Idjay Session Road Tayo: Part 1

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The old, old Session Road: none of us were born yet when this photo was taken (ca. 1940?) . It was also before the Japanese and American bombs/ grenades/ guns fouled up the city big time, and with carpet bombing. I reckon the city proper population would have been about 5 - 8,000. (Does anyone know?) The Philippines was still under American rule.

Commerce largely catered to the mines people, government employees, the handful of schools, and the military. Chinese, Japanese and Indian businesses were starting to make their mark with dry goods, hardware, vehicle parts, restaurants. Harrison Road was a close competitor for the business establishments.

One can view the Old Stone Market at the bottom of the road. Camp Allen was dotted with just a few buildings in the foreground. Telephone numbers probably had only three digits. The vehicle population was not contributing much to the air pollution, as concluded from the number of cars on this "busy" road.

The late Fernando Bautista has a vivid account of the Japanese Occupation Session Road: during the difficult times after the air raids and resistance and retreat, he discovered his flair for buy-and-sell, and soon found squatting space across Pines Theater, six meters frontage and 20 meters breadth. With materials salvaged from elsewhere, he opened a store, and sublet a portion to Mr. Jose Cornel, who sold handicrafts and woven goods. The other portion also contained a barbershop, while the family with four young Bautista boys who slept in double deck beds. They attended Baguio Central, which was badly damaged, but classes were held in tents and chairs made out of of American K ration boxes.

Mr. Bautista learned how to do barber’s work but was finished off with the hired barbers, while the older boys would shine shoes of their American solider clients. One workday a customer, Mr. Rosendo Donida, was seated at one of the five barber chairs, and chatted with Mr. Bautista, about opening a school, the latter being a UP professor before the war. ‘Problem is, I said, I don’t have the capital. And the man says, No problem, I provide you the classrooms and you get the permit and you teach.’
(In: http://tatay.ubaguio.edu/?page_id=85)

And that was how Baguio Tech started. How many other Baguio successful ventures were incubated in Session Road? I just don’t know.

Do you have any recollections or stories to share, on Session Road as you knew it? Much obliged, if you could forward them for blogging. Thanks in advance.

Response to Guessing Game 11

After carefully considering the two entries to Guessing Game 11, namely Marlo's playhouse in Pacdal, and a futuristic guess of a Class 61 alumni hut, I regret to announce that both have been good tries, but totally wrong: it is the tree house at PMA! My sister and I, last May, went to visit an ailing aunt in Tuba, and later on we decided to see that property that my father had a township application for and where we as kids planted coffee seedlings from Mr. E. Ramos: right in front of the Fort del Pilar gate. The property is now filled up with plenty of housing.

We also decided to go into the Fort: the area still affirms the fact that there are still some pine tree groves exuding oxygen into the Baguio air. The picnic area contains several tables, and also this tree house: it is so photogenic and thus gave me the idea of sharing it with my dear classmates and try to guess what it is, where it is.

Who was Dean Conant Worcester? (Part III)

Third and last of the series

Rodney Sullivan writes in his book, Exemplar of Americanism (University of Michigan, 1991) that Worcester was an overachiever, a major architect of early American colonial policy, served longer and exerted more influence than any other Philippine Commissioner, introduced scientific practices in numerous government offices, participated ferociously in the colonial debates, encouraged the establishment of a hill station, at Baguio. He was also a highly opinionated, overbearing arrogant bully, detested by Philippine nationalists.

In many ways Worcester typified the American colonial mission. He was talented, pragmatic, tireless, unquestioning, and ruthless in the pursuit of what he considered right. Heralded for nearly two decades as America’s foremost expert on the Philippines, he was scathingly critical of Filipino society and its values, unable to comprehend the validity of a culture that did not conform to an American ideal. Described by more than one of his countrymen as an ‘exemplary’ of Americanism, a colonial statesman making ‘lasting contributions to mankind,’ from the Filipino perspective he represented merely the ‘immovable column’ of a ‘hypocritical foreign administration.’

