I MENTIONED in my column last week that the period 1986 to 1996 were the greatest years of artistry in
Baguio in as far as I can recall especially on the booming of art and culture activities hereabouts. I
also believe that this stemmed from the organization of the Baguio Arts Guild, the formation of the Arts
Foundation of the Cordilleras, the involvement of news organizations such as the Cordillera News Agency
and the active participation of the city government. That of course is as far as I can recall as proven by
my documentations and archived files that are no match to the things being undertaken today with exemption
to the yearly Panagbenga Flower Festival which was launched in 1995. An online search of Baguio’s art
history would lead you to Wikipedia mentioning that “many Baguio artists used the context of cultural
diversity of the Cordillera Region to establish their work. Other notable Baguio artists include Narda
Capuyan (weaving), Kawayan de Guia (painting), Kigao (sculpture), Willy Magtibay, Peter Pinder (fiber
glass sculpture, painting, mixed media), Art Tibaldo (mixed media-visual arts) and Franklin Cimatu
(poetry.)
I am quite sure however that the online encyclopedia failed to mention others like Boy Ynigues for
cinematography, father-and-son Benhur and Bumbu Villanueva for sculpture, Tommy Hafalla for Photography
and the unnamed Ifugao woodcarvers who truly created great representations of arts and crafts.
The founding members of the BAG were Kidlat Tahimik, Dave Baradas, Santiago Bose, Ben Cabrera, Inliong
Gheslani, Roberto Villanueva and Willy Magtibay. Other pioneer members were Rene Aquitania, Katrin de
Guia, Perry Mamaril, Tommy Hafalla, Briccio Santos, Wig Tysman, Vins Villareal, Shay Tamayo, Peter Pinder,
Rhona Carantes, Jocelyn Banasan, Shant Verdun, Gerry Baguio, Boy Garovillo and myself including
photographers Ric Maniquis, Ompong Tan and Mark Perez. The second and third generation artists are also in
the forefront of Baguio’s art scene creating side by side with the Tamawan group of artists as well as the
art collaborators at the Victor Oteyza Community Arts Space (VOCAS) owned and managed by the De Guias.
In the field of visual arts, one cannot miss out or ignore Baguio City’s pioneering artists who banded
together in the 70s and called themselves Tahong Bundok. These group composed of Dolly Aquino, Bayard
Aquitania, Ver Ayson, Santiago Bose, Efren Chavez, Brando Cumpio, Rolly Caluza, Boy Ebba, Mon Habito,
Steve Hamada, Jun Limpin, Athena Magkase, Gloria Orden, Dado Pascua, Pyx Picart, Tenny Patacsil, Tony
Romawac, Herwig Tysman, Ding Torio, Jun Gamueda, and Darnay Demetillo made waves with several art
expositions. The group had a memorable art exhibit dubbed “Works on Paper” at the former Pines Resort
Hotel on October 28, 1977 and this accordingly started art exhibitions in Baguio.
Towards the 80s, the group further expanded to include Ted Caja, a mentoring artist of the Holy Family
Academy and Roland Bay-an, a former employee of Dainty Restaurant who was awarded as an outstanding waiter
during Baguio City’s search for performing and notable citizens. The name Tahong Bundok was derived from
the combination of the artists’ love of eating tinunong tahong (roasted mussels) and taong bundok or
people of the mountains. The late Darnay Demetillo who was then a humanities instructor of the University
of the Philippines College Baguio served as the college’s artist-in-residence from 1978 until he retired
in 2005 leaving a legacy which is now the UP-Baguio Bachelor of Fine Arts Program.
The BFA curriculum offered in UP Baguio is an expanded Certificate in Fine Arts program with additional
general education courses that also provides training in the traditional studio arts. With Darnay around,
the fine arts program grew from a three-year certificate program to a full diploma course.
The active student population in Baguio has actually spawned various interests in animation and digital
arts, with several local artists doing work for large production and advertising agencies in the
Philippines and abroad. For several years now, the Cordillera School of Digital Arts (CSDA) owned by
Entrepreneur Raul Boncan is now doing animation jobs outsourced from big firms such as Pixar and Disney.
In the field of music, Camp John Hay’s Mile Hi or Main Club were among the favorite destinations for great
music in the 80s where the late Dave Tabligan performed and others whose names failed my memory. Writer-
poet Frank Cimatu once said that if you are from Baguio, you should know Lady Valerie, the organist of
Pines Hotel. At one time, the Baguio Writer's Group wanted to mount a get-together concert and sought the
whereabouts of Valentin Rios Torillo aka Lady Valerie so that he can join city councilor Richard Carino
who also used to play piano at the Hyatt and Pines Hotels. I actually met Torillo no longer ladylike and
looking very much like a musical maestro at Iggy’s Place during art patron Des Bautista’s birthday and the
pianist intimated that he actually wanted to be back in Baguio if an offer allows him to make a living in
this city.
(To be concluded)