New Baguio Attractions Wish List
January 18, 2009 by lisa
Filed under attractions & landmarks
Change the way we look at and do things
So can you imagine if we got a little more creative than just erecting expensive parking buildings as a means of generating revenue, Pinky Rondez? These suggestions of mine require very little capital although they need a whole lot of coordination. But, inspired by that attraction in Mines View Park that allows folks for a small fee to rent a bahag, spear and tapis for Php20.00 for a photo opp, or the Green Ride or Padyak Para sa Binhi ng Kordi, folks in Baguio City (including the government) can be creative and start low cost, high impact attractions for the city that will not degrade the environment.
In fact, a multi-storey parking and commercial building that is ostensibly designed to make the life of tourists better (of course I think it is designed to provide parking for teachers and students of Baguio universities who are located near the area and which schools do not care to spend on these necessities) will only serve to make the city less desirable to for tourists because it will be one of the things that will uglify the city, just like the abovementioned frivolous and unnecessary Domogan flyover.
I have heard it said by many residents, “Folks come up to Baguio to sleep” and the frequency that this fallacious statement is being uttered is alarming, because this is what, consequently, parents are teaching their children. I guess those who are naturally stingy cannot imagine that there are people in the world who are willing to spend to have a jolly good time. I have seen how tourists are willing to spend their hard earned money while on vacation. And the city does not consciously give them this opportunity.
We are in fact cheapening ourselves by encouraging shopping at the ukay-ukay stores instead of supporting the creation and sale of local handicrafts.
When there’s nothing to do in a place, tourists will have not other choice but to sleep. But that is definitely not why they drive up 240km to get here, is it? If folks wou;d say they visit Baguio to “relax” then maybe I will agree because a lot of tourists who come from stressful work places take vacations precisely for that reason.
Visitors may not want to go out because there’s too much traffic (because we are not doing anything to make our public transportation system efficient). They will stay prefer to stay indoors if it is prettier in their hotel room or lodging house than outside. They will not go shopping if there is nothing new to buy. They will not go to bars if they do not feel safe. And I know this of course because I have been in hospitality for all my working life, on top of having learned some interesting things through tourism studies and the realities of running a bed & breakfast inn.
Tourists spend on sightseeing tours, or recreational activities, on lodging, on meals, on transportation, on souvenir shopping, and something even on furniture shopping, boasting to all and sundry “This table I got in Baguio.” And when Hyatt and Pines Hotel were still around, they did spend money on the tables, and any winnings were spent on — shopping. Those who were losing would stay an extra day or two in the city (spending on lodging and meals again) trying to recoup their losses. This is how a city with a casino makes money on tourists.
It’s about time we give visitors to Baguio reasons to spend instead of being content with them “sleeping” because we are not doing anything new to make them want to get out of their rooms.
One classic case is the Panagbenga, which is coming up next month. It is an example of how one event, which is free and open to the public brings in a whole lot of business to the city, whether directly or indirectly to each resident.
Indirectly means, the person selling plastic straws in the public market will see an increase in sales volume because restaurants will be stocking up. The tourists will not go to his stall to purchase straws necessarily, but Baguio businesses will be the ones to do that, and they pay the salaries of their employees, too. Indirectly again means the father-waiter will be paid for overtime, or extra folks will be hired. If we are able to to maintain a high level of arrivals and attract the right spenders, extra employees will be made permanent. This one example of what was meant by Senator Richard Gordon when he was still Tourism Secretary when he would always say, “Tourism means jobs.” Because tourism necessarily entails service and service needs manpower.
If events like the Panagbenga were maximized as the huge money-making opportunities that they are for the organizers, then full time staff members can be hired instead of the reliance on volunteers. So that it can be professionalized. Meaning, capital must be set aside for mounting future festivals and this management must be done by the organization itself.
What has happened in recent years is that the events are individualized and awarded to private entities who are not necessarily the best persons for the jobs, who are motivated only by profit and who have actually ruined some events. But since they are the source of capital funds for mounting the event, this in turn leads them to think that they do not have to render any accounting of monies received.
