VICTORY BAGUIO’S GOT TALENT!

GRAND FINALS
DECEMBER 10, 2009
6:00 PM, VICTORY CENTER
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I was telling my sister recently to just keep going.  She was sharing with me how she’s having a hard time landing a job and was ready to quit.

I had my share of those moments when things seem to not favors me no matter how hard I try.  Many times I kind of given up too.  Other times,  I just had kept on.. something  made me go on and I did.  And looking back, those were the times when I kept going that I was able to reap rewards.

I started reading Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich free ebook and I got pass the Three Feet From Gold story that reminded me of an experience about a wild trip to Baguio.

It was  ”…three feet from where the Darbys had stopped drilling that the gold is found.” by the ‘Junk’ man to whom Mr. Darby sold his machinery for mining ore for a few hundred dollars .

Indeed, one of life’s irony is just when we feel so defeated and about to give up on something that the answer shows up all of a sudden.  And we later realize the lesson.

The Baguio Wild Trip

It was a chapter in my life when I decided to start over.  I talked my  friend Leo into accompanying me and since he’s never been to Baguio he was delighted. Not to mention that it’ll be an all-expense paid  for him which I shouldered. He was kind of broke at that time.  I didn’t have much either.  But it was the way to go for me.

Another buddy named Joey went along.  So it was three of us.  I told them my plan which is to look for a job and stay for good.  I kind of gave myself a one-week target to get settled.  It was a do-or-die situation.

We got very limited money and no definite place to go in an unfamiliar place. It was crazy.. and perfect.  Amidst the uncertainty is the incomparable freedom of a dare-devil adventure.

We got there late in the afternoon and set out to our first task of finding a place to stay for the night.  The boarding house hunting started the next day.

Our first stop at Joey’s church friend in Crystal Cave did not go well.  I remember how some of the house structures there with base posts on slopes kind of given me a scare and wonderment at the same time.  I was used to seeing and inhabiting level ground houses.

Come dark we were exhausted and so beat, we settled with the second immediate option we got.  They slept over at one of the church centers, I in one of the several market stalls owned by another of Joey’s church friends, walking distance from them, which I remember to be nearby the airport.

It was frightening for me to be separated from them on that first night in a cold place and to be sleeping at someone’s stall that has wood strips for a door.  I scolded them in the morning for making me sleep there alone.

We grab some quick food along the way as we search for a boarding house.  It started out exciting as we explore the roads and sites of Baguio until after several failed inquiries for a prospect pad.  The thought of sleeping again in that stall made me cringe, we have to find a house to crash in tonight, I told myself.

So, after several more road blocks covered and seen houses, still no success. It’s either beyond our budget, not so cool for our tastes (but we’re not that choosy alright.. ), no vacancy, or the owner or landlord simply doesn’t want to take us in.. maybe for some ethical reasons.

Imagine a girl with two bisexual-looking guys with baggages and a sleeping bag, who looks like stowaways without much, looking for a place to stay.  Hmmp.. maybe I would think twice too if I were in their shoes.

By late afternoon we were tired and desperate.  The guys were deciding to call it a day.  I feel them but wasn’t gonna give up yet and so beg for one more house.

We trudged wearily up the hill as the sun was setting down and knocked on one more door.  Finally, a sense of hope.. the owners seemed accommodating and empathic of our situation.  We know we’re not that appealing group of boarders.. we told them our story, of me staying for good…  They probably took pity and admitted us that night.  What a relief. Whew!

And thank goodness we decided to check one more house.

The days that followed were mixed feelings of ecstasy being in ‘paradise’ and the stress of job-hunt and getting by each day with mainly noodles or canned sardines, rice and bread.  It was a humbling and empowering experience all at the same time.  We had to call long-distance for some money support from close sources to survive that week. We weren’t let down.

Before the week ended, I scored a job as a graphic designer for a mall with a very minimal pay compared to my last in Manila.  I was culture-shocked.  Anyway, that will do for now I thought.  One day at a time.

On the seventh day, I move in to a new room-for-rent just a stone’s throw away from work.  We were evicted from the first boarding house by this time.

It was the last day of our adventure together, as planned.  So that same day Leo and Joey bid me goodbye and good luck as I escorted them to the bus terminal.

I welcomed my new life in ‘paradise’ and the new work the next day with a smile.  The end.

by Elizabeth Caguioa Cedo

The Baguio City Police Office is warning all the citizens of Baguio especially the females and elderly to be cautious about the Budol Budol Gang who are out to victimize again.

