CITY OF BAGUIO, Historical Data Part I

1. Souvenir Program - ECAFE Conference
2. Camp John Hay Souvenir Program - 1947
3. Telephone Director
4. Who's Who - 1951 - Ayson & Gutierrez
5. Camp John Hay Tourist Guide
6. Weather Bureau Charts
7. Newspaper Clippings
8. The Charter of the City of Baguio - Compiled and annotated - Malcolm, George A.
9. The Revised Ordinances of the City of Baguio

Several publications have already been made about Baguio in the form of souvenir programs, tourist guides, business and commerce reports, and biographies of prominent residents. None of these, however, have tried to present the "City of Pines" in its entirety.

This pamphlet has attempted what has never been tried before – a comprehensive study of every phase of living in the city, past and present. Those who prepared this pamphlet, however, do not claim to have succeeded in this tedious task. Nevertheless, they does modestly claim to have paved the way for others to make better and more comprehensive studiesin the future.

This report has been prepared in compliance with Memorandum No. 34 s. 1952. It is also intended to serve as reference for pupils, students, and teachers of Social Studies. It may also serve in various ways the visitors and tourists as well.

This pamphlet was prepared by a committee composed of Social Studies teachers teaching in the city elementary schools under the able charge and guidance of Mr. Damaso M. Bangaoet, City Supervisor. The eight principals acted as advisers in the preparation of the manuscripts.

To the city officials, school officials, Dr. Jose Cariño, and other generous persons who, in one way or another, either fur-

nished valuable data in the preparation of this pamphlet or gave permission for the use of certain data in their possession, the editors wish to express their gratitude and obligation.

The Editors:

Mr. Conrado Rotor*
Mrs. Victorina P. Flores
Mr. Florencio Buen
[* or "Botor," blurred]

CHAPTER
I II III IV V VI VII VIII	History of Baguio Physical Features and Natural Resources People Government of the City of Baguio Baguio's Industries and Commerce Education Religion in Baguio Tourist Spots

To many lowlaners, Baguio means [a] storm after that tropical hurricane with the wind combing down the pine trees and destroying everything in its path. Contrary to this belief, the famous name of this city means Bagyiw, "moss," a green plant that the first Igorot settlers found growing around Burnham Lake which, at that time, was a mudhole for carabaos.

BAGUIO OF THE PAST AND HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED. In 1892, Dean C. Worcester, a young American zoological collector who was then in Mindoro, was approached by Domingo Sanchez, a member of the Spanish Forestry Bureau, who described in great detail a fabulous country in Northern Luzon with a perpetual temperate climate that was sometimes visited by the frosts.

When Dr. Worcester became the Secretary of [the] Interior and member of the First Philippine Commission, he expected that the American occupation would continue for a long period, and that meant a summer resort was necessary during the hot season to escape the awful heat of the lowlands. Therefore, while he was in Washington in 1899, he broached up the idea with Elihu Root, who was then Secretary of State; and when the Second Commission left for the Philippines, Root directed the members to investigate, and if proven good, to open up the country.

On their arrival in the Philippines, the Commission delegated Luke E. Wright and Worcester to visit the Benguet mountains

When the party arrived in Trinidad, they were invited by Otto Shearer, the only white resident of Benguet, who had his residence at the old site of Pines Hotel. They found conditions favorable and they admired the site very much. The country was gently rolling; the hills covered with short, thick grass and with magnificent pine trees which grew at considerable distance from each other; and along the streams were wonderful tree ferns and luxurious tangles of verdant vegetation. They decided that here was a tropical paradise, an ideal site for an ideal city.

Another thing confronted them. Water facilities had to be considered. They visited several springs and, to their amazement, they found numerous magnificent springs with crystal clear water which burst forth from hillsides in such manner as to make its protection from surface drainage easy. They were satisfied and contented that everything they needed to make a beautiful and admirable city which would become the future summer capital and health resort of the Philippines was there.

MEN WHO BUILT BAGUIO: One important man besides Dr. Worcester who, because of his unselfishness and devotion to his work as a famous architect, was David H. Burnham, who dreamed of creating a beautiful city somewhere. Years later, an opportunity gave reality to his dream when he was offered to create a dream city on top of

Another man who was responsible for the opening of Baguio to the civilized world was Major L. W. Kennon, who volunteered to engineer the scenic zigzag road. He, too, wanted a place of rest for ailing American soldiers who were used to [the] temperate climate and wanted to escape the boundless continuity of heat, day in and day out, week after week, month after month, throughout the whole cycle of the year. He believed that this dream city is the heaven of these army men whose vitality was sapped insidiously by the oppressive heat of the tropical sun. He set to work and began the construction of the road with an appropriation of ₱75,000. Although labor was slow because men were untrained, unwilling and oftentimes hard to secure. Because of his patience and perseverance, this road was opened after more than two years of piece-meal work which was carried on under great difficulties and disappointing setbacks, and on March 31, 1904, Governor William F. Park rode on a wagon over the trail and rode from Baguio to Twin Peaks. Major Kennon, who hailed from Rhode Island, came to the Philippines as head of a volunteer regiment who was

William Cameron Forbes – Governor General of the Philippine Islands (November 11, 1909 - March 15, 1912). This man was the indefatigable backer of Baguio during his incumbency as Governor-General. His name will always be associated with the development of Baguio as a summer resort. Baguio was his pet project that he backed all people interested in the development of the Pines City – and that what we enjoy now in this city, we owe much to him.

Justice George A. Malcolm – The credit of having revised the ordinance of Baguio, modifying them into revised ordinances and editing a volume containing the Baguio Charter without charge for his services goes to this man. We refer to him as "The Maker of the Baguio Charter," which also resulted into Act No. 1963, the Baguio Charter, that took effect on the first day of September, 1909. From that time, this Charter was rarely amended and with only minor changes was incorporated into the Administrative Code.

Otto Shearer – He was a German resident of Baguio who, because of his untiring help, made the beginnings of Baguio successful. He became a liaison officer under the American Military Government in La Trinidad, then Secretary under Governor H. Philip Whitmarsh.

Judge John W. Hauserman – This man is often called "Baguio's Adopted Son." He is the Foremost Builder and outstanding Gold pro-

Transcribed from:

History and Cultural Life of the City of Baguio, online at the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. The pagination in this transcription is as they appear in the original document.