao Road Improvement Project (BARIP).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the P858-million BARIP Contract II from Pangawan, Kayapa to Aritao with a distance of 35.616 kilometers last January 2007.

The Contract I Baguio-Pangawan-Kayapa section was set for completion on May last year but this had been delayed because of right-of-way problems and previous damage caused by typhoons.

The Contract I is more than 68.1 kilometers long and worth about P1.6 billion.

Before, travelers to Nueva Vizcaya and farther to Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao and Cagayan Valley would have to go down to western Pangasinan and then to Nueva Ecija via Dalton Pass.

The trip up to Aritao used to take six to eight hours but the improved road would chop off two-and-a-half to three hours, said Pelaez. The whole package is funded by the Japan government through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

He said that the Contract I is about 97 percent completed. The main bulk of the budget went to the P50-million worth bridges spanning the Upper Agno River of Binga and Ambuklao dams. The Ambuklao bypass road after the Ambuklao Bridge was also completed but was delayed because of right-of-way problems, said Pelaez. Only concreting of the roads has yet to be completed.

He said that agriculture development not only in Benguet but also in Region II would be hastened because of the improved road. Tourism would also be opened because Ambuklao and Binga would be accessible. The reservoir of Ambuklao Dam is good for kayaking, he said. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/86504/Baguio-Nueva-Vizcaya-Road-opens-in-June

frustratedarchitect

March 27th, 2008, 04:33 PM

^^I totally agree. Screw SM. I'd choose pine trees over condos any day. Like allan said, SM should look for another area to put up their condo. One where pine trees need not be cut.

Yeah. Before the arrival of SM, Luneta hill was a pine forest where the old Pines Hotel used to stand. Then they dug up the whole hill, cut hundreds of trees and built a mall and an IT Park ( Baguio Cyberzone). The GSIS property is a pine covered property sandwiched between SM Baguio and the Baguio Convention center. Its one of the last pine covered areas near downtown Baguio. Today, culverts can be seen leading to the lot. Large culverts, spelling the end of the poor trees.

allan_dude

March 27th, 2008, 04:47 PM

Baguio should live up with its slogan: "CITY OF PINES" :cheers:

tracymack

March 27th, 2008, 06:17 PM

Baguio has changed so much since I graduated from SLU back in 2003. The big difference back then & now is SM. SM changed Baguio in many ways, both good & bad. All in such a relatively short span of time (5 yrs).

The good: more investments, more tourists, more jobs, better shopping, etc..

The bad: traffic, overcrowding, environmental impact (including cutting of pine trees, pollution), etc. :(

frustratedarchitect

March 28th, 2008, 03:01 PM

frustratedarchitect

March 29th, 2008, 07:35 PM

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3751/picture3012yl7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3751/picture3012yl7.855524fbcc.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=507&i=picture3012yl7.jpg)

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/7440/picture3013rx0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9009/picture3010si6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5135/picture3038dj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/8761/picture3041um4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7614/picture3033hc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2420/picture3045jk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1154/picture3037of9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4258/picture3055bw7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4830/picture3048ql4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

habagatcentral1

March 30th, 2008, 04:26 PM

This was during my Christmas vacation at La Trinidad and Baguio last year.

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/157/600x600/1/Baguio00001.jpg?et=497OT5YgAaGghRnoAUq0gQ&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/2/Baguio00002.jpg?et=hvXSu3HY1LqHo6qFs3lfqQ&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/3/Baguio00003.jpg?et=nd2GT3TKVN3Zpvx%2CrY1cTA&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/4/Baguio00004.jpg?et=QjGwTOfyUrW7L6rQKl6XqA&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/5/Baguio00005.jpg?et=BaYspEktZZV%2CQKelMSm5Jg&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/6/Baguio00006.jpg?et=TDr44%2CbMI%2B9UXGEwCH1oPw&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/7/Baguio00007.jpg?et=1xLoghSNiJBnOAhd28RNRQ&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/9/Baguio00009.jpg?et=MO4caJbRkp1Gbdqla1fgOQ&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/10/Baguio00010.jpg?et=3hMJR2dxVZ5EmzPGnbpppg&nmid=88746721

habagatcentral1

March 30th, 2008, 04:30 PM

Baguio City
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/11/Baguio00011.jpg?et=Jd9xMUQQL3W4z3X3C3wyzA&nmid=88746721
Loakan Airport....Pwede pala tumawid sa runway, hehe!! :D

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/13/Baguio00013.jpg?et=1mSII6uXXaD7zK%2C0oxc4AQ&nmid=88746721
Facing Downtown Baguio City (From SM Baguio)

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/14/Baguio00014.jpg?et=o61rjRGxlHMxCdeGIqbB8A&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/15/Baguio00015.jpg?et=eCa00J%2BuTvG1BPM2EUjCgg&nmid=88746721

SM City Baguio
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/16/Baguio00016.jpg?et=%2CtpMJOJ228zhIL9ctNBcdQ&nmid=88746721

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/2/photos/157/600x600/17/Baguio00017.jpg?et=jHVagrQtROGfSttPUakazg&nmid=88746721

Nabartek

March 30th, 2008, 09:45 PM

Yeah, before the arrival of SM, Baguio was more laid back less crowded and probably colder and less polluted. Because of its success in Baguio, it drew along with it so many investments...and people. It has a good and bad side to it. Although the image of Baguio having tall buildings and flyovers inspite of it being situated in a mountain isnt appealing to most. Lalo na if you know how Baguio looks like from pictures during the time of the Americans. Sayang

Hopefully Sagada, and Ifugao wont be heading to the same direction 50 or so years from now.

I had a relative who used to work at SM..in the admin department. Said that SM isn't really earning much as in expected. Marami lang tambay. Hehehe. If you notice, many stalls are closing. It's not suitable to the lifestyle of the Cordillerans.

baguiowriter

March 31st, 2008, 11:36 AM

Centennial Fever...ON

For more on Baguio History and the Baguio Ibalois, please allow us to plug here that the 2008 BAGUIO City Yearbook magazine is now available in our local outlets, such as Mio Magazine Shop @ SM City Baguio, Ron & Mar Souvenir Shop @ SM, CID Bookstores, Tam-awan Village, JET Bookstore along Session, Narda's, Cafe by the Ruins, Baguio Country Club, Camp John Hay shops & stores, some hotels, gas stations and other souvenir shops in Baguio.

The magazine will soon be available at all National Boostore outlets all over the Philippines.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/2370856198_f62985ffbe_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2185/2370856192_ce6d1d07c6_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2370856190_aaa962ac76_o.jpg

LINKS:
<http://jackcarino.multiply.com/photos/album/74/Excerpts.._Baguios_Forgotten_Ibaloi_Heritage/a>
<http://baguiowriter.multiply.com/photos/album/79/BAGUIO_magazine/Now/a>

P.S.

This 2008 issue also features "Baguio's Building Boom" with photos contributed by Victor Mat-an.

allan_dude

March 31st, 2008, 12:28 PM

Restoration preps Teacher’s Camp centennial

BAGUIO CITY — With its beginning pinned on April 06, 1908 when 150 American teachers arrived on the ship Thomas and pitched their tents in Orengao (its original name), the Teachers Camp is now undergoing preservation and renovation work-up.

Caretakers of the Camp hope this reconstruction project will conclude in time for its Centennial celebration slated for a soft-opening ceremony on April 6 where they hope to have President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor.

Department of Education (Dep Ed) officials are preparing the soft opening to jump-start the month-long centennial celebration of the now Baguio Teachers Camp (BTC).

On the President’s suggestion on learning that DepEd plans to make Teachers Camp an “income-generating and self-sustaining” entity, the DepEd will keep the rental rates competitive”.

Earlier over her Holy week visit to the City, the President was given a tour of the camp accompanied by Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan , Mayor Reynaldo Bautista, and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, who gave a power-point briefing at the 53-year-old Abada Hall on the project, said that the “new” Teachers Camp would be “an ideal training and vacation haven for educators, students, government employees, and the public.”

Dubbed by DepEd as “Our Home in the Clouds,” the facility will have “well-equipped training and conference venues in a mountain garden setting and cool ambiance that can’t be found anywhere else in the country.”

When informed that sometimes the Camp cannot accommodate the usual large student groups attending DepEd seminars, the President urged DepEd officials to provide facilities like that of old Teachers Camp lodging origins when students pitched tents for the night, something that she said young students would love to experience.

The Camp facilities include the Benitez Hall, the Superintendent’s Quarters, and one of the 29 cottages within the camp – the Newton Gilbert Cottage named in honor of the Secretary of Public Instruction (March 1, 1909 – November 30, 1913).

Undergoing preservation are the “heritage structures” that includes the Roxas Hall (1937) which was used by pre-war cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). The make-over project is a hundred million pesos.

The Teachers Camp grand centennial celebration will be held on May 10, the end of the first Teachers Vacation Assembly held by the Thomasites (from the ship Thomas), the first American teachers who instructed Filipinos in the English language and on American culture.

http://www.nordis.net/blog/?p=2367

allan_dude

March 31st, 2008, 03:37 PM

Baguio number coding suspended April 1 to May 30

By Julie G. Fianza (http://northphiltimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/baguio-number-coding-suspended-april-1.html)

BAGUIO CITY-Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. last week approved Administrative Order 39 exempting private vehicles from the traffic number coding scheme from April 1 to May 30.

According to the mayor, the present suspension ends March 31, thus the need for another suspension as “a multitude of vacationers are still expected to spend their summer break here in the city.”

The suspension shall also provide local and foreign tourists, for two months, “a comfortable and stress-free journey” to main attractions of the city, in the comfort of their personal vehicles.

As stated also in the AO, chartered Public Utility Vehicles of visitors/tourists/vacationers and participants of sanctioned activities such as conventions, conferences and assemblies are exempted from the number coding scheme. Appropriate identification that they are participants to said official functions, however, should be presented.

The mayor further directed the traffic management branch of the Baguio City Police Office to strictly enforce the AO.

As per city ordinance 01, series of 2003, the number ending of vehicle plates are used as basis for coding during certain days of the week.

Plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 should not be on the roads during Mondays; 3 and 4 during Tuesdays; 5 and 6, Wednesdays, 7 and 8, Thursdays, and 9 and 0, Fridays.

Zodiac18

April 2nd, 2008, 02:08 AM

Burnham Park is now managed by Baguio City

Arroyo turns over management of park to city at simple rites

^^Is this good or bad for Baguio?

IMHO, Always Good! :) Autonomy sans Malacanan Gov'tal interference is always best!

allan_dude

April 2nd, 2008, 01:11 PM

http://www.nordis.net/blog/wp-content/files/cye2008_0330smhotel_prospect.jpg
LAST PINE STAND. These 30 year-old pine trees at the Baguio Convention Center premises are now threatened by the alleged proposal to erect a new commercial hub right on the site. SM Investment Corporation has reportedly been allowed by the Government Service Insurance System to build the structure. Photo by Cye Reyes/NORDIS (http://www.nordis.net/blog/?p=2378#more-2378)

allan_dude

April 3rd, 2008, 01:47 PM

P144 million earmarked for Burnham Park rehab

Baguio’s No. 1 park to be improved to make it more attractive

Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – The national government has earmarked P144 million for the immediate rehabilitation of Burnham Park, the scenic park located in the heart of this mountain resort city.

The national government allotted the amount even if President Arroyo formally turned over the management of the park to the city government last Easter Sunday.

It was learned that the park’s rehabilitation, which is to start soon upon the orders of the President, is divided into four phases to prevent inconvenience to both tourists and residents.

The initial work which is intended to improve the rapidly deteriorating Burnham Park includes earth-moving activities at the famous children’s playground which were supposed to have been started in the early part of this year.

City officials said the earth-moving activities would cost some P4.6 million, while the playground’s facilities would cost P3.5 million.

After the completion of the rehabilitation of the children’s playground, the entrance to the park will be improved to make it more more convenient to visitors.

A large gazebo will be constructed at an area near the entrance.

The playground will have rubber matting, and cartoon characters will be placed along the route. All metal structures will be covered with rubber for the safety of the public.

The children’s biking area will be relocated to a space near its present site and the Baguio orchidarium.

This is intended to prevent the occurrence of accidents that may cause injury to children using the facilities of the playground.

A teen park, which costs approximately over P8 million, will also be built. It will include a skateboard ramp and other extreme sport facilities.

All these facilities are expected to attract more foreign and domestic tourists to visit the park.

Some P4 million has been set aside for the rehabilitation of the Melvin Jones grandstand to enable it to accommodate huge gatherings that, at present, are often held in the park.

The bulk of the fund, which is approximately P124 million, will be utilized for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Baguio Athletic Bowl to a modern sports arena. This would enable the city to host national and international sports competitions.

Baguio City had been vying to host the prestigious Palarong Pambansa over the past several decades, but the national organizing committee had always rejected its offer because it does not have complete sports facilities.

The R125 million, which is included in the P1.227-trillion national budget this year, will be sourced out from the city’s accumulated share in the taxes paid by locators in the city’s economic zone in the past several years.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080403120910.html

frustratedarchitect

April 3rd, 2008, 03:03 PM

Last february 16, 2008, the 9 storey UB building and the nearby seven storey UBHS was ablaze for still undetermined reasons.

On april 2, 2008, another fire hits Baguio. This time, the 7 storey tiiong san harrison, a commercial building

http://images.wilfredmoral.multiply.com/image/5/photos/93/600x600/18/DSC_0518.jpg?et=DX7Ah9p8I8vHARpMoFErgA&nmid=89227659

http://images.wilfredmoral.multiply.com/image/6/photos/95/600x600/3/DSC_0567.jpg?et=qZzXmjGwn9g2c0Z6y7TZUw&nmid=89229827

http://images.wilfredmoral.multiply.com/image/6/photos/95/600x600/13/DSC_0595.jpg?et=usGlQbeDbJ%2BYLxR1KU%2COSg&nmid=89229827

courtesy of photographer Wilfred Moral

February 16,2008: UB fire: Baguio city Photo courtesy of Philip Johnson

http://www.dreamsofadventure.us/art/2008/OneTime/UB_Fire2_small.jpg

tyronne

April 4th, 2008, 12:55 AM

They just renovated that building like... years ago hehe! Tapos nasunog. Anyway, I might be in Baguio later.

allan_dude

April 4th, 2008, 05:29 PM

ericlucky290

April 5th, 2008, 11:49 AM

Downtown Baguio at night

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii177/ericlucky290/Forum/Baguio_2008337.jpg

baguiowriter

April 6th, 2008, 02:01 AM

They just renovated that building like... years ago hehe! Tapos nasunog. Anyway, I might be in Baguio later.

I'd like to share with you some of my shots BEFORE & AFTER the fire...

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn18/baguiowriter/WDec18_07_Burnham037.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn18/baguiowriter/WTiongsan084.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn18/baguiowriter/WTiongsan085.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn18/baguiowriter/WTiongsan087.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn18/baguiowriter/WApr08TionsanFire013-1.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn18/baguiowriter/W3Apr08TionsanFire014.jpg

LINK: <http://baguiowriter.multiply.com/photos/album/83/Tiongsan_Business_Empire_Before_and_After_the_Fire</a>

allan_dude

April 13th, 2008, 01:09 PM

Shopping capital of the North

By Dinna Chan Vasquez

If you’ve had enough of seeing the tourist attractions of Baguio City such as Burnham Park, Philippine Military Academy, Mines View Park and Camp John Hay, perhaps it is time to look at the country’s summer capital with a fresh eye.

Yes, Baguio’s weather is cool and the city is a wonderful destination, especially in the summer when it’s hot and humid in Metro Manila, but there’s definitely more to it than just sightseeing.

Baguio City could very well be the shopping capital of the North, with a varied array of offerings ranging from food to vintage clothing. Of course, going there in the summer is like going to Divisoria 10 days before Christmas. The crowds are impossible, traffic is very bad, getting a taxi is next to impossible and snatchers and pickpockets seem to be waiting for you to let your guard down so they can steal your valuables. But who cares? Baguio is a great place to be and not just because it’s cold there.

Here are 10 reasons to go to Baguio (aside from the weather and the sights, of course):

Raisin bread and (nearly) fat-free longaniza from Baguio Country Club. You would need to be with a member to enter the plush country club but the bread and the pork sausage are so worth the trouble. The bread is chockfull of raisins and is a naturally sweet treat when it’s still warm from the oven.

The longaniza does not shrink to an alarmingly small size after it is cooked, which means it has very little fat, and is tastes good. The banana bread at the country club is also great.

Faux wool blankets. At less than P200, these blankets are a bargain. They are made of a material that feels like wool but is lighter. They come in different colors and sizes. There are also designs for children such as Spongebob Squarepants and Pokemon. The blankets are different from those that come from Ilocos.

Fresh strawberries. If you have the time, go to Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet, which is less than an hour from Session Road. That is where you can actually pick fresh strawberries and of course, have your picture taken while doing so. A piece of trivia: The strawberries are more expensive when you pick them than when you buy them already picked. If you can’t go to La Trinidad, the strawberries in the public market are just as good.

Brooms. Giant spoons and forks and rosaries are no longer the pasalubong du jour from Baguio but we have not stopped buying brooms to clean the house with. Are these brooms less expensive and better in terms of quality than those in Metro Manila markets? We don’t know. In this case, the effect could be psychological.

Tantamco’s Ube Jam. There are ube jams and then there’s Tantamco’s. You will love this jam, even if you don’t like ube. You’d have to fall in line for it though, as the brand is very much sought after. It only takes two hours for it to be sold out in the market. But the hassle is worth it. The only thing is that you’d have to eat it right away. Tantamco’s has no preservatives so it spoils esily.

Mikasan’s Choco Flakes. When you buy the chocolate-coated treats, be sure to ask for Mikasan. There is now a white chocolate version and a combo, which has half-milk chocolate and half-white chocolate. Warning: Choco Flakes can be addicting.

Good Shepherd products. There is a Little Shepherd and a Mother Shepherd but the original is always the best. The two most popular products are peanut brittle and ube jam but there are other yummy food items, including guava and mango jams, cashew brittle, cashew nuts, peanuts, guyabano and sampaloc candies, pickles and pickle relishes, orange marmalade, strawberry juice, among others. The peanut brittle, which are finely chopped peanuts in a delicious wafer thin caramel and flavored with just a touch of butter, is incomparable. It’s a little bit difficult to go to the convent during summer because of the crowds but if you manage to score your favorite products, your palate will be rewarded for all the troubles you’ve been through.

Vintage clothing. It was Baguio City’s ukay-ukay shops that gave an air of respectability to stores (or stalls) that sell vintage clothing. Now, going to Baguio to buy ukay ukay is an integral part of any trip to the summer capital. There are a lot of great stuff for fashionistas, from jackets and trench coats to bags and shoes. There are even stores that specialize in plus sizes.

Fresh vegetables. The market offers fresh vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, corn, carrots, potatoes and many others in great quantities and at reasonable prices. The tendency is always to go on a panic-buying mode and buy everything in sight. The veggies are so pretty to look at and very fresh. Always haggle for a good price and look at the produce carefully before buying.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife1_april11_2008

allan_dude

April 17th, 2008, 07:12 PM

Teachers Camp is 100 years

Ace Alegre
NORDIS April 15 issue

BAGUIO CITY — For those who do not know, Teachers Camp is the Baguio icon built by American Thomasites on April 6, 1908.

Celebrating its centennial anniversary starting April 6, Baguio Teachers Camp is now undergoing a P144 billion restoration and rehabilitation work on its 23-hectare camp along Leonard Wood road “to meet the teacher training demands of the 21st century,” Dep-ed Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malayasaid.

Teacher’s Camp, which Pres.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited in the Holy Week to oversee restoration work, has served for the past 100 years as the Dep-ed’s premier training and recreation center for teachers and students and is home to the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), the training arm of Dep-Ed.

Malaya said, the past century has taken its toll on the facilities in the camp, thus a Special Task Force to oversee conservation and rehabilitation to meet the demands of the new century is dreaming of Teachers Camp renewal “to ensure that it continues to meet its original objective and create a well-managed and equipped training and conference venue to address the training needs of teachers in support of Education For All efforts.”

Pres. Arroyo earlier proclaimed 2008 as “Visit Teachers Camp Year” and she is expected to come back to the BTC on May 10 to lead the formal launching of the “Visit Teachers Camp Year” and inaugurate the newly-rehabilitated camp.

With the theme “BTC-Celebrating 100 Years of Educating the Nation:, the official kick-off the BTC centenary will also be on May 10, a fully-packed and busy schedule for everyone in the camp. This includes a grand parade, a re-enactment ceremony, inauguration of the BTC Museum, A concert for teachers, an academic conference and many more.”

Going eve beyond its service to the teachers, BTC, “envisions to position itself as the ideal training and recreation venue not only for teachers but also for the general public,” according to Malaya..

It will be “our home by the clouds,” the DepEd official said as he sees BTC in the coming years as a haven for flowers where people can enjoy the floral scenery the whole year round. A museum and art gallery is already being constructed to become a center for culture and the arts and continuing tourist site, he added.

The camp began in 1908, old Baguio residents recall,as a series of tents when the Thomasites first colonized the area. Some 150 public school teachers first pitchedtents on April 6, one hundred years back to begin a glorious tradition of training teachers.

From 1912-1927, more permanent lodgings such as halls and cottages were constructed.

It was also in the BTC where the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) was founded in the May 1936 while World War II saw some of the buildings being destroyed during the carpet bombings of Baguio by American fighter planes which were then targeting retreating Japanese occupation forces.

The War Damage Commission provided for the Camp’s restoration.

“The Teachers Camp, a scenic landmark, a tradition and part of Baguio’s life, has endured the test of time and will continue to be so in the next century,” Malaya said.

frustratedarchitect

April 22nd, 2008, 12:34 PM

Sunday, April 13, 2008
Baguio market fire paves way for rehab

BAGUIO CITY -- It's good news to some and terrible news for more, as the second fire to strike the central business district this month could pave the way for the rehabilitation of Baguio City's public market.

An estimated P3 million worth of government and private property went up in flames, after a fire hit the sari-sari section of Baguio old market building at dawn last Friday.

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo

According to Baguio Fire Station (BFS) Marshal Jovencio Marquez, although an investigation was still ongoing last Friday night, initial findings disclosed that the blaze originated at the ceiling joist along the alley behind stall 201 of the building.

"There were no casualties and injuries reported as a result of this fire," firefighter Marquez said.

An initial investigation into the conflagration revealed that three security guards on duty first heard "crackling sounds" emanating in the ceiling joist and noticed the fire "followed the main electrical wires" at 4:20 a.m. Friday.

This prompted them to report this to the Market Task Force or Station 1 of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Station 7 located nearby.

A caller from there, who only identified himself as Leo, immediately notified the BFS about it after receiving the alarm.

"Three fire trucks with complete crews responded to the fire scene and were able to put it out by 5:20 am," Marquez said.

The three-hour blaze prompted Baguio Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. to stress the need to rehabilitate the entire market area and make it safer for everyone going to the public market.

For about a decade, development of the city's primary market has been stifled by the ongoing case among the City Government, the various market organizations, and Uniwide Realty Development Corp. The court is expected to decide on the case this year.

