Dear Mayor Domogan

Isa lang ako sa residente ng Baguio, at kung walang internet wala akong pag asa na tanungin ang mga bagay na ito sa iyo.

Natatandaan ko noon sabi ng Lolo ko, mabuti ka daw na tao. Simple ka  lang at kadalasan naglalakad ka lang nung nakikita ka niya noon sa minahan kung saan siya nagtratrabaho.

Noong 12 years old ako, nakwento ng mga matatanda na napaka mapagkumbaba mo daw na tao. Madami ka daw tinulungan maging scholar at napabuti daw ang Baguio dahil sa iyo.

Hindi ko nakalimutan ang mga kwentong ito...26 years old na ako ngayon at ikaw pa din ang Mayor ng Baguio.

Gusto ko lang sana tanungin sa yo, kung nakikita mo pa kung gaano kaganda ang mga Pine trees sa Baguio.

Balita ko mas madalas ka na daw ata mag golf sa John Hay ngayon.. di ko alam kung nabalitaan mo na ba na balak pala nilang mamutol ng 1,000 na puno doon para magtayo ng Marriott Hotel..

Di ko alam kung nararamdaman mo ba yung takot na nararamdaman ko habang iniisip...na mababawasan nanaman ang mga Pine trees na pwede kong tingnan at dalawin tuwing hapon.

Pero siguro, ibang iba ka na ngayon, palagay ko hindi ka na yung taong kwinikwento ng lolo ko.

Mayaman ka na ngayon, malaki na ang bahay ninyo, madami ka ng mga kaibigan na milyon milyon ang pera, madami ng nagbibigay ng galang sa iyo.

 Sabi sa akin noon ng classmate ko nung college, napasok daw niya ang bahay ninyo...ang gaganda at ang tataas daw ng kurtina ninyo.. ewan ko ba bakit naaalala ko yung detalye na yung hangang ngayon ...

Ang mga anak mo nakikita ko na lang sa Facebook nag babakasyon sa America, kumakain sa mga mamahaling restaurant, nag susuot ng mga damit at sumasakay sa sasakyan na iilan lang ang taong kaya bumili.

Pero hindi yan ang gusto kong tanungin sayo...gusto ko lang malaman kung naglalakad ka pa sa sa Botanical Garden, nakikita mo pa ba ang Burnham Park?nag pipicnic pa ba kayo sa Rose Garden? naglalaro pa ba ang mga apo mo sa Children's Park? 

Napapansin mo pa ba yung  mga players sa Melvin Jones tuwing hapon? Nadadaanan mo ba yung mga nag wawag-wag ng damit sa Harrison tuwing gabi. Kumakain ka ba sa Good Taste, alam mo pa ba ang lasa ng Siopao sa Luisa's.

Halos araw araw akong naglalakad sa Baguio, pero minsan lang kitang nakita na nakapila sa Chia's para kumain...hindi ko alam kung paano ang buhay mo ngayon.

Pero gusto ko lang tanungin kung alam mo pa ang pakiramdam ng isang residente ng Baguio.

Noong nabalitaan namin magkakaibigan na mag puputol ang SM ng 182 na puno, naalala ko pinuntahan ka ng mga kaibigan ko para tanungin kung mabibigyan mo ba kami ng tulong..

Sabi mo hindi, at bahala na kami na harapin kung ano man ang mangyayari.

 Naalala ko pumunta kami doon para humingi ng protection bilang residente ng Baguio, pumunta sila doon dahil sa puso nila--akala nila mararamdaman mo --ang poot na naramdaman nila habang pinuputol ng walang pakundangan ang mga puno...



Ako nakita ko, tumindig ang balahibo ko habang pinapanuod na hinuhugot nila ang mga puno isa-isa...at hindi ko napigilang umiyak ng mapanuod kong umiyak ang mga taga Baguio... ang mga matatandang lalake...hanggang ngayon naaalala ko pa ang message sa Chatbox ko sa FB galing sa madaming tao, nagtatanong kamusta na ba ang mga puno ng Baguio?

HIndi ko alam kung nababalitaan mo...gustong gusto ko na gumawa pa ng madaming project para lang mapigilan ang pagputol sa mga punong ito...di lang ng SM pati na din ng ibang corporation dito...Gustong gusto ko sana  magtanim pa ng madaming puno...

Pero minimum wage lang ang sweldo ko, wala akong sariling bahay, halos di ko mabayaran ang mga kailangan kong bayaran...araw-araw dinaramdam ko na napaka limitado ng pwede kong magawa.

