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Saturday, September 02, 2006
Commentary: Primary formation of a government in Baguio
By Aniceta Acop Cariño Cruz
A PRIMARY formation of a government in Baguio originally began from a very humble man.
My subject of this memoir is my beloved grandfather. The memory of my hero has grown with the lapse of time and the accumulation of evidence bundled by affection was seldom bestowed on the "Grand Old Man" of Baguio. Remembering him as the "Chief of the North" is shared today by no less than a few of his relatives who remembered him with affection.
There are relatives whose own fathers who fought alongside my grandfather for the formation of a government. They all died with a circumstance of a tragedy but, it was not their death but the purpose of their life that is remembered.
As they say, if you love someone, shout it out to the whole world. So, here I write and share the readers some facts about my grandfather - the late Mateo Cariño - the leader of Old Baguio that I, may give him honor so that others may know of the good deeds he had done for the City of Baguio.
Mateo Cariño was born during the Spanish Time to Mao-mao, the leader of the Ibalois who were known as original residents of Old Baguio.
During his prime, he led a successful revolt against the Spanish Garrison in La Trinidad. It was then that General Emilio Aguinaldo designated him as ?Kapitan? of Baguio and head of the Igorot Army.
Mateo Cariño had a great mind and was a fearless fighter for freedom. He refused the Igorots to be stepped upon by foreigners and made them a proud race. When the Americans came, Governor HP Whitmarsh installed him as president of the Baguio Township. He was active in building schools and making roads and encouraging agriculture among his tribesmen. He had a sense of values, especially with what is right and wrong and he does the best interest of the people of his community. He consulted with the people regarding his projects and his legislative work. He touched the lives of many Igorots, especially his tribesmen and was very well respected.
Mateo Cariño was the original owner of the land that was called Camp John Hay, now BCDA, and the land embracing City Hall. In the spirit of charity and friendship, which is his greatest virtue, he donated this tract of land to the local government which was politically under the Americans. However, some corrupt American officials sold this land to the United States of America and made up papers stating that Mateo Cariño sold the property himself for five hundred pesos (P500.00), which is a big lie because he was a real generous man, especially to those who have none.
In his old age, he designated his oldest son Sioco Cariño, my father, to set up the local government. Today, Mateo Cariño is one of the national heroes of the Philippines. His bust stands next to that of Jose Rizal at the Luneta Park. I salute and pay tribute to him as a granddaughter and as an Ibaloi.
We the Cariño clan are proud to be part of his bloodline that is pure in honesty and charity which is the greatest virtue in life.
Here was a man of leadership and humility with a great mind and sincerity in helping his people that he had to give up his fortune for the government he stood for and the people he served. As for the people of Baguio and Tublay, I would like them to be proud of the fact that someone of their own blood stood out during a time when the Igorots were looked down upon as lawless people.
We pray and hope that our Divine Providence will bless Baguio and guide its people, especially the officials governing Baguio.
May our beloved Baguio remain lovely and peaceful, so nice and heavenly to live in. May it not be tarnished with political crimes despite the changes of time.
We all must not let a legacy die. The legacy must live on. We owe it to our Ancestry and to those who came before us, to keep the fire burning and to carry on.
In memory of the "Grand Old Man" of Baguio, we the whole intertwined related family clans of the Cariños, Carantes, Hamadas, Pucays, Fianzas, Pacalsos, Caoilis, Cosalans, Melchors, Acops, Domingos, Girons, Tagles, Barrils are all greeting our beloved City of Baguio, our home pride, a blessed, joyful and peaceful ninety seventh anniversary day.
Let us all be united despite of our political affiliations and our different opinions for, it is only when we look at one another in the eye and mark others as our equal that we can perfect our maturity in ourselves and in Christianity in much, the same way when our Nation and our City of Baguio is composed of individuals who look at one another as equals. Only then will it know how to live in peace.
Let us all join hands, the rich and the poor, the middle class, to make Baguio bloom and shine in the season of God?s fulfilling grace. May our Divine Providence bless and guide us the people of our city of Baguio, the Igorot City, the City of all races. The City of different tongues, the City of our Divine Creator and Designer of all mankind and nature.
(September 2, 2006 issue)
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