Sullivan’s book was reviewed in 1992 by Miguel A Bernad, S.J., Editor of Kinaadman, A Journal of the Southern Philippines. Here are excerpts , sub-titled The Imperial Designer: “During the American Occupation from 1899 to 1913, probably the single most influential and most powerful American in the Philippines was Worcester. (As an American historian, Lewis Gleeck, calls him ‘the American official most detested by Filipinos.”) He also campaigned vigorously for the retention of the Philippines as a permanent American possession. “In his polemic Worcester was not above using a double standard of truth.

“But Worcester’s greatest influence was felt during the 13 years (1900-1913) as a member of the Second Philippine Commission that held both legislative and executive powers. He occupied the key post of Secretary of the Interior that gave him control over a very wide field, including public health, science, agriculture, natural resources, and non-Christian tribes. While justly critical of Worcester’s abrasive methods Sullivan does mention some of his solid and very important achievements.

He was responsible for the establishment of the Philippine General Hospital, and the Philippine (now the U.P.) school of medicine.

With the defeat of the Republicans in the 1912 elections, Worcester saw the probability of his being ousted from his very powerful position in the Philippine government. He submitted his resignation in June 1913 and became an employee of the American-Philippine Corporation organized to exploit Philippine resources. At the same time he launched a vigorous campaign against Philippine Independence. The objective of the campaign was to convince the American people that the Filipinos were not ready for independence.”

In the process he collected many admirers and many enemies. “To many Filipinos, on the other hand, Worcester was the exemplar of ‘Americanism’ in its ugliest and most objectionable features… The Worcester policy of course was American imperialism pure and simple, and Filipinos had a right to condemn it. On the other hand, in trying to implement that policy, Worcester did bring lasting benefits to the country.”

Baguio benefited. Baguio honored him by being named a Baguio Builder.

Some of Worcerster's published works are:

Villaverde, Juan Fernandez. 1909. The Ifugaos of Quiangan and Vicinity. Translated and edited by Dean C. Worcester. Philippine Journal of Sciences, vol. 4 (A), No.4:237-262
Head-hunters of northern Luzon. National Geographic Magazine 1912
Field sports among the wild men of Northern Luzon. National Geographic Magazine 1911
The non-Christian Peoples of the Philippine Islands. National Geographic Magazine 1913
The Philippine Islands and their people. Macmillan 1899
The Philippine Islands and Their People 1898
The Non-Christian Tribes of Northern Luzon 1906
The Philippines Past and Present two volumes, 1913
One Year of the New Era 1914
Field sports among the wild men of Northern Luzon 1911
Slavery and peonage in the Philippine Islands 1913

GUESSING GAME 11: WHAT/WHERE AM I?

Take a guess and choose only one, on what and where is this object:

A Art B's bedroom in The Lagoon with a view of Dagupan on a clear day

B Where Norma G-A practices her daily singing lessons in Silicon Valley

C Joselito C's penthouse/drum and bugle music club in Southern California

D Pedro B's wheat and maize and soyabean storage silo in the mid-West

E Gallery, where Emil A. keeps his Pacific art treasures in the Bay Area

F Extensive Law and Lawless Library of Atty Ray T. in Baguio

G Joe A's sentry and bird (what kind?) lookout point in Mount Pulag

H Delma L's Mediation and Soothing Music Room in City Camp

I Ludy B-A's Abs Gym, Foot and Hand Spa cum X-Ray Lab in Trancoville

J Louella M-B's Emergency Flooding Lookout at Carino St.

K Rudy L's squirrel-, raccoon-free pantry and book warehouse, Upper New York State

L Vic P's strawberry and everlasting harvest transport staging at his Pico Farm

M Eunice B-D's Sunday School Classroom for Teens on Magsaysay Avenue

N Gloria R-D's First and Last Aid and Counseling Station at Bokawkan Road

O Lito V's Headquarters and Office for Sister City Friendly Relations, California

P Nora C-B's Ticket Office for RT Oakland-Bauang no-frills, no-engine flights

Q Erlinda D-G's Free Clinic for Class61 Classmates and Their Families

R Salvacion F-G's Architectural Design Firm and Comics Collection Cubicle

S Franklin F's Big Apple Inspiration, Motivation and Creative Laboratory

T Charito P-P & Julia M's Joint Teacher Burnout and Stress Rehab Clinic

U Rosalia Q-N's Recovery Room and Birdhouse in LA

V Ed B's DVD, CD, HDTV, ABCD, XYZ Recording Digital Studio, California

W Maryann Z-F's Sanctuary for Canines and Humans, California

X Marlo P-A's grandchildren's playhouse and recreational headquarters,Pacdal

Y Amparo N P's Party and Rec Room

Z Evelyn D-B's balaybalay idiay iggid iti bantay, but the bantay is no longer there.