And all this happens while the residents are expected to volunteer, spend for costumes, rehearse and perform — and all for free. Eventually the residents will get the idea that they are being used to enrich only a few people. But if the Panagbenga became a source of employment and income for the residents, then they would be contribute a lot of their time and energy to make it work.
The Panagbenga should be better than that, especially since the local community contributes and sacrifices a lot for the festival.
Events, events, events!
Which leads me to one last point — No 10., really — we should encourage huge events to be held in the city and the government should extend all assistance because this always provides economic benefits to the residents, that is, unless of course the politicians do not find it in their interest to empower their electorate.
Large events like tournaments, festivals always try to use the city as a venue (for example, Ad Congress which is coming up in November). I have heard many other organizers complain about how hard it is to get an event past the city council, even if it is for the good of the community, for reasons that are pretty selfish (I am being restrained here).
Progressive cities like Chicago are favorites for movie shooting venues. And all those who have visited Daniel Burnham’s hometown would know that there can be a disruption of daily life when activities like these occur in the city. But this is where the city can charge rent directly for the use of the roads. But always only a temporary disruption (vis a vis institutionalizing night markets).
The same principle goes for a city charging events organizers for the use of public venues where they are to hold their events, or for the extra man hours it will cost to provide security and traffic enforcement. Except that the income must go to the city, and not into private pockets.
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Photo credits for this post go to someone who simply wants to be referred to as Cariño, who emailed me these photos taken on a recent trip to Baguio City, Philippines.
We just...
Amen!
Hi Lisa, I’d like to see Lake Drive closed to traffic from 5am to 7am every morning, all year round. So people who walk, run etc. can have the park to themselves. Promoting health and fitness. The fringes can always be used for parking for those who ride their motor vehicles.
Hello Resty,
Great suggestion! Honestly, vehicles have no place in a park, especially those jeepneys. Baguio should consciously have a program to decrease motor vehicles to encourage walking.
Hello Lisa,
Personally, having a theme park in Burnham would not at all be a bad idea. However, some concerns should be brought up by the local government and private investor. Like in Hawaii, it is an American territory but it kept it’s culture and history. As long Baguio keeps it’s heritage, maybe the local government should start cleaning up the park and innovating it first like what they did in Singapore’s Sentosa where the history of their city is featured. One thing I miss is the pine trees that I used to walk under with my Dad and smelling the fresh scent in the morning. I agree that a theme park must be somewhere along the suburbs but then, the environment should also be considered. Mr. Anthony De Leon has his good intentions for the city and honestly if you read his press statement, he did not say that there were investors interested in building or taking over Burnham park, it was only HIS opinion. I believe Mr. De Leon has done a good move in promoting Baguio again through improving the Panagbenga and HRAB events. I do hope the press also be careful and understand of what they print and be more open minded and not pessimistic. I think we’ve had too much gloomy days for Baguio already for the past years and IN MY OPINION, it’s TIME FOR CHANGE ika nga sabi ni Barak Obama.
Hi Arwin,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree with a theme park, I do not agree with it being located in Burnham Park. One of the lovely things about Baguio is that it had all the conveniences of a city with a small town charm. We will lose the charm if we do not consciously work to get it back.
I know it was only his opinion, because, as I wrote, Mr. de Leon did mention it during our meeting regarding Peds’ paradigm shift away from tourism in late 2007. But when coming from the man who heads or has headed almost all the tourism associations in the city, it becomes an important discussion for the public, too.
Whether undertaken by the government or private entities, the theme park cannot be in Burnham Park. There are real dangers here that the public must be made aware of. Burnham Park can be sold or leased out in toto by the city and all it requires is the signature of the Secretary of Tourism.
Sadly, our local press loves sensationalizing. It sells, you see. Just like the way the non-Meningococcemia epidemic was hyped up.
Believe it or not, I love to walk. I like the quiet, hate the pollutants. I want to feel safe and not have to worry about the safety of my person or my belongings. Slow cities succeed, they’re better for the children. The money is better, too for everyone all around. There are less poor people in slow cities. Just google “slow cities” and you will understand what I mean.
