Casino Planned Inside Camp John Hay
November 2, 2008 by lisa
Filed under business & economy, lifestyle & entertainment
Point #4. The City Fears Itself
These people protesting a casino actually insult the intelligence of the city’s residents by trying to limit their options at how and when they should spend their money. They have doomsday scenarios of families falling apart because lakay squandered the family earnings. The casino is not to blame for that, it is lakay himself, and maybe even his spiritual mentors.
Lakay can very well squander the family fortune by playing the stock market, and yet there’s a stall right in the middle of Session Road where one can do just that, and no one is protesting.
Lakay can very well squander the family fortune by setting up a business which is highly speculative, and which he was not trained for and no one’s complaining. But if Lakay decides to try his luck at the tables, for an amount much less than opening up a business, and which has the same chances of yielding a profit, or incurring a loss, those multisectoral groups are not protesting.
They would rather La Union earned from gaming operations and that they get more tourists than the City of Pines itself, by prefering that they proceed to Poro Point in San Fernando, La Union instead.
Why are these people sending the message that visitors should spend their money in La Union instead? And why are we encouraging the residents to gamble in other places instead?
Point #5. Entry Into the Casino Can Easily Be Limited to Visitors Only.
And honestly, the residents can be prevented from entering or playing there as a matter of policy, if we were to give in to those fears about the maturity and self-control of the natives. This can be dome much like it is done in the Subic Bay Freeport area.
Entry thereto can be limited to only visitors from out of town, and one means of control, which can also help the lodging sector, would be for them to show hotel vouchers prior to entry, or maybe even purchase a tourist pass from the city for this purpose.
Point #6. Is the Protest Being Made Only By a Noisy Majority Banking on the Fact That Those For It Will be Too Self-Conscious to Speak Up?
If the protest is church-led, whether Catholic or “Born Again,” is it because they are afraid to admit their failure, if ever, to influence their flock positively? Is the protest not evidence of their extreme distrust of man’s capacity to exercise his God-given free will?
Isn’t it in fact insulting to be treated by church leaders as ignorant little children in need of a leash around their necks? It is also an admission of failure on their part to effectively inculcate good values to their followers.
O,nce I asked a member of a sect what their stand was on a casino in Baguio, and they said, “We do not care, for it is forbidden by our faith to engage in gambling activities.” And somehow, though I have problems with the teachings of their church, I had more respect for how their church is able to inculcate spiritual discipline on all its members.
Are the protesters saying the residents of the city so immature and weak to throw away their lives just because a casino enters the city?
Open Stand.
I believe that having a casino in Baguio, particularly in Camp John Hay will boost tourist arrivals in the city, will help the hospitality industry and will drive new customers to attractions such as Wright Park, will cause a general facelift of the city because businesses will cease catering only to the poor or miserly.
It will also attract a more mature crowd to come visit or do business here and more mature evening entertainment will necessarily follow. With HALF the city’s population being in school, this gives too much power over the life and death of the city to the school owners, who are content to catering to those who are neither mature enough nor empowered enough to protest all the greed, the short-changing and opportunism that has been going on unchecked all these years.
I have always advocated that a Camp John Hay is the perfect location for a casino because the locals hardly go there because they consider it “expensive” and “too far.” It is gated, and ingress and egress can be controlled.
The Camp John Hay Development Corporation would no longer have an excuse not to pay its rentals.
That loud minority that is protesting is actually banking on the fact that those pro-casino people will be afraid to stand up and be counted as such. Not this baby!
Because the stand of those few vocal residents, which is always given a lot of media play by the provincial papers, is not only narrow-minded, it is in fact, hypocritical.
Because I do not hear these guys protest against sabong, or any other kind of betting, for that matter.
AGAIN, HERE IT IS: YES TO A CASINO AT CAMP JOHN HAY.
And, like always, everyone is welcome to agree or disagree.
We just...
Yes, Lisa…a Casino in CJH may yield more positive than negative results. Look at how Casino Filipino in Tagaytay City attracts visitors all-year round, moreso during its peak months. It will boost the tourism industry and of course, income generation surely follows.
Lisa… yes to a CASINO at CJH! Your Point #1 well taken by the naysayers i hope. The Folks at City Hall better check their books if they gained anything from having a casinos at Pines Hotel and the Hyatt Terraces. I’m sure the TAXES generated have help their coffers. And yes…only tourists,visitors and the HAVES of Baguio be allowed to enter said casino. The”poor and the miserly” definitely don’t even have business of showing up there. Aaah missing those sic bo, baccarat and craps days with Derek’s dad Lisa. regards.
I think having casinos is a good thing for any city! As long as you can collect the right taxes and maintain peace and order I guess that having a casino is A-OK. As for those who say that it destroys morals, no one is forcing you to go into a casino.
It not only adds tourism but also provides for another center for people to socialize and of course gamble.
we got jueteng, lotto, sweepstakes, bingo and a whole lot of hypocrisy.
Definitely NO TO CASINO in Baguio whether it be in CJH or out of CJH!
