Tourist-Friendly is Resident-Friendlier
But there are solutions to this that folks in charge simply do not want to implement:
a. Study the jeepney lines. Too many, too many redundant routes, irrational routes.
b. Make Baguio City a walking city. That means wider sidewalks, cleaner air and policies that protect pedestrians more than vehicle owners.
c. Force the schools to move half their population away from Session Road. SLU has done this with their Bakakeng annex, UP Baguio does not add to their population — 2,000 students in 5 hectares is good, while UP has 22,000 in their building clusters, UC has doubled the population in the same land area by just expanding their building complex, but not investing in more land.
d. Make sure that the taxis and jeepneys operating here are legitimate license holders, not illegal operators. My sources tell me that we have 8,000 jeepneys over the 4,000 legal franchisees (1,000 alone plying the lucrative Trancoville route), and 6,000 taxis over the 3,000 legitimate operators. LTFRB would not give me any data.
Tourist like to be safe. So do we.
Pickpockets do not just target tourists, they target us , too — everyday! So if we ask the city to light up our streets, clear up the clutter so that there are not too many shadows to hide under then we can live in peace and enjoy life better. It used to be that I could walk the dark side of Legarda Road alone at 3:00 am and not worry about my safety but now I am clutching my bag close to my chest at noontime on Session Road. This is so not Baguio!
And those brawls by those teenage hoodlum “frats” they cause businesses to lose money and we get bad press, too. Talk about a reflection on parenting in Baguio City.
Tourists are not here to sleep. Neither are we.
I have heard this said often enough by residents and this is such a false statement. Tourists end up staying in their hotel rooms if the hotel roon is safer and prettier than outside. But honestly, they like to explore, to shop, to try our recreational activities. But at night, they really have no place to go. Our bars cater to drunken teenagers, our movie houses show the same movies as elsewhere, our restaurants close early, we do not have a casino or many places with shows.
Tourists like to TOUR, and Baguio has finally started doing something about training tour guides — finally. It boggles the mind how Baguio City has only two accredited tour guides whom the Department of Tourism could not even locate anymore.
Tourists like friendly natives the way we like friendly neighbors.
When I first started visiting Baguio in my youth, I was forever talking to the Igorots (well, you could still call them that then, but I found out that they get hurt when you do so because people use that word more as insult than praise) who were friendly and honest and so beautiful in their rich simplicity.
Of course there were the Baguio old families who have been wonderful caretakers of the city that has been overrun by migrants all wanting to leave their mark on the city when what we should really do is tread as lightly as we can on this earth to leave it pristine for future generations. And I am desperately seeking that spirit of Baguio that I knew and loved.
The last time I saw evidence of that was during the early years of the Panagbenga, when it was a community-run event, not a political one or not a business.
Now I see people using the word “inggit” and “basta” and “taga-Baguio yata ako” as if the latter entitles them to behave badly. There are so many conmen praying on innocent natives, and so many old men preying on the young students. I see policemen turning a blind eye to petty crimes (hey, they’re still crimes, ok), and folks thinking that “wais” is a positive trait.
Then I look out my window and see my bird-friends feasting on the breadcrumbs I left for them in the garden, the park employee at Burnham who smiles at everyone while raking fallen leaves, the counter girl who kept my wallet safe for a couple of hours because I forgot where I left it and I think — this is Baguio, this is the Philippines.
I moved from Manila to Baguio and living here was, for the most part, like being on vacation everyday. Of course there’s work to do and businesses to run, but that’s just so we can eat and pay our rent. There’s really no point in amassing possessions or showing them off. Or designing outhouses and buildings that clash with the lovely Baguio landscape.
Honestly, God is the best architect and nature the best engineer and He has given us all this natural beauty to take care of.
Let us stop hiding the beauty of Baguio city beneath billboards and tarpaulin and the bickering and the smoke and noise from jeepneys — and clean up our homes, our neighborhoods and our lives.
Believe me, making money and surviving does not have to be at the expense of others, or the environment.
We live together, we prosper together.
For the love of Baguio we must.
