The Best Way to love Baguio City

1. Get to know the real Baguio Community

Thousands of people are residing in Baguio, in 2013 alone there are 318, 676 residents living in Baguio about 8, 886 of them are Koreans.

This is due to the fact that Baguio is the educational hub of the North.
You can find some of the best schools here in Luzon like Saint Louis University, University of the Philippines, University of the Cordilleras and University of Baguio and a whole lot more.

However, only a few residents get to enjoy the real Baguio community. Some just watch as the day go by without fully grasping the charm and magnificence of the city. 

A lot of people from the lowlands have been attracted to go to Baguio since the 1980's and  continue living here. But  a lot of them never really see the real side of Baguio especially at night.

Baguio is not just the Wag-Wagan Capital of the Philippines..it is so much more than that and I made this blog to give credit to the people who make Baguio great every day of week. 

People love the cool weather and the lovely Pine trees, today there are hardly any Pine trees in Baguio and for this reason 
environmental groups like Save 182, One Nature, One Community, A Tree  A Day among many others are doing their best in order to protect the remaining open spaces including that of Burnham Park and Rose Garden.

In order to truly love Baguio City, you need to know the community...the real community. 

The real people who make Baguio city what it is and this is only possible if you are going to give you time to participate in community events.

Believe it or not, Baguio is not a boring city, it is complete with interesting and amazing groups that do not exist in other provinces.

Here is the only town in the country where writers meet over coffee to discuss how they are going to create a new book filled with poetry for free...

Here is the only town where people create a Facebook group with thousands of members and meet each other over coffee and pandesal to discuss how they are going to save the remaining Pine trees in Baguio.

Here is a city where there are famous  secret Facebook personalities who divulge the secrets of the  city government.

Baguio is the home of wood carvers, painters, artists who create brilliant necklaces  from trash.

 This is the only city in the country that has poetry slam artists performing on the streets just because they feel like doing so...

The real Baguio residents, those who truly love the city have managed to create certain activities that make Baguio unique...it can easily win the label of " the most creative people in the Philippines".

In Baguio you can find passionate individuals who are willing to protest on the streets to save their historical sites like the Post Office.

Baguio is special because of the people that live in the place--Baguio is the only place in the Philippines where a celebrity will not be disturbed while walking in the streets.

The real residents of Baguio have their own town celebrities, in order to become famous here in Baguio you need to make a name for yourself--by providing a useful skill or by displaying an amazing wit--you will not get respect here just because you are the rich daughter or son of a Congressman or Mayor. Even the sons and daughters of politicians needs to have an actual skill here if they want to get noticed.

You need to earn your reputation and you need to be willing to take part in whatever is happening around the city if you truly want to enjoy what it means to live in Baguio. Baguio will not  give you immediate respect just because you are a celebrity on TV.

Baguio is a place for the cultured, people with finesse. Here is a place where men actually read, here is a place to find amazing writers, poets and book shop owners who are willing to provide their space for theater performances.

Baguio...despite not having any fantastic resort or high end shopping malls easily becomes one of the best city in the Philippines.. not only because of the climate- but because of the brilliant people residing in it.

So what is the Baguio community really? The Baguio community is so complex, you cannot just describe them as a place with teachers, students, call center agents...government officials...and so on and so forth like you would in any city.

Baguio is complete with the best groups in town--it is the New York City of the Philippines and only the people who have given their time and effort giving back to the community will have the honor of meeting this amazing people in my story.

 Welcome to the real Baguio...the real Baguio Community...

List of things you probably don't know about Baguio:

1. Baguio has a list of dedicate environmental groups who are active, they are the ones calling out for  tree planting activities.

 Most of them are non-profit groups and have been existed out of the willingness and passion of a few Baguio Residents.

Here are the photos of some of the most active environmental groups in Baguio: ( Save 182, A Tree A Day, One Nature One Community, Cordillera Green Network, Cordillera Global Network)

More articles about the real Baguio Community in the coming days... thank you for reading. Please feel free to share ^__^

5 ways to love Baguio City

Here is the second suggestion on how a person can  profess  love for Baguio City,  may it be an Igorot or an adopted resident of the city.

#2.  The second best way to show love for Baguio city is to support the Baguio Art Community.

Thousands of residents reside in Baguio  but some of them are not able to maximize the experience.


 Some just  shop and hang out at SM city Baguio or Good Taste and that's about it for their social life.  

This means that if they don't have the money to hang-out, they will just content themselves staying at home watching telenovelas. 