Iniisip ko baka sakali kung mabasa mo ito...may mabuhay sa kalooban mo...palagya ko hindi ka naman nag simula na may ganitong paniniwala...merong isang simpleng Mauricio Domogan noon na totoong ipinagmamalaki ng mga tiga-Baguio. 

Nakikita na lang kita ngayon gumagawa ng speech sa loob ng City Council o sa interview mo sa TV.

Pero hindi ko alam kung alam mo pa ang pakiramdam ng isang taong normal lang ang buhay sa Baguio, hindi ko alam kung nakikita at nadadanas mo pa kung ano ang nadadanas namin.

Alam ko parati mong sinasabi na magtulungan tayo, na wag lamang isisi sa gobyerno ang nangyayari sa Baguio..Sinasang ayunan kita sa bagay na yan.

Lahat ng nangyayari ngayon sa Baguio ay naging gawain at kasalanan din nating lahat.  

Ginawa ko itong sulat na ito para intindihin ka, ang mga pagbabago na nangyayari sayo...ginawa ko ito para tanungin ka kung alam mo pa ba ang nangyayari sa tunay na Baguio.

Pero paano? paano ba kita mararating? Paano ba tayo mag tutulungan? Paano ba kita ma aabot? Paano ba namin masasabi saiyo, paano ba kita matutulungan bilang residente ng Baguio....paano mo ba kami mapapakinggan, paano ba tayo magkakarun ng paraan para magtulungan para baguhin kung ano man ang nangyayari sa bahay nating ito? 

Sa mundo namin na walang malaking bahay at mamahaling sasakyan, sa mundo namin na walang mahal na membership sa Country Club...

Sa mundo naming naglalakad, nag tataxi at nag je jeep lamang..

Marumi na ang hangin ng Baguio... sa amin na simpleng residente lang- hirap na hirap na kami nag papadeliver ng tubig lingo lingo dahil wala ng madaming pagkukuhanan ng tubig, halos lahat pinayagan na ng City planning na mag tayo ng naglalakihang condominium,  tuloy tuloy na lang ang kahit na sino na magputol ng Pine trees.

HIndi ko alam kung nararamdaman mo ang mga bagay na ito, pero ito ang nararanasan ng isang tiga-Baguio.

Hindi ko alam, kung ano ang naiisip mo tuwing progreso at ekonomiya ang pinag uusapan.

Siguro palagay ko sa isip  mo makakatulong na mas maraming shopping mall sa Baguio, palagay ko sa mga mata mo ginagawan mo ng pabor ang mga tao sa pag gawa ng madaming parking lot. 

Siguro mas progreso iyon para sa iyo..para sa iyong mas lumaki sa Minahan...

Napaka swerte mo noon...napaka ganda ng Baguio noong ikaw pa ang nag-aaral, pero paano kaming mga estudyante ngayon?

Gusto din sana namin ayusin ang proseso ng pag babasura, pero kahit kami litong lito kung saan ilalagay ang mga basurang ito...

HIndi ko alam kung nakaka usap mo pa yung mga taga- palengke para tanungin kung kamusta ang kita, hindi ko alam kung nakikita mo pa ang mga nagtitinda sa Maharlika arts and Crafts para malaman kung ano talaga ang kalagayan ng negosyo nila...

Dahil palagay ko madalas ang mga kaibigan at taong nakikilala mo ay hindi na mga taong gaya namin. Ang mga taong nakikilala mo  kayang kayang umalis ng Baguio sa oras na masira na ang lugar na ito.. Ang mga barkada mo at mundong ginagalawan ay ibang iba na..

Isa lang ako sa simpleng taong natutuwa na malakad ko lang ang Burnham Park, isa lang ako sa mga tao na masaya na makita ang Botanical Garden.

Simple lang ang kaya namin, hindi lahat ng tao sa Baguio kaya ang pinapangarap mong klase ng ekonomiya, hindi lahat gusto ang shopping mall, hindi lahat gusto ang parking lot.

Hindi ko alam kung naiisip mo, kaming mga walang sasakyan...kaming mga tao na gusto lang mapanatili na maganda ang Baguio.

Noon naman wala tayo ng sinasabi ninyong Economy friendly projects- noon naman wala tayong malaking shopping mall, noon naman wala tayong mga condominium...pero alam ko na tayo ang isa sa pinaka magandang tourist spot noon..

Noon naman kuntento tayo sa natural na itsura ng Baguio...hindi ko alam bakit naisip nating baguhin at tinawag pa nating progreso..

Mukhang bang mas progresibo ang Baguio City ngayon?