Arwin, you and I are past partying I suppose. It’s time to work actively to make the city work, with all that is gracious and graceful reflected in our actions, attitudes and businesses. We know how heavenly it used to be. We can together get our Baguio back!
Yes it is time for change. But the change must be for the better. And the change is us.
Hi Lisa,
Thought I’d drop by, say HI and thank you again for re-posting part of my blog entry regarding a Filipino Obama.
Would it be too presumptuous to ask you to post my link on your site?
Muchas gracias!
Hi Paul,
De nada! I do not remember re-posting it though, but the link to your site can be found in the article. Lemme see where I can add you in my links page.
Hi Lisa,
Hahahahaha past partying ey? Well I guess we party in a different and mature way now. Burnham can be innovated, I believe Sentosa was just an island and now Sentosa Park where Singapore’s heritage is featured and generates income to the country. A theme park would preferebly somewhere maybe that huge area at past Suello is it? Rather than another subdivision or golf club again. We clearly know only a few will benefit from it. What about the other people of Baguio? Discipline is all we need, it’s tiring enough to hear around here uttering words like “DATI NA YAN or DATI NA NAMIN GINAGAWA”. I guess I’d like to put these kind of people to a challenge, let’s not get STUCK the wrong way. In regards to media, there are many ways to sell your paper, yes sensationalizing a story sells but a story or news can also sell through positive thoughts.
Hi Arwin,
I agree that Burnham can be fixed up, but to be a promenade, a green park. The city center needs all the green it can get — desperately.
Sentosa is more like what Nayong Pilipino was, a nice, relaxing heritage park, and the Baguio real estate that can be used for this purpose would be Botanical Garden (but I am hoping, of course that there be alternative properties where such a park can be located). That’s why I propose that the Igorot Village motif be revived there.
Now let’s define “theme park” for a bit. First on Google’s list: “An amusement park that follows a particular motif or which incorporates rides based on characters or situations proprietary to the owner of the park.” The next few definitions say the similar things: amusement, rides.
Even Ocean Park in Hong Kong started out as just an aquarium, dolphin and whale shows, cable cars, and through the years started adding roller coasters and other rides. That’s all fine with me, but NOT for BURNHAM PARK.
I agree that we need discipline, and the attitudes here suck, all the getting around the law or the filosofias (can only translate this as kapilosopohan). And all those little kids running around wildly in gangs is simply awful. What are their parents thinking?! How come there’s no accountability for any damage inflicted by them? As for those who say “Dati na…” that kind of justification only served to propagate a wrong, and they should be reeducated.
Regarding our media, haaay …
its saddening that many of our politicians comes and go but none of our attraction that made Baguio as it is the summer retreat, was given the utmost priority in developing and protecting.Look at what had happened to crystal cave,the San carlos “biak na bato”,the Carabao mountain and other places some unknown to others that if it was protected and developed could somehow make our city more attractive to visitors.we see from our very own eyes the eminent destruction of Burham park the encroaching squatters in Mines view park etc. if ever we lose these parks what is the point of making a new one.
Hi Mr. Ed,
The politicians want votes, they want block votes — 8,000 total jeepney drivers plus 8,000 taxi drivers (both colorum and with franchises) will be coddled, same with squatters and illegal vendors. That’s our sad state. Now how to counter this, for all intelligent middle class folk to step up as civic leaders, not for fame but because the city has to be set on the right track. In other words, folks have to intervene in matters that do not necessarily affect them directly but as a matter of principle, folks have to be in a position to influence others through reason and good work, we must all undergo inner transformation so that we can radiate, be little sparks of light and together we illuminate.
Now this must all sound so weird to you but we must take a step back, assess what we can each do to make the city a better place, contaminate everyone around us with our ideas, and then walk the talk of course. Be more involved in societal matters — cultural, economic, political. All three aspects of society must be balanced.