A case of ESTAFA (Swindling) transpired on November 11, 2009 at about 3:00 PM at Mary Immaculate School located at General Luna Rd, Baguio City on a complaint filed by RODELYN CLEMENTE Y ABUAN, 26 years old, married, a student of University of the Cordilleras, a native of Burgos, La union and presently residing at Bakakeng Norte, Baguio City. (continue)

http://karitoon.com/xoops/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=72

Last Sunday, Manny Pacquiao established himself as one of the greatest boxers that ever lived, not just in the Philippines or in Asia but all over the world.  I saw an episode of the Pacquiao vs Cotto HBO 24/7 when he was training in Baguio city.  During this episode, Typhoon Pepeng hit northern Luzon and wreaked havoc across Baguio.  While people suffered from the devastation left by the typhoon, Manny could only sympathize with the victims because of his focus on boxing.  He knows how important it is to stay focused on his conditioning and preparation even though he’s a celebrity in the Philippines with his own TV show, own movie, having multiple businesses, being a husband and a father.

It’s amazing to see how focused Manny Pacquiao was in the training he went through for this fight with Cotto, which I’m sure is the same intense focus for all his fights.  And whether it’s in ministry, in work, in school, in everyday life, we need to be focused.  We can get caught up in so many different things that are unnecessary and simply consume time and energy.  We can be good at many different things but not great in any particular thing.  Sometimes we need to know how to say, “No.”  No, to the things that distract us, things that spread us too thinly, things that don’t contribute to what we want to achieve or accomplish.  Craig Groeschel in his book, it, says when you increase your focus, you decrease your options.  What are the things you need to say “No” to in your ministry?  in schoolwork?  in your job? in order for you to be less distracted.

When you’re focused not even a natural disaster can sidetrack you.

In my sophomore year in college, “reforestation” was the buzz-word.

It was 1966, and I had begun to make a name for myself then.  Member of SLU’s student body government.  Consistent first-place winner (since high school) of the national PRISAA annual competition in debating and extemporaneous speaking.  Guest lecturer of the SCA in schools all over the country.  PMT officer (assistant corps commander).  Stage actor (“The Lion in Winter” at UP Baguio and “Butterflies Are Free” with the Army-Navy Club).  Editor of the SLU high school “Echo.”  Laman kalye of Session Road.

It was then that I met Narciso “Nars” Padilla who was, at that time, a photographer and civic activist.  He later became councilor of Baguio City, I am told. (Does anyone know where he is and where I can find him?)

We began having coffee everyday at Session Cafe, discussing Baguio politics.  Eventually, we got around to discussing the youth of Baguio, and what project we might collaborate on.  He would know because (as I forgot to mention earlier) he was also a Boy Scout leader.

We decided to focus on reforestation, to start.  At that time, extra-curricular activities for the youth had to have the approval of schools.  So we jumped through the hoops of SLU, St. Theresa’s College, University of Baguio, and Baguio City High.

Mt. Santo Tomas was the highest peak in and around Baguio.

After acquiring school approvals, we began organizing for one project — the reforestation of Mt. Santo Tomas.  Mt. Santo Tomas is the highest peak in and around Baguio City.  It is topped by radar antennas that serve the different radio and TV stations, as well as Camp John Hay, when it was still a US Air Force Base.  The peak of Mt. Santo Tomas offered unparalleled 360° views.  On one side, the mountain overlooked the city, easily 15 kilometers away.  On the other side, one could see La Union and its beaches, part of Naguilian Road (one of the two access roads to Baguio), and part of Pangasinan — about a hundred kilometers away. Yes, it was that high and the skies used to be that clear.

We were not prepared for the resounding response to our invitation. Male and female students from SLU and UB high schools, girls from St. Theresa’s College, City High students — our first meeting had almost 200 attendees!  And the group didn’t even have a name yet!

Pressed for time just minutes before the meeting started, we had to find a name.  We wanted a name that was inclusive…that didn’t distinguish members by school or social status.  We chose “SHARE” as an acronym of the name…but as an acronym for what?

“Welcome to the first meeting of SHARE,” Mang Nars started.  ”The Self-Help Arm for Reformed Existence.”  Shocked, I could do nothing but seemingly agree, smilingly.  Now, in hindsight, 40 or so years later, I think the name sucked.  Fortunately, “SHARE” stuck, and people soon forgot the whole name.

***

Aside: I remember the time when Baguio was surrounded by green hills and mountains.  It had the “small town” feeling then, where everyone knew each other and everyone cared for each other.

One reason we chose Mt. Santo Tomas was its sides were getting brown.  For what reason, we didn’t know.  Other mountains around were still lush and green.  I remember, for example, climbing Carabao Mountain. It was on the road to Trinidad Valley, and was not too high that it would knock you out if you climbed it.  I took the climb with friends from St. Louis — Rhime Basbas, Tony Tomas, and Sammy Flores — and our favorite teacher, Florentino Hornedo.

There was no bottled water then; we filled GI canteens, and packed hot dogs and bread in our backpacks.  Aside from an extra jacket each, we didn’t bring much.