We just...
hi lisa,
i always visit your blog but this is my first time to comment. its because i visited baguio last week and got lost and confused by detours within the city. i think baguio should be more tourist friendly and improve like in markina the way mayor bayani fixed up our place.
more power!!
I agree with Miss Lisa.
We tourists spend a lot to get there and many hours to travel and we want something different than Manila. With SM its all the same things and theres no decent bars where theres no fights. My friends and I got scared and we left and drank at home so sorry na lang, no one made money from us. But I love Baguio and will always go back and check your blog if theres something new to visit.
Im hoping the people will be educated in tourism studies because they probably dont understand the income EVERYONE in the city makes from tourists, direct or indirect. Sayang naman ang Baguio…
Welcome Geena,
I was amazed about how Marikina turned things around prior to Ondoy and wish a speedy recovery from such traumatic events.
The traffic rerouting is a temporary scheme that is working for the residents since they know the ins and outs of the city, but drives tourists crazy. I am hoping the city will buckle down and decide on better and more permanent solutions to the chaos in the city center.
Hi Jim,
The problem I think is that the residents want to bring Manila to Baguio. Sad because I always thought Baguio was superior to Manila in terms of beauty and charm.
And you’re right about tourism studies being taught, simple things like how tourism creates jobs and opportunities for everyone, or even just good manners and right conduct (at home by parents and in school by teachers and everywhere by example).
“Baguio belongs to the world, not to us. We are just caretakers and we can never own it.” So true Lisa.
Hello Lisa, this I will not forget. I think it was an Australian who said it. Fix the city first for the residents and the tourists will come. So what is good for the residents will be good for tourists. For me, residents first before tourists.
Hi Ed,
Am so glad you agree. Now, if we can only convince everybody else, rich and poor, who behave like kings here
Hiya Resty,
Precisely, except that the residents are so content with so little that we are trashing the place ourselves.
I am hoping the residents will be more demanding and be more responsible caretakers — just look at the city now! No matter how I fix up my place, Baguio will be judged by the uncollected garbage both from my 300.000 dugyut neighbors and the local officials.
And honestly, how much money do the residents make without the tourists? very little, because outside money gives us ALL direct and indirect income, whether you realize and accept that or not.
hiya lisa,
we’re planning to visit baguio next week.. do you think its ok? are the roads safe and are the tourist spots clean?
thanks.
Hi G-Anne,
Baguio was relatively unscathed, unlike Pangasinan and Benguet, tourist attractions unscathed, the pretty side of Baguio unscathed. The rest bounced back pretty fast, with access roads reopened two days after the typhoon left. Now that City Camp area is really prone to flooding because it used to be our lagoon and folks should not really have been allowed to build there in the first place… (so don’t book lodging there ok?)
For me, Pepeng was no worse than other typhoons, except that Manilans were so traumatized by Ondoy. We’ve had worse typhoons… but there was too much media hype for this one because somehow we love disaster stories. Hahaha!
I must add though that the residents were fabulous about coming to the aid of their neighbors, especially La Trinidad.
Since, you’re the first to ask that question, I figured to give folks the lowdown.
Hi Lisa,
A few more years and we’ll be residents there again for good. Hopefully by that time Baguio will be tourist-friendlier and resident friendliest. A few more pine trees planted by then perhaps?
As an aside i do hope you can find a spot in your blog or website an essay shared by another internet (FB)friend Mrs. Mary Ann Regala-Raya. thanks.
Dear Joseph,
I know you were a Baguio resident before. So may I share you this essay which I feel rather strongly about? Let me know your thoughts, will you?
For even reading this, thank you so much.
Have a wonderful day, my friend!
Mary Ann
————–
WHERE HAVE ALL THE PINE TREES GONE?
Filipinos arise! Rekindle pride in our Highlands and its treasures!
Bring back Igorot pride to our treasured Benguet mountains.
Bring back national pride to the cherished city of Baguio!
Restore the proud, stately mountain pines and their aroma to what is now the ugly, scarred terrain of these once-beautiful mountains, to the hills and surroundings of the so-called “Eternal Spring City” of our nation.
read more at A Baguio Lover’s Lament >>
(By Mary Ann R. Raya – 11/11/2009)
Hi Joe,
I will be happy to include her essay as a blog post to share with others because it will be better noticed… Thanks
We need more wood, less cement… the current Baguio residents never saw Baguio in all its grandeur but for them even this current state is more beautiful than where they used to live, you see.