The city fire marshal also recommended the immediate rehabilitation of buildings in the entire market to avoid the occurrence of another fire. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)

ttp://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2008/04/13/baguio.market.fire.paves.way.for.rehab.html

Zodiac18

April 24th, 2008, 03:30 PM

Teachers Camp is 100 years

Ace Alegre
NORDIS April 15 issue

BAGUIO CITY — For those who do not know, Teachers Camp is the Baguio icon built by American Thomasites on April 6, 1908.

“The Teachers Camp, a scenic landmark, a tradition and part of Baguio’s life, has endured the test of time and will continue to be so in the next century,” Malaya said.

Any pictures?

allan_dude

April 27th, 2008, 07:53 AM

Rehab of Baguio City market set

P100 M allotted for improvement of old market

By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY – The city government has earmarked at least P100 million for the complete rehabilitation of the city’s public market which is tagged as a major fire hazard.

The improvement of the dilapidated market may yet be the gift to the residents on the occasion of the city’s centennial celebration next year.

The project will include the construction of a one-storey building that will replace the building destroyed by fire that displaced 56 stallowners at the souvenir section of the market.

It will provide for main alleyways to prevent stallowners from renting them out to other persons for substantial amount.

The city government will fence off the burned market section before the construction of the structure.

Part of the market development plan calls for the development of Blocks 3 and 4 to accommodate more vendors.

At present, illegal vendors contribute to the clogging of the city’s sidewalks. Under the plan, they will have a permanent place to ply their trade in the rehabilitated market.

It was learned that the city government will eventually remove the Rillera building and will build a structure at its site so that the city’s public market will at least be at par with newly constructed markets in several areas of Northern Luzon.

City officials admitted that some public markets in La Union, Pangasinan and Ilocos Sur are far better and more convenient than the city’s public market because of the introduction of improvements and the strict implementation of zoning rules and regulations.

Although the city government had a plan to construct a multi-billion seven-storey market under the supervision of Uniwide Realty and Sales Development Corp., the project has been shelved since 1996 because some stall owners, who have subleased their stalls and own other stalls listed under different names, questioned the implementation of the project in court.

The R100 million allotted for the market rehabilitation plan will come from the city’s budget surplus last year. With the fund, the city government would not resort to borrowings to implement the project.

The city’s budget surplus came as a result of the good performance of the city’s economy which generated over P1 billion in revenue collection.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080427122901.html

allan_dude

April 30th, 2008, 01:43 AM

Air quality in Baguio starts to improve

By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY — The quality of air in this mountain resort city last year has returned to fair after an alarming rise in the level of toxic elements a few months back, data gathered from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in the Cordillera showed.

The EMB assessment was released after analyzing the results of the data recorded from the newlyinstalled air quality monitoring machine based at the foot of Session Road.

The state-of-the-art machine measures the emission of particulates and harmful chemicals like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matters, and carbon monoxide.

Ambient air quality in the city’s central business district area had dropped from good to fair due to the reported increase in the volume of motor vehicles plying the city’s streets daily.

The EMB cited the drastic increase in carbon dioxide in the city’s air which could be attributed to the closure of Session Road for the Baguio Flower Festival where it was closed to give way to sidewalk cafes.

The EMB’s pollution control division added that the increased vehicular traffic along Magsaysay Avenue and Harrison Road as a result of the closure of Session Road had aggravated the air pollution in the central business distract area.

Furthermore, the establishment of barbecue stands and food stalls along Session Road contributed in the worsening air quality.

Despite the relentless effort of various government and non-government organizations to awaken the people to realize the importance of preserving and protecting the city’s environment, the city’s unique weather condition has been greatly affected by rapid urbanization as evidenced by the warming weather condition, and polluted rivers and creeks among others.

The uncontrolled cutting of trees within the city’s forested areas to give way to the construction of high-rise structures in the guise of investments for economic development is taking its toll on the city’s water supply as the highly elevated areas have difficulty in getting enough water supply during the rainy season.

Worst, the city’s solid waste management problems have worsened over the past several years, forcing people to willfully dump their wastes in creeks and rivers thereby resulting in massive water pollution that have caused several creeks and rivers to be in the state of eventual death or decay.

Elementary and high school students are the ones being tapped to lead the campaign for environmental protection and awareness through the years but their efforts have not gained enough momentum to serve as an eye opener for residents and tourists to value the preservation and protection of the city’s trees.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080430123223.html

tracymack

April 30th, 2008, 01:59 AM

Air quality in Baguio starts to improve

By DEXTER A. SEE

The EMB assessment was released after analyzing the results of the data recorded from the newlyinstalled air quality monitoring machine based at the foot of Session Road.

Near Maharlika & the giant Christmas tree? I haven't noticed this machine. Maybe it's small.

le Reine

April 30th, 2008, 10:47 PM

I'll be on Baguio on Friday for the first time! Yehey! :banana: Anyone wants to have an SSC meet?

tyronne

May 1st, 2008, 02:10 AM

^^Daan ka ng Villasis, Pangasinan tapos bili ka ng tupig :D

allan_dude

May 3rd, 2008, 02:57 AM

PEZA denies plans to ‘massacre’ 13,000 trees in Baguio

By PIA GUTIERREZ
ABS-CBN Baguio

Baguio City - The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is on the defensive following reports that they plan to clear a large part of a forested land in Camp John Hay.

This is to host the expansion of Moog Controls Philippines, an American aircrafts parts manufacturer.

According to news reports, around 800 to 13,000 trees will be 'massacred' for the expansion. The controversy has sparked the ire of environmentalists in Baguio. Recently, Senator An Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal, in a resolution, has asked the Senate to investigate the issue.

PEZA Administrator Tereso Panga said however that, contrary to reports, only 262 trees will be cut, which they will replace with 5,000 seedlings. The greater part of the land will be developed for greenery. "PEZA has always operated within the framework of sustainable development," Panga said.

6.5 hectares of John Hay land was annexed to the Baguio City Economic Zone by the Bases Conversion Development Authority thru a memorandum of agreement with PEZA.

City Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, chair of the Baguio Regreening Movement, however, said they will not take this issue lying down. He said the public needs to take action to stop the total denudation of the remaining forest lands in the city.

Regional Director Samuel Penafiel of Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region said that because of the number of the trees for clearing, the evaluation of PEZA’s tree-cutting permit will go to the Central Office.

Penafiel said that the results of their technical evaluation will be given more weight as opposed to public opinion.

For the meantime, PEZA is now trying to insulate Moog Controls Philippines from the issue, unfortunately made bigger because of the controversy surrounding Hanjin Corp., another foreign-owned company currently operating in Subic.

Panga said that because of the negative publicities, Moog could discontinue its expansion.

For Baguio, this could mean the loss of investments estimated to be around 105 to 150 million dollars as well as more than a thousand potential jobs.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=116838

allan_dude

May 3rd, 2008, 02:58 AM

City urged to hire traffic engineers

Saturday, May 03, 2008
By Rimaliza Opiña

FOR a small city like Baguio, additional road networks should be the last priority if it intends to bring order back in the streets.

For Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, instilling discipline among pedestrians, traffic law enforcers and drivers is still the best formula to ease traffic congestion in Baguio.

While the Baguio city government is trying several ways to solve traffic, Fernando said there is no single and perfect formula that could solve traffic congestion.

"There should be a combination of many traffic schemes," Fernando told reporters even as he admitted traffic congestion remains to be one of Metro Manila's lingering problems.

Aside from the number coding scheme, Fernando said the MMDA is planning on imposing a centralized dispatch system.

The program is now implemented among bus companies and soon with jeepneys.
Similar to the practice among airline companies, a centralized dispatch system requires buses to stay in their terminals and reach a certain number of passengers before navigating the roads.

This way, buses are kept off the roads Fernando said, adding that bus companies stand to gain because they spend less fuel compared to the old practice where they roam the roads in search of passengers.

Asked if additional road networks need be built in Baguio, Fernando said there is little space for road infrastructure here.

"To add more roads is difficult especially if there is not enough space," Fernando said, while suggesting the city should consider hiring a group of traffic engineers to study and make recommendations as to how to ease congestion.

"For a tourism city like Baguio, it is a must to have a corps of traffic engineers," Fernando said reiterating that on top of traffic-reduction schemes, discipline among all sectors should be enforced.

Since last month, a rerouting scheme was implemented in several roads here. The Traffic Management Branch (TMB) of the Baguio City Police Office reported the scheme was able ease congestion, but drivers complained the bottlenecks were merely transferred to Leonard Wood Road and Fr. Carlu Loop.

Following the rerouting at Upper Session Road, northbound vehicles were rerouted to take the UP drive and currently, the TMB is planning to impose a one-way traffic movement along Marcos Highway.

At the City Council is a pending proposed ordinance penned by Councilor Rocky Thomas Balisong, which calls for the creation of a City Transportation Management and Development Authority (BCTMDA) and a Public Utilities Transportation and Regulatory Board (PUTRB).

The proposed BCTMDA would be given the power to manage, supervise, execute and enforce national and local traffic rules.

Among the functions of the BCTMDA is to conduct a study and recommend traffic routes, manage and supervise traffic flow, designate or regulate loading and unloading terminals, pay parking areas, pavement markings, tow stalled and illegally parked vehicles, install traffic signs, street fixtures and billboards and formulate solutions to traffic problems.

It is also tasked to manage and educate the public, operators and drivers about traffic and transportation rules, and with the concurrence of the Council, the BCTMDA could issue from time to time supplement guidelines on transport rules.

To curtail the practice of converting private vehicles to public utility vehicles, part of the BCTMDA's function is to adopt measures to identify those engaged in this practice. It is also mandated to maintain drivers' records such as personal data, records of apprehension, and inventory of statistical data of PUVs plying the city's streets.

The election of PUV association's officers, resolution of PUV conflicts and application of new franchises relative to loading areas shall also be under the supervision of the BCTMDA.

The PUTFRB meantime will serve as the policy making body of the BCTMDA and supervise the franchising and regulation of public transportation in Baguio.

Regulation will be done through the issuance of stickers or regulatory numbers, checking of the genuineness of existing franchises, inspection of parking terminals, submission to the Council its recommendation on the possible cancellation of franchises, and coordination with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) regarding franchising and compliance with laws on public transportation.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/05/03/news/city.urged.to.hire.traffic.engineers.html

allan_dude

May 3rd, 2008, 07:52 PM

Dads remain open to Baguio landfill idea

By Isagani Liporada

MUNICIPAL councilors in Itogon town said early this week that they remain "open minded" on the proposal of building a sanitary landfill (ESL) in their fief, pending "a clearer picture" to be painted by the city's Technical Working Group (TWG).

This amid a half-baked TWG presentation of Baguio's intentions to establish an ESL, amplifying Itogon folks' fear the "space age" garbage disposal technology would not protect their environment.

A barrage of skepticism rained on TWG head Engineer Nazita Bañez of the City
Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo), after her audio-visual presentation (AVP) of San Fernando City's ESL, in lieu of the city's proposal.

The Baguio AVP was apparently hampered by a "computer glitch."

Vice Mayor Noel Ngolob said, "Itogon wants an honest picture of what Baguio proposes to construct and exactly where it will be built. We need facts upon which to base intelligent decisions on behalf of our constituents."

Commenting on earlier reports hinting Itogon officials "welcomed" the project, Ngolob added, "Just to set the record straight, we are not approving nor have approved any proposals for an ESL installation from Baguio."

The TWG made known Baguio's intention to purchase a sprawling 49-hectare land from one Val Carantes somewhere in the Virac-Gumatdang areas in Itogon. Some residents, however, claim the property is not wholly for the vendor to dispose.

Asked why the City Government did not consider locating its ESL right in its own backyard, Bañez said the Land Use Plan (LUP) of the city prohibited its construction.

She added, "There is no sufficient land to contain the area needed for the project."

Councilor Oscar Camantiles quickly added, "Our problem is Itogon's LUP, which does not allow the putting up of an ESL facility."

Not totally shutting doors to the proposal, however, he added, "If you could present an ESL constructed upon a location similar to ours, we may better appreciate your proposal."

"The San Fernando ESL is constructed on flat land," Camantiles claimed, adding that "what we need is a presentation, which even laymen could understand so we can be assured of the safety of what you propose to do."

Gumatdang barangay chief Arnel Bahingawan meantime said, "All we have are speculations as to where the project will be built. It is sowing confusion which is the opposite of what the TWG seeks to accomplish -- social acceptability."

ESLs are well-controlled disposal sites that require installation of impermeable membranes, built to prohibit any leaching into groundwater system. Leachate is the liquid from rain and natural moisture percolating through waste.

As wastes deteriorate, they often produce foul smelling methane gas. ESLs are required to have equipment to collect and pump methane, which can kill foul odor and be refined as commercial fuel to produce electric power.

Bañez said Baguio needs at least 22-hectares for its ESL project; 10-hectares of which will be devoted for the construction of cells to capture methane.

Experts from the World Bank and Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) have named the site in Itogon as second best option for an ESL. A site in Tuba was earlier turned down by its local government after folks cried "not in our backyard."

Meantime, the council deferred talks on the matter until the TWG comes up with a better presentation and a copy of the city's Solid Waste Management Program after Baguio Councilor Antonio Tabora Jr. and City Administrator Peter Fianza appealed for sobriety among Itogon folks.

They pointed out that Baguio is not just "an island" on its own, but is dependent on its neighbors in the same way its neighbors depend on it for education and livelihood.

Fianza pleaded, "We are humbly asking for your help because we believe together, we could share something fruitful should the proposal find approval."

"As security," he offered, "Baguio, I am sure, allow a proviso that if the project does not work the way it should at first instance, Itogon could order it shut."

Bañez for her part invited Bahingawan and Virac Barangay chief Castillo Kiwang to be part of the TWG for purposes of identifying areas of concern as a means of perfecting the city's proposal.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/05/04/news/dads.remain.open.to.baguio.landfill.idea.html

allan_dude

May 4th, 2008, 07:56 PM

The businesses that Jack built

By Delmar Cariño
Northern Luzon Bureau

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Jack Dulnuan’s business tips are simple -- live simply, learn to save and do not put money in your pocket.

These tips, which Dulnuan, an Igorot, says he learned from his rags-to-riches experience, were the keys to building his business empire whose success had drawn much awe and envy from businessmen here and in other parts of the Cordillera.

A high school graduate, Dulnuan, 73, heads his family’s chain of Jack’s Restaurant and the Jack’s Industrial Development Corp. -- the products of hard work, guts and a big heart.

Recently, he acquired corporate rights to rebuild the fledgling Dangwa Transportation Co. that needed P100 million in capital investment and stock subscription.

People call him simply “Jack” because he is not your typical corporate chief executive officer who comes to his office in an expensive SUV and designer clothes.

Rather, Dulnuan, called by many as “Mr. Practical” for his realistic and doable philosophy in life, has always been friendly and a hands-on manager.

He would sign checks anywhere, hold office in any of his restaurants and wear flip-flops and shorts on regular business days.

Rose Marie Dulnuan, the second of Dulnuan’s 10 children, says credit to her father’s success goes much to the family’s trademark meal, “Jack’s Rice.”

“That’s actually his legacy to the Cordillera,” Rose Marie says.

She was referring to the all in one meal that has catapulted Dulnuan’s name in the local restaurant business.

Dulnuan was barely 10 years old when his uncle, Juan Dulnuan, brought him to this town from Kiangan, Ifugao. He finished grade school at the La Trinidad Central School and went to the Saint Louis Boys’ High in Baguio City where he finished high school.

Being born to poor parents, Dulnuan had to work as a houseboy to survive.

Unable to go to college because of poverty, Dulnuan was forced to work as a delivery boy for the Pines Bakery in Baguio City, receiving a salary of P50 a month.

Dulnuan says he saved P1,000 after two years and 10 months of work. That P1,000 became his first ticket to success.

Using his savings, he bought a small sari-sari store in Barangay Betag here from an owner who ordered bread from Pines Bakery and which Dulnuan delivered.

In 1957, Dulnuan, then 22, put up the first Jack’s Sari-Sari Store here.

In a few years, Dulnuan managed to build branches in several parts of the town.

Then customers began asking for coffee, then bread, then meals. Dulnuan responded to their demand.

From Jack’s Sari-Sari Store came Jack’s Bakery. Then came Jack’s Restaurant that became very popular when “Jack’s Rice” was introduced in the menu.

Within the next 10 years, Jack’s Restaurant grew.

“Jack’s Rice” became a household name and an innovation -- a complete meal that forced other restaurants to concoct their own rice meals that were copied from Jack’s Restaurant.

His being “Mr. Practical” gave way to the birth of “Jack’s Rice,” Rose Marie says.

She says her father got tired of seeing many plates filled separately with chicken, chopsuey (sautéed mixed vegetables), eggs and rice in his table whenever he would take his meal.

To be practical, Dulnuan asked his cook to arrange a meal that included all these viands to save preparation time.

One time, a customer saw Dulnuan’s meal and insisted that he be served the same meal. The man was given the same meal and “Jack’s Rice” was born.

Now, Jack’s Restaurant has nine branches -- six in Baguio City and three in this capital town.

“Jack’s Rice” and Jack’s Restaurant managed to survive the challenges posed by the arrival of fast-food chains, like McDonald’s and Jollibee.

In fact, Rose Marie says, plans are afoot to establish branches in Dagupan City in Pangasinan, San Fernando City in La Union, and Metro Manila.

But that’s half of the story.

“My father practically applied the economics of business to expand his ventures,” Rose Marie says.

She says her father’s restaurant grew well since Dulnuan saw to it that he would cut down on capital cost by putting up his own farm, piggery and poultry to supply the restaurant’s need for meat and vegetables.

Dulnuan has also established a machine and auto repair shop, called the Jack’s Industrial Development Corp. and a technical and vocational school.

At the moment, Dulnuan’s firms have more than 300 employees.

Dulnuan and wife Lolita have 10 children -- Rose Marie (pharmacist), Christine (doctor), Peter and Ben Sam (civil engineers), Mary Ella, (chemical engineer), Evelyn, (dentist), Joyce (lawyer), Jose Marie (accountant) and Ma. Lolita (economics).

Only Victor did not finish college but he manages his own business.

On his 73rd birthday last April 4, Dulnuan announced his bid to convert the Dangwa Transportation Co. into the first Igorot Bus Corp.

He butchered 20 pigs and two cows and fed hundreds who attended the launching of his Jack Transport System that he formed en route to the formation of the Igorot Bus Corp.

He asked fellow Igorots to buy at least five shares of stock at P100 per share.

“Trust me. Invest your money in the company and I promise that in a few years’ time, they will be returned to you as dividend or patronage refund,” he says.

Dulnuan says he is taking his reputation as a successful businessman in trying to salvage a homegrown bus company that is close to the hearts of Igorots.

Dulnuan’s business tips come straight from the “University of Hard Knocks”:

1. Learn to save—“You should not be in business if you do not know how to save. For every transaction, save, no matter how small.”

2. Do not put money in your pocket—“You will be tempted to buy unnecessary things if you have money in your pocket. Money will be wasted.”

3. Live a simple life—“Don’t spend much. Buy only important things. Don’t gamble, smoke or drink. Avoid vices. Don’t be extravagant.”

4. Wear shorts—“If you are a farmer, wear shorts. This will save much laundry soap.”

5. Cook all the day’s meal in the morning—“Cooking every lunch and dinner would cost more fuel and energy.”

6. Do not demand payment from one who took goods from your store and refused to pay—“If he tended to forget his debt, do not demand payment because if he has money, he would not buy from your store anymore.”

7. Give the right change—“Do not shortchange your customers. They will spread bad stories about you and you will lose your reputation as a store owner.”

http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20080503-134382/The-businesses-that-Jack-built

allan_dude

May 4th, 2008, 07:59 PM

How Baguio was born from soot and glitter

By Vincent Cabreza
Northern Luzon Bureau

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines--It is time to get the facts straight about the country's mining industry from the proposed Baguio Historical and Mining Museum.

Conservationists and mining industry experts have pooled their resources to develop a museum for the summer capital's centennial celebrations in 2009, which describes how this mountain resort city was born from the soot and glitter of Benguet's mine tunnels.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Delia Albert led an inaugural presentation of the museum to residents and reporters here on Friday, alongside industry stalwarts like Artemio Disini, chair of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, and civic leader Maria Isabel Ongpin, whose late husband, Jaime V. Ongpin, had helped usher a golden age of mining in 1980.

Jaime Ongpin was the first Filipino president of Benguet Corp., the pioneer Philippine mine that was incorporated by American mine prospectors at the start of the 20th century.

Leonora San Agustin, curator of the Baguio-Mountain Provinces Museum, said the city, which Chicago architect Daniel Burnham had designed as the seat of the American colonial government during summer, would have remained a hick town without the mines.

Four dots

Albert, a native of Baguio City and who served as foreign secretary from 2003 to 2004, said the Baguio seal still bears four gold dots that cut diagonally across a field of green.

The dots represent the four mining communities that sprouted around Baguio during the period.

Albert refers to an account written by former University of the Philippines president Salvador P. Lopez in his 1992 book, "Isles of Gold: A History of Mining in the Philippines," which describes the industry's genesis as the story of how Baguio transformed from a vast wilderness with patches of human settlements into a bustling metropolis.

The city's economy relied on American mine prospectors because Benguet actually had the largest gold concentration and the district had become the most important gold producer in the Philippines by the late 1920s, Lopez wrote.

Albert first announced the plans for the mining and historical museum in 2006, and had managed to draw donor interests from Spain, Germany and even officials of Chicago.

Interactive museum

A foundation that Albert, Ongpin and Disini run would operate the interactive mining museum at the old Dominican Hill monastery, where the abandoned Diplomat Hotel still stands.

Museum curator Marian Pastor Roces said the walls of the old hotel would be cleaned up and refurbished to house what is perhaps the very first Philippine Center of Minerals; a Center for Jewelry Design that tracks down the parallel growth of art and metals unearthed by the industry; and a memorabilia room that showcases even the average Baguio tourist's photographs of old Baguio and the mines.

But Disini, who led the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. and the Manila Mining Corp., said the museum was not put up to change everyone's minds about mining.

It lays down the foundation of Philippine mining, but the museum also reveals the unflattering details about mining's story to allow people to interpret the story for themselves, he said.

"We stick to the facts. If they say some of the problems you see around Kennon Road are caused by mines, then we will state it there," Disini said.

"We're here to present facts how Baguio grew," Albert said.

Ongpin said the museum does not stop evolving.

She has opened the doors for heirs of the pioneering American prospectors to tell their stories. Heirs of John Gaffney, for example, who still live in the city, could give a good account of how Lepanto developed.

Ibalois, who set up their own museum at an elementary school near the Loakan Airport, could also share their insights. The defunct Demolition Mine used to operate there.

Herminio Bautista, president of the University of Baguio, said keeping these memories alive has become a challenge with heritage sites slowly giving way to buildings and roads.

Chi Balmaceda Gutierrez, one of the publishers of the Baguio Yearbook, said the landmark Mines View Park has been delisted from the list of popular Baguio destinations.

The park is actually a cliff that towers over mine sites of neighboring Itogon, Benguet, but houses have since replaced these old tunnels which began shutting down when the world metals trade lost its momentum after the 1980s.

More good than harm

Mine stakeholders, however, still believe the museum would do them more good than harm.

Horacio Ramos, director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, said the story of Philippine mining reached its peak several times due to two super cycles of development.

Ramos said the first cycle began with a gold rush that was triggered by the United States industrialization in the 1900s.

Lopez wrote about the increase of the price of gold from $20.67 to $35 an ounce between 1909 and 1930, which had precipitated a frenetic rush to the mountains of the Baguio district.

