Baguio’s Burnham Park: Then and Now
by Jonathan Best
Today, Burnham Park is facing severe challenges from commercial developers, ill-conceived municipal projects and poor maintenance.
When American architect Daniel Burnham first drew up his city plan for Baguio in 1904, he saved the very best piece of real estate for a public park. His thinking reflected the progressive social values of the time. Government was expected to serve the people and provide for their health and recreation. A large public park with open fields and an artificial lake was considered a necessity for a modern urban environment. Even for a small city such as Baguio, which was only expected to grow to around 25,000 people, a park was considered of prime importance.
Burnham Park was planned as a “green park” in contrast to an amusement park or a formal garden. Amusement parks are designed to be exciting, noisy and commercial while formal gardens are decorative showcases for plants. Green parks are designed to provide piece and quiet, open space, fresh air and a direct link to unspoiled nature. In larger parks in Asia and the West, tame deer, flocks of swans, ducks and songbirds are propagated and allowed to roam free. City dwellers are encouraged to use these parks for walks, bird watching, picnics and amateur sports. Buildings, roadways and other artificial man-made structures are deliberately kept to a minimum so as not conflict with the natural environment of a green park.
Burnham Park is laid out at the center of Baguio’s hilly terrain on the city’s largest expanse of valuable level ground. It contains all the amenities of a traditional green park, mature trees, flower beds, a small lake, walking paths, open fields and facilities for bike riding and paddle boats.
Originally, there were two circular pools at either end of the lagoon, which boasted a “magic” fountain that was illuminated at night. The open parkland once stretched from the grounds of the famous Pines Hotel, formerly on the hill at the northeast end of the park, all the way to the grounds of the present City Hall. Buildings and parking lots have encroached at both ends over the years.
Despite being in the tropics, the park’s high elevation, over 5,000 feet, creates an ideal climate for flowers from the temperate zones. Roses, hollyhocks, daisies and marigolds flourish in Burnham Park. Trees of weeping bottlebrush and Baguio’s beautiful pink and white “angels trumpets” line the present day lagoon. The scent of pine trees is almost always in the air. On rainy afternoons, from June to October, it is not unusual for a romantic fog to swirl in from the surrounding hills as it often does in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Back in the 1970’s, on my first trip to the Phillipines from frigid New York City, I had expected to find a quiet island nation, something like Japan but situated in the tropical South Seas. Jet lagging from the 17-hour flight and dazed by culture shock, I was not prepared for Manila’s battalions of jeepneys with their blaring disco music, the chaotic traffic and terrific heat. My gracious hostess thoughtfully took me up to Baguio on the second or third day after I arrived and I felt I had discovered the most perfect spot in the world. Burnham Park seemed like heaven. It had the climate of California, flowers from around the world and friendly relaxed inhabitants. I remember spending long afternoons walking in the park, lying on the grass, sketching and watching people.
Today, Burnham Park is facing severe challenges from commercial developers, ill-conceived municipal projects and poor maintenance. Baguio has grown to over 300,000 people, which puts an almost unbearable burden on all open spaces and public lands. Squatters have surrounded much of the city and traffic and pollution have increased geometrically along with the population. The sheer number of people walking, riding bikes and using the lagoon threaten to permanently change the character of Burnham Park. The grass is wearing thin, the walls of the lagoon are eroding and the air is filled with noise and pollution from the surrounding city. The growing ranks of tourists coming to Baguio for the holidays add to the problem.
Without a doubt the greatest threat to the park is from the ever-increasing number of cars, buses, and jeepneys which are allowed to park on the perimeters and directly inside the park. Motor vehicles do not belong in a park. Given Baguio’s lack of space, one solution might be to build a money-making underground parking facility deep beneath the playing fields along Harrison Road. The dozens of jeepneys, which now stand by at the City Hall’s end of the park, are creating a squalid mess. Drivers, touts and assorted vendors hang out on the grass and under the trees, spitting, urinating and throwing their refuse on the ground. Large buses manage to find places to park or stay with their motors idling for hours at various spots inside the park where they don’t belong. Vendors selling all kinds of junky souvenirs and snacks should also be limited to one area and supervised.
Burnham Park is one of Baguio’s most valuable assets and truly a Philippine national landmark. Generations of young and old alike have walked in the park and relaxed in its tranquil environment. It has been the favorite promenade for honeymooners, a playground for countless children and a space for nostalgia and quiet reflection for generations of old folks. The good citizens of Baguio and the city’s many visitors around the Philippines and overseas should be uncompromising in their defense of Burnham Park. Not one square inch should be handed over for above ground parking, food concessions, vendors, cheap rides and noisy amusements. A green park is for peace and quiet and the enjoyment of nature.
