Baguio Insider

Rondez, HRAB vs Domogen

It seems there was another hullaballoo on the occasion of Session Road in Bloom held on the last week of February to March 2, 2008. According to this news article:

“THE Hotels and Restaurants Association of Baguio (HRAB), organizer of Panagbenga Festival 2008, is poised to sue

Malcolm Square barangay leader William Domogen for harassing and intimidating volunteers and an officer of the group during the weeklong Session Road-in-Bloom (SRB).”

The other week, officials of the ABC led by the vice president Eva Marie Fianza, public relations officer Benjamin Macadangdang and another unnamed official cried foul for the HRAB’s playing favorites when they were prevented from holding a trade fair, but the Baguio Boys Club (BBC) and Globe telecoms, a major sponsor of the Panagbenga, were allowed.

De Leon countered the BBC was permitted to set up stalls outside, not within the Square for free. Like regular paying lessees, the BBC was ordered to comply with guidelines of the HRAB.

Call me simple, but this is the way I see it:

1. The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation awarded Panagbenga to be run by HRAB, including Session Road in Bloom

2. HRAB drew up guidelines for the event and started selling stall space in Session Road, including sponsorships.

3. Malcolm Square Barangay (there are 5,000 residents in Malcolm Square, enough to merit a whole barangay?) wanted to hold a trade fair, too, on the occasion of the Panagbenga. But they were not allowed to do so.

4. One of the sponsors, the Baguio Boys Club was allowed to put up stalls at Malcolm Square, and it is alleged that they sublet these stalls to others.

The BBC was eventually ejected for adding two of the permitted six stalls and for subleasing these to vendors. The Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) dismantled the stalls.

5. The Baguio City Council held a hearing last week to look into the issue. The ABC decried the fact that they were not allowed trade fairs but others were.

6. Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez, answering a demand by Barangay Captain Domogen for an apology for her statements at last week’s hearing, says:

“If it was not implemented in the past because of political accommodations, it is time to put a stop to this,” the Councilor stressed recalling so many trade fairs were held at Malcolm Square all in the guise of barangay fiestas but rules on the conduct of trade fairs have been circumvented.’

7. Accusations are hurled on both sides, including threats and harassment. Now HRAB wants to sue Domogen.

• Trade fairs are short-lived sand promise to drive a targeted crowd of customers, which is why high rental fees can be charged.

• Organizers use public land, such as parks or streets for free or for a relatively small fee.

When one group is awarded the event, others want to take advantage of the crowd and make money for themselves or for their group. Of course this is where conflicts arise.

The above is an example of how we waste our time and efforts on things unproductive.

So instead of strengthening and improving institutions like the Baguio Public Market, or looking into providing Baguio with basic services such as water and clean air, the Baguio City Council during public hearings is hampered by issues such as who said what, who harassed whom, who is entitled to what.

Honestly, reading the news makes one thing clear to me: the cause for all the fighting is GREED.

So let’s remove occasions for greed. Let’s cancel trade fairs at least for a while, until we find a real noble purpose for the creation of a trade fair designed to showcase the Best of Baguio. It’s not like the recent trade fairs sell any special goods or items that enhance the city. These are temporary satellite markets devoid of vision and serve no other purpose but to further materialism and commercialism.

Simply put, it just a fast, cheap way for a few folks to make big money at the expense of Baguio City.