A second wave of gold prospecting in the 1930s helped birth most mines that still operate today.

Ramos said the massive world reconstruction after World War II represented the second super cycle of Philippine mining, because world metal prices soared, causing demand for Philippine gold to climb.

Mining is entering a new super cycle this century, Ramos said, because metal prices are again rising due to high demand from an industrializing China and India.

http://business.inquirer.net/money/features/view/20080504-134540/How-Baguio-was-born-from-soot-and-glitter

Zodiac18

May 5th, 2008, 11:45 PM

^^Daan ka ng Villasis, Pangasinan tapos bili ka ng tupig :D

Shoot, I miss the tupig! :ohno:

allan_dude

May 6th, 2008, 05:50 AM

Ayala Land to build BPO village in Baguio

Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Real estate giant Ayala Land Inc. will spend P1.3 billion to build a business process outsourcing (BPO) village in the Camp John Hay, the city mayor said.

The project is part of a joint-venture arrangement between Ayala and Fil-Estate Corp. that is meant to revitalize Camp John Hay, a leisure estate and special economic zone, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said.

Ayala has infused fresh capital in Fil-Estate-led Camp John Hay Development Corp., which owes the government up to P1 billion in rent accumulated since 1997.

Details of the tie-up between Ayala and Fil-Estate remain sketchy, despite confirmation by an official of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority at the start of the year, Bautista said.

But he said Ayala officials informed him about the project, citing the rich pool of college graduates in this resort city that is also the education hub of the northern Philippines.

Camp John Hay Development officials have not responded to queries of the Philippine Daily Inquirer about Bautista’s announcement, which he made during the flag ceremony at City Hall on Monday.

Bautista said BPOs in the Philippines get about one-fourth of their workers from Baguio City.

Jamea Garcia, executive director of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), said the BPO industry expected $13 billion in annual revenue by 2010.

Garcia, who spoke a national convention of Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants held here last week, said BPO revenues were estimated at $5 billion last year.

She said the 2010 target translated to 235,000 to 900,000 new jobs.

BPO firms in Metro Manila take about 82 percent of accounts but the industry has been trying to encourage development of “next-wave cities”— new BPO locations outside Metro Manila, where new accounts could be farmed out, Garcia said. Vincent Cabreza and Janela Paguio

http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080506-134797/Ayala-Land-to-build-BPO-village-in-Baguio

tracymack

May 6th, 2008, 05:53 AM

^^Nice! :okay:

allan_dude

May 7th, 2008, 02:08 AM

Inquirer Northern Luzon
Brave new world in museum work unfolds in Baguio

By Maurice Malanes
Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAGUIO CITY – This museum, perhaps the first of its kind in the country, will tell a community’s story from the perspective of its people.

The Baguio Historical and Mining Museum will rise on one of the city’s historic sites – Dominican Hill, where the ruins of a monastery lie. It will be led by its foundation, chaired by Philippine Ambassador to Germany Delia Albert, in time for the city’s centennial celebration in 2009.

“There’s a brave new world in museum work – one that employs modern technology, such as biotechnology, but…offers an atmosphere of warmth, which encourages collaboration with and participation from the community,” says Marian Pastor Roces, who has been appointed curator of the proposed museum.

Roces describes the project as “community-centered,” meaning residents can participate and collaborate with the museum staff to interpret data rather than have these interpreted by outsiders.

“This is a museum that learns from the community and tells the community’s diverse stories of interaction,” she told reporters during the project’s launching on May 2. The stories include not only those from the past but also those that are “continuing, unfolding,” she said.

How Baguio evolved as a chartered city because of the mining industry that boomed in the early 1900s in the neighboring gold-rich communities of Benguet is one such account.

Albert, a native of Baguio, says the mining industry’s growth is intertwined with the city’s development. She points at the four yellow dots against a green backdrop in the official seal, representing the four original neighboring mining communities in Benguet.

A lot of stories related to the mining industry still need to be told, Albert said. She cites the Kankanaey and Ibaloi traditional mining experts who claim they can find gold in rocks by using their tongue and saliva.

Even before American colonial soldiers-turned-gold prospectors came and founded the forerunners of today’s big mining corporations, the Spanish colonial government had also heard of gold guarded by “fierce natives” in the Cordillera’s pine-clad mountains.

Collaboration

Written accounts showed that Spaniards had organized gold expedition teams that reached Benguet through horse trails built by the Igorot natives through forced labor.

The historical and mining museum will incorporate all these stories, according to foundation officials. In fact, there is still a wealth of unstudied pre-20th century materials about Baguio in museums around the world, which can be reproduced and stored here, says Roces.

She cites 19th-century maps of Baguio and archives of tourist photos that can help tell how Baguio evolved into a metropolis.

Among the key sources of museum materials are the Philippine National Archive, University of Chicago, Michigan State University, US Army Archives in Maryland, Leiden University, Smithsonian Institution, Museum fur Volkenkunde in Vienna, the British Museum, and Musee du Quay Branly in Paris.

In this “brave new world of museology (museum studies),” collaboration is the key word, Roces says. And how will this collaboration with the community work?

Roces and her staff will facilitate the creation of a body of local experts – from academics and elders or pioneers to a wide range of professionals – to gather historical data and artifacts and later collectively interpret and represent these in various documentation forms (video, photographs or manuscripts).

“Data gathering won’t only be done by academics; even neighborhood groups can gather old photos from other neighbors, for example,” she says. “It’s going to be an entire series of action and process that involves community participatory mechanisms from beginning to end.”

Leonora San Agustin, curator of the Baguio-Mountain Provinces Museum, agrees on the need for experts. She cites an innocent-looking rock given to her by former Baguio Mayor Francisco Paraan. “I didn’t know what the rock was for until a traditional miner told me it was where traditional miners would grind gold ore,” she says.

“We need all the experts we can mobilize, especially now that our local miners are disappearing with demise of the mining industry here,” says San Agustin.

Heritage conservation

A product of more than four years of planning and consultation, the Baguio Historical and Mining Museum is “a positive step for heritage conservation,” Maria Isabel Ongpin, the foundation president, says. It is “an idea of Baguio residents, past and present,” she says.

Albert says the project would give people who have ties with Baguio a reason “to be proud once more of this fantastic city that reared us.”

The city government, however, has yet to amend a resolution turning over the Dominican Hill property to the museum foundation. The resolution does not include the turnover of the monastery ruins.

“We need the building first,” says Albert. The 33-room Dominican monastery was the city’s most expansive stone structure before 1920, according to the book, “City of Pines.”

The people behind the museum project have already ironed out plans to beat a very tight deadline, as the city counts down to its centennial on Sept. 1 next year.

Roces says the new museum would employ state-of-the-art technology in helping the local community gather and interpret data. “It’s going to be high-tech, but congenial,” she says, noting how technology sometimes alienates, if not intimidates, some people. “So we have to create a special encounter for people to dialogue and communicate with one another.”

The secret is building it with a “delightful yet elegant” ambience, she says.

Some old-timers are enthusiastic about the project and its site, which overlooks the city. “I live there and it’s a perfect, beautiful place for us to chat, dialogue and meditate as we watch the sunset,” Paraan says.

The museum intends to become a repository for the memorabilia of residents and tourists, a science center that is at the same time a crucible for art, a high-tech learning facility, a tourist destination and national and international crowd draw, and a space for encounter, dialogue, meditation, and festivity.

It will be divided into five spaces: a study center on urbanization, oral history and family memorabilia trust, a Philippine center for geology, an international center for jewelry design, and a study center for Cordillera-lowland cultures encounter.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080507-135031/Brave-new-world-in-museum-work-unfolds-in-Baguio

allan_dude

May 15th, 2008, 03:28 AM

Private firms may soon manage Baguio City's garbage

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Private firms may soon manage the solid waste program of the city after local officials failed in its bid to relocate the dump facility in nearby municipalities.

While City mayor Reinaldo Bautista said last week the city is faring well on its target to totally close its dumpsite at Irisan barangay, he also admitted setbacks in its bid to establish a sanitary landfill as a permanent solution to its garbage woes.

At present the city has closed 70 percent of the dumpsite and the remaining 30 percent is being operated as a controlled dump facility while looking for relocation of the dump facility in nearby Itogon or Tuba municipalities.

But both prospective relocation areas negated the offer practically dragging the solid waste management program back to square one.

Meanwhile, faced with a possible garbage crisis, local officials are now mulling contracting private firms to manage city trash.

Bautista admitted preference to a privatized set-up, saying the city can amend the ten-year waste management plan to accommodate the scheme.

He, however, said this option would depend on two conditions.

First, that the private company to take over the system must be ready to absorb in its employ all the city government personnel presently undertaking the waste collection along with all the equipment invested by the city for the project.

Second, that the firm must be ready to take over the task of working out the establishment and management of the sanitary landfill.

The mayor admitted that considering the city’s experience, the last condition would be a tall order for a private company but he said such is the only way that the privatization scheme could address the city’s need to solve its garbage woes.

Bautista said the city has no reason to worry over the issuance of a six-month ultimatum for all local government units to scrap their dumpsites by Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza as it has been making headway in rehabilitating and closing the dump facility.

City environment and parks management officer-in-charge Cordelia Lacsamana said barring some hitches, the on-going project for the dumpsite’s conversion into a controlled dump facility will soon be completed. - GMANews.TV (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/95090/Private-firms-may-soon-manage-Baguio-Citys-garbage)

allan_dude

May 15th, 2008, 03:55 AM

Skipper ti Philippine cycling team, kampeon iti Manila-Baguio Tour

Jim Agpalo

BAGUIO CITY – Ti dati a captain ti Philippine team a nangiyawid iti balitok a medalia iti napalabas a tour of Thailand ti kampeon iti lumba ti bisikleta manipud Manila agingga iti daytoy a siudad.

Iti panangiyalat ni Irish Villanueva, 21, ti kampeonato iti Liquigas race to the Lion’s Head, ti 247-km Manila-Baguio a lumba ti bisikleta, pinedalanna iti innem nga oras, 47 a minutos ken 57 a segundos ti distansia a nangrugi sadiay Quezon City Memorial Circle ken naggibus iti Burnham Park ditoy itay Mayo 5.

Ti met la team ni Villanueva a binukel ti walo a siklista ti nagkampeon para iti team standing.

Imbulsa ni Villanueva ti P10,000.00 cash prize ken P5,000.00 kas king of the mountains. Inyawid ti bunggoyna ti P75,000.00 kas overall team champion.

Inyalat met ni Joseph Millanes ti P5,000 premio kas sprint king.

Iti pannakasuspende ti Padyak Pinoy itoy a tawen, inisponsoran ti LPG Marketers Association ken ti Philippine National Association Cycling daytoy maysa nga aldaw a karera. Agdagup iti 96 dagiti siklista a naglulumba.

Ni Villanueva ti rookie of the year iti Padyak Pinoy 2006.

Segun kadagiti kameng ti komite ti lumba, dakkel ti tiansa ni Villanueva a mangabak iti daytoy a karera agsipud ta malaksid a kaub-ubinganna, dakkel pay ti padasna iti ballasiw-taaw a kas captain ti Philippine Team a nangiyawid iti balitok a medalia iti tour of Thailand. Maikapat ti nagun-od a puesto ni Villanueva iti cycling competition iti napalabas a Southeast Asian Games.

Maika-20 laeng a puesto ti nagun-od ni Victor Espiritu, kampeon ti Padyak Pinoy idi napan a tawen idinto a di nakastrek iti top 20 dagiti nagkamkampeon a kas kada Santy Barnachea, Warren Davadilla ken Arnel Quirimit.

Dagiti dadduma pay a nangabak: Renier Clauna, 2nd; Joel Calderon, 3rd; Dante Cagas, 4th; Tomas Martinez, 5th: Joseph Millanes, 6th; Renato Sambrano, 7th; Edward Nardo, 8th; Ericson Obosa, 9th; ken Merculio Ramos, 10th.

Ti Tarlac City team ti nangiyalat iti maikadua a gunggona iti team standing idinto a maikatlo ti Team 11.

Ni Mayor Sonny Belmonte ti namalubos kadagiti siklista iti Quezon City Memorial Circle idinto a ni Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas ti namasangbay kadakuada iti Burham Park ditoy ken nangiyawat kadagiti premio. (Jim Agpalo)

http://www.tawidnewsmag.com/content/view/2335/66/

ritche

May 16th, 2008, 04:42 PM

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1149/1412916841213569272qo5.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/49/141291353_442a5f07f5.jpg?v=0

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/686/141291350f58dfaa59cfl9.jpg

frustratedarchitect

May 21st, 2008, 01:27 PM

Baguio reaches 300,000 mark last 2007 population census.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9673/picture3150um2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9673/picture3150um2.14a29bf4de.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=176&i=picture3150um2.jpg)

allan_dude

May 22nd, 2008, 04:46 AM

Baguio bids for Ad Congress 2009

BAGUIO CITY — The local government considers the possibility that the Ad Congress 2009 could be a part of Baguio City’s Centennial Celebration. The city government and the City Tourism Office will be bidding against other cities during the Ad Board meeting in Makati City.

The Ad Congress is the number one showcase of the advertising industry in the country.

“Being the host for this event means a two-billion peso income for the host-city,” said Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.

The city hosted the said ad showcase in 2003.

Bautista admitted that we have no convention facilities that could accommodate three to five thousand people at the same time.

“But Baguio is having infrastructure development, and in fact two hotels are to be established by next year,” said Bautista.

According to the mayor, in hosting the event, the traffic and parking issues should also be looked at.

“Aside from the one-way traffic scheme, the city government is also planning to make a collapsible parking area probably at Burnham Park to lessen the vehicles parking along the streets, said Bautista. Claudine D. Mariano for NORDIS

http://www.nordis.net/blog/?p=2567

allan_dude

May 22nd, 2008, 04:48 AM

Baguio mayor defends one-way traffic scheme

BAGUIO CITY — Despite the heavy traffic that Baguio City is experiencing, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr, said that the one-way traffic scheme along Upper Session Road and its side streets is effective.

“The summer vacation brought in a lot of tourists to the city, which caused heavy traffic,” said Bautista adding that this one-way traffic scheme was aimed to divert traffic to other areas, like Marcoville.

http://www.nordis.net/blog/wp-content/files/mutya2008_0518.jpg

Bautista said that this scheme will help to “spread business.” He reiterated that traffic is a good sign that commerce is coming in the city.

He also emphasized that this one month experiment of rerouting did not cost a lot of money compared to building flyovers, overpasses, or tunnels.

“What was invested here was just technical know-hows,” said Bautista.
The city still plans to continue with the one-way scheme even after the original target experimental period expires.

The mayor is hoping to get feedback from the public before the re-routing experiment be fully implemented.

Meanwhile, the number coding will resume on May 31, as response to heavy traffics in the Central Business District. Claudine D. Mariano for NORDIS

http://www.nordis.net/blog/?p=2574

allan_dude

May 22nd, 2008, 05:06 AM

http://www.tawidnewsmag.com/images/banner-photo/greenriders-big.jpg
Maysa ti panagbisikleta a pagwatwatan para iti nasalun-at a bagi. Maaramat pay a pangipamatmat wenno panangitandudo iti maysa a naindaklan a panggep kas iti panangawis iti imatang dagiti umili iti kinapateg ti nadalus nga aglawlaw. Naidumduma ti lalaki (ngato) a nakipartisipar iti panagbisikleta para iti naberberde a Baguio City ta nakabaag laeng. (Jasper A. Espejo)

http://www.tawidnewsmag.qwadro.com/

jackcar

May 22nd, 2008, 07:41 AM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2513243502_70ce7e5838_b.jpg

from the BEN ANDAYA COLLECTION thru the kindness of his son BENJO ANDAYA, who by the way was the layout artist of the latest edition of our magazine,THE BAGUIO CITY YEARBOOK 2008.

tracymack

May 22nd, 2008, 08:51 AM

^^Thanks for sharing jackcar! I like this better than the current city hall. :) This pic reminds me of the older houses in Baguio.

frustratedarchitect

May 22nd, 2008, 01:50 PM

Baguio could have been more beautiful if they maintained the same architectural theme which separates it from other Philippine cities...

I read in the newspaper that SM would be developing a condotel in the GSIS lot near the convention center...consisting of 4 buildings with 12 floors each

tracymack

May 22nd, 2008, 02:28 PM

^^Which means they're going to chop off quite a number of pine trees. :ohno:

frustratedarchitect

May 22nd, 2008, 02:42 PM

Yes. Around 300 trees I think... If only they could find another location for such a project.

frustratedarchitect

May 23rd, 2008, 01:52 PM

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2945/picture3128ap7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2945/picture3128ap7.4e1ffd54da.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=90&i=picture3128ap7.jpg)

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/6964/picture3082ym9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/6964/picture3082ym9.e91ba34d8f.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=360&i=picture3082ym9.jpg)

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4060/picture3131jo3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4060/picture3131jo3.9e814e32c9.jpg (http://g.imageshack.us/g.php?h=237&i=picture3131jo3.jpg)

snapshots from the city of pines

jackcar

May 25th, 2008, 06:27 AM

Some glimpses of Baguio's past as a run up to our centennial!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2519465961_aa329618a4_b.jpg

frustratedarchitect

May 25th, 2008, 01:45 PM

Thats just 100 years ago and now, I cant recognize where that photo was taken within Baguio.:)^^thanks for sharing the pics for everyone to enjoy

tracymack

May 26th, 2008, 06:20 PM

Save forest, Baguio asks GSIS
Philippine Daily Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080526-138816/Save-forest-Baguio-asks-GSIS

BAGUIO CITY—Strong reactions were raised this week to a public announcement that a one-hectare forested lot here may be cleared to make way for two condominium buildings.

During the city council session on Monday, SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) made public a proposal to build two condominium buildings on a wooded area surrounded by the Supreme Court compound, the Baguio Convention Center (BCC), the University of the Philippines Baguio and Luneta Hill, where SM City Baguio shopping mall sits.

The lot is administered by the Government Service Insurance System. Its officials here said the project has yet to be approved by the GSIS board.

The council asked SMIC to present its plans because it has to address three pending resolutions opposing projects that would destroy the forested property.

According to a proposal presented by Carlo Alampay, senior project development officer of SM Development Corp., an SMIC subsidiary, at least 313 trees would either be relocated or cut for the condominium project. The area has 967 trees, according to the plan presented by Alampay to the council.

It is the second major project that conservationists claim would threaten the summer capital’s dwindling tree cover.

A six-hectare forested lot straddling Camp John Hay and the Baguio Economic Zone is also up for development and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority said at least 262 trees would be cut there.

“We like [the project] but we are asking SMIC to consider instead the convention center lot or a neighboring area [for redevelopment] and not the tree lot. Even the council is happy [with the proposed investments] but not there,” said Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.

City employees have started a petition urging GSIS to withdraw its development offer to SM covering the forested lot.

“Let GSIS protect the lot in the same way they saved the ‘Parisian Life,’” said city information officer Ramon Dacawi, who started the campaign through text messages.

Dacawi was referring to the GSIS’ controversial P53.501-million purchase of Juan Luna’s period painting, “Parisian Life.”

Local universities and civic groups like the Soroptimist International put up signboards and hung streamers in the area to stress their opposition to the plan.

The Baguio Community of Volunteers Movement Inc. launched its own petition to declare the lot, as well as other forested sections of Baguio, as part of a Green Urban Zone that would be protected from both government and private projects.

Fr. Carmelo Carreon, BCVM secretary-general, said his office has asked the Supreme Court, UP Baguio and Court of Appeals, among others, to join the petition as the main stakeholders of the proposed zone because the forest near their facilities is at risk.
But he said residents are also being asked to sign up to widen the zone to include the city’s remaining forested property.

Bautista said the city government has not yet backed the urban zone campaign “until we know precisely who owns the (BCC) forest.”

He said the city has asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Land Registration Authority to trace how the GSIS acquired the title over the forested lot.

“The city is questioning the inclusion of the tree park as part of GSIS property … Their [property only included] a hill at the back of the convention center that has been taken over by squatters,” Bautista said.

The city government has pending obligations to the GSIS.

The city, during the term of former Mayor Bernardo Vergara, bought the old convention center for P250 million from the GSIS.

GSIS had threatened to repossess the convention center last year when the city failed to pay the balance of P200 million, which was mortgaged against unpaid rent by developers of Camp John Hay. Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon

allan_dude

May 27th, 2008, 03:27 AM

Baguio street vendors plead for more time to sell

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Vendors waiting for the approval of an ordinance legalizing the conduct of a night market pleaded to members of the city council to allow them to sell so they will have money for the opening of classes next month.

John Pascua, spokesperson of vendors at Diego Silang and Claudio streets in the city, have asked that they be allowed to sell their goods in the meantime, saying they need money for the enrollment of their children as well as for the purchase of school materials and other fees.

He said being kept out of the streets because of the anti-peddling drive have affected their livelihood. He said although they were advised to look for other business to avoid constantly being chased, they cannot afford to change business at this time.

His group's proposal is to sell from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Pascua assured councilors his group will maintain cleanliness in their vending areas around the city's central business district.

"We will not compete with the establishments for they are already closed by that time," Pascua said assuaging the fear of many legitimate businessmen who have opposed the conduct of informal night markets in the past, for directly competing with them.

Pascua said they cater to clients who were not able to shop at daytime.

The City Council committee on market, trade and commerce recently held a public hearing on the ordinance authorizing a night market. A report will be prepared and will be deliberated further by the council.

Pascua, meanwhile, denied reports they have been paying "protection money" to police to spare them from being chased during clearing out operations.

He said his members are advised not to pay any of the law enforcers that demand money from them. "Do not allow yourselves to be exploited, we are finding ways to help you," the councilors advised. – Sun.Star Baguio

allan_dude

May 27th, 2008, 03:28 AM

Environmentalists oppose plan to build 14-storey hotel in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Environmentalists and concerned citizens are opposing the construction of four 14-storey hotel complex by the SM Development Corporation at the heart of this city.

This was after the city council disclosed that at least 418 mature pine trees located at the 1.4 hectare forest reserve in front of the Baguio Convention Center and the University of the Philippines Baguio will have to be cut down to give way for the said infrastructure

The city council found out that these trees would be sacrificed in an area which seems to be overlapping with other land titles.

The hotel complex will be built through a joint venture between SMDC and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Carlo Alampay, the SMDC representative, admitted that they will have to cut down 313 of the 418 trees but said 103 trees will be replanted soon. He also said that the rest of the mature trees will not be touched.

The company however is yet to file an application for the cutting of trees. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/97228/Environmentalists-oppose-plan-to-build-14-storey-hotel-in-Baguio

frustratedarchitect

May 27th, 2008, 02:00 PM

tHE structure of the said 4 tower condo complex is the first of its kind in the entire Philippines. If someone could post a rendering here.:)

allan_dude

May 29th, 2008, 03:39 AM

Baguio urges residents to walk to office, schools

Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080529-139401/Baguio-urges-residents-to-walk-to-office-schools)

BAGUIO CITY—City environment advocates, workers and government employees will start walking to work every Monday to cope with a potential energy crisis.

Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas and the Baguio Regreening Movement (BRM) launched on Wednesday the “Walk Baguio Walk” campaign, which would start on June 2.

The crusade expects residents and employees here to walk to a flag ceremony at the Athletic Bowl in Burnham Park, before proceeding to their offices or schools.