Without Burnham Park, Baguio would hardly be Baguio any more.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lisa’s Notes:
This essay was kept for the past 6 years by Resty Refuerzo, who furnished me with a copy that I, in turn, have to share with all of you.
The article was originally published at the Sunday Inquirer Magazine on May 20, 2001 under Mr. Best’s column End Page. I searched the web for a link to the article. Finding none, I decided it was best to reproduce it here in toto. All highlighted portions are mine.
10/21/2007:
1. Correction: Author is Jonathan Best, not Jonathan Page, as published previously.
2. About the Author: Quoting Julie Yap Daza’s Column:
Jonathan Best was born in New York. His father was a book publisher and his mother a book illustrator, which should tell you where his heart and genes were when he was preparing this book. He has been a collector and dealer in old Philippine books, maps and vintage photographs for the past 20 years (despite the lack of any mention of a Manila or Philippine background in the notes about the author on the jacket).
If he did not grow up in the Philippines, Best has nevertheless written articles on collecting Philippine historical material and mounted exhibitions both here and in the US. He is a partner of our own John L. Silva, a collector and museum specialist (for want of a better word), and makes frequent trips to Manila to do research or business.
Thank you for the information, Lisa! It should make us all more vigilant about protecting the environment and our city. We may not be able to restore “Old Baguio” so what alternatives do we have?
I hope Burnham will be rehabilitated and beautified again! I love the place!
Hello everyone, If you’ve read the latest issue of the Baguio Midland Courier, you will find an article that says the mayor is pushing for the construction of a multi-level parking in the Ganza area. Should you be against this, may I suggest you write a letter to the editor in the Courier? Or call the mayor’s office and voice out your opposition. Thanks. Thanks too Lisa.
Marie, but we can! Old Baguio is still there hidden by parked jeepneys, tarpaulin streamers and buntings, sidewalk vendors, shanties built without building permits. It’s a matter of discipline and Peds being true to his campaign promise of cleaning up Baguio. I hope he didn’t just mean to collect and segregate garbage. . .
Oh, Resty, I read that! It turns out Bautista’s the same as Domogan and Vergara! Believing that progress for Baguio means erecting ugly structures! And parking for 200 cars does not solve the problem either! And the council was unanimous! Oh this requires another post. Here we go again . . .
>-(
Funny, but Burnham Park was originally planned to serve 25,000 residents. Through the years while Baguio’s population has ballooned to more than 200,000 people, Burnham Park has shrunk and will continue to shrink even further and degraded with all the “grandiose” plans.
In a way, some sort of brainwashing is going on here. Telling the people it’s okay to treat the park this way. Five years from now, someone will propose to fill the lake with soil so a shopping mall can be built and people will find nothing wrong with it.
hi everyone, just watched mr. carl estepa, one of the more prominent residents of baguio, talk about constructing another tourist information booth IN burnham park on tv last night. what’s with the penchant for building more and more structures in burnham park? as of last count, there are at least two grandstands, six comfort rooms, one information booth and plentiful scary plans for our park. who will “protect us from the things men do in the name of good?” arrrgh, enough of these please!
The following is from the ;atest issue of Northern dispatch:
Sun 7 Oct 2007
Burnham Park market, parking area mulled
Posted by editors under general , Baguio City
BAGUIO CITY (Sept. 26) — City Councilor Perlita Rondez recently disclosed a plan for a bus terminal cum multi-level vending station to rise at the site of the old city auditorium in Burnham Park.
Rondez said she has discussed the architect’s sketch with church and civic groups which seemed convinced at the put-up of a 2-storey 1,000 stall building to house ambulant vendors and tourist buses.
“It will also be converted into a night market to house more vendors,” according to Rondez.
Rondez is optimistic the city would earn some P50,000 a day from the stalls alone, or at least P1.5 million a month.
“Aside from the market fees, the city will solve vending and parking problems. It will also address traffic congestion,” she said.
The proposed market would cost about P12 million, according to Rondez but quipped the return of investment is fast.
In a separate interview, Councilor Elaine Sembrano, chairman of market, trade and commerce committee, said “vending in parks must not be encouraged.” She adds she noted that most vendors are not city residents and that if there are projects to improve the market it should prioritize residents.
Rondez heads the tourism committee of the city council.
“At present, the proposed site is an unregulated parking space for tourist buses. Vendors also peddle their goods in the area,” according to Rondez. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS
hello lisa and everyone, kindly check this site out too:
http://www.ivanhenares.com/2007/10/save-burnham-park-from-more-development.html
hi lisa, correction please, burnham park: then and now is by jonathan best, not page. sorry about that.
