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.

Happy Holidays, Class 61 and Friends!

Presidential Elections 2010

If at all, how do you expect the 2010 elections to be different from past RP elections?
(philstar.com) Updated December 21, 2009 12:00 AM

Louella Brown, Baguio City: I expect the 2010 elections to be different from the past RP elections, because it will not be a choice of the lesser evil. We have a choice of the good.

Who is Dean Conant Worcester? ( Part II)

Chapter XVII of Dean Worcester’s book The Philippines: Past and Present is titled ”Baguio and the Benguet Road.“ The chapter is an account of Mr. Worcester's travel to Mountain Province. He learnt about the highlands of Northern Luzon from a Spaniard in the forestry bureau, Señor Domingo Sanchez, who described it as a region of pines and oaks blessed with a perpetually temperate climate and even with occasional frosts. As a scientist, Mr Worcester knew that the mere presence of pine and oak trees would mean the occurrence of special bird species feeding upon their seeds, and so determined to investigate. Spanish engineers had previously completed a survey for a carriage road, with estimates of the amount and cost of the necessary excavation and other work.

In July 1900 he sailed from Manila on a naval vessel for San Fernando then by road as far as Naguilian, and on horseback to Trinidad and Baguio. It was reported that negro soldiers were stationed at Trinidad and were being kept supplied by an army pack train and that they could not keep warm, calling for all the spare blankets available.

The trail proved to be in execrable condition. No repair work had been done on it since 1896, and its constant use during the then-existing rainy season by a pack train had completed its destruction. Much of the way it was a mere V in the earth, with deep mud at the bottom.

The party stopped for lunch at a little place properly called Sablán, but unofficially known as "The Bells." Aguinaldo had thought at one time of establishing his headquarters in Benguet and had planned to have a gun foundry at Sablán. His troops accordingly stole most of the church bells in the neighboring lowland towns, meaning to use them for gun metal, and compelled the unfortunate Benguet Igorots to carry them up the steep trail. Boiler pipes, which had been used in lieu of carrying poles, had in several instances been badly bent out of shape. There was even an old vertical boiler which had been lugged up entire for some unknown reason.

The labor involved must have been enormous. When the Igorot bearers, prostrated with fatigue, had refused to continue their titanic task without rest, they had been driven to it at the muzzles of Insurgent rifles, and that some of them had been shot as a lesson to the others. At all events, the boiler and the bells were there, and there the boiler and the larger bells have remained ever since!

It was still steaming hot at Sablán, and the whole countryside was buried in the densest tropical vegetation but they were literally dumfounded when within the space of a hundred yards they suddenly left the tropics behind and came out into a wonderful region of pine parks. Trees stood on the rounded knolls at comparatively wide intervals, and there were scores of places where, in order to have a beautiful house lot, one needed only to construct driveways and go to work with a lawn-mower. At the same moment, a delightful cold breeze swept down from the heights.

Just at sunset they experienced a second surprise, coming out on the knife-sharp crest of a ridge, the Trinidad Valley, which is shaped like a huge wash-basin. Its floor was vividly green with growing rice, Igorot houses were dotted here and there over its surface, and the whole peaceful, beautiful scene was illuminated by the rays of the setting sun. The air had been washed clean by the heavy rain which had poured down on us throughout the afternoon, and the sight was one never to be forgotten.

Just at dusk the party reached the little settlement of Trinidad, which had been the capital of the Spanish comandancia of Benguet, finding that its inhabitants were in part Ilocanos and in part Igorots.

On their arrival at Trinidad they received a letter from Mr. Otto Scheerer, the one white resident of Benguet, inviting the party to make their headquarters at his house, a distance of four miles over a pony trail. The country was gently rolling, its elevation ranging from forty-five hundred to fifty-two hundred feet. The hills were covered with short, thick grass, and with magnificent pine trees, which for the most part grew at considerable distance from each other, while along the streams there were wonderful tree ferns and luxuriant tangles of beautiful tropical vegetation. It took but a short time to decide that here was an ideal site for a future city, if water could be found in sufficient quantity.
(to be continued)
Photo: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fayfamily/dean_worcester.html

BenCab Museum in Asin

Several years ago, Delma L. introduced me to Tam-awan, a complex of Igorot huts lovingly transported from their natural habitat, and has become a mecca for the artistically-minded tourist and the general population, to view what the habitation in the “interior” would look like. The browse through the artwork on display, all in a Pinsao setting that does promote a cleaner, gentler and greener Baguio, is a pleasant activity and has increased awareness of the Baguio art scene, with works of famous and upcoming artists. It was set up by BenCab, aka Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, a Manila-born graduate of Fine Arts from UP. He has adopted Baguio as his home and where he does his work in painting and printmaking.

The BenCab Foundation has established the BenCab Museum, a spacious four-storey art gallery which houses a number of paintings and sculptures. A main feature is the Cordillera-inspired artwork. The Museum opened on 23rd February 2009. The property on which it stands is on a farm with a stream running through from a waterfall. The South China Sea view is out there in the west. In the northeast are limestone rocks. A steep slope of 300 plus steps reveals modern rooftops of the museum. A hut from Kalinga was lovingly moved into the property, and equipped with modern living amenities, for visiting family members. The terraced plots are planted with Baguio greens, strawberries, coffee.

This is the link to the website: http://bencabmuseum.org/?page_id=17

Photographs of the museum are found in:

http://www.ironwulf.net/2009/12/05/baguio-art-and-nature-fuse-at-bencab-museum/

Another feature of the Museum is Café Sabel, run by the same staff and management of Café by the Ruins. Sabel is a model-inspiration from the streets of Manila: a woman scavenger which is repeatedly a motif used by the artist.This link gives some photographs of the offerings of the Café:

http://allanko.net/2009/11/16/desserts-and-more-at-cafe-sabel-bencab-museum-baguio/

BenCab Museum is on Asin Road, Km.6 way before the Hot Springs.

Stunning Photos of Beautiful Philippines

Bobby Wong Jr. of Makati put together a collection of his high resolution photographs in a blog, and can be found in http://postcardsfrommanila.com
Some of those places are absolutely so photogenic. He has a good eye for composition and colors. It is quite certain you will be swept away with the beauty of the places, all found in the Philippines. The "ordinary" rice fields in Pangasinan for instance are renewed into painting-like canvas. The view of Baguio lights from Alaminos is so unusual and a perspective I would never have imagined in a million years. But the above photo is my favorite in the series, located in Kiangan, titled "Forest or the Trees?". You will get a better feel for the photo if you click on the image to enlarge. And reach out for your switer because you will feel the draft of the fog on your skin!
Enjoy Bobby Wong's photos!