Baguio Insider

Regular readers may notice this but I have not been coming up with articles in recent days. However, I do publish comments and respond to them daily.

This is my exercise at ‘listening’ to you.

This site has 142 posts and 37 drafts in about 18 months. A lot of the features still stand, a lot of the problems/situations still exist. A lot of the recommendations and suggestions are still valid.

This blog was first created to feature Baguio in depth, then it morphed to explaining away “garbage,” “ukay-ukay,” “koreans,” “the quality of education in our schools,” “threats to Burnham Park,” etc. But now it is time to work offline as much as online, so instead of complaining, it is my turn now to listen to what you think about these issues.

Of course I will be writing again soon (come on — there’ll probably be something I feel strongly about tomorrow). Just know that I am here everyday, listening to what you have to say.

It’s disconcerting how, when one speaks to Baguio residents about the goings on in City Hall and other questionable ‘development’ projects for the city, folks would invariably exclaim, “How come nobody told me about this?!”

Then I start thinking. “Why should you wait for anyone to tell you?” “How can you live your life so unconcerned about the roots of society’s ills?” “Why are you so accepting and defeated?” “Why aren’t there burning questions inside you just waiting to come out?”

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According to this news report:

“The significant amendments to House Bill (HB) 2813 or the Act Revising the Baguio City charter is the titling of all lands, including the 211 titles in the name of the City Government. The 221 titles, or the so-called Igorot titles, were declared null and void by the Supreme Court (SC) after a long drawn out court battle.

Under the proposal, a selection committee headed by the mayor may dispose the public lands through public bidding.

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After the Jun Lozada event, a good friend and I had a looong discussion on proving ourselves.

She is Baguio born, accepting of the norm that those who are new to an organization (or town, for that matter) should first prove themselves before gaining the respect of others. She is 33, a member of two very strong local organizations and is still constantly being made to feel by the older members that she has to prove herself before they will listen to her.

Just last week, another Baguio-born, this time a male, told me the same thing.

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