There were no houses, no roads — it was totally green with pine trees and wild flowering shrubs.

Today, a friend, Ric Maniquis, showed me a picture of Carabao Mountain.  He had taken it, apparently, from an armed forces  helicopter, along with countless other airborne shots of Baguio as it is today.

Goodbye Carabao Mountain. It seems like squatters' shanties now grow on the mountainside, instead of pine trees and flowering shrubs.

See the mountain rising in the background? That’s Carabao Mountain, now covered with shanties and hovels.

My thanks to Ric Maniquis for this “after” picture.

***

Back to SHARE…

The first project, like I said earlier, was the reforestation of a part of Mt. Santo Tomas — the side that faced the city.

We outfitted each participant with a red sweatshirt with the SHARE logo printed on the front — sweatshirts courtesy of  several department stores in the city.  We loaded 10,000 pine tree seedlings onto dump trucks, seedlings courtesy of the Bureau of Plant Industry and trucks courtesy of the Baguio City Mayor. We packed medical supplies, first aid kits, and K-rations courtesy of the Base Commander of John Hay Air Force Base.  We piled into jeepneys for the trips to and from the mountain, courtesy of the Baguio Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association.  We brought cases of Coke, courtesy of the Coca-Cola plant in La Union.  And each day, a team of participants made the trip to the city to buy fresh food from the public market to cook for our meals (oftentimes, shop owners donated the food and didn’t let us pay for it).  There were no cell phones then, so we depended on two-way radios lent to us by John Hay, and we maintained contact with the city through the base’s communications center and the city’s police department radios.

We began each morning with a group prayer — we weren’t even politically-correct enough to ask the religion of each participant.  And nobody cared.  We just prayed together.

We ended each night with a group bonfire after dinner, shivering in the cold mountain air, almost always wrapped in blankets to keep our body warmth in as we joked and told stories and shared our lives with each other, until the last participant drifted away into his or her classroom to sleep.

It was a simpler time then.  The world was right, and we were in tune with it.

By the end of the week, we had replanted all 10,000 seedlings and we all felt a rush of accomplishment and pride.  We came home tired but happy, met at the fire station in Burnham Park by the parents of the 250 or so young men and women who had just given seven days of their lives to the concept of doing good — of leaving a legacy.

I don’t know if any of those trees are still standing.  But I know that for the next few years, I would look at the Santo Tomas mountainside and see a swatch of green where the dry brown earth once showed.

***

I was done for that summer.  I said goodbye and thank you to all the parents, donors, and contributors of the project.  Mang Nars and I went back to our coffee klatch in Session Cafe.

Or so I thought…

Less than a week later, I was receiving phone calls from parents, from SHARE members, from the Baguio City Midland Courier, from the Commanding Officer of Camp John Hay.  ”Congratulations,” they said. And, most heartwarmingly, “When’s the next project?”

A year later, by City Council resolution and invitation of the Mayor, I was named Council Member for Youth Affairs.

Naghanap ako sa iba’t-ibang media stores sa SM ng mga pelikulang pwde ko sanang mai-regalo sa mga ka-kolektib kong may kaarawan. Inisip ko na dahil outdated na ang mga VCD, mas maraming mabibili na relatibong mas mura kahit original pa ang mga ito. Tama nga naman ako, dahil sale na ang mga VCD sa kahit na anong tindahang tinignan ko kanina. Ang iba, 65php kada piraso, ang isa naman may 155php promo na buy one, take one. Simisirkulo na lang sa kulang-kulang 65php hanggang 250php ang mga VCD.

Ang problema lang, puro mga dayuhang pelikula ang nananaig at ibinebentang mumurahin na may variety para pagpipilian sa mga tindahan; ang mga lokal na pelikula, nanatiling mahal at kakaunti.

Mahal dahil patuloy ang pakikipag-kumpitensya sa talong lagay ng lokal na industriya laban sa mga dayuhang pelikula na pumapasok sa mumurahing halaga sa bansa. Mahal dahil masyadong malaki ang cost of production o halaga ng paggawa ng isang pelikula, kaya naman ang mga nagha-haring prodyuser ang namamayani sa industriya–kahit panay mga basura at walang laman ang mga istoryang ipinapalabas.

Kaya naman mula rito, hinding-hindi maikakaila ang presensya ng tunggalian sa uri, maging sa industriya ng pelikula. Dahil kung iisipin ngang mabuti, ang sining ang siyang primaryang repleksyon ng pagkakaroon ng tinatawag nating naghaharing-uri at napagsasamantalahang uri. pagka’t sa sining, arte at kultura hayagang mababakas ang siyang paghahari ng burgesyang populasyon sa isang bansa.