For example, my Nissan Patrol would pass Manila emission tests but was a smoke belcher in Baguio. I got rid of it. I could not bear to contribute to the pollution here. Honestly, now I can, actually and with a clear conscience, report smoke belchers or lobby for anything regarding transportation and the air. Plus Baguio lost one less car. Yehey!
The little things we do in our day to day life matter a lot. The question should be, for every action, how does this benefit Baguio, the Philippines, the world? And we have to be honest with our answers, too. And we must understand that our role as citizens is never too small because each of our actions affects the rest of society in a big way.
Hello again Lisa,
That’s right, amen to all what you have just said. I drove around Baguio parks a few weeks ago, very dissapointing really. Really dirty like Lake Drive, Mines View became an over crowded merchants, I used to drop by there every week to buy banana cues…Yummy! A campaign should be put up since I hear from the news that there’s a budget to beautifying parks, I’d suggest the following:
1. Botanical Garden be like Jurong Bird Park.
2. The sequestered Marcos Mansion hidden and rotting into a first class museum.
3. The Mansion House like touring the White House in Washington DC.
4. Burnham Park like Sentosa Island runned by the government not a private firm.
5. Crystal Cave to be a trekker’s path.
So many more…..Campaign this….CLEAN & INNOVATE. Smile Baguio!
Let’s put Baguio City as the top places to live, sad that I saw on the news that we’re only on the 16th place. Marikina over is a head of us and knowing Marikina before was scary. But now, it’s one of the most pleasant places to live. Just my 2 cents.
There you go, Arwin! Great suggestions!
We have a lot of unmaximized, badly developed real estate. What a waste.
Even the convention center should be made bigger and its space used more efficiently. But politics has gotten in the way. Some people up there want it owned by Henry Sy.
Baguio has defaulted on a 35M installment because it prefers to privatize it when, fized up and marketed well it can be a huge source of income for the city directly and conventions make the citizens good money every time, plus it’s easier to monitor the movements of large groups instead of many small groups of tourists going around the city.
Henry Sy wouldn’t be lusting after it if he did not see the income potential. I wonder why our politicians cannot (or refuse) to see that.
Hi Lisa, “paradigm shift.” I think this is getting to be scary when people propose converting Burnham into an ‘amusing’ place. I wish they would read Jonathan Best’s piece on Burnham Park so they would know why it was there in the first place. Somehow, this paradigm shift is also connected with “The ‘uglification’ of the Baguio Cathedral,” Ma’am Leonora San Agustin’s topic in her weekly column Catalyst 111, latest issue of Baguio Midland Courier. People’s tastes are changing indeed.
Hi Resty,
Even the church is affected by all the commercialism up here — Porta Vaga is a classic example. They say Mount Mary Hill on which it stands was in danger of eroding, which is why they had to buttress it — with a mall, too.
Actually when we as a people become less spiritual (I am not saying religious) we distance ourselves from God and nature, His creation, and the environment suffers as a result thereof.
Just walking through the trees, or feeling the earth under my feet or the wind on my face as I ride a horse, with vistas of mountains, enjoying the sunlight is a spiritual experience for me, and I tend to be most creative then.
When my religious leaders are being more human and less spiritual, I do not feel the need for them anymore. I used to go to Mass at the Cathedral, used to love the pre-written sermons, was bothered by the coluratura singing but never mind, loved to see all the young folk going there even without parents, used to think they should be more responsive to Baguio and offer more masses so we do not have to crowd as much. But no more. Going to Mass there no longer “sends” me.
Consequently I have not been able to see for myself the changes Ms. San Agustin has written about. But I agree with her views.
Most times I like change, I hate poor taste always.
good to thing to hear from my former mentor,Prof. San Agustin well she’s still kicking balls of ass holes in the city as always…So anyway whats next with Baguio Cathedral an ‘escalator”?
Hi Ed,
Yup Leonor San Agustin, Cecile Afable and Gene de Guia — the self-proclaimed 3 Witches — are still as feisty as ever! Love them!
I always say, when I grow up, I want to be Gene de Guia.