(Sorry a, ta naibusanak iti alphabet. Will probably continue next round with another set of classmates who are not mentioned here. Your contributions will be highly valued!)

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Balay ti Alumni - Progress Report and Updates

OOOOPS, wrong photo, same sentiment... Please see below, the Balay ti Alumni progress report and updates. Please email me if you wish further details about the gate, and some photos.

January 9, 2010

To: MPHS-BCHS-BCNHS ALUMNI

From: Arthur Saldivar-Sali ‘58

Chair, Balay ti Alumni Committee

Subject: PROGRESS REPORT - January 9, 2010

MPHS-BCHS-BCNHS BALAY TI ALUMNI

Dear Kailians,

A prosperous New Year to all!

To bring everyone up to speed on the ongoing construction of our Balay ti Alumni,we are pleased to send this report to the general alumni body.

Status of Construction

As we reported at the end of 2008, the major structural components of the building have been completed. At that time, the building had been properly secured and protected from the weather with the installation of the roof, walls and doors. Since then, however, very little has been done to make the building fully useable as construction slowed down. Not surprisingly, this coincided with the economic crisis that descended upon the globe in 2009, which also brought contributions from alumni to a trickle. Fortunately, at the time of work stoppage, the building could already be used (after a fashion) with its walls, 2 stairs, 2 restrooms, water supply and electricity installed. However, the outside and inside walls, floors, and stairs were still exposed raw concrete making it unsafe for regular use; it has no ceiling making it noisy in the

rain and hot in summer. Nonetheless, it has been used (such as it is) for some meetings of the Board and some batches.

By mid-2009, what remained to be done were the “finishing touches” (which, from experience, have a way of not being finished ) i.e., the floor tiles, wall panels, ceiling, stair railings, outside wall plastering, front décor, etc.

The Good News

Out of frustration at the seemingly desperate situation, we decided to go back to Philex Mining Corp (with hat-in-hand and a thicker skin [1] ) for succor. The good news is that the gambit worked. Dr. Walter Brown, president of Philex, apparently still believing in our cause, released another P500K for the Balay, in addition to their initial P1.5M in 2008.

With the new fund infusion, construction of the “finishing touches” was started focusing on the priority areas, namely: plastering (palitada) of the outside wall and the stairs; installation of stair railings, linings of the gutters, columns, decorative stone façade and rust proofing of roof rafters (Please see attached photos). All of these are designed to further aesthetically enhance the building, as well as make it

safer for eventual use.

Of course there are still several things left to do, which, unfortunately, due to high cost of materials, can not be covered by the new Philex fund, including the tiles for the 1st and 2nd floors, tiles for the stairs, the wood panel for the walls, the ceiling and the painting of the whole building.

The Not-So-Good News

This brings me to the problem brought before us by Dr. Donaal, the school

principal, which is really the main reason I am sending this report.

As those who have the seen the site are aware, the location given to us for the building necessitated the closing of the old exit gate of the campus. This was with the full knowledge of Dr. Donaal, as she was the one who gave the site. We assumed at that time that the replacement gate will be built by the school. In fact, we went as far as opening part of the campus front fence (Please see photo) in preparation for the school to build a gate. Lately, however, Dr. D. has been pressing the alumni to build the new gate as she does not think it’s the school’s responsibility. To be fair to her, there was really no black & white agreement as to who will replace the gate, the school or the alumni. The attached communications between DR. D. and myself will give you a better appreciation of the “issue”. The absence of an exit gate has indeed created horrible traffic problems inside the campus. Dr. D strongly requests that the gate be built before the graduation rites

and reunion next March.