Minahal ng madaming tao ang Baguio dahil tahimik dito noon, walang masyadong pollution o sasakyan.

 Dumadating ang tao noon dahil malamig, gusto ng tao makakita ng pine trees, gusto niya masubukan na mag bonfire, gusto niya makapag hiking sa JohnHay, gusto niya maka pag picnic sa Burnham...meron tayong naiibang identity noon--meron tayong originality, meron tayong mga Pine trees na wala kahit saan ka lupalop ng Pinas magpunta...kaya nga tinawag tayong City of Pines.

Ginagawa ko din ang kaya ko, gaya ng magtanim ng puno kaso hindi ako gaya mo na madaming pera na pwede pag tuunan araw-araw ang serbisyo. Isa lang ako sa mga umaasa na sana proprotektahan mo ang mga taong gaya namin.

Mga taong mahal ang Baguio pero simple lang ang hiling. Hindi malalaking building ang kailangan ng lugar na ito, hindi madaming parking lot- mas kailangan ng mga residente ng Baguio ng mga proyekto na pwede silang makahinga ng mas malinis na hangin. Mas kailangan ng mga nakatira dito ng konkretong solusyon para buhayin ang namamatay ng kapaligiran ng Baguio...

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang plano mo sa Baguio, o kung nararamdaman mo pa ang pangangailangan ng mga tao...hindi ko alam kung naglalakad ka pa sa Session road para obserbahan ang totoong nangyayari dito.

Gusto kitang imbitahan, na maglakad muli at makisalamuha sa mga tao--gusto kitang imbitahan kasama ng mga City Councilors para alamin kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng maging tunay na residente ng Baguio, gusto kitang imbitahan na lakarin muli ang Baguio at alamin kung ano ang tunay na nangyayari dito..

Gusto kitang imbitahan na diskubrehin uli ang Baguio, gusto kitang tawagin para maglakad muli sa mga kalsada at mga trails ng siyudad na ito, gusto kong makita mo ang Mines View, gusto kong mabisita mo uli ang lugar na pinamumunuan mo..
Gusto kitang imbitahan na mahalin uli  Baguio. 

Nag babaka sakali ako na maintindihan mo kami tuwing sinasabi naming tama na ang pagpuputol ng mga puno. 

For those who stood up for the trees and continue to do so...

I remember sitting down at a Cafe with some of my Baguio artist friends when suddenly a big news was relayed to us.

SM City Baguio is planning to do an expansion that will require the cutting of 182 century old trees in Luneta Hill near Governor Pack road.

They first heard this through an active environmentalist group A Tree A day and an invitation to help save the trees was created by Michael Bengwayan on Facebook.


Almost all of the pine trees in the city are being cut--to give way to Parking lots  and concrete structures and while we cannot prevent people from building their homes and setting up their businesses- the question of what will the future of Baguio be like started to bother me...

The role of Baguio artists was really crucial in helping me understand what is going on in the city.

 It was them who opened my eyes and made me realize that the way we are living right now could not possibly sustain us in the future. But there had been also a number of people who just made me realize this is something that truly concerns us all.

Like many others I felt overwhelmed with the news, and started reviewing the implications of the expansion, the cutting down of the trees and the potential problems this expansion will create.

This is just my story...and thousands of residents here in Baguio City have their own story to share--In fact, if given a chance in the future I would like to tell the story of a number of people here in Baguio who have dedicated their time to make sure that Baguio will still have trees in the future.

 Many have participated and contributed in their own little ways and while the battle is not yet finished--we have seen the power of social  media, we have seen how concern for the city of Baguio can go a long long way.


And we have seen that even in just a short period of time...we were able to get united.

 The people who would normally ignore each other on the streets--felt the need to meet each other over coffee--because they all wanted to know how they could help Baguio

One anonymous member who called himself William Kim  died this week, and while the rest of Baguio don't know who he really is, many who are active in the social media circle have heard of his name and have observed of how relentless he is in providing social media campaigns for environmental awareness and consciousness in Baguio.

He was one of those who started the campaign of Going Local or supporting the Local Baguio industry, he suggested that instead of supporting just one giant mall, why don't we Rediscover Baguio again- This made a big impact on a lot of people whether he knew them or not and I am one of those who started to Rediscover Baguio again.



While , we are definitely aware that SM City Baguio is not the only one who is planning to cut trees, this will also include JohnHay and Moldex Residences as well as other local companies- we still insisted on using the energy that was created from this group in order to spearhead activities that are related to the environment.

A year has already passed, and while you will no longer see Baguio residents openly protesting the cutting of the trees- a new lifestyle has emerged, thanks to people like William Kim.