Read Leonor San Agustin’s article “The ‘uglification’ of the Baguio Cathedral” at
http://www.baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/columns.asp?mode=id11
I know we’re becoming too modernized and high tech, but the church interiors and exteriors should remain conservative. The beauty of its structure should be preserved, it’s fashion is unique that it shouldn’t be changed, it just needs to be maintained. Classic is beautiful..
Hmmmm.. I love the thought of Horsedrawn Carriages!
My wish: LESS PEOPLE, MORE TREES.
Hi Lisa,
We’d like to get in touch with training facilitators who are Baguio-based and who can provide a teambuilding seminar or similar type of training for our organization (numbering 30 in all). A one-day or even half-day seminar will do. Any suggestions? We might need 2 or 3 facilitators for our canvass.
Thanks!
Jeanne
Hi Miss Liza,
Interesting thread on the uglification of the Cathedral, its really a disgusting site to see! For the sake of income-generation, the beautiful sunset can never be enjoyed at the view deck er parking area,it was such a wonderful sight to behold.I think its only in Baguio that you see a Cathedral with lots of canopies and whatever they call it,its purpose maybe is to shield people during mass? I don’t think its so relevant to put up those..Maybe our priests should look into more of the spirituality of the Church, not the physical appearance of it..
Que paso Lisa,
Burnham park brings back wonderful memories. I love the guy holding his bahag, if you know what I mean
Muchas gracias tambien!
Hi Jeanne,
I do not know of any Baguio-based facilitators. The team building activities here are usually done in-house by a company’s HRD staff. I was hoping someone would read your requirement and step up.
Hi Janice,
“Maybe our priests should look into more of the spirituality of the Church, not the physical appearance of it..” EXACTLY how I feel. The materialism of the ones running the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines is sad, shows how they are moving away from God. This is my beef with my religion at the moment.
And you’re so right about the sunsets viewed from Mount Mary Hill.
Hi Paul,
I was surprised to see that recent addition to Igorot Stairs at the Barrio Fiesta compound (between Leonard Wood and Upper Session Road) — the photos were just sent to me by a site visitor — sweet!
Hi Liza,
Im looking for a fitness center/ gymn. Im just new here in Baguio. Do you any suggestions?
Thanks a lot. Godbless.
Hiya Dang,
Not being a fitness buff myself, I have little solid info on this subject! But here are fitness centers that I know of (and it’s funny because I do not know their names but know who owns them — hahaha):
1. There’s at least one in SM Baguio. Do not remember which level but it’s on the terrace side that is opposite the entrance — either lower ground, upper ground or 2nd level
2. There’s one on Session Road, Laperal building, lower level. It’s right in the middle of Session Road, on the left side as you go down hill.
3. There’s a gym still I think at Cooyeesan Mall and great if you live in the Quezon Hill-Lourdes-Naguilian area
4. There’s one in Baguio Country Club but that’s for members only, and I do not know if you can ask a member for a guess pass for this purpose.
I am a lifetime member of Sammy Ayochok’s gym called Asia Fitness or something at Rimando Road or right off of it, and they give great personal attention. Great service really but that lifetime membership I only availed of twice. Bad, bad, bad. Hahaha.
Thanks for asking though. And I hope I am able to at least point you to the right direction.
This is one topic I guess I should do more research on because not everyone is a lazy bum like me when it comes to fitness.
hi marvy musta na mo ni jumar dha uyab na mo unsa na man ka yr og unsa man ka sectiona
hi.. i like the photos.. its good to meet people who love baguio..wish there’d be more like us..
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for putting up a blog site like this one that helps a lot of adventurer like me. I’m planning to go to Baguio for the 5th time in my whole lifetime and I want this to be the most memorable ones. I just saw some new places to visit and I’m definitely going there to check them out.
Just wanted to say thanks and more power to Baguio lovers like us.
Happy New Year!
Thank you, traveler! Go Baguio at http://www.gobaguio.com contains a lot of info and here I try to be a little more detailed. So keep checking both because I update a lot!!!