Burnham Park: Then And Now
August 30, 2007 by lisa
Filed under attractions & landmarks, featured
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.
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10/28/2008
Photos have been added to this article which, though posted a year ago, still receives a lot of hits. The old photos were those featured during the Burnham Photo Exhibit ast SM City Baguio. I asked a friend to go and take a photo of the EXHIBIT that I had attended in Match 2008 without bringing a camera along, and he came back with photos of the PHOTOS 
I have watermarked the same with the site name (which I can remove anytime) for the protection of the owners thereof, whom I do not know. Should you be the owner of the photo above, just let me know and I will be happy to give you the proper credit.
I am also planning to post these in a Burnham Park Photo Gallery gathered from different sources as soon as I can.
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.
Lisa, here’s a suggestion for lessening trash in Burnham park. What you bring in, you bring it out with you. Just like the mountaineer’s code. So, if you like to buy your snack, say from McDonald’s and eat it in the park, make sure you don’t leave your trash there but dispose it somewhere proper, even if you have to bring it home for disposal.
Hey Liza,
Thank you for your posting this article. Reminds me of good times in Bagiuo when i was a kid. My siblings and cousins used to go to Bagiuo every summer and, you’re right, it’s not the amusement that Bagiuo attracts but the weather. It’s in Camp John Hay, Bagiuo where i first learn to play mini-golf and had strawberry ice cream which became my favorite. I remeber the walk, boat ride and bicycle ride in Burham Park. Also, the time just being a kid, the card games and the stories shared around the fire place in my grandma’s house.
I plan to see Baguio as soon as i get a break from this s#@t hole. Thank you for the infos!
Dear Lisa,
My name is Katie Ferrari and I am currently interning at the Archimedia Workshop in Chicago with Judith McBrien. We are currently working on the first full length documentary about the famous Chicago architect and urban planner, Daniel H. Burnham. In the documentary, Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City, we will be covering his career in the Philippines. A short version of the trailer can be found at our website: http://thearchimediaworkshop.org/
As you may have heard in the Philippine Inquirer, we are planning on visiting the Philippines sometime in January or February 2009 and would love to meet with someone about the exhibition: http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=160540
I was wondering if you have the contact for Jonathan Best? I was excited to find that he wrote about Burnham Park recently as I have read his article in Asian Arts, “Empire Builders: American City Planning in the Philippines” which had some vintage Philippine postcards in it. I wanted to contact him to see if we might be able to use some of them for the film (in addition to any others he might have) and possibly interviewing him when we come to the Philippines to film.
Any other information or contacts that you might have that would aid us in our endeavors would also be greatly appreciative.
Thank you very much for your time and we look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Catherine (Katie) Ferrari
Archimedia Intern
cferrari@students.depaul.edu
Judith Paine McBrien, Director
Make No Little Plans: Daniel Burnham and the American City
The Archimedia Workshop
Fine Arts Building
410 South Michigan Avenue, Ste. 206
Chicago, IL 60605
judith@thearchimediaworkshop.org
hi catherine, try the following:
http://www.ortigasfoundationlibrary.com.ph/
Lalaine Tenorio, on September 30th, 2008 at 1:44 pm Said:
“You are right, Lisa….the last time I was at Burnham park, April 22, 2008 with my kids at 7pm, i don’t feel safe anymore. There were no lights. It was very dark considering it is at the heart of the city.”
I go to the park to exercise at least twice or more during the week at daybreak. And I’ve been doing this since November, 1997. If only they can replace the busted bulbs of the original lamp posts with energy-efficient bulbs, Burnham will be well-lit. If still inadequate, they can add lamp posts like the original ones.
Oh yes, mr. resty…i’d love to see Burnham Park once again beaming with lights during the night..and have a cup of coffee in the late afternoon when the air starts to get cooler..i’d love to do these things again when i visit Baguio this coming semestral break.
hello lisa, just watched the local baguio news in the 5:30 pm newscast of abs cbn. councilor rondez has just proposed that the former area of the city auditorium be made permanently a parking area. councilor elaine sembrano is opposing such move. i cannot understand councilor rondez. i praised her when she opposed the construction of the police building in the same area. now not only is she pushing for a parking area within the park but also a children’s clubhouse(when the city library is just a few steps away from the playground) and an anphi theatre. sheesh!