In deference to Dr. D., the Balay Committee has decided to take on the

responsibility of finding a solution to the problem. First, we asked the help of the Alumni Board thru Pres. Ted Depaynos to help raise fund from the locally-based alumni batches. In response, he said he will try last November. Frankly and going by the lukewarm support that the Board and class batches have so far given to the project, it may be prudent not to rely wholly on their “trying”. Up to this date, we have not heard from the Board.

This uncertainty has prompted the Balay Committee to mobilize Plan B. At this late date, any fund raising scheme will not meet the end-March deadline of Dr. D.

Therefore, the only instant recourse I can think of is to go hat-in-hand and “kapalmuks” directly to you, individual alumnus, for outright cash contributions, again.

In truth, we feel bad imposing this burden so soon after all the recent splurging for the holidays. However, we hope that there is still something left to sungkit from your alkansya to help ease the traffic in our beloved campus and improve the safety of the students by building the exit gate.

As in the previous campaign, you can issue a cheque to :

MPHS-BCHS-BCNHS BALAY ALUMNI FUND

Or you can transmit bank-to-bank to our Balay ti Alumni account at:

Metrobank Rockwell Branch Makati:

PESO ACCOUNT:

AC Name: MPHS-BCNHS-BCHS Balay Alumni Fund

AC No. : 442-344207993-6

DOLLAR ACCOUNT:

AC Name : Same

AC No. : 442-244200451-4

Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

Our schedule is to hopefully raise funds in time to start constructing the gate this month for it to be ready by graduation and reunion time at end March.

For the alma mater,

__________________

Arthur Saldivar-Sali ‘58

Balay Committee Chair

Korea Athletic Bowl. Tickets payable in won only.

Sun Star Baguio Sports center development receives criticisms. Friday, January 8, 2010
BAGUIO City government defends a resolution on improving the Athletic Bowl sponsored by a Korean investor that receives criticisms from the public. The City Council approved Resolution 515, saying it is a mere proposal. Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said that nothing is final unless he issues a notice for the project to proceed. The development of the Athletic Bowl by an unidentified group of Korean investors is represented by a certain An Ho Yul. Critics said it would be disadvantageous to the City Government. "It is just a proposal," the mayor told the reporters in his weekly news briefing Friday even as he admitted he signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) without meeting the investors. He added that development would only ensue if it conforms to the design, which will be prepared by the College of Engineering and Architecture of the University of the Cordilleras (UC).

"Nothing has been perfected," the mayor said. He added that the public's rejection of the proposal is premature because as of this time, no work has been started yet. The mayor said his signing the MOA is to show the council of a proposal for the area's development. He said the law prohibiting 100 percent ownership of businesses in the country by foreigners has also to be considered. The mayor recalled that the "group of investors" represented by An Ho Yul came to his office and offered to develop the athletic arena at no cost to the city. At that time, the P125 million earmarked by the National Government for the improvement of Burnham Park has not been released. The mayor said he wanted the Athletic Bowl to be developed into a modern sports complex, so he offered it to the investor for improvement.

The opposition, however, might stop this plan, Bautista said. He said the rejection of the plan threatens the investors. He said there are other investors who want to develop several city-owned facilities but because of strict rules being implemented, many are backing off. "Be open minded. We are too uptight," the mayor said. Conditions in the MOA states that the City Government as the first party will lease out the Athletic Bowl to the investor or the second party at a monthly rent of P100,000 for the first five years. For the next five years, lease will increase to P10,000 until its 25th year where the facility will be leased for P140,000. Aside from the monthly rent, the MOA stipulates for the investor to refurbish and rehabilitate the Athletic Bowl specifically the track and field, which would fit international standards. Bleachers will also be rehabilitated. Once rehabilitated, bleachers should be able to accommodate not less than 20,000 viewers. The sports center and indoor games facility function rooms will also have to be constructed in a three-storey building. A separate four-storey building is also required from the investor. The building will be used as an accommodation facility for guests and athletes. A driving range with golfing equipment and other related facilities also has to be provided by the investor.