Introduction
Nearly twenty years ago, in July 16, 1990, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the country. Five hundred died in Baguio City, most of them coming from the ruins of the Baguio Hyatt Terraces, the Nevada Hotel and the University of Baguio. For the first two months, the city was hapless, with the Kennon road and Naguilian road cut from the rest of the world, and with no energy, no drinking water, and with food running out. This was confounded by the Gulf War in August 1990, when the price of oil skyrocketed and gasoline was rationed.
Slowly, but efficiently, the people of Baguio rose and unified. People and institutions were put to tasks; there was no one else!
Rescue and Relief Centers. I remembered the Association of Private Voluntary Organizations in Baguio and Benguet Incorporated (APVOBBI) being the distribution network to affected areas. I remembered that the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc. served as the communication center with the Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR), based in the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), with Baguio-boy Eugene Caccam as coordinator on the MetroManila side. I reminished the distribution centers for hot soup of various groups, such as Café by the Ruins. I remembered that even the Mormon Church compound (beside the Baguio Cathedral) became the depot for the relief goods being airlifted or delivered by vans from Manila. Everyone gave his/her share.
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction followed. The magnitude of the devastation was beyond any one institution. But government and non-government institutions and people in thier personal capacities gave their share. This was the time of Mayor Jaime Bugnosen of Baguio City and Governor (Dr.) Andres Bugnosen of Benguet. This was the time of Jody Alabanza as Regional Director of RDC-CAR, where the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council was anchored.
Forging of BLIST. Under Jody, the concept of BLIST (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan and Tuba) was first presented in August 1990. It later received a grant for the completion of the technical aspect of the plan. It was a consideration of the common land and natural resources of the adjouning towns and cities. Development cannot be made in isolation from neighbors.
NGO Planning Congress. Meanwhile that rehabilitation is on-going, a multisectoral group – composed of the civil society, Banguio-Benguet government staff and the business community of Baguio and Benguet converged in October to come out with a framework plan. The Baguio Jaycees, led by then Danny Urquico (Child and Family Service Philippines or CFS), took care of the fund-sourcing and the secretariat functions. The Baguio Correspondence and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) disseminated the information, with the significant contribution of the late Pepot Ilagan. The APVOBBI, then under Fernando “Poks” Lacsamana and Jose V. Barroga also mobilized the NGOs. The artists were there, like Mr. Tabora, Kidlat Tahimik. The elderly too, like Mrs. Virginia de Guia, along with the religious groups of various denominations.Many of our current leaders also took part. Eric Picart and I assumed the role of chief facilitators, with a workshop design crafter among Jaycees and with the best facilitators from the city coming together pro bono. For almost the whole month of October, the citizens of Baguio and Benguet converged at the Teacher Camp. With much help from friends outside the city, the participants developed a vision and plan for a better Baguio and Benguet, along the following focal points:
A. That the devastation by the earthquake brought the chance to “change what we did not like;”
B. That the need to rebuild should be planned with “sustainable development“ in mind;
C. That such sustainable development could be achieved only with “people empowerment” as the exercise of so many NGOs was in itself already a statement of th government’s inadequacy;
D. That such collaboration should aim at a unity which can be achieved only through respect and support for one another’s independent thrusts; and
E. That all these could be achieved by keeping in mind the needs, both present and future, of our children.
The drafting of the NGO Plan was a story in itself. The best writers came together, among them, Pepot Ilagan, DomC Cimatu and Baboo Mondonedo. The writers put together the aspirations of some 300 concerned citizens, whose lives where affected by the earthquake and who felt that soemthing should be done for our beloved city and province. The planning document was published and disseminated. More so, it was carried as a collective memory by people involved. That is why we remained friends. That is why, in our own ways, we try our best to live by the memory of the vision of a Better Baguio and Benguet. That is why people like Danny Urquico and Voltaire Acosta are coming out again.
Twenty Years After
Twenty years ago, the people who were affected by the earthquake and those who took part in the BLIST and the NGO Planning Congress were twenty years younger. But the aspirations remained; they found their way into the plans of the city and the province. They found their way into the various plans of the Regional Development Council.
They found their way into the Baguio Regreening Movement, which earned for the city the “cleanest and greenest chartered city.” The collective consciousness was the one responsible for a rehabilitated Baguio, not the mayor who assumed office in 1992 who claimed to lead Baguio out of the ruins.Likwise, twenty years ago, our present mayor was just a little boy, learning the ropes. He blew his chance when he was given the reins.
Now, as the city moves on to its next 20 years, it is good to look back. The BLIST was conceived after the earthquake. It was a good framework. But it never really took off. Now, it is time to let it come to fruition. Regardless of who wins the election, it is time to buckle down to work!
(Note, the Vision and Objectives of the October 1990 NGO Planning Congress and of the BLIST are posted separately.)