Others just stroll at Camp John Hay and take some  strawberry jam as pasalubong and that's about it...

This  is a big waste of what Baguio has to offer, because the truth is...Baguio is so much more than just one SM Shopping mall, it is more than just the expensive lighting equipment courtesy of the Mayor at Rose Garden.

Baguio is the home of some of the best artists of the decade.

 For me, Baguio  tourism can  only be revived if due credit and respect are given to artists.

They are the life line of Baguio...

 Most of the pine trees are gone--if you came to Baguio to experience the glory of nature--then you are in the wrong city.

 The creativity of the residents is the only thing that will save the place from total ruin.

The poets, the writers, the sculptors, the dancers, the theater productions, the musicians are the only ones that can save Baguio from utter ruin.

 Artists that have been recognized worldwide and artists who continue to inspire us despite the fact that they are not featured in any book live here.

 Baguio is the home of artists that are published in the chronicles of life...

Baguio is the home of legendary artists, sculptors, musicians...poetry slam artists, writers, photographers.. 

Baguio City contains a thousand pages of magical characters but only if you will follow the correct map.

 I can openly claim that Baguio City should be the center of Art in the Philippines-- and when I say art I do not mean the fancy museum collections or the pa-sosyal conyo type of art that usually alienates people from different walks of life--

I speak of  art that is given free to the community by those who understand that art is a way of life--- art is not something that you buy inside a store and display inside your living room.

The level of art in Baguio is at its highest--mostly because the creativity of artists are needed during this crucial time for Baguio.

 In fact I  would be so bold as to say, that the art community is what saved me from taking my own life after graduating in college. 

You see, after college graduation you have all sorts of question on where your life will go.

Average people like me are just expected to graduate, work in a call center most  probably or get a Korean teaching job or work inside a University if I am lucky to get accepted. 

 Baguio is still a small town, you cannot expect us to get kick-ass jobs.

After college I thought that was the end of the line...that I was just going to spend my life in front of a computer, answering the call of nasty and angry American clients.

I hated my life truth be told, I always thought I am someone who is going to be special after graduating in Philosophy and taking up Education subjects.

 You see we had studied complex subjects like existentialism, Asian and western Philosophy, Women Studies,  Marxism so and so forth..
.. and to realize that I am just going to sit in front of a computer taking up calls and drinking my days away in a call center work environment was the breaking point for me.

If I believed myself to be special...shouldn't I be doing something kick-ass..then why am I stuck in a job that I do not even like...am I just here to pay the bills and nothing more?

Is it possible to get inspired if my only task is to answer calls for the rest of my days?

Is there not something inside every person that tells them they ought to be doing something great...but why are they not doing it? 

When did they stop believing in their own voice telling them to live their life to the fullest...we will never know... 

Perhaps...it was the first day we stepped inside the school...the first day the system has removed our creativity...

6 months I tried my best to understand working in a corporate environment.

 I tried blending in, I wore suits and high heeled shoes- I did enjoy several parts of the training and meeting people part, but after the training stopped and the real work started--I just felt completely lost. 

I did not envision this kind of life, and I most certainly will just have a short lived happiness every time I will buy a new gadget. I have never been a gadget freak--and if the idea is to get a job to pile up more things in my room that I never use--then all is meaningless.

 I tried making  myself believe that I am a working girl and I am proud of what I was doing--but deep inside I felt empty and not just empty but...lost. 

If graduating  means working in a job that I hated with all of my heart then I'd rather  die.

Waking up every day to answer calls about debt...is hardly called a life...and I will not believe anybody that will say that there is no other way--because I have met people from every walks of life who have striven to reach their life goal--just by simply believing..

People choose to lose their own color...people choose where they work, who they are---we always have a decision to bring back the color into our eyes...

I had this grand dreams for myself you know...The universe I believe heard my call... I have always asked myself if there was something more than the kind of life that others are used to...and the answer came so swiftly and at the right time.

One of my friends got acquainted with some of the best artists in town..a friend in college who for some reason became a part of my world without me even trying..

one day after resigning form work I got invited to one unbelievable party.

It was 10pm in the evening, and a black pick up truck with 12 or more people inside invited me to jump in and join the party. 

I of course, knowing that my life was a complete bore decided to join. After all, a suicidal person need not worry if this people are harmful or not.

This people were very different, some of them wear shabby clothes, they had all this weird bracelets and tattoos and dreadlocks and all kinds of attire--but they had this amazing freedom in their eyes and I just jumped inside the pick up truck.