Dahil sa malabong kumpetisyon sa pagitan ng dayuhan at nagha-haring lokal laban sa mga indipendyenteng lokal na prodyuser, naiiwang hindi maka-masa ang halaga at nilalaman ng mga kwento ng pelikula. Ang masama pa nito lalo, mayor ng mga may kakayahang manuod o bumili ng mga pelikula ay pawang hindi nasusuri ang pinanonood, kaya ganoon na lamang kadali mag-penetrate ang kulturang burgesya at kolonyal sa bansa natin.

Nung nagsosort-out ako ng mga VCD sa lokal na bahagi ng mga tindahan, karamihan sa nakita kong paksa ng mga ito, e, tungkol sa pag-iibigan. Nandyan ang drama, komedi, aksyon at syempre, ang hinding-hindi mawawala sa isang bastos na kultura, e, iyong bomba films.

Napag-isip kong kaya lang naman sex ang primaryang laganap sa mga pelikula dahil ito ang mabenta, patok, talo-talo, kailan ma’y di nalalaos, for all seasons kamo. Ngunit bakit?

Sa personal na aspeto, wala naman akong ikinaiinis tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng sensual o iyong mga erotica na palabas. Pero hindi ba’t isa na naman ito sa repleksyon ng maka-dayuhang kultura na madalas ibandera ang kababaihan bilang mga sex objects? Hindi masama ang makipag-talik oo, dahil isang natural at normal itong gawain ng tao. Hindi ko rin naman sinasabi na masama ang ihayag mo ang iyong sekswalidad, dahil sabi nga nila, sex is the art of self expression, at naniniwala ako roon. Ngunit ang kawalan ng pagpapahalaga sa sekswalidad ng kababaihan at kalalakihan ay ibang bagay na–na siya naman talagang laganap sa pelikulang industriya. Naniniwala rin naman akong maaring para sa larangan ng arte ang pagturing ng ilang artista (knug maituturing nga lang talaga silang artista) sa kung ano nga bang ipinapalabas nila–kung. Ngunit para ituring ang “to love and to have sex” bilang isang commodity o kalakal sa industriyang pelikula ay pawang kabastusan na lamang ito’t hindi kailan ma’y maaring ituring na sining.

Ano nga bang sinasalamin ng pag-ibig na pinahahalagahan ng lipunan natin? Hindi ba’t iyong pag-iibigang inihihiwalay ang sarili sa iba, makasariling pag-iibigan ng dalawang magkasintahan, na mala-You and Me against the world? Pag-iibigan na sinasabing nirerespeto ang isa’t-isa, pero hindi nasusuri ang kahalagahan ng pagrespeto sa katawan ng bawat isa, dahil ang pag-iibigang sikat sa lipunan natin sa kasalukuyan, e, iyong liberal, indibidwalistiko at bastos. Kaya ang laganap sa mga pamilihan ngayon, sa media, sa mga libro, pelikula, sa kulturang umiiral, e, panay patungkol sa pakikipag-make-love at bulag na pagkakamuhaling sa isang tao na kaya mong i-give-up ang lahat para sa minamahal.

Puro mga dayuhang pelikula ang natipuhan kong bilhin, iniisip ko na lang na sobrang swerte ng mga dayuhan at nae-exhaust nila ang lahat ng insentibong maaring makuha ng isang first-world na bansa. Hindi man talaga maging maganda nag cinematography, kwento at pag-arte na ipinalabas sa sa isang pelikula, yayakapin iyan ng madla, pagka’t mga blonde, payat, matangkad, mestiso’t mayayaman ang mga itsura ng mga artista. Hindi man talaga maintindihan ng madla ang istorya, sige pa rin ang bili. Hindi man konektado sa kalagayan nila sa buhay, o puros pagpapa-asa na lamang ang ipinapangako, bibili pa rin. Bakit? Dahil ‘yan ang dikta ng lipunan. Dikta ng ekonomiyang kontrol ng mga naghaharing-uri sa masa.

At bilang sanggang-dikit ng reaksyunaryong lipunan ng Pilipinas ang mga naghaharing-uri ng dayuhan, mga chepanggas na counterpart ang laganap naman sa mga lokal na pelikula. Mga novel daw at maka-masa. Pero kung tutuusin, mga converse lang ng mga dayuhang pelikula ito sa bansa natin, na mas cheap at korni ang kinalabasan dahil basically, 3rd world na bansa ang gumawa.

Maging ang mga break-through na pelikulang independyente, e, wala pa rin sa mga pamilihan. Nakakalungkot lamang iyon, hindi dahil pangit at walang kwenta ang mga pelikula kaya wala sila sa mga tindahan, kung hindi dahil gipit at hindi nila gaanong makakaya ang magproduce ng malakihan at bulto-bulto para ibenta sa mga tindahan.