Hi Resty,
It seems only Elaine Sembrano is concerned with getting Baguio back to its former glory. Pinky Rondez thinks she’s being modern and progressive when she keeps proposing to cement Baguio. Enough ugliness, I say! Let UB and UC build parking buildings first. They’re the ones congesting the city center (between just those two there are 24,000 students, a few thousand teachers) and leaving their cars parked all day long in the area.
And to Pinky Rondez I say, please rethink your plans, Madam, because Burnham Park is too valuable to just use for parking. Let people walk or bike to Burnham and enjoy every inch of open space while there. In fact, use the money to remove all ugly structures in the city’s one flat expanse and make it GREEN (as you promised during your speech at the Burnham Park Photo Exhibit a few months ago).
Lisa, I gather there was a public hearing held regarding making the former area of the city auditorium being made permanently a parking lot. However, something fishy here. First, there was no publication of it in the Baguio Midland Courier and second, invitations were given out instead. I find something wrong here because the invitations could have been given to groups who they knew were for the plan and not to groups who would oppose it. Thus, it was only councilor Sembrano who was against it during the hearing.
hi lisa, check out the following link from ivan:
http://www.ivanhenares.com/2007/10/save-burnham-park-from-more-development.html
though not a baguio resident (but a baguio resident wannabee hehe), it saddens me to see how baguio, pardon the expression, seems to have slowly deteriorated throught the years.
i remember the summer visits during my childhood years. and the first time i brought my 2 young daughters, i was so giddy taking them around all the places we used to visit when we were kids. they loved the place so much!
the almost yearly trips however never hid the fact that little by little, there was something in the city that was changing for the worse; the traffic, the multitude of houses on the hills, the malls, the grotesque structures, etc.
i’m not against progress, it’s all good. but when progress sucks the life out of what is tradion and culture, then something is very wrong.
kudos to you lisa for this outstanding blog. a treasure trove of what baguio is and what it stands for.
i’ll always hope that someday, there’ll be a way to restore baguio to it’s former glory.
hi everyone, bago po ako sa club pero like you guyz i’m so concerned about the park. Grabe na po ang abuso ng park users!!! we are researching po on ways to redevelop the park (studyante lang po ako, architecture po ng slu). I’m really glad you guyz oppose ung pagpapatayo ng more structures!!! I really think the local government does not understand ung meaning ng park. We are researching po on the humble beginning of our sity at ung Burnham Plan. I think we should really inform the public about this. Can I ask po help sa inyo? Any information about the origins and development of our city.
There will be a Burnham summit on June 16, 2009. If you’re living in Baguio, please attend this one. I’ve been reading that participants will be invited. Invited or not, let’s attend this one. Chance to let your voice be heard.
Yup Resty,
In fact, that’s all I did yesterday — make calls to find out how to get into a meeting TODAY that will determine who gets in by June 16. Will look into this some more. Am in Manila, but I asked my cousin Jeannine McCann-Chan, president of the Baguio Association of Hotels & Inns, to help get more info, as even her org was not informed.
Lisa, please bear with me for the follwing. When then Atty/Judge Braulio Yaranon was our mayor, I visited some councilors in city hall to give them copies of Jonathan Best’s essay on Burnham Park. I remember the very first councilor I gave a copy to was councilor Rondez. She was accomodating then. Copies were also given to then councilors Farinas, Molintas, don’t recall the others but councilor Balajadia was given so with Sir Peter Rey.
Later on, councilor Farinas was to propose his multi-level parking structure in Burnham that required a public hearing. His proposal was opposed. In fairness, now Mayor Farinas did not insist on it and respected the sentiments of those who attended the hearing.
Our police chief then Sir Nerez proposed that a police building be constructed where the city auditorium used to be, now a parking area. Councilor Rondez opposed that successfully and I lauded her for that.
Then councilor Rondez changed her tune. When mayor Bautista suggested that a multi-parking structure be built in Burnham, ma’am Rondez didn’t oppose it. She even recommended for a parking structure, as can be read above. She opposed the police building but it is okay with her to put up parking structure? To board up the skating rink? To build a children’s clubhouse? Why is that?
