THE United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has cited the Pine City as part of the Creative City Network.
Baguio is now among 15 cities in the world recognized in the field of craft and folk arts after its application months ago to the Unesco was backed by the city and Department of Tourism.
DOT regional director Marie Venus Tan said this is a proud moment for Baguio and the Philippines.
Tan added Baguio is the only city in the country to be proclaimed in the exclusive club of 180 cities in 72 countries.
“This prestigious honor for being the first city in the Philippines to be given the privilege as a member of the Unesco Creative Cities Network belong to the people of the Cordilleras. We call on all to support the work to done,” added Tan.
The Creative Cities Network is currently formed by 116 Members from 54 countries covering seven creative fields which includes crafts & folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, music and media arts.
The Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The 116 cities which currently make up this network work together towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.
“We surely honor those whose works of crafts and folk arts of the Cordilleras inspired the various interplay of architecture, parks, textile, fabrics, furniture, and furnishing fashion accessories, paintings, sculpture, homes and building designs in Baguio City,” added Tan.
Tan said the citation from UNESCO will be the start of more programs.
“This is what defines us and this is our anchor! Work begins to preserve, conserve these identities. It will take a unified people with one collective vision to inspire other cities in the Philippines to aspire,” Tan quipped
Under Unesco all creative cities commit to develop and exchange innovative best practices to promote creative industries, strengthen participation in cultural life, and integrate culture into sustainable urban development policies.