———
Ganito, ganito ka-kumplikado ang utak ko sa Odyssey at Radio City.

Nakakainis lang, na sa tagal kong naghintay at nagtimpi sa paghahanap, kahit pa relatibong maganda ang ibang mga nakita ko, hindi rin ako nakabili. Maaring dahil na rin sa naging maarte ako’t maselan sa pag-pili. Pero hindi rin. Dahil ang naiwang dahilan lang naman sa akin, e, kukulangin na ang pera ko.

Hay, ang hirap talagang maging mahirap, hindi ba.

Celia and Angie doing pre-check-up evaluations

Busy at the Pharmacy

November 10, we did Phase III of our CARTS police cadet ministry. The police cadets were involved in landslide work and body recovery in response to Typhoon Pepeng.

Phase I.  Provided supplies and vitamins to help cadets in their landslide work.

Phase II.  Provided crisis intervention with cadets, and crisis care training.

Phase III. Held mini-medical with cadets. Many suffer from coughs as a result of the long hours of work at the landslides and breathing in the dirt and dust there.  We were able to treat 173 cadets… giving medicines and vitamins for them.

Once again we thank Col. Paredo and Major Benitez, particularly, for their concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of the students under their care at the Police National Training Center at CARTS.

We also thank Dr. Colomma and the numerous nurses and other volunteers who helped make all of this come together.

Baguio...gateway to the Banaue rice terraces.

Baguio was then the gateway to Banaue and its well-known rice terraces.  These were plots carved out of the mountainsides where the Igorots of old would plant rice.  There was no irrigation, just the normal rainfall.  There was no cement or concrete, just rocks and mud.  And yet the terraces spanned miles and miles of mountainside.  This was the engineering genius of the mountain people at work. At that time, there was only one bus company that served the rugged land.  Dangwa Tranco buses parked in their terminal close to the public market.  To get to the inner mountains, there were no tourist buses.  It was not uncommon to see adventurous white youth traveling in groups to see the mountainsides. Banaue and Sagada were a journey then, a trip to the past, into a world filled with stories of anitos and headhunters.  Barely any “lowlander” visited these mountain villages, which dotted the upper reaches of the unexplored-by-tourists world of the Cordillera mountains.

I loved Baguio in June.  The smell of the coming rainy season lingered in the air.  The change of season was generally marked by the June 12 holiday, when the independence day parade would be held.  Parade participants marched down Session Road, then moved to Burnham Park.

The PMA cadets.

The Philippine Military Academy cadets were always the highlight, at least for me.  There, they would continue their “performance” by showing off their drill skills using their rifles, twirling and spinning them to a silent count in their heads.  No words, no commands, no drums — just the swish of rifles twirling, rifle butts hitting the ground.

That was also the time of year we would begin to buy and store firewood — pinewood that smelled so intensely incense-like when burned in a fireplace.  A smell of the mountainside, and the feeling of warmth and security would waft through the house.  I could sit there for hours, staring at the flames, imagining how clean the world would be after the rains, and after the last log had been burned for the year.  Fire and water — two opposite elements that cleansed the world for me.

TO BE CONTINUED

* Lot area – 1050 square meters

* 2-storey house

* Fully furnished

* 11 bedrooms

* 8 toilets and baths

* Flat terrain

* Expansive lawn

* Picturesque, breath-taking and overlooking view

* Located on a quiet and peaceful community with lots of pine trees

* First class location in Baguio

* Near the Presidential Mansion

* a drive away from Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay

* P20M

* Interested? Leave a comment or Call/Text Lisa @ 09209107493

T

he official list of Professional Electronics Engineer Exams passers was released Friday by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), announcing 16 new Professional Electronics Engineers, namely:

1. BENGCO, EDISON MENDOZA
2. CABATAY, JOSEPH TOREJA
3. CABUNIAG, EDGARDO ORTIZ
4. CADUNGOG, JAMES GAGA
5. CANONIGO, EMERSON JR BACUS
6. LIM, ISAGANI SAN PASCUAL
7. MAGTAJAS, JONAH ARANDELA
8. MORAL, MAUREEN RAMOS
9. MUYALDE, CRISTOBAL ABEDES
10. NAVARRO, VICTOR CHANCO
11. QUEDDENG, GODFREY QUESEA
12. QUERO, ABELARDO JR RICO
13. REYES, YOLANDO MENDOZA
14. SOLIJON, RONIE ASUPRE
15. STA MARIA, EDWIN ATANACIO
16. VERA CRUZ, LUDGERIO JR URBANO

The commission also said 1,131 out of 4,322 hopefuls passed the Electronics Engineer Licensure tests given in the cities of Manila, Cebu and Baguio in October.

