Monday, September 01, 2008 Editorial: From scent of scent to pine scented
BAGUIO is now on the verge of marking its 100th year. Today's activities are meant to kick off the huge celebration. Today Baguio is 99 years old.
This is a momentous event in the young life of a city which has transformed from a simple hill station into a metropolis. From Daniel Burnham's vision of 25,000 souls, its inhabitants have ballooned to a daytime population of over 350,000. From a sleepy mining village it has become a tourism resort the country is very much proud of.
And yet, there is the growing feeling of discontent among its residents, both early settler-families to the new and bold. The woes of a rapidly urbanizing area are creeping in faster than anyone can ever imagine – least of all its designers.
What used to be the natural pine scent permeating throughout the city has been replaced by pine scented dashboard and rear view mirror car fresheners. From the fog which used to roll in anytime of the year to a year round pall of smog from diesel engines. From a rustic setting with thick green forests of pine trees to a jungle made of concrete and corrugated iron sheets painted green.
All these mockery of what Baguio was has gelled into a strong force towards reviving the Baguio of old. The one which endeared the first tourists to the city, the one which can only be glimpsed through sepia pictures of wide open spaces and orderly living.
True, this Baguio can no longer be recaptured. But that does not mean we shouldn't try. Those who truly love this mountain haven are coalescing and have started to say no to spontaneous and haphazard development. What these slowly banding together of groups and individuals want a Baguio devoid of the mess and the grime and more of the green and bright colors of the rainbow.
Today as we step back into history, recalling the once great Baguio, let us not forget its future. The old Baguio may no longer be brought back, but in the future there is the promise of a better city. And all it will take is solid and firm political commitment to rid it of the so-called informal settlers, to clean its fume laden air, to reset the city's thermostat to more comfortable levels, to rid purge it of unruly and conscienceless drivers, and literally clean up its streets of the daily anguish of uncollected garbage.
Yes, it will need a strong political will power to get it done, but it must start with the individual. And that means you and I.