Fariñas said participating agencies and firms would continue the habit every first day of the week, each time they hold their respective flag ceremonies.

Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, BRM chair, urged residents to use their unspent fare money instead to fund the BRM’s reforestation projects that would start next month.

BRM, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary on June 5 (World Environment Day), is the lead civic organization campaigning for Baguio’s forest protection.

He said P8 to P10 could help buy seedlings that would be planted to replenish the city’s dwindling pine tree cover.

Fariñas said the program would also coincide with this year’s Independence Day celebration, but its theme “Pilipinas kong mahal (The Philippines I love),” only reminds people that “mahal na rin ang gasolina (gasoline has become expensive also).”

Images of cyclones, earthquakes and other disasters that have hit other countries have actually made the “Walk Baguio Walk” concept acceptable to residents, Fariñas said.

Vincent Cabreza with a report from Donna Demetillo, Inquirer Northern Luzon

allan_dude

May 29th, 2008, 03:41 AM

tHE structure of the said 4 tower condo complex is the first of its kind in the entire Philippines. If someone could post a rendering here.:)

^SM scraps condominium project in forested lot

By Vincent Cabreza
Northern Luzon Bureau

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) withdrew its plans to build a condominium complex called "Air Residences" on a one-hectare forested lot near the Baguio Convention Center here, Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas said on Wednesday.

Heeding the city's suggestion, the SMIC would instead study a proposal to develop open areas around the convention center, he said.

SMIC was asked to invest in a joint venture project with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), which would have cleared about half of the lot's 30-year-old trees to make way for the condominium buildings.

Environmental advocates and civic groups have opposed the plan and asked the city government to save the trees.

According to an assessment sent by the SM Development Corp., an SMIC subsidiary, to the city council, the lot holds more than 800 trees, and 313 would have to be relocated or cut.

Its inventory included about 100 "already dead trees" in the area, according to documents submitted to the city council.

The trees were planted when the BCC was built to host the 1978 world chess championship between grandmasters Victor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov, said retired forester Rosalio Goze.

GSIS took control over the area and sold the convention center to the city government for P250 million but did not relinquish the tree lot.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said the city challenged GSIS' control over the property, as the lot could not have fallen under GSIS administration in the first place.

Bautista said he offered SMIC the convention center itself, "and they are now studying that option."

Fariñas said the city has been considering ways to protect other forested properties and was considering the option of buying them to shield these areas from developers.

He said the city already outlined areas that it wanted reserved for its use because Baguio's lands have been part of a town site reservation.

Town sites are managed by the national government, and the sale of public lands must go through a public auction.

Fariñas said the city government has been reasserting its right over properties like local forests.

Augusto Lagon, Cordillera director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Forest Management Bureau, said on Wednesday that only 21 percent of the city had forest cover, and this made all the forests around Camp John Hay, the Forbes Park along Baguio's South Drive and all of the city's watersheds as "vitally critical."

DENR, however, already approved a petition by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) to cut 262 trees at a wooded property straddling Camp John Hay and the Baguio Economic Zone, Bautista said on Wednesday.

Peza and the John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC), estate manager of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), jointly manage the area.

A portion of the lot has been offered for an expansion factory of airline parts manufacturer Moog Philippines Inc. Bautista said the city government had no jurisdiction over economic zones.

"But I have created a task force that would check and monitor all issues surrounding that lot, including the tree cutting," he said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080528-139359/SM-scraps-condominium-project-in-forested-lot

tracymack

May 29th, 2008, 06:13 AM

^^Nice! Pine trees over condos anytime! :yes:

It's good that there are other options where SM could build their condos such as the convention center itself.

frustratedarchitect

May 29th, 2008, 08:07 AM

It is good that hundreds of pine trees were saved...:cheers:. But I hope SMDC wont be discouraged in continuing the said investment..which I think would be good for Baguio and neighboring cities as well.

tracymack

May 29th, 2008, 08:24 AM

^^Yeah, I hope so too. Remember the proposed Thunderbird Casino Baguio? San Fernando benefited from Baguio's decision to not approve that project.

Nabartek

May 31st, 2008, 04:59 AM

Buti SM scrapped it. Even them will not benefit from it. Condos in Baguio? Malulugi lang sila, just like how their mall is not really as profitable as their malls in Manila. Nakakatipid lagn sila dahil hindi sila ganin gumagastos sa kuryente. Maraming shops na nga ang nagsara sa SM.

Nabartek

May 31st, 2008, 05:02 AM

^^Yeah, I hope so too. Remember the proposed Thunderbird Casino Baguio? San Fernando benefited from Baguio's decision to not approve that project.

Financially, it may be a loss to Baguio but you must understand that the remaining forest in the entire city is only at 20% and the CBD is nearly devoid of trees na.

It's not all about money. At saka masmaganda na na napunta sa San Fernanado yun to help their economy and for them to earn more income. When I went there last month, parang hindi city ang dating, it's not even as bustling as Dagupan and the only mall there was CSI which is not really San Fernando-born.

Dapat di rin kami masyadong garapal sa investors para pati yung mga neigboring municipalities and cities ay umangat din. Dapat di namin tularan ang Manila na halos kunin lahat ng investment na pumapasok.

garzland

May 31st, 2008, 05:23 AM

^^Tama yan dapat may decentralization of development tayo hindi sa iisang lugar ang lahat ng development.

Nabartek

May 31st, 2008, 06:21 AM

Baguio's centennial memories placed online

By Vincent Cabreza
Northern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 09:04pm (Mla time) 09/29/2007

BAGUIO CITY -- Everyone's fond memories of the summer capital will be collected for posterity online.

A firm that has been advocating Internet technology-based approaches to education, has opened a website that is dedicated to old Baguio recollections, in honor of two centennial celebrations coming in the next two years.

The only city built by the American colonial government at the start of the 20th century will commemorate its centennial on Sept. 1, 2009, while the Teachers' Camp, another US colonial-era institution, has marked 2008 as its red-letter year because of its 100th anniversary.

The online diary acts as a Baguio "wikipedia" for www.mybaguiodreams.com, which is administered by Elmer Soriano, president of TechLab.

A wiki is a program that allows anyone to contribute entries to an online encyclopedia.

Soriano said his Baguio community encyclopedia allows every resident to build up a definitive history of Baguio, using anecdotal accounts as foundation for illustrating how Baguio was generations before 2007.

The city was designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, and was established in 1909 by a city charter drawn up and reviewed by top American lawyers of the period.

Soriano said he set up the site after realizing that almost every generation has a story or two to tell about visiting Baguio.

It had always been easy to get Baguio's frequent celebrities to share a nugget or two about the city.

President Macapagal-Arroyo, a perennial visitor, often recounts how husband Jose Miguel Arroyo courted her in Baguio.

Mr. Arroyo's family owns a Baguio vacation house, which is a stroll away from the presidential Mansion, where Ms Arroyo spent her vacations with her father, the late former President Diosdado Macapagal.

"There seems to be so much talent in Baguio, but it seems that this talent is not harnessed to help build up the city. We have bar topnotchers, chess whizzes, top bands… so much energy in Panagbenga (the annual Baguio Flower Festival), but for the rest of the year, it is as if that energy goes down," Soriano said.

"I thought it would be wonderful if we were able to harness all that creativity, passion, talent on a weekly or even daily basis," he said. "I think that as we approach our centennial, it would be great if we could re-enchant the next decades by articulating our dreams and by unlocking our collective imaginations, then creating the city that [we] hope for."

Even tragedy breeds lasting Baguio stories, Soriano said.

Former senatorial candidate Sonia Roco, the wife of the late Sen. Raul Roco and who survived the 1990 earthquake here, could not help but return to the city to overcome her trauma.

Mrs. Roco's last public visit to the summer capital was during the campaign period this year, and it led her back to the Nevada Square, the site of the hotel she was staying in when the earthquake struck on July 16, 1990.

This early, the website has been receiving contributions "from strangers," Soriano said.

He said they are drawn to key themes posted by TechLab.

It marked out categories for the interesting taxicab names, and "the best place to bring a tourist friend."

But it is a profile ladder called "You know you're from Baguio, if…" which has intrigued online contributors.

Like American host and comedian David Letterman's "Top 10 List," this item has been receiving humorous and nostalgic responses, Soriano said.

One entry poked fun at the fact that in the 1970s, the only grocery store known to residents was Sunshine Grocery, and that school supplies could be bought only from CID Educational Supply, which has since broken up into smaller supply stores, all named Cid.

Entries also refer to the city's social history.

Some contributors said a person grew up in Baguio if his or her idea of a walk was strolling up and down Session Road for hours.

The central business district used to be limited to the road spanning the city market and Luneta Hill, where the Pines Hotel once stood. Nowadays, it is the SM City Baguio that looms over the city.

Another entry defines a Baguio old timer by the fact that he or she effortlessly speaks English with "no colegiala" twang and would never wear Baguio-labeled bonnets or shorts in public. [Nabartek: Truth be told, among ourselves, we mock at the tourists wearing those silly "Baguio City bonnets" and those wearing shorts in public. Hehehe. It's easy to spot who's a tourist and who is not]

Soriano's site also offers a chance for residents to discuss Baguio's future.

Photographs comparing today's Session Road to European streets have been posted, apparently to ignite discussions about a proposed pedestrianization of downtown Baguio.

Session Road businessmen are opposing the proposal of former city architect Joseph Alabanza to convert Session Road into a pedestrian mall with trees and outdoor cafés.

Soriano also linked up galleries of top Baguio destinations, as well as the music video "Suntok sa Buwan," performed by the band Session Road. The video shows clips of old Baguio.

He said he has no personal advocacy regarding how Baguio could evolve.

"I just believe that if more people get engaged in the discussion, the best ideas will simmer to the top… The [Baguio online] community takes a life of its own," he said.

overtureph

June 1st, 2008, 09:58 PM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/baguio-1.jpg

Description says Baguio Country Club

overtureph

June 1st, 2008, 10:02 PM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/house-1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/people.jpg

allan_dude

June 3rd, 2008, 03:35 AM

Baguio to host Philippines’ largest flag on June 12

Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The country's largest flag, a replica of the banner laid out on a hillside in Nueva Vizcaya in 2006, will be unfurled here on June 12 as part of the countdown to Baguio's centennial and its celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

Nestor Quinto, press relations officer of Great Life Resource Center, the educational arm of the event organizer Good News Community Church, said the event will give Filipinos a chance to renew their pledge of loyalty to the country.

"We are unfurling this flag in Baguio because the Bible says blessings will come from the mountain. But our message is also about loyalty, that despite the problems that our country is facing, we still affirm our loyalty to the flag," Quinto told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview on Thursday.

He said the flag, which measures 100 meters by 200 meters, is recognized as the largest flag in the Philippines. The flag will be unfurled at the Athletic Bowl in Burnham Park on June 12 as part of the city's Independence Day program.

Quinto said around 600 people will help in unfurling the giant flag.

The flag's maker, Grace Galindez Gupana, will bring the flag here on June 10 aboard a six-wheel truck, Quinto said.

He said Gupana made a new Philippine flag to replace the one unfurled in Nueva Vizcaya in September 2006.

That flag, which Gupana was hoping to set a record recognized by the Guinness World Records, was shredded by the wind after it was unfurled by more than 100 people on a hillside in the town of Aritao.

While Guinness did not recognize the 2006 flag, Gupana bagged the official record for another giant flag that she made -- an Israeli flag, unfurled last year in a desert in Masada, Israel.

The blue-and-white Israeli flag measured 660 meters by 100 meters and weighed 5.2 tons.

Gupana, chief executive officer of the ABS GEN Herbs International, said she decided two years ago to produce a giant Israeli flag in celebration of the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Israel.

The Guinness Book of World Records announced in January that Gupana set two world records -- for making the world's largest flag and the world's largest banner.

Gupana received certificates from the Guinness World Records for the Israeli flag and for the "777 Yahveh's Banner," which combined the flags of Israel, the Philippines, North Korea, South Korea and 180 smaller flags of other countries. The banner measured 54,451 square meters.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080531-139944/Baguio-to-host-Philippines-largest-flag-on-June-12

Zodiac18

June 3rd, 2008, 03:42 AM

Nabartek

June 3rd, 2008, 04:41 AM

^^Has something to do with culture.

And besides, most people who wear shorts in Baguio are social climbers. I mean, super thick sweater + bonnet + shorts?

It's not pragmatic, right??

Zodiac18

June 3rd, 2008, 04:58 AM

^^Wen ngarud Manong! I was born and bred in Baguio! I wear shorts and thongs every day in Session Road, Bermuda, California and Towson during warm weather. Practical and comfy!
:)

overtureph

June 4th, 2008, 11:24 PM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/igorot.jpg

overtureph

June 4th, 2008, 11:25 PM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/baguio-2.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/baguio2.jpg

frustratedarchitect

June 5th, 2008, 03:55 AM

^^Wen ngarud Manong! I was born and bred in Baguio! I wear shorts and thongs every day in Session Road, Bermuda, California and Towson during warm weather. Practical and comfy!
:)

Agree! Theres nothing wrong with wearing shorts. Everyone has the right to decide what he/she should wear. Whats wrong is making a mockery of tourists who come here.

frustratedarchitect

June 5th, 2008, 04:04 AM

[QUOTE=overtureph;21416084]http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/baguio-2.jpg

Then

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/3214/picture3085sb5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

now

jackcar

June 5th, 2008, 06:51 AM

Here's a photo to practice your Photoshop skills on. Most of us, if you're old enough would remember owning one of those caps. I believe it is a Cub Scout cap. Starting young yung mga cub scout, nagdedate na sa Burnham.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2552988312_9815315545_o.jpg

jackcar

June 5th, 2008, 06:59 AM

The Americans were amazed at these pine-clad hills with a year-round temperate climate, something they thought did not exist in the tropics. The virgin pine forest would be cut down to serve as support inside the tunnels of the mining companies.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2553005122_5f2763fd18_o.jpg

Nabartek

June 6th, 2008, 09:12 AM

Agree! Theres nothing wrong with wearing shorts. Everyone has the right to decide what he/she should wear. Whats wrong is making a mockery of tourists who come here.

They just get what they deserve for mocking the cowboys and those who prefer country music.

Kidding aside, these tourists should also consider the local culture just as much how we want foreign tourists to respect our etiquettes and customs, inya?

The problem with many domestic tourists in they often discard the local culture. If they don;t want to be mocked, then they should not be wearing shorts, especially if they wear shorts+super thick jacket + bonnet. Sa amin kasing mga taga-bundok, social climber ang tingin namin sa mga ganyan. Tapos yung shorts pa nila, yung kiya na puwet sa sobrang iksi!

They chose to come here, they chose to wear short, they must accept the consequence of being mocked. Parang sa Thailand, if you touch a person's head, kukuyugin ka, but in the Philippines, it's a sign of fondness.

Yun yung problema sa Pinoy, local or foreign tourists man sila, mangilan ilang lang yung nagcoconisder sa local culture. Prof. Michael Tan wrote an article about "Ugly Filipino" where as Filipino tourists mock at the culture of the locals. Like in Thailand, where there are a growing number of Filipino tourists. Filipinos are making a bad image by being 'bad tourists" because of lack of respect not only for the local place but the local culture din

Nabartek

June 6th, 2008, 09:27 AM

Nabartek

June 6th, 2008, 09:29 AM

Here's the link to a blog that has the article

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/sim/sim/view_article.php?article_id=122276
http://pinoyborian.blogspot.com/2008/03/getting-rid-of-ugly-filipino-abroad.html
http://naijapinoy.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/colonial-mentality-or-cultural-insecurity/

mwg12a

June 6th, 2008, 09:44 AM

They just get what they deserve for mocking the cowboys and those who prefer country music.

Kidding aside, these tourists should also consider the local culture just as much how we want foreign tourists to respect our etiquettes and customs, inya?

The problem with many domestic tourists in they often discard the local culture. If they don;t want to be mocked, then they should not be wearing shorts, especially if they wear shorts+super thick jacket + bonnet. Sa amin kasing mga taga-bundok, social climber ang tingin namin sa mga ganyan. Tapos yung shorts pa nila, yung kiya na puwet sa sobrang iksi!

They chose to come here, they chose to wear short, they must accept the consequence of being mocked. Parang sa Thailand, if you touch a person's head, kukuyugin ka, but in the Philippines, it's a sign of fondness.

Yun yung problema sa Pinoy, local or foreign tourists man sila, mangilan ilang lang yung nagcoconisder sa local culture. Prof. Michael Tan wrote an article about "Ugly Filipino" where as Filipino tourists mock at the culture of the locals. Like in Thailand, where there are a growing number of Filipino tourists. Filipinos are making a bad image by being 'bad tourists" because of lack of respect not only for the local place but the local culture din

Minsan naman kase masyadong masilip ang ibang mga filipino, lahat ng bagay makita pinapansin, pinipintasan. Kung "sacred" yuong area na dedicated sa local religious practices, madaling maintindihan yan, pero kung mga tourist area, bakit papansinin pa kung ano ang gustong isuot ng mga tao. Minsan kalimitan, may magppintas tungkol sa isang bagay pagkatapos pagkalipas ng ilang sandali, sila naman ang gumagaya. Masyado lang siguro tayong "apprehensive" kung sino ang nagpapasosyal at hindi. Minsan kase gawaain din natin ito kaya ang tingin agad natin sa iba, pareho din, nagpapasosyal. Sana walang ma-offend dito sa sinabi ko pero kase para na tottoong nangyayari na minsan... ayaw ng isa na matalbugan ng kapwa tao o kapwa filipino.

Nabartek

June 6th, 2008, 10:08 AM

LOL. It's clear that you do not understand the Highland culture(or you refuse to understand and see things from your POV). People wearing shorts IN PUBLIC aren't really looked up, whether you're in Baguio or in Bontoc. It has nothign to do with patalbugan. In our place, no one cares if you ate in Don Hen or Jacks or Rose Bowl. it really has to do something with local culture. It doesn't matter to us kung nakaLevis ka na brand new or you merely are wearing ukay-ukay. Dito, di kami nahihiya kugn second hand o hands-it-down and suot namin.

Let me quote Michael Tan in one of his articles about Filipino tourists

2. Blend in. Learn the local cultural codes about proper attire, body language, etc.
Pick up basic phrases, not from the travel guide but from local people. Struggling with the local language helps to temper our voices, make us sound friendlier. (And don’t, please don’t, make fun of the local language—I’ve heard Filipino tourists using a sing-song voice to parody the Chinese, Japanese, Thai.)
Combine your shopping with “anthropology”—I always ask people about the stuff they sell, where it came from (to make sure it’s not something Made in China!), what the designs mean, even what it’s called locally and what it’s used for. Sometimes, when people realize how interested I am about local culture, I end up getting invited to their homes, or to watch a local cultural event. In restaurants, I’ve ended up getting extra servings, a free beer, or even a special dish they don’t usually offer tourists.

Wearing shorts in public is considered very unproper. Hidni kailangan ng Gucci suot mo, basta proper kahit second hand, okay na

Problema kasi sa mga Pilipino din, mahilig magpasikat. "Tignan niyo ako, nakashorts ako ng super ikli". Parang Havaianas. Naghahavaianas kahit hindi proper...

frustratedarchitect

June 6th, 2008, 02:15 PM

Respect goes two ways.

Not all tourists disrespect the native culture. Not all local people make a mockery of those who visit here. Its not fair making stereotypes kasi. Its offensive to both sides. I was born in Baguio and grew up here for 20 years but Im not mapanglait. We've hosted dozens of visitors and artists for the past years and i dont remember any of them wearing pekpek shorts and being disrespectful to the local tradition. Ok, fine, siguro may ibang intentionally eh nagpapapansin, pero thats their problem...Theres nothing we can do, unless we go to them and say to their face that their attire is inappropriate,. Slurs like "social climbers" can be very strong, especially sa forum na to na basa sa buong Pilipinas.

Tale of caution na lang sa tourists, learn about the place before you go there.

mwg12a

June 6th, 2008, 04:46 PM

Yeah, not everybody knows right away what their culture dictates them to do. So, if you're a tourist, even if you're local. How would one know? I never knew there is supposed to be a dress code when you visit baguio. Someone who claimed to be "from the mountains" they considered those who wear short shorts then matching it with sweatshirts and native baguio bonnets as "pasosyal".. I don't think it's a fair assumption either... I myself enjoy wearing items I bought from the region because of fondness, I don't think it's meant to show off or anything...

But yes, respect goes both ways. Never jump into conclusion if you see something. The old saying just proved to be true as the moral for this story.. it goes like , "human eyes are the most sinful part of the human body.."

jackcar

June 7th, 2008, 07:49 AM

I think that Nabartek has misgivings about how Baguio and Benguet was "developed" in the past. Baguio was "developed" at the turn of the last century by the Americans according to their own American "world view". Extractive industries were set-up like mining, logging and hydroelectric dams. The native Ibalois, who we can say were then in their "age of innocence" could only put up token resistance. In the short span of only two generations, the whole Ibaloi "world view" was turned upside down with the introduction of the cash economy and hitherto alien concepts such as "paper" "titles to lands", and doing business in a capitalist system.

When the Americans left, Baguio was developed (whether by conscious design or inadvertently is debatable), as a tourist destination and as an educational center. Again the native Ibalois, still adjusting to the "new" order, did not chart their own "development" but in the main, I think that they just adjusted to "development" imposed from the outside, the economic and political wielders of power of the greater Philippine society.

Looking back, the Ibalois would certainly have wanted to chart a different path to "development". But that would be crying over spilled milk. I think that Nabartek and many other indigenous people who feel like him, should channel their "sense of ethnicity and place" into a positive force for Baguio and Benguet. It would be negative to vent our wrath on "lowlanders" and "tourists" who are also victims of a skewed "development.

tracymack

June 10th, 2008, 03:03 AM

Revived plan to close Baguio airport opposed

Officials, leaders say it will set back city’s economic growth

By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY — City officials and leaders of various sectors in this mountain resort city are up in arms against a plan of the national government to close the Loakan airport here, saying that the move will be a major setback in the effort to speed up the economic growth of the Cordillera.

Tourism stakeholders, city officials and businessmen had earlier protested the plan for the closure of the Loakan airport.

Under the plan, the airport area in Loakan is to be used as an expansion site of a firm now operating in the economic zone in the city.

The stakeholders said that the airport should remain open, adding that city officials are willing to help the company find another site for the expansion of the operations of the company in the economic zone administered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

The private sector in the city is recommending a part of the Camp John Hay (CJH) reservation and an area in Balatoc, Itogon, Benguet as sites for the expansion of the operations of PEZA-registered locators.

This plan would result in the continuous operation of the Loakan airport.

Petitions and communications had been forwarded to the Office of the President, making clear the city’s vehement opposition to the plan for the closure of the airport.

The stakeholders said the city needs the airport not only for its economic benefits but also for its use in cases of calamities.

Furthermore, President Arroyo was asked not to push through with the plan to close the airport because many foreign and domestic tourists prefer to travel by air because of the time saved in travelling from Metro Manila to this city.

They said that the two-hour period of travel from San Fernando, La Union to Baguio to pay a visit to the city is a waste of time, and so closing the Loakan airport is not advisable.

Last year, the President announced that the national government is intending to close the Loakan airport to give way to the expansion of the operation of a PEZA-registered locator, but the plan was not pursued after various sectors in the city raised an uproar over the move.