Let us stop the further devastation of Baguio in its natural beauty and in its people.
Build entrepreneurs instead!
Yes to casino.
I do not think it will devastate Baguio.
We can build entrepreneurs even if we have one.
Maybe we can build even more entrepreneurs because the city will become richer with tourists.
Hello Lisa:
10 | volt acosta
May 11th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
you have been listening too long. Time to wake up the people again with your insights. You must be working on something really heavy. For your information, a trial run for the casino was done for ten (10) days at the Camp John Hay, but Sobrepena Bob did not approve of it considering that it is one of the conditionalities imposed by the City and that they took into consideration the flak they may receive as they have not been paying up Baguio’s share for the longest time.Heard a lot about the sob stories of Baguio people losing a fortune in their daily forays to the casino in La Union. Kawawa naman sila.Maybe you can write a piece on this.he,he. miss your insights so start writing again. see you and GOD bless you exceeedingly, abundantly!!!!!!!!!!!
11 | lisa
May 11th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Hi Volataire!
Am looking for something new to write about, something positive, and finding none, am riding it out so we do not turn visitors off. Hahaha!
As for a casino, I am not against it. Everyone can complain how it destroys families — it’s not the casinos that destroy, it’s the gamblers.
When Hyatt Casino was still operating before the earthquake, foreign tourists came to Baguio. And yet, Baguio was safe, fun and still wholesome then.
The casino at Poro Point is full of Baguio residents, and that’s just 30 minutes away. With the Baguio traffic, a casino in Camp John Hay will be 20 minutes away.
Hahaha. Ok, maybe I have enough points to write about.
Thanks!
To everyone who has commented thus far, thank you for taking a stand, for or against a casino in Baguio. It is most important that we say what we feel and take a stand on issues every time.
And to Resty, who is so assiduous about finding earlier comments and writings, or keeping copies of newspaper articles published in 2001, I have this to say:
I don’t know if Voltaire, who is one of the coolest evangelists I know (because he does not evangelize — he just leads by example and with such a sunny disposition, too) is for or against a casino in Baguio.
As to that trial run at CJH months ago, I was surprised that there were baccarat tables where there should have been only tournament poker, plus I had no personal knowledge of why it was really stopped so I could not write about it.
But when your ‘revered’ Midland’s headlines scream, “gambling den” and the story obviously is designed to propagate “fear-mongering” then I cannot let this pass. Hahaha!
Then it became time to start writing my “points” on the matter.
How funny it is that, despite my having forgotten about that particular exchange, this current article’s subheadings actually use the word “POINT.”
Well, for one thing, I guess that exchange would be evidence of how I do not waiver regarding my stand on certain issues.
OT, Lisa. Your blog about Baguio is the best there is. You tell it like it is and is not sanitized. It’s like a good book that can be read and re-read. Keep on writing about Baguio.
I think a pro-casino group should also start to make noise. Why do some people impose their morals on others? What do you think? The NO TO CASINO stance is so negative…(hahahaha)!
Anyway, I’ll see you next time I’m home Lis! I miss you. Please say hi to Nico for me too.
Thanks Resty, it is not the lifestyle blog that it started out as, but I guess we have to stop being shallow at a certain point in our lives, especially when the city is in peril.
Hi Marionne,
The tourism professionals, who would normally be the pro-casino group, did not even protest the paradigm shift from tourism to Bautista’s brand of education and Farinas’s commercialism, so how can we expect them to even make a peep now? Hahaha, or should it be huhuhu?
Normally, folks here just wait for fait accompli (def. “a thing accomplished and presumably irreversible;” trans. “tapos na ang lahat”) — and then complain!
Exasperation, Lisa is thy name! Am so tired of all the hypocrisy.
Will tell Nico you said hi, and Marionne, I miss you, too.
Ditto on your comment re: hypocrisy! That’s why Baguio cannot ever be “rescued” from its spiralling fall to insignificance – there are just too many idiots and morons running it. And sad to say, only a few care enough to do something about it. More talkers than doers ( I was going to say actors).
So I say, we go ahead with your fiery plan. Bwahahaha!
I read your “Nevada” post and it feels like it happened a million years ago.
See you soon!
I WILL STAND NO TO CASINO!!!! I have known a lot of businessman and poor farmers who are playing casino often time when I worked in Manila and Pampanga. And if I will see their lifestyle and status now, its worst than before, they have loaned their properties and teir businesses are in trouble now just to finance their Casino lifestyle, families are parted, and many more that I would blame my self the casino and I am calling the Casino as BANK OF NO RETURN. Most of the time when they learn how play casino they are telling its just their LIBANGAN at the end it will be their VICE. They even called me and asking to borrow money for their petrol or fare going home to baguio.
Your point is to promote Tourism which you think its good for the welfare of Baguio. How do we say it would be beneficial to the city of Baguio when it is not Beneficial to the People of Baguio and Benguet.
I’m gonna asked everybody, did we know anybody who get rich of Casino? I think none…..
The best example is our celebrities in the Philippines, what makes them down and let them become poor where in fact they are millionaires before? Its Casino right..