Why is it so scary to just leave Burnham as a green space? Why doesn’t anyone ask it to be a heritage area? May I share a quote from In and Out, Baguio Midland Courier, “As a people we are not civilized enough to appreciate a park.”
Why do we let migrants rule over the park? After what happened to Camp John Hay, shall we screw up to with Burnham too?
“A food court, a fine dining area, and a cozy coffee shop were also suggested…a pasalubong kiosk and definite areas for merchandise and possibly a night market were also requested to be included in the master plan.
Senior citizens should be accorded a space…a loading and unloading area for PUV’s should also be reserved. etc.” from Baguio Midland Courier, Sunday, June 7 2009
Oh no! Don’t chopsuey-ize Burnham Park please. A case of too many cooks spoil the broth.
The Burnham summit will be held on June 24 Wed, most likely in City Hall. Please find time to attend this one.
Hello everyone, an update on Burnham Park:
http://www.baguiocity.com/index.php?cmd=news&item=6452®ion=9&cat=1
Hi Lisa,
The fencing of Burnham is on-going along the Harrison Road portion and am just not keen on it. Aesthetic-wise and function-wise, not a good idea. The fence will block the view from the sidewalk.
Hi Resty,
Am going up tonight or tomorrow. They have to justify the 400 million they’re going to spend by fencing Burnham Park? All these people in government can think of is infrastructure, no? Hay, all this tastelessness and unwelcome surprises they subject the city to.
Apart from the shoulder still acting up, I haven’t had anything to celebrate, hence the silence. Never really planned on this being a gripe site…
Hi Liza,
Can’t they just leave Burnham Park alone? It is beautiful the way it is despite the vendors and the jeepneys. All they have to do is to make it greener and cleaner.
PS…my husband is going up on the 26th of August to install the stainless signage of Canon Philippines…is it located somewhere along Session? I can’t remember. Unfortunately i can’t go with him…i miss the pine scent.
Hello lisa,
Burnham Park is synonymous with Baguio, Baguio is Burnham.
Mr. Daniel H. Burnham must be rolling in his grave … Burnham Park dying a slow painful death, fencing and parking structures, i wonder what’s next?
For a Few Dollars more……..what are these bureaucrats thinking?
Burnham Park a legacy of goodwill and intention’s of the Founders of the City; green space destroyed by greed and short sightedness of City Officials and apathy of its Citizens a real downer….. really depressing…..
For the future children of the City of Baguio, there can only be memories of it’s former glory, a sad day indeed…..
Hi Liza,
would like to welcome myself for joining in this conversation or whatever u call this!!! i would like to join in….. im encouraged to join while reading the give and take of ideas and openions…well, Personal financial interests are the only reasons for proposed park improvements. matalino na ang tao ngayon, pro ka or anti sa isang politician sooner or later just like Madam President Gloria Arroyo inaaudit na ang mga assets nya…ganun din ang gagawin ng mga tao sa lahat ng uupo in any position…dun na rin makikita ang intensyons ng mga lider natin…soon..
Hi Vilma,
We welcome you to this — yup, you got it so right — conversation. And if you take a look around, you will notice that there are about a hundred or so other conversations you are welcome to join.
Thanks to that “1 million peso President & entourage dinner” that came literally in the wake of Cory Aquino’s demise people are now reminded of one of the things we hated about the Marcoses’s abuse of power and the same arrogance and insensitivity that most of our politicians — from Arroyo to insignificant local city councilors — display.
We really should audit our public officials. They have been getting away with too much already.
Hi Lisa,
Burnham Park is synonymous to Baguio City…ang dami nilang nakikitang problema with Burnham pero ang simpleng paglalagay ng ilaw ay di masolusyunan. You see my husband went strolling in Burnham with my bro on the night of August 27, 2009 but left the park immediately because they felt unsafe. His observation was masyadong madilim, walang ilaw at nakakatakot mamasyal. I understand it’s not summer, but how about the safety of off-season tourists? Sana ay unahin nila ang simpleng problemang ito hindi ang pagtatayo ng infrastructures one after the other that does the city more harm than good.
@ Lalaine that’s how poor Baguio is aside from having its priorities screwed up. Plans are afoot to put a train in the children’s playground. Most likely will make use of energy-consuming electricity. Me thinks there is too much emphasis on the children. What about us adults?