Nearly twenty years ago, in July 16, 1990, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the country. Five hundred died in Baguio City, most of them coming from the ruins of the Baguio Hyatt Terraces, the Nevada Hotel and the University of Baguio. For the first two months, the city was hapless, with the Kennon road and Naguilian road cut from the rest of the world, and with no energy, no drinking water, and with food running out. This was confounded by the Gulf War in August 1990, when the price of oil skyrocketed and gasoline was rationed.
Slowly, but efficiently, the people of Baguio rose and unified. People and institutions were put to tasks; there was no one else!
Rescue and Relief Centers. I remembered the Association of Private Voluntary Organizations in Baguio and Benguet Incorporated (APVOBBI) being the distribution network to affected areas. I remembered that the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, Inc. served as the communication center with the Corporate Network for Disaster Response (CNDR), based in the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), with Baguio-boy Eugene Caccam as coordinator on the MetroManila side. I reminished the distribution centers for hot soup of various groups, such as Café by the Ruins. I remembered that even the Mormon Church compound (beside the Baguio Cathedral) became the depot for the relief goods being airlifted or delivered by vans from Manila. Everyone gave his/her share.
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction followed. The magnitude of the devastation was beyond any one institution. But government and non-government institutions and people in thier personal capacities gave their share. This was the time of Mayor Jaime Bugnosen of Baguio City and Governor (Dr.) Andres Bugnosen of Benguet. This was the time of Jody Alabanza as Regional Director of RDC-CAR, where the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council was anchored.
Forging of BLIST. Under Jody, the concept of BLIST (Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan and Tuba) was first presented in August 1990. It later received a grant for the completion of the technical aspect of the plan. It was a consideration of the common land and natural resources of the adjouning towns and cities. Development cannot be made in isolation from neighbors.
NGO Planning Congress. Meanwhile that rehabilitation is on-going, a multisectoral group – composed of the civil society, Banguio-Benguet government staff and the business community of Baguio and Benguet converged in October to come out with a framework plan. The Baguio Jaycees, led by then Danny Urquico (Child and Family Service Philippines or CFS), took care of the fund-sourcing and the secretariat functions. The Baguio Correspondence and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) disseminated the information, with the significant contribution of the late Pepot Ilagan. The APVOBBI, then under Fernando “Poks” Lacsamana and Jose V. Barroga also mobilized the NGOs. The artists were there, like Mr. Tabora, Kidlat Tahimik. The elderly too, like Mrs. Virginia de Guia, along with the religious groups of various denominations.Many of our current leaders also took part. Eric Picart and I assumed the role of chief facilitators, with a workshop design crafter among Jaycees and with the best facilitators from the city coming together pro bono. For almost the whole month of October, the citizens of Baguio and Benguet converged at the Teacher Camp. With much help from friends outside the city, the participants developed a vision and plan for a better Baguio and Benguet, along the following focal points:
A. That the devastation by the earthquake brought the chance to “change what we did not like;”
B. That the need to rebuild should be planned with “sustainable development“ in mind;
C. That such sustainable development could be achieved only with “people empowerment” as the exercise of so many NGOs was in itself already a statement of th government’s inadequacy;
D. That such collaboration should aim at a unity which can be achieved only through respect and support for one another’s independent thrusts; and
E. That all these could be achieved by keeping in mind the needs, both present and future, of our children.
The drafting of the NGO Plan was a story in itself. The best writers came together, among them, Pepot Ilagan, DomC Cimatu and Baboo Mondonedo. The writers put together the aspirations of some 300 concerned citizens, whose lives where affected by the earthquake and who felt that soemthing should be done for our beloved city and province. The planning document was published and disseminated. More so, it was carried as a collective memory by people involved. That is why we remained friends. That is why, in our own ways, we try our best to live by the memory of the vision of a Better Baguio and Benguet. That is why people like Danny Urquico and Voltaire Acosta are coming out again.
Twenty Years After
Twenty years ago, the people who were affected by the earthquake and those who took part in the BLIST and the NGO Planning Congress were twenty years younger. But the aspirations remained; they found their way into the plans of the city and the province. They found their way into the various plans of the Regional Development Council.
They found their way into the Baguio Regreening Movement, which earned for the city the “cleanest and greenest chartered city.” The collective consciousness was the one responsible for a rehabilitated Baguio, not the mayor who assumed office in 1992 who claimed to lead Baguio out of the ruins.Likwise, twenty years ago, our present mayor was just a little boy, learning the ropes. He blew his chance when he was given the reins.
Now, as the city moves on to its next 20 years, it is good to look back. The BLIST was conceived after the earthquake. It was a good framework. But it never really took off. Now, it is time to let it come to fruition. Regardless of who wins the election, it is time to buckle down to work!
(Note, the Vision and Objectives of the October 1990 NGO Planning Congress and of the BLIST are posted separately.)