But the national government has revived such plan after the PEZA locator threatened to pull its multibillion-dollar investment out of the country.

The firm said it would transfer its business to another country if it is not allowed to pursue its expansion project.

The expansion would result in employment opportunities for local residents, economic development, and more investments, it was learned.

City officials are also seeking the support of the Cordillera congressmen for the bid to stop the closure of the Loakan airport.

But some groups said that the city officials and tourism stakeholders might have been given the wrong information about the plan for the closure of the airport, noting that concerned government agencies have no information about efforts to revive the move.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080610126890.html

frustratedarchitect

June 12th, 2008, 05:18 AM

Baguio to host Philippines’ largest flag on June 12

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:31:00 05/31/2008

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines -- The country's largest flag, a replica of the banner laid out on a hillside in Nueva Vizcaya in 2006, will be unfurled here on June 12 as part of the countdown to Baguio's centennial and its celebration of Philippine Independence Day.

Nestor Quinto, press relations officer of Great Life Resource Center, the educational arm of the event organizer Good News Community Church, said the event will give Filipinos a chance to renew their pledge of loyalty to the country.

"We are unfurling this flag in Baguio because the Bible says blessings will come from the mountain. But our message is also about loyalty, that despite the problems that our country is facing, we still affirm our loyalty to the flag," Quinto told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a telephone interview on Thursday.

He said the flag, which measures 100 meters by 200 meters, is recognized as the largest flag in the Philippines. The flag will be unfurled at the Athletic Bowl in Burnham Park on June 12 as part of the city's Independence Day program.

Quinto said around 600 people will help in unfurling the giant flag.

The flag's maker, Grace Galindez Gupana, will bring the flag here on June 10 aboard a six-wheel truck, Quinto said.

He said Gupana made a new Philippine flag to replace the one unfurled in Nueva Vizcaya in September 2006.

That flag, which Gupana was hoping to set a record recognized by the Guinness World Records, was shredded by the wind after it was unfurled by more than 100 people on a hillside in the town of Aritao.

While Guinness did not recognize the 2006 flag, Gupana bagged the official record for another giant flag that she made -- an Israeli flag, unfurled last year in a desert in Masada, Israel.

The blue-and-white Israeli flag measured 660 meters by 100 meters and weighed 5.2 tons.

Gupana, chief executive officer of the ABS GEN Herbs International, said she decided two years ago to produce a giant Israeli flag in celebration of the 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Israel.

The Guinness Book of World Records announced in January that Gupana set two world records -- for making the world's largest flag and the world's largest banner.

Gupana received certificates from the Guinness World Records for the Israeli flag and for the "777 Yahveh's Banner," which combined the flags of Israel, the Philippines, North Korea, South Korea and 180 smaller flags of other countries. The banner measured 54,451 square meters.

Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All

frustratedarchitect

June 14th, 2008, 11:51 AM

Moog to invest $105M in Baguio expansion

Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—New York-based electronics company Moog Controls Corp. will expand its operations in a government-run special economic zone in this northern city with $105 million in promised investment, a government official said.

Moog will put up a new building on a six-hectare property in Camp John Hay, said Tereso Panga, administrator of the Baguio City Economic Zone.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) leases part of Camp John Hay, a former US military R&R installation, from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Panga said 262 pine trees would be cut—not 800-1,300 trees as earlier reported—to give way to the expansion.

“Because of its rolling terrain, a careful and thorough study was made on Lot 15”—a part of the lot annexed to PEZA—“and it was found that approximately 1.38 hectares of the land can be developed for roads and buildings,” Panga said.

“The greater part of the area will be left for greenery, as we have done with the Baguio City Economic Zone, wherein there are thousands of trees planted and naturally grown to balance” the facilities at the site, he said.

Lot 15 is adjacent to a complex occupied by the Philippine unit of Texas Instruments Inc. It is outside the “built-up areas” assigned to Camp John Hay Development Corp., Panga said.

Moog manufactures precision control components and systems for commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles. It has a local workforce of about 1,200, which it plans to double for the expansion, Panga said.

Unlike Texas Instruments, which has chosen the Clark Freeport in Pampanga province, north of Manila, for an expansion plant, Moog has decided to stay in Baguio because of the quality of workers here, Panga said.

He said the investment of $105 million promised by Moog would be spread over 10 years.

The expansion plan had been discussed with the government as early as 2005, he said.

The city council on Monday said the city government should be informed if there would be massive tree cutting in the city.

Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas said the council had set 19 conditions in the early 1990s for development in Camp John Hay, and these conditions still apply.

Fariñas said the Baguio government had formed a multi-agency task force to monitor tree cutting in the city. Frank Cimatu; edited by INQUIRER.net

terio

June 17th, 2008, 07:30 PM

^^maayong adlaw baguio forumers!
post ko lang some of my pix during our baguio tour last summer. indeed, if i were to choose where to live other than here in cebu, i would embrace baguio.

a view from our cottage @ pine breeze where we stayed, nice village
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/29/600x600/2/Picture%20671.jpg?et=Rw9wD3ppzWWNQRUrnIM06A&nmid=100384486

we had fun picking strawberries here, yun nga lang mahal masyado 200/kilo ata yun. sige lang lingaw man sad. (it was fun indeed)
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/29/600x600/15/Picture%20684.jpg?et=7Lrg5tXJPdEoqI0RNpUS1w&nmid=100384486

upclose with the people and strawberry itself
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/29/600x600/38/Picture%20707.jpg?et=IMzKxrU0jx3cuGobiZlo7Q&nmid=100384486

http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/29/600x600/33/Picture%20702.jpg?et=pF%2BKaSQMwmG9HRsVQG4EhA&nmid=100384486

why is it called minesview? minahan?
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/29/600x600/49/Picture%20718.jpg?et=jX5S5rpCCvFu3Q4mcGvJmQ&nmid=100384486

http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/29/600x600/71/Picture%20740.jpg?et=G%2CH9XIdtbXqyiYdQugHWSA&nmid=100384486

200++? i lost my count. :nuts:
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/57/Picture%20427.jpg?et=qjPut8mr23vkFyexIIdIyg&nmid=100267819

almost there! :banana:
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/61/Picture%20431.jpg?et=c8TGZIH7A709Epie%2CHQFCQ&nmid=100267819

kicked out from class 2008..hehehe
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/108/Picture%20501.jpg?et=3rGNdVD%2Chr5c5qgWdQatMA&nmid=100267819

http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/120/Picture%20513.jpg?et=AbHVb4CSnwTcuPbZnsmDSQ&nmid=100267819

soon to be my mansion :lol:
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/146/Picture%20559.jpg?et=9nqz7lkl%2B7EwB%2C1a7AJJYw&nmid=100267819

a night stroll. npkbait ng driver ng jeep dahil hinatid talaga kami sa paanan ng session road kahit hindi na nya rota. daghang salamat bai!
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/219/Picture%20634.jpg?et=OipOAasXlXfxgfIPaWu6wQ&nmid=100267819

http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/237/Picture%20656.jpg?et=WPTZgYL%2BHHihVuq199Esfg&nmid=100267819

walang ganito sa cebu. sarap nito at nkakain ako nang libre :cheers:
http://images.judemedalla.multiply.com/image/2/photos/27/600x600/236/Picture%20654.jpg?et=0KGaegs3j9rNKj81JtR61A&nmid=100267819

pxenxa na mga bai, masyadong marami. hope to go back there soon. cheers for having a very nice city!

frustratedarchitect

June 18th, 2008, 09:04 AM

^^ Welcome to the Baguio thread terio!!! Thanks for the cool pics. :cheers:

frustratedarchitect

June 21st, 2008, 04:18 PM

I was fumbling through the boxes here at the house when I happen to find these old pics of Baguio. And I'm sharing it with you guys. O how nice the Baguio of yore looks...

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/vista.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/pineshotel.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/kennonroad.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/minesview.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/oboi_1/themansion.jpg

The friendlier, safer, more beautiful, less polluted Baguio of the yesteryears. sigh...

frustratedarchitect

June 30th, 2008, 05:53 AM

Baguio to host next year's Advertising Congress
06/28/2008 | 07:22 PM

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Mayor Peter Rey Bautista confirmed Saturday that the city would be hosting the Advertising Congress next year.

"We didn't dangle any carrot. We just told them that we would be celebrating our centennial next year and if they want to be part of history, they're welcome," he said during the opening of the Spanish Food and Wine Fair at Camp John Hay.

Bautista said the city's main rival for the Advertising Congress bidding is Davao City.

He said that the Ad Congress would bring in revenue of about P2 billion including advertising for the city.

The Ad Congress would be held in November 2009 at John Hay and even at the Mansion House.

Around 5,000 delegates are expected to attend the gathering.

He said the city had added three more huge hotels since it last hosted the event in 2003. -

portludlow

July 2nd, 2008, 07:18 AM

Ayala Land eyes $67 million project in former US base

http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080702-145968/Ayala-Land-eyes-67-million-project-in-former-US-base
Thomson Financial
First Posted 09:53:00 07/02/2008

In a statement, Ayala Land said it signed an agreement with Camp John Hay Development Corp. for a mixed-used development project within the John Hay Special Economic Zone in Baguio City.

Based on preliminary plans, the project involves office spaces and support facilities for business process outsourcing companies as well as retail facilities.

No other details were given.

Ayala Land is 53 percent owned by the Philippines' biggest conglomerate, Ayala Corp.

Shares in Ayala Land were flat at P9.30 in early trade on Wednesday. Ayala Corp. was up 1.0 percent at P257.50.

Blair

July 3rd, 2008, 08:00 AM

ALI sets P3-B to develop John Hay lot

James A. Loyola

Ayala Land Inc. is spending an initial R3 billion for a mixed-use development in a 12–hectare leased lot within the John Hay Special Economic Zone in Camp John Hay, Baguio City.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) yesterday, ALI chief finance officer Jaime Ysmael said ALI has entered into a land lease agreement with Camp John Hay Development Corporation (CJHDEVCO) of the FilEstate Group.

The agreement took effect last July 1 and covers a 120,636 square meter property within JHSEZ. Based on preliminary plans, the property will be built into a mixed use development with retail and business process outsourcing facilities.

The development will have about 40,000 square meters of BPO office space and support facilities and about 7,000 square meters of retail space.

The project is part of a joint venture between Ayala and the Fil-Estate group that is meant to revitalize leisure projects at the 250-hectare Camp John Hay, a former US communications station in the summer capital of Baguio.

CJHDEVCO is a consortium formed by Fil-Estate Management Inc., College Assurance Plan Philippines Inc. and Penta Capital Holdings and is tasked to develop the famous Camp John Hay.

The agreement gives ALI the right to lease the property for 39 years. This is the remaining balance of the 50-year lease agreement of CJHDEVCO with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

overtureph

July 6th, 2008, 08:00 AM

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a89/overtureph/baguio-3.jpg

flymordecai

July 7th, 2008, 01:46 AM

What the, that looks like autumn in Baguio. Are there deciduous trees in Baguio?

frustratedarchitect

July 7th, 2008, 11:41 AM

There are a handful of deciduous trees in Baguio. Well there are trees that go brown, but Im a bit sure its due to pollution. Aside from the Benguet pine, Spruce, fir, acacia , eucalyptus and the weeping willow grow in Baguio.

allan_dude

July 7th, 2008, 02:53 PM

Dole supports Blist dev't concept

By Jane Cadalig
Monday, July 07, 2008

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) is supportive of the establishment of the Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba (Blist) concept, saying Baguio City's nearby towns need to be opened for economic development.

Dole Regional Director Anna Dione said the Blist urban development concept needs to be implemented now with Baguio becoming more and more overcrowded.

"I think the very concept of the Blist is to develop the nearby areas for economic growth and it's high time that this is implemented. With Baguio's current situation, the city (is doomed) to burst if development continues," Dione said.

She said the nearby towns of Baguio should open up for development. The Blist urban development was conceptualized after the 1990 earthquake purposely to improve and pour in economic development to areas surrounding the city.

Baguio's nearby Benguet municipalities like La Trinidad, Sablan or Tuba could be developed as expansion areas for the information technology (IT) industry, Dione said, although admitting lack of facilities remains one of the biggest challenges for these areas to become IT zones.

But Dione said the neighboring towns have the potential of being developed IT areas, given the proper support.

The City Government has been initiating talks with the Blist officials to revive and implement the Blist concept.

Neighboring towns have been lukewarm however, apprehensive that their areas would only serve as expansion for housing projects or sites for the establishment of garbage facility.

Baguio's economic boom has brought in social and environmental problems, as consequences of the rapid growth of its population.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/07/07/bus/dole.supports.blist.dev.t.concept.html

allan_dude

July 9th, 2008, 04:35 AM

Asin plant can supply Baguio's power needs

By Rimaliza Opiña
Wednesday, July 09, 2008

THE untapped potential of the Asin mini-hydro power plant is a ready source of power for Baguio City.

This potential is now being explored by the Baguio Electric Consumers Cooperative (Baelco), the group that wants to form a separate power distribution utility for the city.

Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo

Once fully rehabilitated, the power plants can supply the entire of Baguio and the excess power could even be sold to other utilities, Baelco chairman Federico Balanag claimed.

Baelco has in fact submitted its proposal to the City Administrator's Office for study.

The city currently sells the power produced from the power plants to the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco), the current distributor of power in Baguio and Benguet.

Other sources of energy like geothermal and wind energy are also being studied as alternative energy sources by Baelco's technical working group.

Baelco has a five-year plan to realize the full operation of an electric cooperative, independent from Beneco.

It is conducting an inventory of electric posts which were put up by Beneco in preparation for the distribution of power once their operations are all in place.

It is holding a massive information campaign to educate the public on "genuine cooperativism" as well as to convince residents to join their new cooperative. Around 60,000 are initially being eyed as members.

Plans are also being ironed out for their registration with the Cooperative Development Authority as well as to obtain a franchise for power distribution as required by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).

As a come on, Baelco said charges which are in the current electric bills like missionary, distribution loss and universal charges will be removed.

The Beneco management meanwhile welcomed the proposed putting up of another cooperative.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/07/09/news/asin.plant.can.supply.baguio.s.power.needs.html

gurugeri

July 9th, 2008, 11:03 AM

Visit www.missuniverse.com or www.nbc.com to vote for Miss Philippines for the Best National Costume award at the Miss Universe 2008 pageant. Vote ASAP kasi baka mag-close na ang voting. Thanks and God bless!

jmok

July 9th, 2008, 05:09 PM

i really love baguio,,,hope someday i can go there.......

keep it up Baguio.......

frustratedarchitect

July 10th, 2008, 05:30 AM

^^You are most welcome. We'd be glad to help you get around baguio when youre here

frustratedarchitect

July 10th, 2008, 06:31 PM

Baguio has the highest score among midsized cities for dynamism of the local economy with a score of 5.33. However it was dragged by a poor score in LGU responsiveness (5.55). Reflecting how Badly its Being governed.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/10/viewbl0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4314/view2bf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/6176/view3ia7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

condo lane^^

702flyguy

July 11th, 2008, 08:36 AM

That BLIST concept is a nice idea, they should expand Baguio to accommodate more tourists. Palafox should create the masterplan for this project.

frustratedarchitect

July 13th, 2008, 06:18 AM

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1048/picture3167md7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

jackcar

July 13th, 2008, 06:47 AM

The essence of the BLIST Plan is the decongestion of Baguio. If Mayor Peter Rey Bautista is sincere about his pronouncements about implementing the BLIST plan by year-end, he should initiate moves to relocate his family's University of Baguio to the outlying BLIST municipalities. The root cause of the congestion of Baguio is the concentration of all schools in or near the city center. Thi9s move will benefit UB in the long run. If only they would make earning megabucks a secondary consideration.

jackcar

July 13th, 2008, 07:01 AM

If AYALA Land has the welfare of Baguio at heart then they should instead invest their Php3-B in the outlying BLIST municipalities. John Hay is already developed by any stretch of the imagination and doesn't need further investment. Baguio still has to collect rentals from the only businessmen who conduct business without paying their rent.

This investment will only add to Baguio's congestion in the long run and will ultimately result in increasing Baguio's urban blight. Baguio's carrying capacity can no longer accomodate you, for christ's sake.

In the final analysis it is the Philippines' ruling economic elite who have failed us making us the basket case of Asia. They have lost the competition with capitalists of our Asian neighbors.

Corporate social responsibility dictates that AYALA Land should abandon this plan and develop a new economic hub in the BLIST outlying areas. This would be in their interest in the long run.

As of now, all universities and big businesses are just concerned about squeezing the most they can get out of Baguio, without due consideration for the environment and the necessary diligence for a holistic and sustainable development of resources.

brownman

July 14th, 2008, 10:28 AM

allan_dude

July 15th, 2008, 07:39 AM

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1048/picture3167md7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Another classy mid-rise for baguio!

allan_dude

July 15th, 2008, 08:02 AM

Court upholds validity of Baguio market dev’t contract

Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

BAGUIO CITY—The Regional Trial Court here affirmed the validity of the city government’s contract with the Uniwide Sales Realty and Resources Corporation (Uniwide) for the development of the city market ending a grueling court battle that put the market development pursuit at the backburner for 12 long years.

City officials led by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. and Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas welcomed the decision saying it is high time that the case be resolved so the city can push through with the much-needed rehabilitation and improvement of the trading center.

Fariñas said that with the legal impediment now out of the way, the city can now pursue the development venture with Uniwide but in case Uniwide retracts from the deal, Fariñas said the city is ready to pursue other options, which include undertaking the project on its own.

Uniwide won the bid for the project costing P1.7 billion in 1995 but negative reports on its financial status over the past years raised doubts on its capability to pursue the project.

“We do not have any official information on Uniwide’s financial standing but right now, the ball is now in Uniwide’s hands. If it declares it cannot undertake the project, then we will have to rebid it. Nonetheless the city is prepared to take over,” Fariñas said.

In a 110-page decision penned by RTC Branch 59 Judge Iluminada Cabato, the court upheld the validity and constitutionality of Ordinance No. 38 series of 1995 which provides the guidelines for the market development, and the validity of the “award of the project development to Uniwide” as well as the amended Design, Build and Lease (DBL) agreement, the development scheme adopted for the project.

It also ordered the dismissal of the four cases filed separately in 1996 against city officials and Uniwide by the Hilltop Open Market Vendors Credit and Services Corporation (HOMVECSCO) for declaratory judgement, preliminary injuction and temporary restraining order; the group of Peter Sagayo, Pablito Gumnad et.al., the Baguio Market Vendors Association Inc.(BAMARVA) and the group of Lilia Calicdan, Manuel Dalida et. al., all for the annulment of Ordinance No. 38 series of 1995, the award of contract and the DBL Agreement, with prayer for the issuance of a Writ of Preliminary Injunction and Damages.

The court also ordered the dissolution of the writs of preliminary injunction issued initially by the court and the cancellation of the injunction bonds and denied the claims for damages by the parties.

The vendors’ groups filed the cases assailing the validity of the ordinance and the contract claiming the city council acted “beyond the scope of their authority” in adopting the ordinance.

The said the ordinance and the DBL agreement were void as these included in the development coverage the slaughterhouse compound which is a national government reservation. They claimed that the 60-year lease term as provided in the development parameters of the ordinance is also contrary to the Local Government Code provisions.

They also alleged that the DBL agreement was violative of the Local Government Code and the Republic Act No. 6957 or the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law.

The vendors also claimed they were not consulted on the project, that there were irregularities in the bidding procedures as the Uniwide did not submit the proper plan.

They said that the city government, in awarding the contract to Uniwide, “delegated to a private entity the power of eminent domain depriving them of their property or property rights without due process of the law.”

They claimed that they were the ones who built their stalls at their own expense and as such, they have gained property right over the city market that should protect them against the demolition of their stalls as inevitably would be done as part of the project’s implementation.

The vendors’ claims were belied by the city government which was represented in the case by the city legal office now headed by city legal officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes. They maintained that the passage of the subject ordinance and the forging of the DBL contract were within the powers and authority granted by the Local Government Code.

They maintained that all the government actions relative to the market contract were in accordance with existing laws with the award of the project went through the usual and regular process.

The choice of the DBL scheme, they said, was “deemed mutually advantageous to both the city and the developer and the city stands to earn revenue during the operational tenure (under the said scheme).”

The slaughterhouse, they said, is not included in the development and is planned to be only used as a relocation site for the vendors while the construction is being undertaken.

They said the 30-year lease is also acceptable as only the upper floors will be operated by the Uniwide because first floor will continue to be owned and operated by the city government.

The government charged that the petitioners have no direct personal interest in the project as they are merely lessees in the market.

In its decision, the court gave merit to the claims of the city government and ruled that the ordinance and the award were not contrary to any law and therefore valid.ss

The ordinance “is a legitimate exercise for the general welfare of the city and its residents therefore is not an “ultra-vires act as the passage of the subject ordinance is well within the powers of the city council,” the court said.

It agreed that intention for slaughterhouse only for relocation site and that the 30-year lease term is acceptable.

It also agreed that the DBL option is the city government’s prerogative and and that “there is no express provision or rule prohibiting (the use of ) other forms or schemes (of development)” apart from what were listed under the BOT law.

As to claims of property rights, the court said: “There is no doubt as shown in the plaintiff’s own evidence as well as their initial pleadings and that of public defendants that the former recognize that they are only enjoying the privilege granted them by the city government under their leasehold and no matter ho long they have been occupying the premises, their status will remain as leaseholders or temporary occupants and never be converted to ownership over the lots where their stalls or buildings stand.”

“The plaintiffs are thus barred from questioning the City’s title over the subject property. The plaintiffs as lessees, who had undisturbed possession for the entire term under the lease, are estopped to deny the City’s title, or to assert a better title not only in themselves but also in some third parties.”

“The city in the exercise of its police power, has the power to revoke the temporary/provisional permits assuming the existence of valid temporary permits, and take over the operations of the City Market. Whatever rights, if any, that the plaintiffs may have acquired on the basis of the temporary permits given them must yield to the City’s valid exercise of police power,” the court said.

It also upheld the validity of the bidding process and procedures employed by the city government.

Rabanes said they expect the vendors to further contest the ruling and appeal the same to higher courts.

Farinas said that in the meantime that there is no prohibition from the courts, the city can now work out the development procedures.

Courtesy of The Northern Dispatch Weekly (http://www.nordis.net/blog/?p=2797#more-2797)

allan_dude

July 15th, 2008, 08:06 AM

Session rd, partially car-less

Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY—Session road, the city’s main road shall be partially car-less during Sundays starting July 13 as stated in Administrative Order 99, dated July 7 as issued by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr.

The experimental scheme shall be implemented from Patria de Baguio down to Philippine National Bank (PNB), and the opposite stretch from Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and McDonald’s (corner Mabini Street).

It is said to be the “pedestrianization” of Session road and to reduce pollution in the area.

As the scheme is only temporary, it could be withdrawn or revised to adapt to the present traffic situation in the Central Business District, after the preliminary days of implementation.

City offers to pay instead land swap with NPC

Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

BAGUIO CITY—The city government is poised to scrap the option of swapping lands with the National Power Corporation as the city council last week voted to instead pay the NPC the cost of its lot now being used by the city government for its sewer treatment plant at North Sanitary Camp barangay.

The city and the NPC have been working out the land swap deal for almost 32 years now but the city cannot identify a suitable lot in exchange for the 6,332-square meter NPC property which the city occupied to build the sewer treatment plant in 1975.

