Baguio Insider

Never again! All Filipinos, especially Baguio residents, should never allow anyone, for the sake of ‘development’ to tear down beautiful structures like the Camp John Hay Main Club. The same goes for decades-old pine trees. Almost 1000 are in danger — GSIS lot (500 trees), Moog Controls Corporation expansion (234 trees), Ayala development plus new call center in Camp John Hay (100s more).

The rains have come — not just the regular April showers, but a typhoon (they say two hit us simultaneously) that hit Baguio hard over a weekend in May. The lights went off for more than 24 hours, pine tree branches were falling all over, water (which is usually 24/7 in my area) was gone too because the BWD pumping stations run on electricity (they don’t have generators?), an huge national table tennis tournament at the convention center saw a few folks stranded (as ‘refugees’), while those who attempted to rush down to Manila were blocked in La Union by a fallen tree and floods in Pangasinan.

But there was this one large family from Manila who braved the rains and the lowland floods to come up to Baguio as scheduled because, as they told me, they LOVED Baguio and nothing would put a damper on their plans!

I SIMPLY LOVE THE RAIN!

Sometimes, my first thought would be “Blessing!” For the rain cleanses, for a while makes everything turn gray, then when the sun comes out my world becomes a vivid green again.

My second thought always is, if it is cold and damp in my beautiful house, what about those who have put up shanties on the mountain sides?

Then I start thinking, all these measures the government purportedly undertakes for ‘poverty alleviation’ is totally LIP SERVICE. This whole thing has a totally mendicant attitude. We donate to the poor, we do not build lives.

By allowing the ‘poor’ to squat does not alleviate poverty. Giving him good education and good work does. We must build lives. The government should provide free training for the creation of products, or a specialized skill. Enough with the diploma mills of Baguio which exist only to collect tuition fees and issue certificates of completion.

The same way the local government in Baguio talks about “EDUCATION” is lip service, or worse yet, self serving. Education in Baguio cannot be called a vocation even — it is merely business. And turning education into a business is completely deplorable! It cannot even be called education, in my opinion. That’s too grand a word for what goes on in schools in Baguio.

Come on, I just heard that students in a university in Baguio are required to take TYPING classes as part of their curriculum for which they are charged laboratory fees! Same with English writing — lab fees! Wow! Talk about taking the parent’s hard earned money.

I was told by a teacher at City High that the classrooms are filled with 70 students — so bad that there were high school kids having sex in the back and the teacher could not tell anymore. Oh, this is not a fake claim — a whole bunch of us were told this during the last PAGASA Workshop in Baguio

And because we have tens of thousands of graduates per year we have to provide jobs, too. Thus came a very well attended Job Fair at the Convention Center more than a week ago filled with thousands of desperate people.

Thus the residents welcome the expansion of Moog Controls Corporation into the Camp John Hay reservation that will cut down 234 pine trees in exchange for a few more hundred workers. Thus Baguio welcomes yet another call center that will turn our graduates into telephone operators with American accents, never mind their courses, never mind their passions and dreams.

Did any child ever say, “Mom, when I grow up, I want to be a call center agent.”

Is that better than raising a child who is forced to take up nursing to leave the Philippines and her family, be called a hero and be the breadwinner for the family?

Come on, more than population control, this country must look into changing the attitudes a multitude of Filipino parents. Do not beget a child so he can work for you and ’save’ your family. Ano ba?

Save yourself first, then have a family!

ONLINE PETITIONS FOR BAGUIO

While listening, I did sign two petitions that I am calling your attention to. You see, all creation starts from an idea, based on an ideal. We ask God and fellowman for what we want.

Petitions are prayers for action. Eventually they become blueprints for our individual actions, too. Affixing your signature shows your commitment to structuring your life around the principles and actions embodied therein.

While listening, I had a chance to reflect on the internet medium of communication to effect positive change. I was asked to appear on TV regularly, if I wanted reach a local audience, something which I totally do not want to do. I am camera-shy, you see, would rather be the photographer than the subject.

The following petitions each have my name as the last in the short list of signatures, and I ask that you add yours. The internet, RIGHT NOW, is not that effective in gathering the numbers. But it is efficient in terms getting folks from all over the country and all over the world together.

The Baguio We All Want, Signature #409

In general terms, we propose these general principles to affect a better Baguio City.

1. There should be City wide programs to arrest environmental degradation;
2. There should be implementation of a realistic anti-squatting program that
will not allow encroachment on forests and watersheds by providing alternative sites to the homeless;
3. There should be a traffic management summit participated in by public utility operators, socio-civic organizations and the local government to arrive at solutions to traffic problems;
4. That the city participates in the multi-sectoral group effort to address its development issues so it can move forward towards its aim as a Heritage City/ a Dream City.
5. That the City thinks big in terms of its full tourist potential; to go beyond Panagbenga; to tap its authentically unique resource to promote more programs “ala-Canao iti Umili.”

Declare Baguio City, Philippines as a Special Heritage Zone, Signature #1861

We now respectfully call on the residents of Baguio and the Filipino people to sign this humble petition, and for the local and national governments concerned to implement and declare Special Heritage status on this unique mountain City as soon as possible, preferably before the Baguio Centennial in 2009, so no further destruction on its limited cultural, environmental and aesthetic resources may continue.

I figured, if I can get more and more people to sign them, then Baguio Insider will have one very good reason to continue.

SILENCE AS NECESSARY FOR REFLECTION.

You see, my 3 weeks reflection was not only “Should I continue in this medium?” It was more like, should I abandon the city I love completely?

Then I realized, by your continuous comments despite my silence, that there are enough of us to continue what has become a fight for Baguio’s environmental, economic and ethical survival. It does not have to be an overhaul of any system. Just a step-by-step process to reclaim the beautiful Baguio we love.

Our numbers may be small at the moment, and the process painstakingly slow and arduous, but if we have a positive, hopeful attitude, we will overcome.

Please sign both online Petitions for Baguio, as your fist small step towards reclaiming Baguio City in the Philippines for yourself and your children.

Oooh I know this will piss off some folks who fervently wish I would disappear — Yes, Baguio, I am here to stay. I have not undergone oppressions for the past 6 (business only) +11 (business and personal) years for nothing.

And nope, I will not allow the city government to make a liar out of me when I claim that Baguio City is a virtual heaven on earth. I hope you will join me in our memories of beautiful Baguio a reality once again.