Gud day maam! I am a fifth year architecture student of Saint Louis University. Currently I am enrolled in a thesis class wherein me and my partner is currently conducting a research on the restoration and conservation of Burnham Park. Our study is based on Historic-interpretive research. We have been looking for old photographs of Burnham Park which may help us come up with a better restoration and conservation plan for the park. In line with our study may we ask your permission if we could barrow any photos or documents of the park which we may use in our thesis. We would be greatful for any help you may offer us.Thank you very much maam and God bless!!
@ leonora, hope you can share an abbreviated version of your thesis here in Lisa’s blog.
Hello Lisa, as I was running around the lake this morning, noticed that except for one lamp post, all the others were lit. As it should be. One lit lamp post needed a cage around the bulb.
Hiya Resty,
That’s good to know. Lighting up the city will certainly help make it safer.
Please visit my site. More about Burnham Park.
Cheers!
http://greenbaguio.multiply.com/photos/album/61/Baguios_Burnham_Park_Today
Hi Bantay Busol,
Sigue, kasi I have so many photos of Burnham Park today I cannot bear to publish — like what this government did to the skating rink. Thanks.
Lisa, I have read your tweet re squatters in Burnham Park. It’s time councilor Rondez is replaced as head of our parks. She is inutil. How come these people don’t dare do this in the golf courses in Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club? Now I understand why no one won’t declare Burnahm as a heritage area. So they can do whatever they want to do with it. The city has come up with an MOA with University of Cordillera to come up with a master plan, kuno. Yet, the group of Bishop Cenzon keeps on doing things in the Park. Last I heard, the group of Bishop Cenzon will construct another kubeta in the orchidarium. Yet, just across the orchidarium is an existing kubeta. Can’t the city put on hold plans in Burnham until UC comes up with their master plan?
RESTY,
WHY SHOULD UC BE IN CHARGE OF COMING UP WITH A MASTER PLAN????
It is precisely this school, which has a questionable hold on the land it has built its 7-building cluster on that packs in 14,000 students and aims to annex Burnham Park as so it can have a campus, that should be questioned as to its expansion. UC has parking for — what — 20 cars so will you be surprised if part of the”masterplan” is to build a parking building on Burnham Park across it?
Now as to the squatters — are the people in charge of Burnham Park as you say “INUTIL,” as you say, or actually the SPONSORS and CODDLERS of these people? Because you see, the government officials in Baguio are not really the most humble people in the world, ok, they kinda love to throw their weight around, so why suddenly are they going to be sweet on all these families who have been squatting in our parks for the past months if not years? Because they’re sweet on all other squatters elsewhere, too?
In fact, I have precisely been against overnight parking in Burnham because, among other things, it will be difficult to spot who is sleeping there for a night and who is sleeping there forever. Plus is Baguio so dugyot that we are okay with people doing the “isbo ket takki” all over the park?
It is not a matter of adding Kubetas (and honestly my priests should really stay out of politics and government ok — especially not when they cannot add Masses at the Cathedral to accommodate a growing flock) it’s a matter of not allowing people to sleep at Burnham in the first place. Or use it as parking for budget tourists who spend nothing on the city except to eat fishballs and isaw.
Enough of this!
easy mam : ) i am so excited cause next month i will be going up to baguio again. my personal yearly journey. is marcos highway a-ok now? thanks
Hi Andrew,
I am calmer now.
Marcos highway was okay 3 days after the typhoon, Kennon 2 days after Pepeng. The Fil-Am golfers have been swinging away in perfect weather for two weeks now. Baguio is ready for all the Christmaas guests. We have a tourist unfriendly traffic rerouting scheme that actually eases the congestion in the city but is not a permanent solution, so please expect that even when you get here in my perfectest month — January.
its a disgrace for students like us, not to know the secret moves of our government, and its a shame for the government for deciding on their own and not even leeking to the public some details for this unknown plans, i will no be surprised to lose our great parks for economical purposes, i at the age of 16, will enjoy our dear city’s wonders for one day it will be only a history, it will be lost and all i could just do is that to sit and tell the beaty of baguio to my grandchildrens. I m in so much pain that my pride will be gone soon…