The city council adopted the recommendation and referred the matter to the city appraisal committee to determine the cost of the lot.

The land swap deal was recommended in 1994 by then city legal officer Juan Valdez.

The city offered several lots but were rejected by the NPC as these were not suitable as site of the NPC regional office.

Dads want info on Ayala dev’t plan in CJH

Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

BAGUIO CITY—Representatives of the Camp John Hay Development Corporation and Ayala Land Inc. are invited to the city council session on July 28 to appraise the body on the proposed mega project development to be undertaken in 12.06 hectares at the tourist facility.

“No further action in relation to the Ayala Land project should be undertaken by the said parties until the briefing shall have been conducted,” proponent Councilors Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Elaine Sembrano and Fred Bagbagen stressed in a resolution adopted by the body.

In their measure, the aldermen said there are reports that Ayala Land Inc. will undertake a mega project in John Hay that includes business outsourcing facilities and a retail center covering 12.06 hectares.

The councilors said it is but proper that the city be adequately informed of the plans involving John Hay as the city’s welfare is at stake.

Besides, they said, Resolution No. 362 series of 1994 imposing the 19 conditionalities in the John Hay development remains in effect and the same requires that the city should be consulted on all matters concerning the development of the former baseland.

Courtesy of The Northern Dispatch Weekly (http://www.nordis.net/blog/)

frustratedarchitect

July 15th, 2008, 02:49 PM

I have no idea how uniwide is going to develop the market...may funds kaya yun?

Anyway, Baguio people have taste...at allergic to kitsch hehehe

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/1401/picture035xw5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

davaob4now

July 15th, 2008, 05:13 PM

Wow Baguio...Kayo ang banner ng SSC ngayon!

Alam niyo ba na in love ako sa city niyo...:)

i've been to baguio once...at ang ganda...

Blair

July 15th, 2008, 06:55 PM

^^ congrats baguio, nice banner..

mygz14

July 15th, 2008, 07:07 PM

Nice Baguio. Cheers

bariQ

July 15th, 2008, 07:08 PM

very good banner :D

allan_dude

July 15th, 2008, 07:15 PM

Buti naman napansin na rin ang Baguio :wave:

[dx]

July 16th, 2008, 02:21 AM

Congratz Baguio City!! Although sana mas maraming pine trees and greenery. Still, Baguio is much lovelier than the banner. :okay:

Blair

July 16th, 2008, 03:07 AM

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
City to check Uniwide’s financial capability

BENT on pursuing development of the market, city officials will soon notify the Uniwide Sales Realty to determine if they still have the means to proceed with the development.

Following the filing of cases against Uniwide and the city in 1996, the notice to proceed has not been issued yet to the realty firm.

Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas said only a restraining order or an injunction can stop any moves at developing the market. However, with the court's advice to determine Uniwide's financial capability, he said it is necessary for city officials to know plans of the firm.

Fariñas said if Uniwide no longer has the capacity to develop the area, the City Council may either move for the nullification of the contract and re-bid the same or the city may takeover and undertake the construction and implement the same design done way back in 1995.

On June 27, the court declared as valid the ordinance that contained the guidelines for the market's development, as the development scheme to be used, which is through a develop-build-lease scheme, for a period of 30 years.

Then mayor now Baguio Representative Mauricio Domogan was the one who pushed for the market's development, due to its deteriorating state, following the 1990 earthquake. (RO)

glenntoy15

July 16th, 2008, 03:45 AM

nice banner!! congrats to baguio sscers

BOB-bXu

July 16th, 2008, 04:31 AM

I am happy that our Pines City is feautured in the banner.^^

But what makes me sad is the quality of photo in the banner...

the picture does not reflect the greeness of the city and the clean crisp atmosphere it possess..

the background color has a shade of orange...

there are a lot of beautiful photos of the city..why it has to be this picture?...pastilan

Sinjin P.

July 16th, 2008, 04:35 AM

^ Because it shows the urbanity of the city. I already submitted other very beautiful photos of Baguio City before but only this one was accepted.

Nonetheless, congratulations to Baguio for being featured as today's SSC banner.

brownman

July 16th, 2008, 04:40 AM

The banner doesn't represent the entirety of the whole city. Baguio, is beautiful, and relaxing except for the traffic. But the picture just made the city look like a slum somewhere in South America. Just my opinion, no offence intended. I've been to Baguio bazillion times and everytime I enjoyed it.:)

tracymack

July 16th, 2008, 05:00 AM

Well it's about time. Obviously, urbanity is given priority over greenery or balance when it comes to SSC banners. Still, congrats Baguio!

I wonder where the photographer was when he/she took this photo. Rimando Rd? Anyway, at least I see SLU, my alma mater, in the picture. :)

brownman

July 16th, 2008, 05:08 AM

^^ Rimando Road is near Trancoville and Aurora Hill right? Sorry, just refreshing my memory.hehe

tracymack

July 16th, 2008, 05:10 AM

^^ Correct, that is the road leading to Aurora Hill. :yes:

BOB-bXu

July 16th, 2008, 05:11 AM

allan_dude

July 16th, 2008, 05:12 AM

Baguio losing tourist spots to squatters

By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY – The lucrative tourism industry of this mountain resort city is now on the decline because some tourist spots are poorly maintained and squatters are invading them.

The famous Crystal Cave here, home of stalagmites and stalactites, had reportedly registered a very low number of tourist arrivals in the past several years due to its dilapidated condition and the invasion of squatters, which destroyed its scenic view.

Crystal Cave is one of the tourist destinations used to be frequented by foreign and local nature lovers because of its unique condition.

Earlier, the Department of Tourism (DoT) reportedly removed Mines View Park from the list of priority tourist spots in the city because of the failure of the city government to check the rampant vending in the area which is an eyesore and nuisance.

Worst, squatter shanties have mushroomed at the areas around the view deck, marring the view of the famous mining areas in Itogon, Benguet.

The city government plans to construct a four-storey structure in the vicinity of the Mines View Park to house the many vendors and remove the obstructions so that tourists will be encouraged to visit the famous tourist spot.

However, the contractor who wound the contract for the P40-million project might not be able to implement it due to the skyrocketing prices of construction materials which make the funds for the project insufficient.

Other potential tourist spots in the city which are threatened by squatters are the Botanical Garden (formerly Imelda Park), the Wright Park, and Burnham Park.

Tourism stakeholders asked the city government to adopt measures to preserve and protect the tourist destinations and work for the improvement of the parks to provide tourists new attractions.

While the city government is investing in the facelifting of Burnham Park, the city’s premier tourist attraction, tourism establishments said more funds should also be allotted for the improvement of the other scenic destinations in the city.

Aside from practically losing its tourism edge, the city government also suffered a setback when the Asian Institute of Management reported that Baguio is not among the top 10 performing cities in terms of being a conducive area for business opportunities.

http://www.mb.com.ph/archive_pages.php?url=http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/07/13/PROV20080713129660.html

Sinjin P.

July 16th, 2008, 05:15 AM

well, urbanity is subjective...urbanity is different in different perspective where you are in the world...

This is not the urbanity of Baguio....(as unfortunately depicted in the photo as cramped and crowded stacks of structures)

Baguio is a modern and picturesque medium sized city with the trimmings of cosmopolitan feautures all set up in the tops of greenery... We all know that...

Yes you're right, we all know that. And as I said, among all other Baguio banners that were submitted, this one was picked and we can't question the owner of the site for his choice.

tracymack

July 16th, 2008, 05:16 AM

well, urbanity is subjective...urbanity is different in different perspective where you are in the world...

This is not the urbanity of Baguio....(as unfortunately depicted in the photo as cramped and crowded stacks of structures)

Baguio is a modern and picturesque medium sized city with the trimmings of cosmopolitan feautures all set up in the tops of greenery... We all know that...

^^Like you said, urbanity is subjective so maybe this photo is how the banner approvers look at it. Too bad the photo doesn't show the stuff that makes Baguio one of the premier cities in the Philippines. Still, it's nice to see Baguio as the banner.

BOB-bXu

July 16th, 2008, 05:24 AM

the photo banner feautured is photo shopped...buildings appear cramped..this is not the actual picture once you are in Baguio..

since we are all here for the promotion of good will and being of all our Philippine cities, maybe we should screen well those photos before we send them to web managers of SSC....yes urbanity is subjective....since we are the promoting drivers here...we should be the one projecting these photos as how we see them worth promoting....and not them as the way they see it...

no pun intended there sinjin :)...just my few cents worth of idea...

Shazzam

July 16th, 2008, 06:23 AM

P2B in property projects to rise in Camp John Hay

By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:23:00 07/16/2008

New property projects worth over P2 billion will soon rise in the Camp John Hay leisure complex in the northern resort city of Baguio.

Property developer Fil-Estate Land Inc. said Camp John Hay Development Corp., in which it the Fil-Estate group has a 30-percent stake, planned to start construction of condominium-hotels and duplex townhouse units in the complex by the end of the year.

The company told the stock exchange that had signed a memorandum of agreement with its subsidiary Fil-Estate Urban Development Corp. and Camp John Hay Development for completion of the Camp John Hay Suites and Forest Cabins.

Under the agreement, Camp John Hay Development will contribute the leasehold rights to Camp John Hay. It is also the developer of the project. Fil-Estate Urban Development will finance the completion of the project. Fil-Estate Land will guarantee a $25- million loan of Fil-Estate Urban from Lim Asia Arbitrage Fund.

Fil-Estate Urban expects a net income of P50 million from development of the Camp John Hay Suites and Forest Cabins. The development cost is expected to reach P230 million.

For its guarantee, Fil-Estate Land will get five lots in Scout Hill, within Camp John Hay, which can be sold outright or developed into mid-rise leisure homes.

Fil-Estate Land will also acquire development rights over one lot with an area of 12,534 square meters in South Drive, just outside Camp John Hay.

Fil-Estate Land expects income of up to P745 million from the projects. The estimated development cost for both projects is P1.9 billion. With editing by INQUIRER.net

frustratedarchitect

July 16th, 2008, 08:19 AM

saan ko pwede makita yung Baguio Banner??? napalitan na eh

Sinjin P.

July 16th, 2008, 08:20 AM

^ Set your date to July 16, 2008.

Anyway, here it is:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/16.jpg

RonnieR

July 16th, 2008, 08:30 AM

How come the beautiful baguio is not in the picture? the Session Road, burnham, camp john hay, etc., etc., It shows the cramped neighborhood of houses and buildings.

Sinjin P.

July 16th, 2008, 08:33 AM

^ That "cramped neighborhood of houses and buildings" build the skyline of Baguio. That must be the reason why that photo, among all others, was chosen by the owner of the site as today's banner. All the photos of Burnham, Camp John Hay, etc. etc. were not accepted.

Honestly, I'm having difficulties of looking for photos of Philippine cities that show urbanity, relative to the level of international cities since most of our cities are really not that urban. So lets just be happy that more and more of our cities are being featured up there compared to not being featured at all. ;)

jackcar

July 16th, 2008, 09:37 AM

Look what a short span of 100 years can do!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/2673764126_3c4e4be641_b.jpg

adverg

July 16th, 2008, 09:51 AM

I think the banner does not depicts the true beauty of BAguio, maybe they change the colours since it is too warm in effect, like it was Smokey Mountain or reflecting like it was after effect of nuclear bombing at first impression sorry to say that, I saw previous photos of Baguio of almost the same angle of shots but it shows how fresh the atmospehere Baguio have, with the strong bluish skylight in the background and attracting greeneries surrounded this mass dwellings, Baguio in reality is really beautiful, this banner descriminates the legacy of Baguio being the summer capital of the Philippines and in terms of tourism campaign, it is an insult to the beauty of our land....

frustratedarchitect

July 16th, 2008, 10:07 AM

Thanks sinjin! The banner does reflect Baguio's urbanity. urbanity being the whole point of these forums. Although yes,urbanity does not represent all of Baguio.

nonetheless i am happy Baguio was featured.

I wonder what side of burnham the old pic was taken

What other Philippine cities other than manila and Baguio were featured sa banner?

Sinjin P.

July 16th, 2008, 11:51 AM

iamjomar

July 16th, 2008, 02:21 PM

whaooow:uh: musta naman ang density ng Baguio..anyways
congrats for making it to the SSC Banner:),

D'Transporter

July 16th, 2008, 05:35 PM

^^ That photo of Baguio reminds me of Brazil in the The HULK movie

bariQ

July 16th, 2008, 11:54 PM

it looks like a scene from a scifi movie

frustratedarchitect

July 17th, 2008, 05:33 AM

^ Cebu, Legazpi, Davao and Iloilo.

Btw, for those interested, here is the full sized photo of the Baguio banner we have today.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/2488571821_1209bdaa1a_b.jpg
photo by docjabagat (http://flickr.com/photos/docjabagat/)
Ganyan talaga ang kulay lalo na pag katapos umulan sa hapon., Reminds me of south ameriCan Cities or yung City sa planet of the apes...

ericlucky290

July 17th, 2008, 06:22 AM

I wonder why the local government does not promote green roofs. Imagine if you can see gardens on rooftops, how beautiful Baguio will be :)

brownman

July 18th, 2008, 10:05 AM

During my review for the Board Exams 2 years ago I always get excited when Gapuz would say our next review class will be held at Baguio Country Club coz most of the time we would drive along South Drive to go to the country club. I just love passing along that road coz of the beautiful and big houses that line it. It's my favorite place in Baguio except of course during the night.:lol:

davaob4now

July 18th, 2008, 01:27 PM

^^
yung baguio banner parang nong sa brazil...yung sa incredible hulk...

allan_dude

July 18th, 2008, 04:07 PM

Baguio City has no budget to relocate dumpsite - councilor

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The city government here has no plans of relocating the Irisan dumpsite despite protests from residents that have already lasted for several days.

This was because the purchase of a land that could be used as relocation site was not part of the 2008 budget.

“There is no definite plan of the city to purchase an area and construct a sanitary or an engineered landfill because it was not included in the approved budget emanating from the city executive,” Councilor Richard Carino said.

Hundreds of dumpsite residents and downstream communities of Irisan have been barricading the Irisan dumpsite since Sunday. This prompted city officials to issue an advisory for business establishments and residents to hold their daily garbage until alternative sites have been identified.

The Irisan dumpsite was mandated by law to have been closed as of January this year.

Carino said a 10-hectare property in Itogon near the city boundary is being offered to them by a private individual at P250 per square meter, or roughly P25 million.

To alleviate the looming garbage problem, the city’s crisis management team contracted the Clark Engineered Sanitary Landfill Facility in Pampanga province to deal with Baguio’s garbage at a monthly cost of P5 million.

At least 300 tons of garbage are being generated in Baguio City everyday.

Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan, however, said the city officials should think of other alternatives considering the cost of the contract with the Pampanga firm.

Carino likewise does not favor the contract management of city garbage, saying it will put the city at the mercy of the contractor.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, on the other hand, assured that the deal is only temporary. “It was a worse case solution and temporary,” he said. - GMANews.TV (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/107509/Baguio-City-has-no-budget-to-relocate-dumpsite---councilor)

allan_dude

July 18th, 2008, 04:42 PM

Coop sees cheaper power rates for Benguet, Baguio folk

Beneco reports big savings from purchase of power at WESM

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The comparatively cheaper power purchased by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) from the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM) would mean lower power rates for the over 120,000 consumers who are groaning about the burden of high prices.

This was reported by Gerardo P. Verzosa, Beneco general manager, who said that the power cooperative has already reduced the quantity of power it is purchasing from the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and TeaM Energy, formerly Mirant, because it is now getting cheaper power from WESM.

The cooperative started purchasing power from WESM during the April 26May 25, 2008 period. It purchased 3.242 million kilowatthours during the onemonth period.

Republic Act 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), mandates electric cooperatives to get 10 percent of its total monthly power requirement from WESM.

WESM allows electric suppliers and buyers to trade electricity as a commodity, which cannot be stored and which is impossible to trace which generator had supplied a certain buyer.

Verzosa said for the April 26-May 25 billing, Beneco purchased 14 million kilowatt hours from Napocor at R63.39 million at a generation cost of R4.5279 per kilowatthour.

At the same time, it purchased 6.789 million kilowatthours from TeaM at R30.74 million at the same generation cost.

In the past, the utility cooperative purchased power from Napocor as much as 20 million kilowatt hours at a comparatively high price.

Verzosa said the electric cooperative is saving a big amount by getting its power supply from the WESM because it purchases power during off-peak periods or when electricity is sold at cheapest price.

Beneco records show that the offpeak period in Baguio and Benguet is from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. when electricity price is R1.8477 per kilowatt hour compared to R6.061 per kilowatthour during the peak period of from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Verzosa cited another advantage of purchasing power from WSM. Electricity suppliers would prefer to dispose of power even for free during the off-peak hours rather than shutting down the power plants.

He said that power consumers could also save big amount by diverting their power consumption during the off-peak period.

If local consumers are able to adjust their power needs, the Beneco official said, there would be a significant reduction in their monthly power bills because this would reflect the actual cost of power purchased from WESM.

While the cooperative has barely started purchasing power from WESM, Beneco officials assure consumers that they will benefits from cheaper rates in the coming months. (Dexter See)

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080718130088.html

GearX

July 19th, 2008, 05:24 AM

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/puto7.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/puto8.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/puto9.jpg

GearX

July 19th, 2008, 05:25 AM

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/puto10.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/puto11.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x287/GearX_2007/2008/puto12.jpg

frustratedarchitect

July 19th, 2008, 07:26 AM

^^recent lang yung mga photos. thanks for sharing. Ayos yung fog "hugging" the buildings

Blair

July 20th, 2008, 07:24 PM

Monday, July 21, 2008
Arroyo asks city to look for Peza expansion site

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked the City Government of Baguio to look for other sites for the expansion of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

This came following numerous oppositions against the planned closure of the Loakan airport, supposedly to give way to the expansion of Peza.

"We ask the City Government officials to help us find other areas for the expansion so investors will continue to come here," Arroyo said.

"We were about to close Loakan but we (gave in) to the clamor of local officials not to close the airport," the President said.

Tourism-oriented establishments have opposed plans to shut down Loakan airport fearing the negative impact this will bring to tourist arrivals.

Even the health department said the closure of Loakan would affect the city in terms of emergency response. The airport serves as the only means to airlift patients on emergency situations.

The nearby towns of Tuba, Itogon and Sablan are being considered as alternative sites for the Peza expansion.

The completion of the international airport in San Fernando, La Union, one of the major projects of the Arroyo administration, as outlined in her super regions program, is seen to boost tourism not only in region one but also in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Its opening was supposed to signal the closure of Loakan airport. (JC)

icarusrising

July 21st, 2008, 03:36 AM

Baguio mayor disputes AIM study

On performance of cities in terms of competitiveness

By MIKE GUIMBATAN JR.

BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. assured that the business climate in this mountain resort city is favorable and that the quality of life in Baguio is higher than those of most of the cities in the country.

The mayor aired the assurance as he disputed a report by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) on the competitiveness of various cities. In the AIM report, Baguio was not included in the list of top 10 performing cities in terms of competitiveness.

Bautista maintains that Baguio remains as the education hub of Northern Luzon and that the city has been producing quality human resource needed by growing industries.

The top performing cities in the AIM survey were rated based on the dynamism of local economy, cost of doing business, infrastructure, human resource and training, responsiveness of the local government unit (LGU) to business needs, and quality of life.

Bautista said the AIM study was conducted in 2005 before he took over as mayor. He assured that a new survey will put Baguio in the list of top performing cities.

"We have high hopes (for a change in status) in 2009," he said.

Noting that the AIM survey concentrated on business fields in which the city is "not up to par," he reported that at present, the city has zero obligation, has 14,000 business enterprises, and has more than R1 billion in revenues.

Another factor that is favorable to business, he said, is that the Baguio Investments and Incentives Code was approved recently in the city council.

Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas agreed with the mayor’s observation that the city has a unique situation.

In Baguio, "lesser lands are open for development due to environmental concerns. Development would mean lesser pine trees for which Baguio is known," he said.

Source (http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080721130270.html)

jackcar

July 21st, 2008, 05:52 AM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2687939780_609dfd9062_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/2687950332_b7854c9191_o.jpg

tracymack

July 21st, 2008, 07:30 AM

frustratedarchitect

July 21st, 2008, 04:01 PM

frustratedarchitect

July 22nd, 2008, 05:51 AM

How tragic that Baguio, being the premiere city of the north has no place to dump its waste. or no efficient way of managing it.:ohno:

jackcar

July 22nd, 2008, 07:10 AM

^^

Hello jackar/frustratedarchitect/anyone currently residing in Baguio,

Could you guys enlighten me on this "garbage crisis" that Baguio is currently experiencing? Is this brought about by the Irisan dumpsite reaching its full capacity? What's the city government doing about this?

Thanks!

Hi Tracymack,

Baguio was designed by Arch. Daniel Burnham in 1905 for a population of only 25,000. Right now, Baguio has a permanent population of more than 400,000 and a transient population of over 2 million people. Baguio is literally bursting at its seams, it's carrying capacity having been breached many times over.

Squatters jostle over any open space available. Every square inch of our city has been commercialized, with vendors and would-be squatters scrambling over each other for the small spaces available.

The symptoms of urban blight are everywhere. Miasmic stench from broken sewer lines is commonplace. Water shortages (or a total absence of clean water) and water scheduling are now the norm even in areas which had unlimited water supply just a few years back.

Traffic is now a major headache for commuters and finding a parking space within the central business district is next to impossible.

"Uglyfication" now permeates every nook and cranny of our city. The only open spaces available are now being targetted by big business despite the fact that Baguio still cannot collect rental from the only businessmen who conduct business without paying their rent, the John Hay developers.

While the freeloaders who run Camp John Hay enjoy the best that Baguio has to offer, Baguio residents suffer. Decent housing and livelihood opportunities cannot keep pace with the rapidly increasing influx of fortune seekers, swelling the ranks of the poverty-stricken.

And for a city once famed for its rejuvinating fresh air, reports of its deteriorating air quality are disheartening.

The GARBAGE CRISIS was a disaster waiting to happen. It is just the logical result of a long-drawn out process of "uglyfication" or unchecked congestion which started during the late 1960s with the condoning of the rapid influx of squatters who have now somehow legitimized their positions within the Baguio "townsite".

This uglification or unchecked congestion was made worse by the concentration of the city's colleges and universities in the city center. Second-rate and rundown student dormitories sprouted near these schools along with unregulated establishments offering budget student meals.

With the lack of open spaces within the congested school campuses, Baguio's main streets and parks became the playground of the students. And because of the limited purchasing power of majority of the students, establishments catering to tourists were marginalized, pushed out of the city center, resulting to the deterioration of the businesses along the city's main streets, like Session Road and Magsaysay Avenue.

Baguio's biggest schools and universities are certified cash cows and have brought untold fortunes to the families of their owners. Corporate social responsibility dictates that they should plough back some of their income into the establishment of an educational center outside Baguio, within the outlying municipalities of Benguet, in order to arrest the uglification and congestion within the city center.

The planned Php3-B (or is it Php5-B) investment of Ayala Land Inc. in John Hay should likewise be relocated outside Baguio, within the outlying municipalities of Benguet in order to likewise arrest the further congestion and resultant uglification of Baguio.