I think the best thing to improved Baguio and Benguet welfare is Christianize ourself and put them in action. Its sad to say that the Philippines is the only Christian Nation in Asia yet we are poor in living.
NO TO CASINO. whoever think of it should better go home to where they came from.What a shame to those who thought of operating one in Baguio. If you want a casino put it in your own home. The one who will profit in the casino are the rich ones. OH, don’t tell me that they are creating jobs for the poor because shame on them for always using the underpriveledge for their own gain.
Can I say shame on you Mayor Bautista for slowly destroying Baguio.I regret having campaign many times for you.
I guess reading each individuals comments and own opinion is always respected. We know that Baguio is one of the most beautiful place in the world. I was born and raise in Baguio and I lived there for 22 years I have seen its rough times, especially during the earthquake, and slowly it began to stand again….Its so funny because when they were planning to build a mall, people were so afraid that they went on protesting against it, but now that the mall is up and running and when I went home for a vacation I met and saw these protesters shopping, drinking coffee at starbucks….what does that mean….
In my opinion having CASINO in a city or inside CJH is not bad, infact it give growth to tourism, it creates job, it gives sustainability to the city..
Think about this: CASINO is a building, a gambling den, what can IT do to people…it attracts, it dazzle, its susceptible, its addictive where the perfume of luck is always in its thin air right?
But have you ever thought that no matter what you build or impose to an individual will always depend on him or her, on how he is going to deal with it.
CASINO is bad when you impose it to minors and children.
Associating the beauty and cleanliness of Baguio will also depend on the individual…what is wrong with us is we depend too much on our officials we blame them when something goes wrong….why don’t we check ourselves and get on with it…
Just a piece of advise let us start cleaning our backyards and move on helping baguio if you want to keep its beauty.
Hi Marionne,
“Spiraling fall into insignificance” — you are so right! But maybe that’s what the residents prefer to prosperity.
The best places in the world do not look, behave or think like Baguio today
Hi Joel & Igorota,
Thank you for taking a stand and giving your reasons therefor.
Hi Gabby,
I agree with so many of your points:
1. “Its so funny because when they were planning to build a mall, people were so afraid that they went on protesting against it” — YUP! So much protest.
2. “Think about this: CASINO is a building … But have you ever thought that no matter what you build or impose to an individual will always depend on him or her, on how he is going to deal with it.”
3. “Just a piece of advise let us start cleaning our backyards and move on helping baguio if you want to keep its beauty.”
And to the latter I will add, let’s clean our facades, too, give ourselves some curb appeal, and stop hanging our laundry — literally — for all to see.
To everyone who will comment here on in, please know that I read all of your comments and appreciate them, but for this post, I try to limit my responses so that it does not look like I’m bloating the popularity of this post. I know it is an article that will receive reactions way after it was published. Keep them coming! It’s YOUR opinion.
hi lisa,
its been a long time that i want to share also ideas and comments to whats happening in baguio. my standing for that casino. i like to have that casino be built in cjh considering all the pros elaborated. But contrary HUWAG NA LANG, because we the lowly native of baguio benguet will never benefit from the “taxes” that will be paid by the casino. i said so, because look whats the style of local government we have. specially how they used money. each department will over estimate budget and at the end of the year if it is not spend all. they say can no longer be re alligned. you know what paghahatian na lang ng deaprtment staff as 14th 15th month pay. thats CORRUPTION in the eyes of people. Look the lifestyle of local government employees compared to an ordinary employee. Come december happy sila kasi puno ang bulsa. its not that i envy. its unfair practice. KAWAWA NAMAN KAMI.
Hi Aljon,
This is how I understand what you are saying — “no to casino because the taxes will never redound to the people because the local government officials are corrupt.”
If that is the case, then we should attempt to remove corrupt officials from their positions, we should expose the corruption in the Baguio government. It looks like these people are not even subtle about lining their pockets with money that should not be theirs.
The problem is not the casino then. Using the same line of thought, then we can also say “let us not collect business permits from the stores in Baguio because the local officials pocket the money.”
And somehow I feel you are complaining about “unfair practice” — so what is this then, that some are getting and some are not so it’s unfair?
Or by unfair practice to do you mean that people should not be doing this at all. Because if this is the case, then maybe you mean this is ILLEGAL and IMMORAL.
“EVerything is permissable but not everything is beneficial” no need to elaborate this statement from the Bible. I don’t wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul…my choice, my strong conviction.
Casino is a lure! nothing but a lure that slowly reduces oneself to a lower rank. If anyone claims to have INTEGRITY in himself then you should watch out your stance on casino as it strips you little by little till you find yourself with no dignity at all no matter who you are in the society. Just the mere thought of supporting casino in Baguio is unleashing one’s inability to surmount the lure of the material world. One’s worth is slowly taken away starting from his outlook and definition of development inflicting further a flaw on his morale and integrity. Where do you stand my dear?
Marc
Bemco Riyadh
Marc,
I do not feel diminished by a casino, as nothing can diminish me unless I allow it to.