Baguio City: 100 Years in the Making
Creating videos about Baguio City is one of the things I cannot do too well, my last attempt being a silent one showing folks how to get to Baguio via the SCTEX. And while I appreciate so many videos on the subject matter of one of the coolest places in the Philippines, literally and figuratively, a lot of them are really home videos of family vacations, some of which are funny, some that are noisy, most of which are very personal videos.
But recently, as I have been practicing the whole outlook of “If we believe it, we will see it” I checked YouTube once again believing I would find a unique video about our beloved City of Pines.
And it was true! Guys, you really have to take this whole concept of “Celebrating What’s Right With the World” to heart and believing in something to be able to see it, because hidden in the inner pages of the topic was this wonderful work of Mark Edison Ea Alviz compiling old photos of Baguio City, through its 100 years of growth.
It’s funny how there are so many old photos of the City of Pines available — as the Americans were building it, and then there’s a slowdown of pre war and post war photos of course, a resurgence of photos (like the ones from the collection of Bill Fabianic) when color film became available — as compared to professional photos of modern Baguio of the 1970s when instant film was made available. Or do we just have a host of them in our personal family albums that we have not taken the time to scan and post online? Because I certainly have a lot of Baguio photos in MY albums.
I love the way the old photos show landmarks like the Baguio Cathedral and Diplomat Hotel as majestic structures crowing our hill tops. I loved the city’s use of space. I loved that there was order, and elegance, and natural beauty all working together for the prosperity of all its residents.
The video has a lot, and I mean a lot of photos of the 1990 earthquake an I had mixed feelings seeing them and being reminded of that painful episode in the city’s history. What struck me though, was that there were many buildings left standing compared to the ones that were felled by the temblor.
It’s not like the earth cracked open and swallowed us up. Thus we can conclude that the devastation wrought by the earthquake was to BUILDINGS THAT WERE NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
Like the Hyatt Terraces Annex Building, or Nevada Hotel that had 5 storeys not 4, or the University of Baguio High School Building that was damaged.
There were, of course, those buildings that may have been built solidly but were damaged by the buildings next door that were built haphazardly, like my beloved Cafe Amapola (oh that uber-romantic place holds so many beautiful memories for me) that was damaged by Siesta Inn, if I recall correctly.
Of course the earlier photos show a much classier, genteel place, when our population was smaller and the economy of the Philippines and the world was much better. READ: when life was simpler, we were all earning better. That’s why I so agree with the Slow City Movement.
Of course the story of Baguio City is still being written as we mark our Centennial Anniversary in 2009.
I believe there will be great things to come for the City of Pines, and because I believe it, I will see it!
Enjoy the last weeks of summer!
We just...
Hi Lisa,
The video sure brings back a lot of memories about the old Baguio I was born and still living with. The earthquake pictures reminded me of those days where the poor and the rich all lined up for relief goods. I remember those “magicians” from city hall turning imported corned beef to 555 sardines.
Been busy lately “Celebrating life with the world”, hope it works out. Be sending you a mail soon. God bless ate lisa!
Hiya Renie,
Let’s name the magicians, shall we? Didn’t the earthquake happen during Mayor Bugnosen’s time?
I just had to
Hi Lisa,
Globe One Youth – Project Headshot Clinic
One Youth for Change Campaign will be in Baguio
Hope you can help us spread the message.
Globe One Youth is the campaign of Globe Telecom that supports Niccolo Cosme’s Project Headshot Clinic advocacy of unity among the Filipino Youth. A thousand individuals have already joined the cause in Metro Manila. Hundreds more are about to join as we bring One Youth to six more cities nationwide.
Have your photo taken by one of the country’s best fashion photographers. Post it on your website as your profile picture. And with your photo, communicate the change that you stand for so that every time your friends see you on Friendster, Facebook, Blogspot or other sites, they are reminded of your advocacy. As they say, change starts with one and it starts with you.
Headshot Clinic will be in Baguio on June 13, 2009
Don’t forget to register by visiting headshotclinic.com or oneyouth.globe.com.ph
hey lisa,
i will really love baguio if i can find tapuy being sold anywhere there.
you know of any place?
i searched the site, couldnt find any info on it…
Hahaha Milabel,
All Baguio products can be sourced from the Baguio City Market! You can also buy some from Cafe by the Ruins.
Dear friend, you really love Baguio whether or not you can buy tapuy (or tapuey or rice wine)
But then again, what’s the MCLE going to be like without booze huh?
Great video! A great summary of how Baguio started,shockingly interrupted by the 1990 earthquake,but with the perseverance of the residents,was able to recover from it.Hope an even brighter future awaits the summer capital.
Baguio has always been and will always be a great place. Thanks for the video, it reminds me of Baguio then and now…and I miss the cool breeze of the city.
Halloo, Lisa… How’s your great Baguio story coming along for the Centennial Edition? (You know it…) I hope everything is fine.
Hi Lisa,
Can we organize a video docu training? There’s a guy who’se offering it…documentation as in with editing, music, story line, angle, etc etc from start to finish…one-man show? I gave his email ad to C so we could start arrangements for it but we can give it a go again if you want… I think a lot of kids will be interested since blogging and real time documentation is the thing to do these days.
i realy like the video. it really shows what baguio have came through. its so sad that what have been destroyed during the earthquake have nit been restored or something like been revive..where did u get the old pictures? can i have a copy ( its for my thesis-about urban growth in baguio)…
Hi to all especially to you Lisa. This is Mark Alviz, the creator of the clip. Thank you for giving comments to my video here and in youtube. I really appreciate it a lot.
I’m living here in Baguio… I’m not that good in editing but I had managed to make it just right for you to watch my little presentation.
Accounting student ako dito sa SLU. If you would want to ask something, I can give you my Contact details:
masonviz@yahoo.com.ph
(074) 445-7556
09202092079
Awesome video and blog Lisa!
Lisa, Thanks a million times for creating such beautiful video of Baguio City.It burst forth the indomitable spirit of filipinos especially Baguio folks. I love the display of Catholic images-The Lourdes Grotto and The Baguio Cathedral. I wept on seeing the image of University Baguio as i recall how God spared me from the killer quake just before our 4:30 class in The Commerce Bldg. God surely has His own plan for each one of us. My love to all Baguio folks and all kailians!!!