Only when the outlying Benguet towns feel that they are being given a fair shake, only when they see that they are not only being made a "tapunan ng basura ng Baguio," but are also being given the chance of becoming economic hubs, will they agree to urban planning on a wider scale.

Urban planning on a wider scale is the solution to Baguio's uglification and garbage woes.

tracymack

July 23rd, 2008, 09:12 AM

Thanks for the very insightful post, jackar.

And thanks also frustratedarchitect.

I guess we should hope for the BLIST concept to materialize (asap) for Baguio to get its much needed decongestion. I hope the condition there improves significantly real soon.

kiretoce

July 24th, 2008, 12:48 AM

Arroyo recalls order to shut down airport in Baguio (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080724-150314/Arroyo-recalls-order-to-shut-down-airport-in-Baguio)

President Macapagal-Arroyo will no longer pursue the closure of the Loakan airport, which she had earlier intended because it had not been hosting enough commercial flights since 1990.

Strong winds and fog that cover Baguio, especially during the rainy season, have forced major commercial airlines to stop flying here. Only Asian Spirit serves the city.

“Many factories want to locate in Baguio and they need flat land, but we hear the cry of our leaders of the Cordillera…Don’t close the airport yet,’ “ the President said in a speech before members of the administration parties Lakas-CMD and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) in the Cordillera on Friday. She witnessed the merger of the Cordillera chapters of Lakas and Kampi.

The airport is near the Baguio City Economic Zone and its closure would have opened up lands for the zone’s expansion, Ms Arroyo said.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said he had already offered Malacañang a proposal to build new economic zones in nearby Sablan and Tuba. These towns were actually identified as expansion sites of a metropolitan government called BLIST (Baguio and the Benguet towns of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan and Tuba), which was designed by urban management experts shortly after the city was devastated by the July 1990 earthquake.

Sablan, in particular, is suited for industrial firms, Bautista said, because of its relatively flat terrain.

The mayor began convincing Sablan to free up an area for such a zone in January.

Last year, Ms Arroyo floated the idea of converting the idle Loakan runway into an extension of the economic zone administered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) last year.

She noted that the airport had stood idle for too long, and might no longer be necessary now that an airport in La Union had been scheduled to begin operations this month.

The airport inside the Bases Conversion and Development Authority’s Poro Point Special Economic Zone in San Fernando City, 45 kilometers from here, was modernized and upgraded last year.

Loakan has been the city’s only airport since 1932, but Ms Arroyo said its runway is ideal for an expansion of the facilities of Texas Instruments Philippines Inc.

Ms Arroyo said the La Union airport would already serve Loakan.

[dx]

July 24th, 2008, 02:43 AM

Baguio City gives full protection of Kennon Road as tourist and historical spot (http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Tourism_24/Baguio_City_gives_full_protection_of_Kennon_Road_as_tourist_and_historical_spot.shtml)

BAGUIO CITY, July 24 (PNA) -- Lawyer Peter Fianza, Baguio city administrator today confirmed that the city council has banned certain vehicles to travel along the historic 35 kilometer Kennon Road built by the Americans in the early 1900 to preserve it as a tourist spot and relic of history. The protection came from the City Ordinance No. 43, series of 2008 which bans along the route known as “Zigzag” six-wheeler trucks which weigh some 16,880 kilograms.

According to Fianza, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) precinct 8 led by Police Chief Inspector Paul John Mencio was tasked to strictly implement the ban. He admitted however that there were certain exceptions as far as water delivery and hauling of aggregates like sand and gravel as they were determined not to cause any perceptible damage as they travel the route.

The Kennon Road remains very attractive to the tourists because of the unique Bridal Falls and six other falls which feed into the river below. The late Colonel Lyman Kennon of the United States Army in 1900 led workers in the country including those of Japan and other foreign countries to construct the road which in almost a century thereafter served as the shortest route to link this city to the lowland areas in Luzon including Metro Manila.

Passage along the route remain safe including rainy season until it sustained damages in the 1990 “killer” earthquake that these days, the road is temporarily closed during typhoons and prolonged rains due to frequent rock fall or landslide. Fianza said that with the ban, the needed further rehabilitation of the road will be duly undertaken by authorities. (PNA)

jackcar

July 24th, 2008, 04:34 AM

‘Baguio is becoming the dirtiest city in RP’
By PHILIP JAMES P. ERPELO
ABS-CBN Baguio

Baguio City residents are calling for the immediate resolution of the city’s garbage problem as city officials continue to grapple with the problem of finding a new dumpsite.

"Back then, Baguio was recognized as the cleanest and greenest city, but now, it can be called the dirtiest city," exclaimed Ernesto Garbo of New Lucban Extension.

Even areas around the city hall and the Baguio City Police Office have not been exempt from the foul odor and distracting sight of the city’s mounting garbage..

Barangays of the city have been deeply affected. Residents of Cresencia Village have been complaining about the inconsistent garbage collection.

"It’s so disgusting! Everywhere, even the market! Sometimes, my friend prefers to ride on a vehicle just to avoid any confrontation with the foul odor from the roads," said Jess Baylon.

Some residents also feared for the health of their children.

"Because of strong rain, garbage is swept away. This can clog up the drainage system. Flooding can attract mosquitoes and eventually endanger the people through dengue and other diseases caused by foul odor," explained Jenny Belle Rose Generoza.

"Flies hover around garbage. They eventually land on our tables and leave germs and bacteria. People can suffer from respiratory tract infections and diarrhea," said Medical Officer V Donnabel Tubera.

City Environment and Parks Management Office meanwhile said that they will continue garbage collection "but only on selected areas," according to Colleene Lacsamana, CEPMO head.

By next week, city officials said they are expecting to find a new dumping site to replace the existing one in Irisan which has been environmentalists say has been overfilled.

dark_knight_detectve

July 24th, 2008, 04:13 PM

DoTC lifts transport ban on Kennon Road (http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/07/24/PROV20080724130608.html)

Drivers, operators of passenger vans benefit from lifting of ban

By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) has lifted its order banning garage vans from traversing Kennon Road, the shortest route from this mountain resort city to the lowland and vice versa.

The lifting of the ban is expected to help the operators save on fuel expense amidst the soaring prices of oil.

Lawyer Federico J. Mandapat, Cordillera DoTC director, issued an order allowing vans to pass through the 34kilometer road as a way to help them cope with the increase in fuel cost.

Because of the ban on Kennon Road, the drivers of the passenger vans are forced to travel through Marcos Highway, a circuitous route to and from this city.

Last year, Mandapat banned garage vans from passing through Kennon Road because of its reportedly unstable, delicate condition, using as basis a report that the highway is geologically unstable.

All vans were ordered to take Marcos Highway to ensure the safety of the passengers.

In lifting the ban on Kennon road, the DoTC official said that his campaign against colorum vehicles and road-safety violations committed by van operators and drivers is expected to be boosted.

The ban on Kennon Road had caused a misunderstanding and mudslinging between Benguet provincial leaders and DoTC officials who traded serious accusations in the past several months.

On the Baguio section of Kennon Road, meanwhile, the city government has banned six-wheel trucks and mini buses from traversing the highway.

The objective of the ban is to ensure the safety of the motorists and protect the road from further deterioration.

Van operators and drivers said passing through Kennon Road results in reduction in travel time and fuel expense.

Compared to travel on Marcos Highway, the Kennon Road trip results in savings of over R300 in fuel expense and cut in travel time by 20 minutes of travel.

Perfecto Itliong Jr., regional director of the Public Transport Affairs Office (PTAO) in the Cordillera, said Mandapat’s order is laudable because the van operators and drivers are given the opportunity to earn more at this hard time where everybody has resorted to belt tightening amidst the skyrocketing prices of commodities.

At the same time, he said, the rift between DoTC and the transport sector is considered settled and a harmonious working relationship is now a possibility.

Earlier, the Cordillera office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) reported that 85 percent of the Kennon Road areas are geologically hazardous especially during the rainy season,

This is caused mainly by the existence of highly fractured rock formations located in the mountain slopes.

If water enters in the fractures, there is a possibility that it would soften, and this condition could lead to landslides and rockslides. This poses a serious threat to communities alongside the road as well as motorists using the road.

jackcar

July 25th, 2008, 04:04 AM

Some friends of ours have criticized our media friends for the negative image of Baguio being projected by our so-called "NEGATIVE PUBLICITY." Here is more negative publicity, but its the truth.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2700201236_8ba0cd12ea_o.jpg
Residents passing by Burnham Park cover their noses to mitigate the noxious fumes from the uncollected garbage at our city's premiere park.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/2700199992_475739bdc1_o.jpg
The worms are coming to Baguio!!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2700198908_460e67c269_o.jpg
Coffee shop talk blames the Baguio people themselves for electing recycled politicians. Baguio's officials have been the same old faces for decades without ANY FRESH IDEAS FOR THE CITY. Their political careers should be thrown in the garbage dump where they belong, say the coffee shop habitues.

Thanks to Mike Guimbatan, Baguio correspondent for The Manila Bulletin, and Baguio Muna Watchdog convenor, for the photos. More of his photos at http://mikeguimbatan.multiply.com/photos/album/31/Baguio_Basura?replies_read=1

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 01:51 PM

Aurora Hill...

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/22/photos/712/1200x1200/1/-RM14306-copy-1.JPG?et=917YtGKHI%2C9YGMDY5IKqPA&nmid=106293967

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/712/Baguio_On_Air_17#1)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 01:53 PM

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 01:54 PM

Magsaysay Avenue

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/24/photos/242/1200x1200/17/-RM14216-copy-1.JPG?et=YhQUHmj%2Bs%2Bp5HnvbaruKNQ&nmid=102627949

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#17)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 01:56 PM

Hilltop

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/37/photos/242/1200x1200/11/-RPM1534-copy-1.JPG?et=LqeuuNEjiRuCKnr6Dzpinw&nmid=78710842

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#11)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 02:00 PM

Bokawkan Road

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/22/photos/242/1200x1200/18/-RM14225-copy-1.JPG?et=PXkZNMh4Cardz7GkwHJGgw&nmid=102939605

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#18)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 02:02 PM

Loakan Airport

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/23/photos/242/1200x1200/15/-RM14144-copy-1.JPG?et=5n6etLo%2CizqVS8u5KSUZCw&nmid=101209184

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#15)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 02:03 PM

La Trinidad

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/20/photos/242/1200x1200/12/-RM14335-copy-1.JPG?et=SmwS28NgImQfPjg%2CWeIyJw&nmid=99575601

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#12)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 02:05 PM

Camp John Hay

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/37/photos/242/1200x1200/5/-DSC7779-copy-1.JPG?et=swc6QjyrU%2CH7lttmI%2CwL8Q&nmid=72395143

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#5)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 02:08 PM

Camp 8 and Hillside

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/44/photos/242/1200x1200/7/-RPM1453-copy-1.JPG?et=KOlYrPDZ7Ke2FiYiYLddZg&nmid=73333538

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#7)

icarusrising

July 25th, 2008, 02:10 PM

Baguio City High

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/49/photos/242/1200x1200/9/-DSC7776-copy-1.JPG?et=KWJdBCE6K%2CrSjvEJt4F6iw&nmid=76616355

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#9)

jackcar

July 25th, 2008, 05:31 PM

Compare and contrast with photos of Ric Maniquis. A short span of 100 years makes a lot of difference.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2700704203_f04c6da0cc_o.jpg

The road in the foreground is Session Road!

jackcar

July 28th, 2008, 05:18 AM

Baguio City may declare ‘state of calamity’ due to garbage problem
By XENIA RIBAYA
ABS-CBN Baguio

Baguio City Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas declared Friday that Baguio City’s depressing state of overflowing garbage and the lack of new dumpsite areas are enough reasons to put the city under a state of calamity.

Though officials of Capas town in Tarlac province finally agreed to provide an area where it can dump its daily garbage, Farinas said that this would not be enough to solve the problem.

"It’s one way that we can access the calamity fund since the daily expense of hauling it to Capas, Tarlac is very expensive," said Farinas.

Baguio’s dilemma on garbage is set to be be the main focus on Monday’s regular session of the city council.

A total of 16 dump trucks hauled garbage to Capas this Thursday night, after residents of Tuba and affected Baguio residents again barricaded the entrance of Irisan dumpsite as an expression of their dismay to authorities for not fully implementing the promised closure of the dumpsite.

Each garbage hauling trip costs P24,800. The city has allotted a total budget of P85 million to address the garbage problem.

Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. meanwhile continues to negotiate with local officials of Naguilian, La Union to provide the city with a sanitary landfill area.

Baguio City has a daily garbage collection of 150 tons. At present, the City Environment and Parks Management Office only collects garbage selectively among the city’s 127 barangays.

Earlier, officials and residents of nearby towns Tuba, Itogon, Sablan, and La Trinidad have expressed full opposition to Baguio’s proposal of establishing new dumpsites in their areas.

icarusrising

July 28th, 2008, 05:51 AM

Colonel Burger

July 28th, 2008, 06:00 AM

that is the problem from having a city with big population, but with a small land area.

They should decongest the city by moving the residents to nearby towns such as Itogon and La Trinidad.

Zodiac18

July 28th, 2008, 02:53 PM

allan_dude

July 28th, 2008, 05:36 PM

State of calamity declared in Baguio due to garbage crisis

MANILA, Philippines - A lingering garbage problem has prompted authorities to place Baguio City under a state of calamity, a radio report said Saturday evening.

City Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas said they hope to get the needed calamity funds to safeguard people's health, according to a Bombo Radyo Baguio report.

He said the city can use P85 million out of its supplemental budget but this may not be enough to address the garbage problem.

Fariñas said they would temporarily bring the garbage to Capas in Tarlac through a private company, while they look for a sanitary landfill.

But for now, he admitted garbage collection would still be limited.

The Department of Health had warned the uncollected garbage may endanger the health of residents. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109601/State-of-calamity-declared-in-Baguio-due-to-garbage-crisis

iamjomar

July 28th, 2008, 05:57 PM

:eek2: malala na pala ang problema sa basura ng Baguio, dapat na talaga yang maagapan asap.

frustratedarchitect

July 29th, 2008, 05:22 AM

I REALLY like those aerial photos.^^thanks for sharing. It shows just how varied, unique (and crowded) Baguio's cityscape is. I wonder how Baguio is gonna look like in the another 50 years. Parang hindi nilindol ang Baguio nung 1990.

Im also really amazed with how session road looks like 100 years ago... with all that grass and the muddy trail it used to be. I could also recognize the stone market where the humongous Maharlika center now stands

brownman

July 31st, 2008, 11:05 AM

:ohno: Is the garbage hoarding cause by no available or full-to-the-rim landfills in Baguio? Placing the entire city into state of calamity just for it, God, it must be really really serious.

jackcar

August 2nd, 2008, 08:54 PM

Compare and contrast with the aerial photos of Ric Maniquis posted above.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/2725046939_3bb5a2d17c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2725872402_3de98360f8_o.jpg

Lush tree cover surrounded Baguio, now replaced by residential houses squirming under the commercialization of every square inch of the city.

Taken from an album of a US navyman stationed in the Philippines 1940 before WW2. We have to make do with the small size, uso noon ang small 2" x 3" photos.

allan_dude

August 4th, 2008, 05:39 PM

13 areas for Baguio landfill studied

Proposed sites are located in BLIST area

Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – The city government is studying the possibility of constructing its sanitary landfill at one of 13 proposed sites in the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba (BLIST) area.

These sites include a 14-hectare land at the boundary of Baguio and Tuba, Benguet in Barangay Dontogan; a 10-hectare area at Camp 7; a 14-hectare area at Loakan proper; a 13-hectare land at Pula, Sto. Tomas; a 43-hectare land at Nangalisan, Tuba, Benguet; a 12.5-hectare land at Yagyagan, Tuba, Benguet; 26-hectare land behind the relay station at Sto. Tomas; KCI place near Poyopoy, Tuba, Benguet; a 12-hectare property owned by the municipal government of Sablan, Benguet located in Monglo; a 15-hectare land in Bekis, Tuba, Benguet; a 9.4-hectare land in Binga, Itogon, Benguet; a 49-hectare land owned by the Carantes family in Virac, Itogon, Benguet; and a 15-hectare land owned by the Capuyan family in Tublay, Benguet.

Some proposals were submitted to the city government, and communication relative to the proposed site of the city’s sanitary landfill was coursed through the city officials.

The proposals and information regarding the existence of big parcels of land were submitted when the city government issued call to the residents to signify their intention to sell their lots to the city government for its engineered sanitary landfill.

A World Bank (WB) study had identified three areas in the city which are possible areas for the establishment of a sanitary landfill.

However, no action was taken on the WB recommendation because several problems beyond the control of the city government had cropped up.

The Carantes property in Virac, this city was proposed by the late Tuba vice mayor Val Carantes whose family pursued after his demise.

But it encountered some serious problems due to some opposition, which the municipal government of Itogon said might be addressed if the people are clarified on some matters, specifically the city’s plan and design of the sanitary landfill in case the area is bought by the city.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080804131528.html

frustratedarchitect

August 5th, 2008, 09:43 AM

icarusrising

August 6th, 2008, 06:20 AM

Cordilleras embark on regional
physical integration (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/08062008/economy06.html)

By Marilou Guieb
Correspondent

BAGUIO CITY—Regional physical integration —this is the main direction of development of the Regional Development Council (RDC) for the Cordillera Region.

This requires an improved road network and communication system to cut travel time and ensure delivery of basic services as quickly as possible.

To realize this, the region is banking on the Cordillera Roads Improvement Project, or CRIP, considered as the region’s flagship project, especially the Cordillera Trunkline Road—the Rosario-Baguio-Bontoc-Tabuk-Kabugao-Calanasan-Claveria Road.

This objective was announced by RDC regional chairman Juan Ngalob during his state of the region address in the monthlong July celebration of the 21st anniversary of Cordillera as an administrative region.

CRIP covered the completion of Naguilian and Marcos Highway roads and the 25-kilometer concreting of the rugged bumpy Halsema Road funded by the World Bank, which cut travel time from La Trinidad to Mount Data by about two hours.

Ongoing are the President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) 2006 projects in support of the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle development strategy, which is the 90-kilometer continuing road from Mount Data to Bontoc , which the President wants finished by 2009.

Another is the 110-kilometer Bontoc-Lubuagan-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road, regarded as the region’s development bottleneck as it was largely neglected and barely traveled before the Sona.

Ngalob also announced that soon the 68-kilometer Baguio-Aritao Road, a P1.7-billion JBIC-assisted project which is vital for interregional mobility in Southern Benguet, will be inaugurated. This road network will also promote economic activities with Nueva Vizcaya.

jackcar

August 7th, 2008, 07:27 AM

Mayor says sorry for Baguio garbage crisis

By Vincent Cabreza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:15:00 08/07/2008

BAGUIO CITY – In an act rare among government officials, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. appeared at a city council session on Monday and apologized for the garbage crisis that kept the country’s summer resort looking and smelling bad for weeks.

Bautista, who told councilors that the crisis was over, said he alone was responsible for it and was willing to go to jail for the actions he took to solve it.

Repeating statements he made at a July 31 press conference, the mayor shielded City Hall staff by asking councilors to blame him instead.

The crisis started when residents of Barangay Irisan and a neighboring subdivision in Tuba, Benguet, barricaded the city’s only dump on July 14.

The dump was officially closed early this year but a portion of it was kept open. Mounting garbage in this section now threatens to fall on houses below the dump because of a damaged retaining wall.

Bautista asked city administrator Peter Fianza to order the hauling of the city’s daily trash to a landfill in Tarlac when garbage started to pile up in city parks and major streets.

The mayor said the city was to resume regular garbage collection services this week, while local officials studied 15 offers by private landowners and local governments in Benguet and La Union to buy or build engineered sanitary landfills on pieces of property that they own.

The council allocated P10 million to help develop at least six material recovery facilities (MRFs). MRFs are sorting and buying stations for recycled materials.

Bautista also hired contractors to rebuild the dump’s old retaining wall to allow Baguio to continue using a hectare of the five-hectare dump until the city has its own landfill.

The mayor said the city government was studying plans to build multiple landfills.

Aside from managing wastes from a growing migrant population, the city needs to accommodate wastes from expanding industrial and business establishments.

In the meantime, the city would have to rely on the commercial landfill in Capas, Tarlac, Bautista said.

But a group of lawyers, headed by former Mayor Braulio Yaranon, questioned this solution because the Metro Waste Management Corp., the contractor, is already doing the hauling.

Yaranon, a retired regional trial court judge, joined protests against the continued use of the Irisan dump.

In a letter to Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas on July 28, the lawyers warned Bautista that pursuing a contract with Metro Waste was illegal because it did not go through the regular bidding process, and could cost Bautista “fines and a jail term.”

frustratedarchitect

August 9th, 2008, 08:46 AM

Session Road

http://images.ricmaniquis.multiply.com/image/38/photos/242/1200x1200/8/-RPM1485-copy-1.JPG?et=VfhOx3%2Cdyie2Vj5keTg4tQ&nmid=73765072

Photo by Ric Maniquis (http://ricmaniquis.multiply.com/photos/album/242/Baguio_On_Air#8)

Baguio: pop: 300,000
Baguio for me resembles the rugged cityscape of other Asian citieshttp://dance.unlv.edu/danphotosforweb/seoul1.jpg
Seoul: pop: 10,500,000

allan_dude

August 10th, 2008, 02:15 PM

Baguio mart rehab delayed anew

Vendors seek reconsideration of court ruling

BAGUIO CITY – The long overdue rehabilitation of the dilapidated public market here may suffer further delay following the filing of separate motions for reconsideration with the court by a group of vendors.

The group had earlier sought the nullification of a city ordinance directing the rehabilitation of the market as well through a "build, develop and lease" scheme.

In the event that the petitions of the vendors are denied by the court, lawyers of the city government said, the celebrated market case may be elevated to higher courts, including the Supreme Court (SC). This would surely delay further the rehabilitation, they said.

City officials said if Uniwide Realty Sales and Development Corp., which won the contract for the market rehabilitation, decides to withdraw from the R1.7-billion market project which has been delayed for over 13 years now as a result of the case, the city government would have a free hand in planning and implementing the development of the public market.

The Baguio Market Vendors Association (BAMARVA) first filed its motion for reconsideration that seeks the reversal of a decision of the Regional Trial Court’s (RTC) Branch 59 which found the petition to nullify the market development contract and ordinance without merit.

The reported financial trouble of Uniwide and a plan to cancel the privatization of the market are the major reasons cited by city officials in requesting the company to give up its multi-billion-peso contract.

http://www.mb.com.ph/PROV20080810132142.html

allan_dude

August 10th, 2008, 02:17 PM

Philippine Retirement Authority opens Baguio satellite office

by Lito Dar

Baguio City -- In line with government efforts to promote the Philippines as a preferred retirement destination, the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) opened last month its Baguio Satellite office that will service Northern Luzon.

OIC Frederick Pati explained in a local radio program, that the PRA is promoting and granting Special Resident Retirees Visa (SRRVisa) to retirees and would- be retirees who are former Filipino citizens and foreign nationals. This visa entitles the holder to multiple-entry privileges with the option to reside permanently in the Philippines.

A SRRVisa holder is also exempted from the Bureau of Immigration 's Exit Clearance/Re-entry permits and annual registration requirements; exempted from custom duties and taxes for the importation of personal effects and household goods up to $7,000. He is also exempted from travel tax if the stay in the Phils is less than one year from the last entry date; exempted from special study permit and tax-free remittance of annuities and pensions, according to PRA's Nap Manguiat.