But we who know and remember are tasked with a greater responsibility of turning things around.
well said lisa….
once i gave-up,
twice i gave-up,
thrice…..no more. i love baguio, the city where i was born.
Regarding making Baguio a “walking city”,I agree 101% to this idea.What makes us feel tired of walking is the hot humid climate here in Metro Manila,but in Baguio,I make it a habit(unless urgency dictates)to walk and enjoy the cool breeze.Relaxing it is indeed.Well I do hope that smoke belching of vehicles also be lessened.It’s for all of us be it residents and tourists to benefit from this.
Right on Eugene!
All this fast city drama will kill us! There’s really no point for Baguio residents to hurry anywhere — our streets just go round and round anyways
But Filipinos don’t like to walk, do they? We ride a jeepney for 2 blocks instead of walking it. I really think the smog will be lessened if they planned the public transportation in a more rational manner.
I purchased woven purses from the Easter Weaving School when we visited John Hay when we were stationed in Subic Bay That was in 1969-1970 and I still use the purses today. They have the woven handles. Do you know of any way I could possibly purchase more? I have been unable to find a website for them. I would appreciate any information you might give me on how to contact someone at the Easter Weaving School.
Hi Betsy,
Here’s the contact info for Easter Weaving Room, Inc. Address Easter Rd., Guisad 2. 2600 Baguio City. Philippines. Telephone: +6374-4424972
I googled it
Thank you, Lisa. Now that I found you, my e-mail address is betsybrich@yahoo.com. Could I possibly send you pictures of the purses I’m referring to and ask you if they are available at the Easter Weaving Room or at the city marketplace? It will be more difficult for me find out something by writing them and if I call, I’m afraid I’ll reach someone that I can’t communicate with in English. I was hoping their products would be marketed through a world-wide website with a catalog of merechandise available. Am I expecting too much?
Thank you so much for responding.
Betsy
I feel stupid – I just googled it also and found their site. I had previously been googling Baguio City, instead of more precisely Easter Weaving Room. Thanks for all you help.
Betsy
Sadly, I don’t see the purse I was looking for.
Betsy
Hey Betsy, don’t feel stupid. I had to say I googled it lang so you would know I did not go there myself or make any calls to verify the info.
Generally, I also copy the local phone book to populate my directory as a service to site visitors during my free time (which is getting less and less these days).
hi Lis,
do you know if strawberry farm will be open this dec.?
thanks.
“When I tell folks I live in Baguio City they turn green with envy…”You are so lucky.”"
That is so true. When people learn that I have studied in Baguio, they would always say “Wow! Buti ka pa…” That is why I feel so sad that the Baguio City that I know is very different now.
That’s so true, Melisa, and we have to “re-take” our belived Baguio by forcing the government and residents to behave and respect the environment.
When I say good for tourists, better for the residents this means everything is fixed and orderly and beautiful. The residents of the city are contented with so little. Imagine if we raised the standard of “well-living” for everyone?
Hi lisa,
Like you, i have been visiting Baguio since i was seven years old, and also have been loving Baguio for 30 years. And yes, Baguio today is not the same Baguio I know. When I visited last Nov. 7 & 8, i had an unpleasant experience. I lost my mobile phone to a pickpocket at the City Market! I was comfortably walking around looking for pasalubong. Going to Sunshine Supermarket to buy cheese roll at the Frenchline Bakery, i remember i heard a text message a few minutes back. And when i reached for it, it was already gone. Maybe my fault? I put it in my sweatshirt’s pocket carelessly unmindful of the fact that half of Baguio residents ay mga “dayo” na nga pala. But who could blame me? I regard Baguio as my own native province, a safe and comfortable place i love to visit since i was a kid.. .but then again, hindi na nga pala ito tulad ng dati.
So sad that the City public officials disregard these things that put Baguio down.
But i still love Baguio and will keep on coming back!