We ended up having a party at one of the abandoned buildings in JohnHay. This was the first time that I met people like Kawayan de Guia. Kidlat Tahimik( first born),  Rene Aquitania, Rommel Pidazo, Bong ti Baguio, Rocky Cajigan, Carlo Villafuerte and Gawani Domogo. 

They had a friend who owned the spot, they filled it up with various artworks

. Impressions, book collections and they started a bonfire inside the building and some of them had some djembe drums.  I bet, some of them did not really know each other, but then they all danced to the music and sat contentedly near the bonfire.

All of them danced to this wonderful beat, I remember watching Gawani Domogo dance like there is no tomorrow, her grace...the way her dress sways to and fro... I remember Bong Ti Baguio having this one of a kind dancing step that really got you going...he was this energetic dance God and despite being strangers I felt welcome...

I felt so welcome in fact, and watching them dance just uplifted my soul--something moved inside me..something powerful that has ignited my will to live up to this very day.

 I just felt I was now among my family...my soul family.

You see, this people just danced because their hearts told them to do so, there are no dancing requirements, there are no dancing steps... here is just a dance floor..a dance floor called the  universe..

 You don't need to think about who you are when you are dancing, you just merge with the energy around you 

 and I felt it that night and I will feel it forever and I am so glad I jumped inside that black pick-up truck.

They provided us with free painting materials, spray paints and brushes and each of us had been allowed to get a brush and just paint whatever came to mind.

This was a freeing activity for me, and like I child I picked up the coloring materials and painted and painted abstract colors on the walls...

I will never forget what Carlo Villafuerte said that day...you see Carlo is a master of colors, and despite him not remembering what he said that day--I just  knew that by just looking at the abstract paintings I made--he connected with  my thoughts...

I remember telling Rene Aquitania ( a humble and  the most talented performance artist in Baguio) that I have never tried having a dance partner..I said I really wanted to try out some ballroom steps. 

I don't know why I felt like I needed to say that...but I did... we did not sleep. We were awake until 6am in the morning and I remember Mang Rene asking  me to go outside the door near the grass area...

He stretched out his hand and asked  me to take it, he said let us dance... I will never forget the day he took me for a dance. 
It was one of the most powerful life changing experiences that an artist gave me...me..a person who thought she is emotionally dead already...

I needed that dance from a stranger in order to believe that life has something better to offer.

 Life is not just about working 24/7 hating the job that you do because you cannot relate to it.

 Life was not merely about impressing people you do not know by buying things you do not need...

Life is a beautiful beautiful rebellion...and what a loss it would be if people who are residing in Baguio are not given the chance to Baguio artists...they have changed my life and continue to do so...

I have hundreds of stories about each and everyone of them...but right now I will stop here. I will add more in the coming days...

Get to know the Baguio Artist and I assure you...you will value and love Baguio like I do...

5 Ways to love Baguio City

In the previous blog I have discussed about Supporting local restaurants and  local bands and musicians in order to truly love Baguio.

Here is the third suggestion on how to show your love to Baguio City:

3.  Join tree planting activities

Although it can be said that tree planting groups is just a fad in social networking groups like Facebook, it is the kind of social activity that has actual use in the long run.

Last Jan. 20 2012 around 10,000 people in and out of Baguio joined a protest March against the cutting of the 182 trees in Baguio City.

This is not a new story, in fact  not so long  ago the people of Baguio also tried mobilizing groups that will stop the creation of SM City Baguio in Luneta Hill.

Not everyone in Baguio wanted SM to get inside the city center,  people understood that the existence of a shopping mall is not a sign of development but the start of decline in the city that is known for its pine trees and lush vegetation.

No one can fully blame SM city Baguio as the sole destroyer of the city, but it deserves the attention of the people because SM has been establishing malls everywhere in the country.

SM is one of the largest corporations in the country, it has displaced a lot of farmers and market vendors.

 It is the reason why a lot of small business establishments has gone bankrupt...and they are the main reason why Baguio is suffering from a huge influx of traffic in the central business district.

Baguio was a real beauty when this giant shopping  mall was not in the area, tourism was thriving.  

Baguio is a dream town for many, but due to lack of sustainable developments by the city government it is now suffering from severe decay.

 Since the arrival of SM and after John Hay was transferred into private ownership,  a lot of shops have closed and Burnham Park as well as other parks have been left to disintegrate... 

