Baguio City, an American town nestled in the Cordilleran region of the Philippines, is a unique hill station in the North, waiting to be explored.
The "Little America," also known as the City of Pines, attracts tourists from all over the country and foreigners who want to explore the rich culture and heritage of this highly urbanized City in the Cordillera region, which literally means a mountainous area.
However, the 'American town' label is a relic of the past. It was bestowed during the American colonization of the Philippines in the 1900s.
Baguio is one of the most incredible hill stations in the Philippines. It is good that the Americans have developed this place as their mountain resort to escape the lowland heat, especially during the summer.
And why do Filipinos love Baguio City? Undoubtedly, its higher elevation provides a cool climate almost all year round. When summertime comes, more people pack up for an adventure. It's not just during the summer season. Still, it has become a weekend getaway for people from the nearby provinces and Metro Manila, the National capital region.
In the present day, Filipinos are in complete control of the former US military base, Camp John Hay. This was not after they gave back our independence in 1946, but it was just a not-so-distant past in 1991—almost three decades ago.
That's just a little piece of history. Yes, the Igorots of the Cordilleras have a colorful and vibrant culture, which even Americans could not change or take away their identity.
Having lived and worked in Baguio City in the summer of 2015, I witnessed its natural wonders. However, this paradise is now under threat from commercialization, the foremost adversary of environmental preservation.
Housing projects, malls, and big infrastructure projects are on the rise, and it costs thousands of century-old pine trees to be cut down to make way for these projects.
Baguio City is now crowded, and you can see the hillside full of houses and even faraway mountains almost full of places. That was not what I witnessed when I first visited Baguio in 2004.
Development on this mountain resort was so fast, taking place in just a decade, and developers are eager to exploit more and make the City miserable.
The development would have made Baguio a highly livable Philippine city, but overdevelopment for business profit will slowly kill its natural charm and beauty. The once serene and picturesque landscapes are now marred by concrete structures and the loss of century-old pine trees, a stark reminder of the cost of unchecked urbanization.
One thing I admire most about Igorots (the local name for the Cordilleran people) is their hospitality and friendliness. They are also kind and honest people. I hope that they will be able to preserve its rich culture and pass it on to the next generations. Their resilience and determination in fighting for their land, despite the challenges posed by overdevelopment, is a testament to their love for their home.
Burnham Park, Wright Park, Bell House, Kennon Road, and Brent School are places of interest named after Americans who have contributed significantly to Baguio City's development.
So, Americans showed us how to build a highly master-planned city on a mountaintop. Initially, they made it for less than 30,000 people, but after over a century, the population has become ten times larger, at more than 300,000.
The highlands of Baguio are genuinely captivating to tourists. Their history and culture, steeped in the traditions of the Igorots and the influence of American colonization, are the souls of the place and the local people. The fusion of these elements creates a unique cultural tapestry that is a must-see for any visitor.
After the Pandemic, more people will again be stuck in a traffic jam on its zig-zag road and all the way up just to feel its mountain breeze again and the warmth of the Igorot people.
In the Highlands of Benguet Province, Philippines, Baguio City is a cultural gem and a hub of great people deserving of recognition and reverence.
Baguio City is home to charming people.
© 2020 Del Cusay
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