Baguio Insider

I published an article about The “Baguio” I Miss early on in this blog. It was supposed to let readers know more about the city I knew and loved. It was designed to let you understand where I was coming from. It was a nostalgia piece as I’m sure most of you who no longer live in here have your own memories — memories of rose-coloured days to look back on to make the present a little more bearable, wherever else in the world you may be.

But Baguio Insider is Baguio Today. And for those of us who actually live here, everyday it’s more like –

• “who are these people?”
• “what are they doing here — are they investing to make the place beautiful or is it just more pleasurable to squat here than in the lowlands?”
• “is everyone living here a productive member of society (givers) or just freeloaders (takers)?”
• “who’s responsible for all this concrete?”
• “are we producing this many blind people or are they all here because there are job opportunities for them as masseurs?”
• “why don’t we have enough water?”
• “why are the kids joining gangs?” “what does all the graffitti mean?” “should we ban spray paint the way Singapore banned chewing gum?” “are their parents not watching them?”
• “how come there’s so much theft?” “do i have to grill my windows?” “should i build a high wall and gate?”
• “what happened to all the trees and gardens in residential neighborhoods?”
• “what has Nanoy Ilusorio achieved to have Park Drive renamed for him?”
• “did we always have this many muslims?”
• “can our buildings accommodate this many people?”
• “what if there’s another big earthquake, can 10,000 or 20,000 students get out of their university safely?”
• “do our students deserve bigger and better campuses for the tuition that they pay?”
• “what jobs will our graduates be able to get?”
• “are the kids safe?”
• “do the people living here now love the place or are they just taking it for granted?”
• “why do they think the government owes them free land?”
• “do we need to hire urban planners?”
• “can we prevent migration from the lowlands?”
• “should we close ourselves to the outside world and put gates on Kennon, Marcos, Ambuklao, Naguilian and Halsema?”
• “why are the jeepneys all parked in the middle of town?”
• “if buses pay a terminal fee at governor pack road, do jeepneys pay a terminal fee also wherever they park?”
• “what are we going to do about the high rate of abortions?”
• “service economy, retail trade or tourism or all of the above?”
• “do people still honeymoon here?”
• “are the quaint cafes disappearing?”
• “should Session Road be closed to vehicular traffic?”
• “can I walk the streets at night and not worry for my safety?”
• “should tourists be allowed to sleep in their cars at Burnham Park overnight?” “where will they take a shower?” “where will they throw their trash?”
• “why does SM City ask me to leave my cigarettes at the counter when I am to watch a movie?”
• “are we still the cleanest and greenest highly urbanized city in the Philippines or are we just in the Hall of Fame because we won that title three years in a row right after the earthquake?

And in analysing and answering all these we will be able to find solutions and create a program of action. Because this city (and this country) calls for an active citizenry. Because we want to preserve this wonderful place for the benefit of future generations.

Do you have questions of your own? Answers perhaps?