As the PRA aims to attract retirees to make the Philippines their second home where they can have good life at affordable cost, the office is offering a $500 incentive for every approved referral, under the SRR Visa Program.

Pati explained that interested marketeers/agents, should be accredited first by the PRA and need to pay an accreditation fee of $300 or they can also bring a referral, upon applying for accreditation, for the off-setting of the fee.

According to Pati, there are already about 400 SRRVisa holders/members in Northern Luzon and majority of them are residing in Baguio City.

Pati also bared that the PRA thru its Chairman Edgar Aglipay had signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr, in connection with extending the SRRVisa to indigent Filipino retirees. The PRA is also set to enter into an agreement with Baguio Country Club for the possible purchase or lease of its units for SRRVisa holders.

For additional information, on the SRRVisa program, interested persons may log on to www.pra.gov.ph or visit the PRA Baguio Satellite Office at DTI-CAR NERBAC, PTA compound, Governor Pack Road, Baguio City. (PIA)

http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080809.htm&no=19

jackcar

August 22nd, 2008, 04:49 PM

From today's edition of Sun*Star Baguio...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2787082680_6df397fa78_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2787083582_e8ac4beabf_o.jpg

Animo

August 22nd, 2008, 08:28 PM

By Nonnette Bennett (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/08/23/oped/nonnette.bennett.stories..html)
Stories

Taken from Rowena Reyes-Boquiren's UP Professorial Chair Lecture entitled The Nature of the Land Problem in Baguio. Boquiren is Executive Director of the Baguio Historical Society. (The material may be photocopied and disseminated with proper acknowledgement of the source.)

Urban growth since the 1900s

The Spanish colonizers would not have climbed up the steep mountain slopes leading to Baguio had it not been for the lure of the "Igorot gold."

Their presence in Baguio, however, did not create much impetus for change to the extent that the American presence did.

Nonetheless, the Spaniards especially noted in their accounts a location for a hill station in the uplands far superior to La Trinidad -- the nearby village of Baguio which had 21 scattered houses by the 1890s (Reed 1976: 55-61).

With this in mind and the need for a suitable recuperation area for American service men in the country, the first Philippine Commission, among them scientist Dean Worcester, explored the steep and slippery Spanish trails described in the archives which he read in the 1890s before sailing for the Philippines.

In 1900, the Americans set foot on a "wonderful region of pine parks" (Baguio 1969:5), in a place that would soon become the summer capital of the country. It did not take the Commission long to decide that here in Kafagway was an ideal site for a future city.

Initiatives towards attaining this American dream began in 1901 under Philippine Commission members Worcester and W. Cameron Forbes.

Baguio evolved into a multi-ethnic convergence area as it transformed under colonial direction (Brett 1990).

Unfortunately, government policies regarding land disposition, use and ownership had the effect of disenfranchising original occupants of their vested rights, since the law now declared most of the city area as public land, on the one hand, while institutionalizing private ownership, on the other hand, among those who could afford the required registration and titling process.

Between the original occupants and the new settlers (including the colonial government), the conflicts in perception of land status, use and ownership claims, presaged a long legal battle that would persist throughout the colonial era and beyond.

Mobility and urbanization trends in Baguio

It was a matter of time and policy that the predominantly green Baguio of the Ibaloys would become an area for institutional use, "enclaves" for vacation use of the high-income sector, as well as catchment area for settlers from rural areas (sources for the narrative include Forbes 1933; Laubenthal 1981; Licuanan 1982; Halsema 1991; Alcantara 1992; and Cruz 1993 aside from interviews with representatives of Baguio's families).

The Land Registration Act of 1902 introduced a system of land ownership totally different from that of customary law.

It requires claimants to voluntarily secure a Torrens Title to their land holdings.

Act 718 of 1903 also set the basic premise for handling lands of indigenous communities, when it stated that all grants, deeds, patents, leases or other instruments of conveyance purporting to convey from Moro sultans or datus or from chiefs of non-Christian tribes land or rights of property made without the consent of concerned Spanish or US officials, are declared illegal, void, and of no effect.

Yet, the same state law gave protection to actual occupants of land under the public domain, by providing that "no person shall be deprived of private property without due process and just compensation" (Public Law 235, or the Philippine Bill of 1 July 1902).

This basic set of legislations provided the basis for the persistent struggle for recognition of land ownership between the government and the early occupants.

The Philippine Commission passed another resolution naming Baguio the summer capital of the Philippines on June 1, 1903.

It also adopted a policy to construct suitable buildings, secure suitable transportation, proper water supply and other amenities to make residence in Baguio possible for all employees of the government.

Six years after 1901, Executive Act (EO) 37 created the Baguio Townsite, amending an earlier provision for a reservation in 1903.

In recognition of the urgency to facilitate the titling of land and disposition of public land for the landless and institutional uses, the government allowed town-site reservations for release to civilians through a process attached to a Town Sales Application (TSA).

Many Igorot families applied to have land under this scheme, as applications were opened several times throughout the American period.

However, the granting of TSAs was constrained by unclear sources of control over the disposition of land between the national and local governments, and thus suffered from delays and voiding.

The Burnham Plan itself was laid out as early as 1904 and subsequently revised in 1909 and 1913. The idea behind the Burnham Plan was to create and maintain a green city with controlled expansion. The original design considered for the area a population of not more than 25,000 people to maintain its carrying capacity and natural beauty.

As a summer capital, large tracts of land in the area were expropriated by the American government as institutional lands.

About 329 hectares or 67 percent of Baguio's prime lands were reserved for government purposes from 1900 to 1945.

These lands are those found in the present central business district including Burnham Park, the City Hall and Government Center area extending up to the whole of Pacdal district, and John Hay and Country Club sites which were actually defined in the Plan.

Structures were immediately built on these sites: the City Hall, the sanitarium which later became the Pines Hotel at the Luneta Hill, Mansion House, the inexpensive cottages in Cabinet Hill and Engineers' Hill for rent by government officials and employees.

Aside from these, the Baguio School for American children in the country (now Brent School) was one of major components also defined in the Plan.

Easier access to the city through the construction of Kennon Road began on March 1905, and was completed on time.

The establishment of Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club started in 1905; Pines Hotel in 1902; Camp Allen in 1907; Teachers' Camp in 1908; and Brent School in 1909.

About 535 acres in Baguio were allocated as military reservation on December 10, 1903, and this came to be known as Camp John Hay.

On August 1, 1909 the Baguio City Charter was enacted and a local government set up, with the first election of councilors taking place in 1916.

Free housing facilities were offered to civil service employees. (to be continued next week)

Animo

August 22nd, 2008, 08:29 PM

By Gerry Evangelista, Sr. (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/08/23/oped/gerry.evangelista.sr..centennial.updates.html)
Centennial Updates

DID you know that Mirador Hill, as we know it today, was originally designated as an observation point of the Spaniards in these parts?

Initially called "El Mirador de Baguio," meaning "mirror of Baguio" the height and location of the hill provided Spanish observers a very good vantage point for ships coming and docking at the Lingayen Gulf.

The property was later purchased by the Insular government, and according to the Department of Interior Weather Bureau, in a report for the year 1909, said in January that year, the building on Mount Mirador was sufficiently advanced to admit the installation of a microseismograph to measure earthquakes.

A number of other instruments have been mounted. Two piers have been erected, one in the meteorological park, the other farther away from the house; the former will serve for observations of latitude and time, the latter for absolute magnetic measurements.

*****

Also at that time, the Weather Bureau was grateful to the Director of Posts for the construction of a telegraph line from the Baguio telegraph office to the new observatory.

This will enable the latter to receive time signals direct from the Observatory clock at Manila.

The arrangements were not quite complete on June 30, 1909, but the first time signal was transmitted on July 9.

The Philippine Legislature, having made provisions for the salaries of employees, the branch observatory on Mount Mirador had begun its regular work on July 1, 1909.

*****

It is exactly 370 days before the Baguio Centennial on September 1, 2009! On that day, Baguio will be celebrating its 100th year anniversary as a chartered city.

*****

The Baguio Centennial Commission on Thursday held a special meeting to tackle developments related to the upcoming 99th charter Day Anniversary on September 1.

Among the items discussed are the preparations for the Pre-Centennial Fundraising Dinner to be held at the Baguio Country Club.

During the dinner, various agreements would be forged with entities supporting the Centennial celebrations like Texas Instruments, Metrobank, Rotary, the National Service Training Program, and others.

An audio-video presentation will be held, including an exhibit of Baguio treasures.

Baguio mementos and memorabilia will be on display, including stamp and coin collections in circulation in Baguio City even during the early years of construction of Kennon Road, which was completed in 1905.

Dr. Charles Cheng is also exhibiting some historical papers and items relating to the early Chinese population of Baguio.

*****

In relation to the Baguio Day celebrations, Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. named four CenteCom Commissioners to the 99th Baguio Charter Day Anniversary Committees through Administrative Order (AO) 135 issued Thursday afternoon.

Named chief advisor to the committee was CenteCom chairman Dr. Virgilio Bautista, while Bishop Carlito Cenzon was named chairman of the program committee.

Commissioners Gerry Evangelista and Dr. Cheng were also assigned to the parade and sports committees, respectively.

Mayor Bautista, in his AO said, "realizing that the September 1, 2008 fete is likewise the onset of the Baguio Centennial celebration, there is a need to synchronize this year's Charter Day anniversary celebration with endeavors conceptualized by the Baguio Centennial (Commission)."

*****

The concept for the Baguio Day parade was also presented to the Commission by Chairman Gil Bautista.

The parade is envisioned to be a historic tableau consisting of various eras in Baguio's evolution.

The eras will be marked by costumes or icons representing the particular period, or the ethno-linguistic group or nationality that influenced that stage in history.

Students, artist groups, non-government organizations, drum and lyre bands, and the Philippine Military Academy are expected to participate in the parade.

*****

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Manila has expressed overwhelming support for the Baguio Centennial Celebrations.

Embassy officials are excited to take part in the yearlong spread of activities, including the installation of the Centennial obelisk at Wright Park.

Ties with the Embassy have been firmed up following a successful visit and tour of the US Ambassador's residence at Camp John Hay last August 12 by the CenteCom research team.

The visit, aside from strengthening relations, also resulted in the Commission's acquisition of an official replica of the Instrument of Surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita on September 3, 1945.

The document shall be turned over to the City Mayor's Office during the upcoming Baguio Day celebrations, instead of the originally planned 63rd Anniversary on September 3.

*****

For comments and suggestions to the Centennial Updates, please email
adambaguio@yahoo.com.

dark_knight_detectve

August 31st, 2008, 04:08 PM

Expressway, La Union airport seen to boost Cordillera growth (http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/08/31/PROV20080831133898.html)

By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY – The upcoming operation of the San Fernando airport in La Union and the immediate completion of the 84-kilometer Tarlac-La Union toll expressway will surely perk up tourism, agriculture, and economic development in Baguio City and the entire Cordillera.

The San Fernando airport is expected to resume flight operations by October, this year following the completion of the first phase of the half-billion-peso upgrading project funded by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

The San Fernando airport is part of the Poro Point Freeport Zone being managed by the Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC), a subsidiary of the BCDA.

The Tarlac-La Union Toll Expressway Project on the other hand, is being implemented by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and will be completed and is expected to be operational by 2011.

Johnny dela Cruz, president of the Baguio-Benguet Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (BBCCII), said the overflowing development in the city which comes as a result of the completion of the vital infrastructure facilities would also benefit the surrounding communities such as the towns of Itogon, La Trinidad, Sablan, and Tuba, all in Benguet.

With the expected influx of investors in Baguio and Benguet and with the operation of the San Fernando airport and the Tarlac-La Union toll expressway, he said, employment will be provided to thousands of people and there will be sufficient opportunities for livelihood that would help uplift the living condition of families in urban centers.

The Tarlac-La Union toll expressway will be connected to the BCDA’s flagship project, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

The entire 94-kilomete SCTEX is now open for commercial operations. Recently, one of the country’s major bus companies, Victory Liner, started taking the SCTEX Clark-Tarlac route to Baguio, cutting travel time from six hours to four hours.

Aside from the reduced travel time, travel will be safer and more convenient as the buses need not take the narrower and sometimes unevenly paved national road. An added bonus for using the SCTEX is the considerable amount of fuel savings due to non-stop driving. It will only be a matter of time before other bus companies and cargo trucks will follow suit.

Dela Cruz said the provision of access is an integral part of the country’s tourism, agricultural and economic development, and SCTEX and the Tarlac-La Union toll expressway, which will be operational soon, would improve the delivery of goods to any part of Northern Luzon in a short time.

Moreover, locators in the economic zone here will now have alternatives in the use of transportation means to bring their products to Clark and Subic via the inter-connected expressways. They could opt to maximize the use of the San Fernando airport which is much nearer to the city. They could cut travel time and expenses in the transport of their products.

Tourism, agricultural, and economic development in Central and Northern Luzon is in an upbeat mood following the full operation of SCTEX.

The Clark-Tarlac segment of the SCTEX opened last July 25, while the Subic-Clark segment started commercial operation last April 28.

Dela Cruz said the development of surrounding communities that could come as a result of improved access will also benefit this city because people will drop by Baguio to enjoy its cool, romantic weather, pine-scented air, and natural scenery.

frustratedarchitect

September 1st, 2008, 06:25 AM

Sunday, August 31, 2008
Baguio marks 99th Charter Day anniversary

AS BAGUIO City celebrates its 99th Charter Day anniversary on Monday, the government will also launch the year-long schedule of activities for the centennial anniversary next year.

The local government in coordination with the barangays, national line agencies, the veterans group, the academe, non-government agencies, and the Baguio Centennial Commission (BCC) has come up with simple yet meaningful ceremonies with highlights on the awards for the outstanding citizens of Baguio for 2008.

The program will include the ecumenical services at the Baguio Cathedral and other places of worship for other denominations, the award ceremonies at the University of Baguio Gym and the historical parade and other activities until the evening in different venues.

Technology plays a part in the awarding ceremonies, when after the invocation, national anthem and Baguio March by groups from the University of Baguio (UB) music, culture and arts groups and the city hall choir, an audio-visual presentation shall be rendered by UB mass communication students.

Messages shall be given by Representative Mauricio Domogan, and Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., after which they will be joined by Vice-Mayor Daniel Farinas and Society of Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (Socob) to confer awards to the chosen six outstanding citizens of 2008.

A re-enactment of historical happenings in the city for the past 100 years shall be the showcased by the Baguio Centennial Committee focused on the different ethno-linguistic groups.

Lucentino

September 1st, 2008, 09:29 PM

^^Congrats to Baguio City! Almost a hundred years of existence!... how fast the years passed! :)

baguiowriter

September 2nd, 2008, 01:05 PM

Kin of Ibaloi leader want John Hay named after him

By Desiree Caluza
Northern Luzon Bureau
First Posted 02:31:00 09/02/2008

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080902-158128/Kin-of-Ibaloi-leader-want-John-Hay-named-after-him

BAGUIO CITY – Descendants of an Ibaloi clan leader who stood up against the American colonial government after he was dispossessed of his land have asked the government to give him justice by naming the 570-hectare Camp John Hay after him.

The heirs of Mateo Cariño said the site of Camp John Hay was part of Cariño’s landholding that was seized by the Americans in the early 1900s when Baguio was being established.

They aired their call as the city celebrated its 99th founding anniversary Monday.

Joanna Cariño, one of the heirs and spokesperson of the Mateo Cariño and Bayosa Ortega Foundation, said replacing John Hay’s name was one of the ways to recognize Cariño’s efforts in defending his right to the land grabbed by the Americans.

“By naming the land after Mateo Cariño and building his monument on that land, the government, in a way, would have symbolically redressed the injustices done to him and to the rest of the Ibaloi who were victims of land grabbing,” Joanna told the Inquirer.

She challenged city officials to support her family’s case to reclaim the former American military rest and recreation facility named after former US Secretary of State John Milton Hay.

The area is now a tourism and commercial complex run by the private firm Camp John Hay Development Corp.

Joanna presented the paper, “The Mateo Cariño and Bayosa Ortega Story: A case study of the dispossession of the native Ibaloi in Baguio City,” during the Baguio Land Conference at the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio on Friday.

“As Baguio City prepares to celebrate its centennial as a chartered city , it would do good for the local government to have a sense of history and to be reminded that the city was developed at the expense of large-scale land grabbing of Ibaloi lands,” Joanna said.

The paper said the land over which Camp John Hay was built “was Ypit and Lubas, the pasture lands of Mateo Cariño and his ancestors before him.”

“In fact, [Mateo Cariño] had already applied for said lands, over which he was issued Possessory Information in 1901, equivalent to a title under the Spanish Royal Decree. When he, however, tried to register the land, he came up against the full force of the American colonial government,” Joanna said.

She said the land on which the Baguio City Hall, Baguio Central School, Rizal Park, Burnham Park, Melvin Jones football grounds and Athletic Bowl stand and the areas within a kilometer radius from the Kilometer Zero marker in downtown Baguio also belonged to the families of Mateo Cariño and Bayosa Ortega. These were also seized by the American colonial government, she said.

Prof. Raymundo Rovillos, dean of the College of Social Sciences of UP Baguio, said ancestral land claimants who were displaced by the American colonial government would have valid claims to the property if it was proven that historical injustice was committed.

“If there is historical injustice, then it should be corrected. There should be restitution of the clans who were dispossessed because of these injustices,” Rovillos said.

“But the restitution may not necessarily mean that you give back the land entirely because there were already changes between the past and the present. There may be other forms of attaining social justice,” he said.

“The government may not concede to [the claims] anymore, but we are not saying that principles should be compromised. There should be a striking balance that would benefit both the present stakeholders and the ancestral land claimants.”

Joanna Cariño said what the family was trying to reclaim were the unoccupied parcels. “Instead of giving it to multinational corporations, it should be returned to the original occupants,” she said.

The conference participants said the government should recognize the Ibaloi as the indigenous peoples of Baguio who have rights and valid claims over ancestral lands.

They also urged the government to accept the injustices committed against the indigenous peoples and to identify appropriate mechanisms for reparation.

Joanna Cariño said that before the American colonial government developed Baguio into a chartered city and the country’s summer capital, it was a home to a number of Ibaloi clans whose traditional livelihoods were horse and cattle grazing, agriculture and gold trading.

Among them were the Cariño, Suello, Carantes and Molintas clans and their extended family systems, she said.

“Land was plentiful, there were areas of open access, but it was also clear which areas had been developed by the original clans and which were traditionally recognized as owned by them,” she said.

She said the lands Kafagway, Ypit, Lubas and Chuyo “were recognized by other Ibaloi clans as having been developed and owned by Mateo and Bayosa’s lineages since time immemorial.”

The American colonial government, through an executive order in 1903, reserved these areas for military purposes.

“Mateo Cariño was not only dispossessed of his own land but was even legislated out of his own house,” said Joanna.

Mateo Cariño fought back to defend his ownership of the land by filing a case against the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands.

According to Joanna Cariño’s paper, in February 1909, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the property “grabbed and unceremoniously squatted upon by the American military for the purpose of establishing its camp was not public land; that it was in fact private property by native title; and it belonged to Mateo Cariño.”

Part of the decision said: “Our first object in the internal administration of the [Philippine] islands is to do justice to the natives, not to exploit their country for private gain.”

“Mateo Cariño did not live to claim his victory, having died on June 4, 1908, before the final decision of the US Supreme Court. Notwithstanding, he left behind a legacy of the decision of the native title which has now become part of the laws of the land and even of international law,” Joanna said.
With reports from Ma. Lois Eudora Ng and Janemarie Taguba, Inquirer Northern Luzon

RELATED LINK--
http://<a href=http://jackcarino.multiply.com/journal/item/17/17>Mateo Cariño Doctrine @ The UNESCO MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER</a>

[I]Copyright 2008 Northern Luzon Bureau. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

jackcar

September 2nd, 2008, 04:08 PM

From the October 12, 1901 issue of Harper's Weekly which i was fortunate enough to buy on Ebay, is an article about "An Igorrote Feast" by William Dinwiddie who would later on be appointed governor of the Lepanto-Amburayan district of the Mountain Province. The article describes a cañao thrown by Mateo Cariño, the Ibaloi headman of the area which is now Baguio City. Here are some photos from the article:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2820739607_a1688ed4e6_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2820736641_c19b620e29_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2820732645_536d1122b0_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/2820713585_6b8ab0f117_o.jpg

jackcar

September 3rd, 2008, 12:52 AM

For love of biking, Baguio

By Padmapani L. Perez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:15:00 09/03/2008

MANILA, Philippines – Every first Sunday of the month, a new movement takes to the streets of Baguio City. But instead of angry placard-wielding marchers, the Green Ride comes on bicycles pedaled by people of all shapes and sizes, aged 8 to 50 plus, laughing, cheering and gasping for breath.

The Green Riders cycle through the main arteries starting at 9 a.m. – from Burnham Park through Session Road, Magsaysay Road, Harrison Road and Leonard Wood Road, up to Mines View and back.

Why choose such a painfully polluted route for a fun ride?

Members of the Daily Cycle Movement (DCM), the informal group of cyclist-friends that has sparked the monthly Green Rides, like to think of the day when anybody can get on their bicycles, ride to Session, park at a city-operated bike rack, have coffee and breathe.

To attain this simple yet beautiful vision, the DCM aims to project the presence of environmentally aware cyclists as part of the cityscape. Actually, there are already many biker groups there.

Inspired by the Tour of the Fireflies in Metro Manila and Critical Mass rides around the world, the DCM invites all to add their pedaling power to promote cycling as a viable mode of transportation.

Bicycling is great fun and offers many advantages as an alternative transportation. Bicycles don’t create air or noise pollution. Sixteen can park in the space of a car. They are relatively cheap to maintain and don’t need expensive fuel to run.

It simply takes a happy, healthy biker to move a bicycle, but a healthy biker needs clean air and safe roads in order to be happy.

Bicycle lanes

Aside from the Green Rides, the DCM lobbies for bicycle lanes and parking areas, more stringent regulations against pollution and improved road courtesy and safety practices between motorists and cyclists, pedestrians, joggers, and even horses.

City officials support the Green Rides. The city government has shown an inclination toward urban renewal in programs such as “Walk, Baguio, Walk,” and car-less days on Session.

The DCM suggests that Baguio look to Marikina as an example of a bike-friendly city in the Philippines. Farther afield, Paris and London have started bicycle rental programs for commuters, and bike lanes crisscross the entire Netherlands, where cycling is a way of life for Dutch families, come rain or shine.

At least 50 cyclists joined the wet Green Ride in July, and 28 others pedaled through the driving rain last month.

Some have jokingly called the critical mass rides the “Black Lung Ride” due to all the fumes, or the “Eye Sore Ride” due to the uncollected garbage strewn along the roads.

But if Green Ride grows and is consistently combined with real advocacy, it can contribute to the making of a better Baguio. Green Riders don’t see themselves as heroes. They simply love biking and Baguio, and want the best of both.

Anybody can join the Green Ride just for the sheer fun of it. For inquiries, write to blissnbaguio@yahoo.com. On Sept. 7, bicycle enthusiasts are invited to the Baguio Centennial Ride. Assembly will be at People’s Park, Session Road, at 9 a.m. Riders are encouraged to wear helmets and costumes, and to decorate their bicycles.