SM City Baguio is a nightmare for the people of Baguio. It continues to threaten the life of 182 trees and another 68 more in Crystal Cave in the guise of  Moldex Residences.

The long term dream of SM corporation is to establish SM shopping malls for every 30 minutes of every province,  just imagine having a shopping mall on top of the rice terraces----

If some people will call that progress... a lot of people will also tell you how disgusting that would be.

Shopping malls is not a source of creativity, it is everywhere and lacks originality.
People are now willing to pay for expensive resorts just to see trees and experience  nature...something that was free a long long time ago.

Residents in Baguio were not able to stop the creation of SM city Baguio in the past due to lack of support from the government and due to the fact that there is no social media during that time.

A group emerged called save 182, it is a non-partisan grouped that consists of various groups in the city. 

It has no leader but the members are all dedicated for the cause of the trees. 

With the help of Social media and the continuous efforts of people in and out of Baguio who are offering their pro bono services the 182 pines trees are still standing.

Despite the money and fame of SM they have not been able to  push through with their greedy plan--the case is still ongoing and the people of Baguio are still on their guard.

Baguio City is the City of Pines...but would it still be called the city of Pines if there are no longer pine trees.

After several protests, people and FB groups have been inspired to conduct their own tree planting activity in the city.

Groups like Save 182, A Tree A day ( led by Michael Bengwayan), One Nature, One Community ( Ash Yago Velasco and Dean Cuanso) private citizens like Jeffrey Chiu,  I walk alone Philippines ( Started by Sonn Fernandez and Michael Stalley), Stop the Cutting/ Uprooting of the trees in Baguio City ( Andrea Cosalan and Karen Calderon as Admin) Boycott SM Page ( Reiko Kato,  Kat Palasi--admin)
Baguio Artist Forest Park ( Santos Bayucca) Cordillera Green Network, Cordillera Global Network ( Glo Abeo, Chris Donaal, Gideon Omero)

A lot of FB groups have been established after the Jan.20,2012 protest against SM corporation for cutting the trees.

Thousands of trees have been planted and will be planted because of the people who truly love and support Baguio City.

If you want to truly contribute your efforts in saving Baguio and maintaining it for what it is, join the tree planting projects and environment friendly groups that are doing what they can.

You can join fb groups like https://www.facebook.com/groups/boycottsm/, https://www.facebook.com/groups/Luzonbackpackers/, https://www.facebook.com/groups/455742261123482/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Atreeaday/

This are all Baguio groups that are active in providing environmental projects for the city especially anything that is related to trees or creative projects.

Do not worry, none of this groups are militant in nature and none of them are asking for any fee in order for you to join.

If you want to meet some of the most interesting minds in Baguio, find a way to join this groups and build your own Baguio Family.

Feel accepted by the Baguio community by sharing your efforts in conserving what is left of Baguio. You will be surprised to know the amount of effort this groups are putting in order to save what is left of our beloved city.

Here is an excerpt of the statement taken from the case against SM vs Baguio residents written by Atty. Cheryl Daytec Yangot.


Update regarding the case against SM ( Atty. Cheryl Daytec- Yangot)

In the recent past days, I worked on the draft of an appeal brief on behalf of people who want to save Baguio's trees from the chainsaws of a rich corporation. Somewhere, the brief says:

Those who do not live in Baguio like the owners of X Corporation cannot appreciate the attachment of the local people to trees especially the pine trees which are very much part of the city’s historical heritage. To the outsider, a pine tree is nothing. 

It is an obstacle to development that must be cut down or uprooted. To the Plaintiffs-Appellants, however, the pine tree is their history, their past, their future. 
It is their lung. They believe that while trees should be cut down to serve human needs, they should never be destroyed in the name of greed. 

Plaintiffs-Appellants invoke environmental justice which is "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people...with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. 

Fair treatment means that no group of people, including… ethnic or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of negative consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of... environmental programs and policies. 

Meaningful involvement means that: (1) potentially affected community residents have an appropriate opportunity to participate in decisions about a proposed activity that will affect their environment and/or health; (2) the public’s contribution can influence the regulatory agency’s decision; (3) the concerns of all participants involved will be considered in the decision-making process; and (4) the decision-makers seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected." (quoting US EPA)

If you love Baguio take the time to  join tree planting activities and environmental projects that aim at preserving the remaining open spaces of the  city...

If you want to join tree planting projects contact: Christel_montes@yahoo.com for further details or stay updated Search FB page:Baguio and La Trinidad Community Events