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BAGUIO CITY: Sixth-grader Jho Mark Salipio is a boy scout but he
didn’t know it was Lord Baden Powell who founded the international
youth movement. The kid also admitted he had no idea how Session
Road, Baguio’s inclined main street, got its name.
Not until when he and 33 other pupils from five
schools walked through the city Saturday morning, a day after
Filipino-American Friendship Day. They stopped by what remains of
historic buildings and landmarks to learn how Baguio was built by
the American colonial government.
Back in school, the boy wrote, “The members of
the Philippine Commission had to pass through this road [which is
now known as Session Road] on their way to Baden Powell Hall where
sessions were held.”
Jho Mark was referring to the first session here
in Baguio of the commission chaired by then Gov. Gen. Luke Wright,
from April 22 to June 1904. The session, which approved 74 acts and
272 resolutions, led to the establishment of the city as the
country’s summer capital and its formal founding on September 1,
1909.
Baden Powell Hall, across the terminal for
Manila-bound buses along Gov. Pack Road, eventually became the
headquarters of the Baguio-Benguet Boy Scout Council.
“I felt sad because it’s now an inn,” Jho
Mark said when he learned.
The group’s hike through the city was part of
the “Children’s Urban Heritage Walk” program launched three
years ago to give kids a sense of their city’s historical and
cultural heritage.
With its accent on youth development, the YMCA
of Baguio headed by Dr. Tedler Depaynos relaunched the same with the
city government and the Baguio Regreening Movement which
conceptualized the children’s experiential learning program.
Officers and volunteers of the YMCA, together
with city administrator Peter Fianza and former city councilor Nars
Padilla, guided the school children in their walk-through.
“Learning is even better here [than inside the
classroom] because it is experiencing it,” wrote Shaine Badongen,
Jho Mark’s classmate at the Roxas Elementary School.
“I learned Hekasi [geography, history and
civics] outside the classroom, particularly the American influence
in our beloved city,” said Virgilio Mario Valle.
Jason Pinkison was impressed by the view from
the YMCA hall where the kids started out. “Looking out of the
window, I saw beautiful and green places in Baguio. It is in this
place that I also met new friends from San Vicente and Rizal
elementary schools.”
“I learned that the oldest building in Baguio
is Casa Vallejo, then known as Dormitory 4,” pointed out Nicklaus
Roy.
“But we are very sad because Casa Vallejo is
closed and looks abandoned,” noted Renzo Catungae. He was
referring to the only building remaining of the government compound
built in 1908 to 1909 which is now in a state of disrepair.
“Sayang naman [It’s a waste] if we allow all
these to disappear,” said Arvin Jay Gaw, who said he earlier
missed playing in his friend’s house because of the scheduled
urban walk. “Let’s all take care of what we have because it
reminds us of our rich history.”
“I learned how hard is cleaning,” said
Divine Cornel of San Vicente after they swept both sidewalks of
Session Road. “I learned what is biodegradable and
non-biodegradable garbage and how to separate them.”
The clean-up showed passers-by that it’s
difficult to clean the streets, for them to consider the plight of
those who clean so they won’t litter, said Julie Marina Deppas in
Filipino.
“Kami po ay nagwalis at nagpulot ng upos ng
sigarilyo [We swept and picked cigarette butts],” wrote Valeria
Aliwana. “Kami po ay nagpulot ng mga dumi sa daan para malinis
tingnan [We picked garbage along the street so it will be clean to
look at],” added Khrial Carino.
“I also felt how difficult it was to work as
Metro Aide,” said Kris Marie Gasat. “I hope people who saw us
clean their trash will always be reminded of the importance of
cleanliness in our main streets and in our parks.”
Rudy Herida Jr. said he learned the city was
designed by Daniel Burnham, an American Architect who laid out the
Burnham Park, for a population of 25,000 that has risen to 300,000.
“I hope and pray that these historical
buildings and parks will remain where they are at present so that
children like us and the future generations will appreciate our
history and our past,” Rolly said.
“Then we went home,” said Jolina Docyogen.
-- Ramon Dacawi
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