Thanks Resty — and no problemo! — I corrected the attribution accordingly — and finally found a reference to Jonathan Best at tita Julie’s column, ad googling the web a little deeper, I believe I may have found his email address, so I sent him a letter asking for his permission or any other materials on Baguio that he may wish to share. I am hoping he is the same person and will give a favorably reply to my requests
i enjoyed reading all of the notes and comments…thanks! i luv baguio!… just wondering, does any1 knows the original paint color of the baguio city hall?… curious lang po.
ahhh…BAGUIO…the best place to be (in the 70′S & early 80′S).
Thanks for all the interactive discussions. I really enjoy it…wish we could do more…
All the best Lis, you’re doing a great job in putting Baguio kids (obviously) together.
I run regularly around the lake, at least twice a week and I notice several of the original lamp posts have busted lamps. Anyone willing to donate a bulb or two? Will see Architect Chan about this and appreciate your support on this.
Hi Kiko, and thanks for liking Baguio. If an old photo of City Hall comes around will let you know. Pero, nga pala, old photos would be black and white!
Hello Ferdie, and OH YEAH, especially the 80s for me — that’s when I 15-25!
Resty, how much will a bulb cost? Kaya natin siguro yan if the Parks Office does not have the money — yeah right!
wow! really amazing!!! baguio burnham park before was that refreshing and really green …. thanks for the infos.
there is another plan to put up another tourism info center at the orchidarium, burnham park. di po ba mas maganda po kung yung pera na ggmitin nila eh gmitin nlang nila pra ma-renovate yung kawawang building ng burnham park/PTA office. why put up another tourism ofis when there is an existing one? ano nman ang silbi ng bagong itatayo nila? eh angn ba2ntayan nun if ever eh puro inuman bars and terminal ng mga lintek na sa2kyan!…hay naku!…even if the construction will be financed by phil.tourism authority eh dapat nman icpin ntin yung mas maka2bati pra sa burnham park. u go on see the old burnham park office, hay naku po ka2awa ang itsura.. it really needs a facelift. have u seen the new orchidarium? wow! ang ganda na ngaun, hindi na xa orchidarium forest!…hehehe…vsit the place pra maapreciate po nyo…kudos 2 arch.chan kc if not for her eh hndi nagising ang mga concessionaires at orchidarium to landscape their place…much better if the 2008 panagbenga landscape competition be held in orchidarium… to better secure the whole area of burnham park i suggest two solution, 1)fence the whole park 2)credible and reliable security…development of the park can push through na kc pag fenced and secured na e2 xempre wla ng vendors na maka2pasok d2 at mas maga2wa na ng maayos lahat ng future developments d2 pro dapat lahat ng developments d2 eh puro landscaping lang po and restoration of the parks old charm as designed by arch.chan…kudos to everyone and hapinewyr!
kaya nga kiko, why do we need another structure in burnham park that will again steal open space? eh ang liit liit na nga ang burnham.
hi lisa, this from manila bulletin, march 24, 2008:
Burnham Park is now managed by Baguio City
Arroyo turns over management of park to city at simple rites
Dexter A. See
BAGUIO CITY — President Arroyo formally turned over yesterday to the city government the administration, operation, and management of Burnham Park, the premier tourist destination in this mountain resort city, to ensure the upkeep and rehabilitation of the park facilities.
President Arroyo made the announcement during a simple program held at the Skating Rink of Burnham Park to celebrate Easter Sunday or the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
She said the turnover of the park’s management from the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to the city government would allow City Hall to do what it wants to do for the maintenance and operation of the scenic Burnham Park which is located in the heart of the city.
“Baguio does not need a tourism-oriented activity to attract tourists. It is the tourists who keep coming to Baguio because of its unique weather condition and scenic spots which should be properly maintained,” Arroyo said.
However, the Chief Executive asked the city government to share with the national government a certain percentage of its income from the operation of Burnham Park so that it could be utilized to boost her administration’s pro-poor program which is aimed at improving the living condition of poor people in the countryside.
For the past several years, the city government had been lobbying for the national government to turn over the management and operation of Burnham Park so that it could oversee the rehabilitation of dilapidated park facilities and make it more attractive to tourists.
In 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos transferred to the city government of Baguio the administration, operation, and maintenance of Burnham Park through Executive Order (EO) 224 which created the Burnham Park management committee, composed of representatives of both national and local government agencies. Its task was to oversee the operations of the park.
Furthermore, Ramos ordered the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to provide the city government an annual appropriation of P18 million as the national government’s subsidy for the maintenance of the park.