Many of those who protested, have opted to change their lifestyle, many like me have chosen to go local.

To support local products and to join as many tree planting projects- and not just that we were able to get in touch with Baguio artists--in many ways the community was strengthened--and while most critics of the group did not see this...those who have felt it--understand what I mean.

Other places in the Philippines started to get concerned, even people from Pangasinan now understand why it was horrifying to see the trees being cut  just to give way for road widening projects..and while yes, we were not able to prevent the cutting--we have to understand that something is being ignited inside our minds that did not exist before..

We are slowly gaining the idea that trees are valuable, that trees have life- that Nature should be respected--we are slowly regaining our ability to listen to the voice of nature. 

His real name is Edmund Cosalan, I never really saw him in person but he often contacted me in order to provide tips and guidance on how to help people Rediscover Baguio again.

Like many others who love Baguio he was open to providing ways on how we can make our community stronger.

Despite being anonymous, he found ways to support the group.

 I remember  once that he sent a friend to provide us pen and paper so that we could collect enough signatures with regards to the cause of the trees

. He was the one who connected me with other concerned Baguio residents, we were able to create several environmental campaigns because of this connection.

People like him made me realize that there are still those who care for Baguio, despite the fact that a lot of environmental issues have been raised like the air quality of Baguio-- My hopes are still  high.

In fact, because of the protest for the 182 trees I have come to realize that Baguio residents are still genuinely concerned and will do what they can- if they are just given a chance.

The more than 100,000+ signatures we have collected in Baguio alone, the tenacity of the people, the need of the people to join is something positive.

And while we are not yet able to understand why it happened and why the universe connected most of us--it does not mean that the purpose is lost.

I saw the passion of several artists groups who did their own performances and info campaigns just so the people of Baguio can get informed.

This people have not been paid, they willingly volunteered their time--because they all felt something must be done.

I saw how the young and the old were able to connect--I saw something wonderful- something powerful..something crucial and could be used to change the problems of Baguio City.

 Although many of them have been accused, I know with all my heart that this people did all that they could because they really felt the need to do so and I know that each of them who have given their time and heart to do this...have learned a valuable lesson that only they can interpret.

Because of this protest, a lot of people were encouraged to plant trees in various areas including Badiwan, Tuba, Asin Forest Park and other adopted areas in La Trinidad and not only that..groups who have ignored each other before like the LGBT community and the Catholic Church were able to unite for one cause--the ENVIRONMENT.

To me this was something crucial, something important, something valuable. Something amazing happened here and we must not forget it.

There are still various groups who are continuously working on environmental projects like the Badiwan Saturday habit.

 Members of active Facebook groups like the S.M.I.L.E movement continue to plant trees, other groups in La Trinidad that have been headed by Dean Cuanso were also able to create environmental projects including one group that is headed by Michael Stalley.

In fact, most of this active Facebook groups like A Tree  a Day continue to create projects.

Each and everyone in the city of Baguio who have felt in their heart to do something--will always come out again if needed. I know that if one day corporations will threaten to cut the remaining trees again people will do something about it.

Residents of Baguio and concerned neighbors still want to do something, and they  continue to prove that time and time again there is something that we will be able to accomplish if we really want it.

After the protest for the 182 trees I have seen a lot of Facebook groups emerge like Save the Needy Now. While this Facebook groups have their own different vision and mission- most of the people who started this met each other because of the call out for the trees.

Save 182 has no official members- it is a movement, If you love the trees and you love Baguio  and you feel that trees should not be cut then you are instantly a part of it.

It was never registered, and  while there are some who are vocal like me...it does not mean that this movement has limited support. In fact, I can vouch that a lot of people follow this movement by heart.

..Save 182 is a symbolic stand that Baguio residents made--and while some will directly connect with the issue of SM--I was able to see the larger picture.

This is not about hatred for one corporation--it is so much more than just the fight for what SM stands for in the Philippines...it is just one step towards understanding what is happening in the entire world.

I saw thousands of Baguio residents hoping for change and not just hoping but working to achieve this..the ideas live on and I know that anytime Baguio will be threatened again...the same people will rise up...People like William Kim ( Edmund Cosalan).

People who will always love Baguio no matter what.

We might not see them directly working, they might not always be present in newspapers, you never see them in the news- but it does not mean that they are not there. It does not mean that the movement has stopped..it does not mean that this people are no longer willing to do something...

It has just taken another direction--an evolved direction...an evolved consciousness that is still waiting to happen.

A Brewing idea that will change not just Baguio but everyone who will care to understand what it means.