Here are the names of the top 10 successful examinees:

1. Rizaldo Blanco Fuentes - Cebu Institute of Technology, 91.10 percent;
2. Danny Raquel Supnet - University of the East – Caloocan, 90.50;
3. Jared Go Noynay - University of Cebu in Lapulapu and Mandaue, 90.40;
4. Teosseth Alto Altar - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 89.80;
5. Leo Angelo Arejola Rull - Ateneo de Naga niversity, 88.30;
6. Mark Sible Cayubit - Rizal Technological University, 88.10.
7. Charlie Nino Pandialan Pasahol - De La Salle University, Lipa, 88.10;
8. Jan Claudio Miranda Javier - University of Santo Tomas, 87.70;
9. Julius Jr. Vibo Olandria – Mindanao State University – General Santos City, 87.20;
10. Joebert Baccay Basco – Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Main, Santa Mesa Manila, 87.10.

The oath-taking ceremony of the successful examinees as well as the previous ones who have not taken their oath will be held on December 10, 9 a.m. at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia complex in Pasay City. In Cebu City, the ceremony will be held on December 6 while the date and venue will be announced later for Davao City.

The PRC said registration for membership with the Institute of Electronics and Communications Engineers of the Philippines will start on November 9, 2009.

For the complete list of passers, please click the link below:

http://pinoygroundzero.blogspot.com/2009/11/prc-releases-list-of-professional.html

See my collection of “my wandering feet” that somewhat chronicle my travel and adventure. It started in Macau last August. Here are the samples:

at the venetian hotel

the venetian casino

on top of macau tower

in HK train after been denied entry at shenzhen

at HongKong

at fontana clark

at baguio (store site visit)

at tumana marikina (relief operation)

I started out my life in Baguio quite depressed.  After all, I had been uprooted from Ateneo — my friends were my comfort zone — and implanted in an all-new world in the middle of high school.

We first lived in a place called Sanitary Camp, which was on the way to Trinidad Valley.  I went to high school at St. Louis University.

The fog in Baguio brings back memories...

My fondest memories of Baguio are the cold weather and the fog.  In the months of October through January, fog enveloped the city every morning.  Every night was its own excuse for a roaring fire in the fireplace.  It was heartwarming, despite the chilly weather that accompanied it.  To me, it seemed to blur reality without erasing it.  It lifted truth to the ephemeral….  These are what memories are made of, the true and the ephemeral.

Baguio Cathedral overlooked the hub of the city.

I will always remember Session Road — then the center of Baguio life.  The kilometer-long road began at the plaza and crested at the Baguio City Post Office.  (There was no SM yet, so from the circle that marked the end of Session Road, you knew — but couldn’t see — Pines Hotel was a little ways up and the Baguio Cathedral was to your left.

I can still remember practically every establishment along Session Road then.  First was the Post Office.  Across from the Post Office was Piltel, the city’s telephone company.  Did you know that telephone numbers at that time consisted of just four digits?  And that the surest way to make a long-distance call was to go to the Post Office and make it from one of the four long distance phone booths they had?

Then there was Patria de Baguio, home to many teachers of St. Louis as well as boarding house during the school year.  In the summer, they rented out the rooms to vacationers.

Right next to Patria was D&S Fine Foods, the first true supermarket in Baguio, though it was not that large.  I remember salivating over the car of the owner’s son, a blue 1966 Pontiac GTO with a white roof and a 3-speed stick shift.

The old Mario's on Session Road.

Across Session Road in front of Patria was Mario’s, which specialized in pizza, spaghetti, and everything Italian.  It was owned by the Benitez family — Mario and Nenuca and kids.

On that same side of Session Road was the Telefast office where people went to send telegrams.  (There was no Internet then, no email, no chat.)

Adobong mani from Skyview (served hot and salty) are still, to me, the best-tasting peanuts in the world!

Further down was Skyview which served a wide menu but seemed to focus on San Miguel Beer and peanuts.  Yes!  Their peanuts were to die for.  Always hot and fresh, perfectly salted, flavored with fried garlic that they left among the peanuts.  I haven’t found peanuts so flavorful and so tasty ever since then.

Skyview’s next-door neightbor was Session Theater, one of the only two first-run movie theaters at that time.  Next to Skyview was the Magnolia store.

I will always remember hanging out with friends at the Magnolia ice cream shop, especially when it was raining.  It was cold outside, the rain pouring down incessantly, and sometimes the wind whipped up into a frenzy that blew everything in sight out of whack.  When it seemed that the rain was peaking, we would order our ice cream cones and as the rain waned, we would walk in the shower eating ice cream in the cold.  That was fun.

Baguio longganisas are always fresh, never frozen, and come in many different "flavors."