But since the Asian financial crisis, the PTA was not able to fulfill its commitment to the city government, and the annual allocations for subsidy had so drastically gone down to that it was the city government which had been advancing the payment of park workers, among others.
President Arroyo cited the need to improve the park facilities as the reason for the turnover of its management to the city government so that the tourists will have something new to see when they are visiting the city.
Oh Resty,
They’re planning to make Burnham Park MONEY MAKING?!!! (We knew that of course). The Filipinos are so allergic to wide open spaces, aren’t we?
Pinky Rondez, at the opening of the Burnham Park Photo exhibit last week promised it was to be a GREEN PARK. Maybe these people don’t know the definition of a green park… we have to let them know what we want and what it is we don’t.
Lisa, that’s what I don’t understand when councior Rondez says that Burnham has to generate its income for its maintenance. They may as well build a shopping mall where the lake is and build a 20-level parking structure at the football grounds. That might even land us in the Guinness Book of Records. That should take care of its maintenance fees.
Seriously, parks should be subsidized from outside sources. We’re supposed to be receiving rentals from Camp John Hay, more than enough to share it for Burnham, but where is it?
Do we see businesses operating inside Central Park for its upkeep? Or even in Stanley Park in Vancouver? Tayong mga Pilipino talaga ano. Minsan iniisip ko, puro porma lang kasi.
‘Seriously, parks should be subsidized from outside sources.’
‘Do we see businesses operating inside Central Park for its upkeep? Or even in Stanley Park in Vancouver? ‘
EXACTLY! Parks are a service to a community. We lose the essence of that, we lose the parks. The community pays and maintains it through OTHER sources (like business taxes) so we can BREATHE.
Eh, in 2010, let’s vote for those who reveal their plans first, ok? So we don’t have nasty surprises along the way. Paradigm shifts, my foot. Parking buildings, revenue-generating Burnham Park. Wow, Baguio, how low can we go?
Maybe Jack will run again?
Hi Resty,
Chi says they spent so much in the last election it simply isn’t worth it. But who knows? The point is, he has made his message clear, as many of us have made our messages clear, including you most of all.
Now we have to make all the folks listen.
If running for public office is made expensive, folks will see it as an investment that they have to RECOVER through kickbacks. What a distorted system it is that we have. Politics as business — and folks have started to accept this as the norm. It’s abnormal!
Hi Lisa, here’s food for thought regarding open spaces, the March 25 2008 post from:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/
Thanks again.
Thanks Resty!
The article says “an increasing number of child psychologists and education experts note, research suggests that regular time in nature (a.k.a. “green space”) is vital for children’s cognitive and emotional development in addition to their physical wellness.”
I agree so much. In fact, Baguio schools must be made to provide at least 50% of green in each of their campuses. Green also relaxes while cement agitates. No wonder there is so much juvenile crime in Baguio.
An administrator from UC-BCF once remarked that the Salvosas never felt the need for trees on their campus because they were right across Burnham Park — what a shame! Imagine the Baguio school owners abusing Baguio and their students that way.
And now we stand to lose Burnham Park to cement, too!
I hope that the city will do something about the peddlers in Burnham. If we don’t, it will be harder to get them out again. We don’t want to see the Park becoming a hawkers paradise, do we? The one time government personnel tried to drive them out, the vendors fought back. Jeez.
Hi Resty,
Illegal vendors have absolutely no right to be there. ‘Trabaho lang,’ ‘human rights,’ do not apply — they must legitimize their business by investing in a stall.
It’s because they are allowed that they are there! Maybe they’re belligerent because they’;re paying ‘rent’ to some powers. Who is collecting ‘rent’ from them and lining their pockets? Hmmm…
Call me pessimist, bu there is no more hope for Baguio as there is no hope for the entire Philippines, not in the next 100 years.
Oh Ely,
Instead of feeling hopeless and helpless like you, I was filled with anger and frustration.
Try attending a PAGASA Workshop of Hope and take charge of your future and the future of this country. You’ll discover how the recovery process can already begun.
“For these people pay lip service to everything, including Burnham Park as a green park when all their plans are to turn it more into an amusement park for the students.”
by Lisa, Jly 3 ‘08 under City Will Penalize Smoke Belchers
And I sense the same thing too, Lisa. There’s a plan to include an area for extreme sports in Burnham. What now if somebody breaks a bone or hits his head in the pavement doing such stunts, won’t that open the city for liabilities? Sports channels have shown enough clips involving crashes and spills of extreme sports and they can be nasty.
The skating rink will be turned over to a private concessionaire and I imagine them having a boom box with the music being heard all over the park, hope not.
Our green park will soon be one grim park.