Sunday, December 21, 2008 Evangelista: One way traffic at Kennon Road By Gerry Evangelista Sr. Centennial Updates
DID you know that in the early days of its operation, Kennon Road was a one-way route that could accommodate only one car at a time?
Mr. Jose Castro, in an article for the book "Baguio in the Making" published by Lazaro P. Gutierrez, mentioned that the famous mountain road had six telephone stations scattered strategically along the route where vehicles coming up had to stop to allow downward traffic.
Vehicles going up would be informed of the traffic situation along Kennon Road before they could take their turn to use the road.
Thursdays are the worst days to come up to Baguio as hundreds of bullcarts go up the road from Pangasinan carrying loads of merchandise for the coming Sunday, market day.
You can just imagine the time spent waiting from one station to another when the bullcarts happen to be along the way! At times when the road was closed, the local Baguio population faced a shortage of rice, and when it came, rice became an expensive commodity.
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From 1918 to 1938, Castro mentions that Baguio was very colorful and picturesque. Most of the buildings along Session road were owned by Chinese merchants, and the population, numbering about five to seven thousand people, was like members of one big family. Going to church on Sundays was the popular hobby, followed by the informal gatherings at parks planning amusement activities for the day.
Most of the population was government employees and businessmen from the lowlands, mostly from La Union and Pangasinan.
The locals grouped themselves into civic organizations, the most prominent of which at that time were the Baguio Civic League, the Baguio Head Hunters Club, the Legionarios del Trabajo, the Katipunang May Panampun, and the Masonic Lodge.
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It is exactly 253 days before the Baguio Centennial on September 1, 2009.
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The CenteCom committee on culture, arts and education under former Councilor Edilberto B. Tenefrancia, in cooperation with Camp John Hay entities last week successfully staged the 15th CJH Annual Art Contest at the Baguio Convention Center.
Together with Frederico S. Alquiros, chief executive officer of CJH Manor and CJH Hotels Corporation, the organizing group accommodated more than 200 young and aspiring Baguio artists in a contest of concepts and designs.
Only 15 winners emerged. For Category C, University of the Cordilleras artist Jozefyn Therese Brillantes grabbed the championship title, while Arnel Calya-en of Pucay National High School landed second and Jethro Reuel Mata finished third.
Renz Herjae Ilao of the University of Baguio and Mike Jordan Portugues of PCNHS shared the runner-up honors. For Category B, or participants aged 12-16 years old, 14 year-old Allyzzhia Franco Astudillo of Berkeley emerged champion, with BCNHS students Mary Nina Payoyo and Cheyenne Anne Guerrero landing second and third place winners respectively.
Sped twin sisters Aimee Melissa and Angela Trinidad tied for the runner-up honors. For Category A, or those aged 7-11 years old, nine year old Sped student Winselle Espiritu bagged the first prize, Joshua Spark Cruz of Berkeley landed second, while Amanda Bacate of Sped finished third.
Runners up are Angelica Ancheta and Christian Anne Trinidad, both of Sped Center.
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Last December 13, a Centennial Fun Match Dog and Cat Show was held at the Peoples Park. There were 62 dog entries and 3 cats participating in the conformation and fashion show.
There were several participating dog groups, composed of Sporting Group-Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Cavaliers; Non-Sporting Group-English Bulldog, Shitzu and Chowchow, Chinese Sharpei; Toy Group-Poodle, Pekingnese, Pomeranian, Minpin, Mini Schnauzer, Lhasa Apso, Chihuahua; Terrier Group- American Pitbull; Working Group-Siberian Husky, Akita, Rottweiller, St. Bernard; Herding Group-German Shepherd, Belgian Mallinois; Hound Group - Beagle, Busset Hound, Dacshund Varieties (Miniature Dacshund Smooth, Standard Dacshund Smooth, Standard Dacshund Wire haired); and the Mongrel Group.
The major awards went to the following: Best in Show- Chowchow-owned by Dave Rivera; Best in Show Cat - Persian Smooth Haired owned by Jerico 'Jicjic' Del Rosario; and the Best in Show Christmas Fashion- Mohammed Abdelkawi.
Special thanks are in order for the following organizers and supporters for making the Centennial Fun Match a success: Peter Tiongson, show judge and breeder of dogs and cats; Danny Nievera, show announcer; Abe Bacani; Tommy Estribor; Naty Castrence; Pranin Kiwang; Jerry Sabado; and the Baguio German Shepherd Dog Club of the Philippines.
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The public is cordially invited to attend the Christmas Flower Show at the Baguio Orchidarium, which opened last December 20.
The Orchidarium garden show, being held from September 2008 to September 2009 is organized by the Baguio City Orchidarium and Ornamental Growers Multipurpose Cooperative, supported by the Baguio Centennial Commission through Dr. Julie Cabato, committee on ecology point person.
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For comments, suggestions, and announcements in the Centennial Updates, please contact Adam O. Borja through adambaguio@yahoo.com.