The public market was a favorite place.  Aside from the fact that we had friends who hung out there while tending their family’s store, there was so much to see and enjoy.  Baguio longganisa comes in many “flavors” — sweet, sweet and hot, hot, and many more.

Vegetables are always fresh, and flowers seem like they’re still blooming in the pails in which they are displayed.

But Baguio holds much more in my heart for the simplicity with which people lived their lives then.  It was rare to find someone with “airs,” and certainly the younger generation treated everyone else equally.  Children of doctors and contractors and lawyers and bankers walked Session Road with children of miners, and teachers, and market vendors.  ”Class” was not an issue — in fact, it didn’t even show.

Whether you had a car or not didn’t matter; neither did your address, or the size of your home, or the occupation of your parents.

Baguio was a beautiful city then — a beautiful city with truly beautiful people.

Baguio City is also home to the Philippine Military Academy.  Here, carefully selected cadets train to be the future officers of the country’s armed forces.  PMA is a tourist spot in itself.

TO BE CONTINUED

I’ve been to Baguio lots of times already. And every time I go there, there’s always a new place to go to. Or new food to try.

My friends and I always stay at Bloomfield Hotel. It’s clean, affordable and has free Wi-Fi access in all rooms. It’s near SM Baguio and Session Road.

For only 1,780 pesos (38 USD) you can get a room good for two with all the basic amenities. You only have to add 230 pesos (5 USD) if you want to have breakfast there.

Bloomfield Hotel

No. 3 Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City, 2600 Philippines
(6374) 446-9112 to 15 / (0917) 510-0044
info@bloomfieldhotel.com

PLACES TO GO TO:

• Burnham Park
• Baguio Cathedral
• Camp John Hay
• The Mansion (which I do not recommend)
• Wright Park
• Mines View Park
• Baguio Botanical Garden
• PMA (Philippine Military Academy)
• Strawberry Farm
• Lourdes Grotto
• Bell Church
• Tam-Awan Village
• Asin Hot Springs
• Woodcarver’s Village
• Easter Weaving Room
• Balatoc Mines and Crosby Park

The ones in red are the places I haven’t been to yet. I’m very interested to go to the last 5 locations. Especially the Balatoc Mines. They say visitors get to ride in an underground train. I’d like to get a feel of how it’s like to be a miner for a day. Hopefully by December, my friends and I would be able to go to some of these places. And hopefully, Baguio has recovered by then from the destruction brought by typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana).

WHERE TO EAT:

• Sizzling Plate Baguio – located along Session Road. All meals are served with rice, veggies and soup. Steaks cost around 120 to 180 pesos (around 3 to 4 USD) except for the Angus Beef which costs more. A must-try there is the Sans Rival which a lot of people are raving about. Oh and it only costs around 25 pesos (or .53USD).

• Choco-late de Batirol – located inside Camp John Hay. I love their hot chocolate. My favorite is the Traditional Blend which only costs 70 pesos (1.50 USD). I’ve also tried the Cinnamon and the Almond blends. I haven’t tried the Baguio blend though. It’s strawberry-flavored. I love strawberries but I’m not sure I’m going to like that fruity flavor in my hot choco. If you don’t like it hot, they also offer cold versions of their Choco-late. The price ranges from 70-115 pesos (1.50-2.50 USD). If you want to eat, they also serve different types of Filipino food and meriendas.

• Cafe by the Ruins – is located at Chuntug street near the city hall and Rizal Park. It’s a cafe and an art space as well. Many exhibits and art performances are held here. The food is great! It’s a bit pricey (around 180-400 pesos or 4-8.50 USD) but it’s worth it! Their menu changes from time to time depending on what’s in season. My friends and I tried the Pinikpikan which is their specialty (see picture below). I have to admit, I didn’t like it as much as some of my friends did but at least now I know what it is and what it tastes like (LOL). I would come back here to try new dishes.

• Forest House – is located along Loakan road. What I love most about this place is the bottomless coffee which only costs 50 pesos (less than 1USD). Yes. Bottomless brewed coffee. For coffee lovers, this is enough reason to go to this place. The food is expensive though (around 80-650 pesos or 2-14 USD) but it’s soooo good! I ordered the pumpkin soup (85 pesos or 2 USD) and the Spicy Tuna Linguine (225 pesos or 5 USD). I highly recommend both. It took me a long time to finish my food though. The waiter told us that the serving is good for one person. While I was eating, I realized it was actually good for two. Good thing my friends helped me finish it. But if you have a large appetite, you’d be able to finish the pasta by yourself. I had two mugs of coffee after that (LOL). I was soooo full!

I can’t wait to go back to Baguio!

I took these pics the day after Parma hit Baguio city. It was beautiful – the beauty after the storm. I love going to nature parks – looking at flowers, trees and just enjoying all those positive earth vibes!

(text and photos by: Gypsygal Prime)

This trip to Baguio isn’t an ordinary trip, a one-and-a-half work-related day  visit.  Busy as a bee, I wasn’t able to make the “usual” tour in and around the city, in fact, most of it are like 30-minute stops.  With that, everywhere I shoot!  While walking, while on a passenger seat, or whenever I have this precious chance of locking the lens into a subject.

Baguio will always be my perfect away-from-Manila destination, and I will definitely come back so I can shoot some more!

* Lot area – 1000 square meters

* 2-storey house

* 9 bedrooms

* 9 toilets and baths

* Flat terrain

* Expansive lawn

* Located on a quiet and peaceful community with lots of pine trees

* First class location in Baguio

* a walk away from Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay

* P26M

* Interested? Leave a comment or Call/Text Lisa @ 09209107493

* Lot area – 2050 square meters

* Flat terrain

* Expansive lawn

* Located on a quiet and peaceful community with lots of pine trees

* First class location in Baguio

* a walk away from Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay

* 2-storey house

* 7 bedrooms

* 7 toilets and baths

* Separate unit for Driver and garage

* P28M

* Interested? Leave a comment or Call/Text Lisa @ 09209107493

The word “resiliency”, second only to the term”recession” is perhaps the most used (and abused?) word that we use in writing business stories. I’m guilty of that. Whenever I write a story quoting officials declaring – for the thousandth time – that the Philippine economy is “resilient” that it can continue the grow despite the “global recession” thanks to remittances (oh yeah, I forgot, I also use the word “remittance” – a lot! I, after all, live in a country where going abroad to earn a living is a way of life, ) But it was in my recent vist (and being stranded) in Baguio that I actually learned what “resiliency” means.

I was thinking about “resiliency” while having drinks with some journo-friends in Rumors – that famed watering hole in session road which Lisa compares to Cheers – the bar where everyone knows your name. That was the day after Parma slammed into northern Luzon, leaving Baguio city temporartily isolated as the rains caused landslides (damaging the main roads like Marcos Highway, and Nagulian that connect this mountain city resort to Manila). The electricity, which was cut off the day before, was restored (so no drinking in the dark for us). But a lot of people died while others are living in evacuation centers, displaced by the landslides. What surprtised me, however, was that Rumors, was jampacked, people were chatting and drinking as if nothing happened. I was like thinking-what are these people doing? Partying amid misery? But as my journo friends explained to me – this is not because the Baguio residents are so callous or just don’t care whatever happened tp the victims. It’s more because in many ways, Baguio city residents are true-blue survivors. Life goes on after a major disaster and residents know to stay ahead despite such setback.

Parma, after all, is not the first calamity to befall the city. The 1990 killer earthquake killed thousands and isolated the city for months. The city recovered in the end, and its residents managed to at least rebuild their lives and homes destroyed by the earthquake. The city, meanwhile, continues to draw domestic and international tourists, enamored by its cool weather and bohemian vibe.

****

It’s also important to realize that Parma didn’t just affect Baguio. Communities in the nearby towns of Benguet and other provinces in northern Luzo lost their homes, property, families and livelihood.. So if you want to help, here are some organizations that you may vwish to contact: If you are in Baguio city, you mat head to Cafe By The Ruins at Chuntug st, near the city hall. The cafe accepts donations in cash and kind (blankets, rice, beans and vegetables). The cafe has a soup kitchen which prepares food for evacuees. You may get intouch through

http://cafebytheruins.multiply.com

2. You may also go to the Cordillera Peoples Alliance

55 Ferguson Road Baguio City 2600 Philippines pic@cpaphils.org www.cpaphils.org Tel. No. 63-74-304-4239 Fax No. 63-74-443-7159

3. You can donate via paypal at http://www.redcross.org.ph/

Drop a comment on this blog post and let me know your plans for the long weekend this November.

Only entries/comments submitted by October 31 (SUN) 9.00 pm are included in the raffle.

Couchwasabi will randomly pick ONE (1) lucky winner who is willing to meet in Makati on a weekday to get this 50% coupon. Winner will be notified on October 31 (SUN) 11.00 pm via email.

Coupons is valid until Nov 30, 2009. Accepted in all Microtel Inn (Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, Cabanatuan, Cavite, Davao, Cebu, and Tarlac).

Terms and Conditions of Coupon:

• Discount is based on published rates and is applicable to one (1) room per stay.
• This coupon is valid in any of the Microtel properties in the Philippines.
• Hotel reservations are subject to availability and must be made in advance.
• This is not valid during peak periods.
• This must be surrendered upon check-in.
• A maximum of two (2) adults are allowed in a room.
• This is not convertible to cash and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promo rates/packages.
• This is not replaceable if lost or stolen.

Shall be changing

this up a little bit.