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The Baguio's Panagbenga ( Flower ) festival is one of the major events held in the city of Baguio that is held annually. People all over the Philippines wanted to witness this colorful festival. I myself wanted to see it and learn the significance of it among the people of Baguio. Every year I would miss this festival because of the hectic schedules but this year I surely didn't miss this chance to see the unique and colourful festival of the summer capital of the Philippines.
Panagbenga means flower and this festival is a month long event as in the whole month of February celebrated every year which makes it as one of the longest festivals held in the Philippines. The festival includes floats adorned with varieties of flowers that are commonly found in Baguio and the float parade is one of the highlights and major events of the festival. The float festival also includes street dancing with dancers clad in flowers that is inpired by the Bendian, an Ibaloi dance of celebration that originated from Cordillera region.
Photo credit: SLU ramp
Photo credit: SLU ramp
Photo credit: Rappler
Photos of street dancers of the parade clad with flowers
History and background
The Panagbenga flower festival is not really an old kind of festival. It was created in the early 90s to give tribute to the city's ntive flowers and as a way to rise up from devastation of the 1990 central Luzon earthquake. No one will ever forget that horrific incident that struck central Luzon at 4:26 pm in July 16, 1990 with a magnitude of 7.7 and Baguio city was of the most affected places in central Luzon that left behind alot of damages with the largest fatalities of 1,621 people.
Photos of horrendous damages left after the earthquake that struck Baguio in July 16,1990
Photo credit: Korte Supremo
Indeed it was horrendous and a dark nightmare among the residents of Baguio. Gradually they recovered and thus the Flower festival was created as a symbol of a newleaf of joy and tribute to the rise and triumphant recovery of Baguio city from devastation. Since then, the so-called Panegbenga is held annually and became as one of the most popular festival there is in the Philippines.
The Panagbenga festival of 2019
This is by far as the longest flower festival that Baguio ever had. It started from February 1, 2019 and ended March 10, 2019. Usually the festival is celebrated for a 28 day period but this year it was all 38 day celebration with a daily corresponding events.
Well, it was the 2nd of March that we decided to see which was the grand float parade. It was unfortunate of us that we were not able to see. The grand float parade started 7:30 in the morning but we got there around 11:00 AM. The parade was already finished and the people there were preparing for the next day celebration. It was a long travel of five hours. We left Manila around 4:30 AM and got there almost 11:00 AM. The floats were already placed in the plaza as exhibits for tourists to see. Well, tourists flocked the plaza and we were some of them. Well, though I wasn't able to witness the actual grand float parade but Indeed I was amazed how intricate and colourful the floats turned out to be. They were covered with beautiful flowers and people couldn't help to make a striking post and took photos of the amazing floats adorned with native flowers. Maybe next year we just have to leave earlier.
It was nice to know that through this festival, we can learn the lesson how to recover and rise from such excruciating nightmare. It depicts the importance of moving on to a much beautiful life. It was nice to know how life can be so colorful despite the fact of having dreadful past. See you guys next year.
Photo of Ms. Angel Locsin The star of the grand parade Photo credit: Ms. Angel Locsin
Manila is the capital city of the Philippines where different historical places can be found and visited. Here lies the great walls of intramuros, Rizal park and more than a century old churches. Being one of the most highly urbanized and populated cities in the country, it earned the title of "the most polluted city" due to highly congestion brought about by over crowding and lack of discipline among the local residents. Though there is a significant improvement and changes brought about by the strong political will of the president, transforming Manila into a clean and free from pollution is still far from being achieved.
But in a very polluted highly urbanized domain that many are not aware of lies a great canopy - a small area of forest known as the " Arroceros forest park -The last lung of Manila." The Arroceros forest park is the only place in Manila that is free from pollution. I had a chance to visit the miniature forest and indeed it was remarkable knowing that there is one place in Manila that is very clean and very green. With the chirping sound of many birds and the smell of trees, it's hard to believe that you're actually in Manila.
The Arroceros forest park facing the Pasig river - Photo courtesy Heritage Collection -
The Arroceros forest park is located in Antonio Villegas st., just a walking distance from Intramuros. It is 2.2 hectares ( 5.4 acres ) that is home of 61 species of trees, 10 species of birds and 8000 ornamental plants. Trees that can be found here including those that are more than century old are as follows: Acasia Mangium, Acasia auriculiformis, African tulip tree, Agoho, Anahaw, Bayan bunga de china, Dapdap, Eucalyptus, Ficus, Benjamina, Fire tree, Indian tree, Kamagong, Mahoganny, McArthur palm, Molave, Narra ( the biggest ), Neem, Rain tree, Rattan, Rubber tree, Talisay, Teak, Tiesa and Yucca. Since the forest park has these series of trees, it helps in cleaning and keeping the air breathable of the polluted city. But now it faces a new threat of imminent doom. In 17th of July 2017, Joseph Estrada who is current mayor of Manila had proposed to cutdown the trees and had his mindset to establish a gymnasium of Universidad De Manila ( University of Manila) for sports and recreational purposes. This proposal of the city mayor had caught the attention of media, environmentalists and other conservationalist groups that lead to strong protest against the plan to establish the gymnasium just to save the " Manila's last lung." But it was feared that such relevant protest may be ignored.
Background History
In the early Spanish colonial period, the area where the forest park stands now used to be a part of the so-called " Parian." it was a Chinese trading settlement. In the 19th century, it was the site of the Compania General de Tabacos de Felipinas during the early American period. It was then transformed into a military garrison which housed the " Signal corps" at the Cuartel de infanteria and the Surgeon general's office at the Estado mayor. After the WWII, the barracks were converted into the head quarters of the Department of Education.
- Photo courtesy of Pinoy Collector -
In 1993, after the Department of Education transferred to Pasig and through a memorandum, the agreement between the city of Manila and the Winner foundation supported by the former first lady Amelita Ramos, it was agreed to leave the location for the development of the forest park by the private environmental group. With the initial of more than century old trees that survived the war, the park now has more than three thousand trees by the Manila seedling park. Since then the park was referred to as " the last lung of Manila - the Arroceros forest park. "
Top view of the Arroceros forest part ( left ) and Pasig river. - Photo courtesy of Brigada GMA News info -
The First Political Turmoil
In 2003, the forest park became the subject of controversy when the former mayor Lito Atienza ordered it's closure to give way to the construction of school administration and teacher's dormitory. Large portion of the park despite the strong protest, the construction claimed eigth thousand trees. After the buildings were completed, the forest park was reopened in 2007.
Photo of school administration and teacher's dormitory. The construction of this establishment in a portion of the forest park had claimed eigth thousand trees.
The Imminent Threat
In 2008, the former president Noynoy Aquino asked the civic group to vacate the Arroceros forest park with in 30 days. The memo included legalities stating that the Winner Foundation should have returned and turned over the property to the city of Manila. The foundation's 15 year development plan agreement which was extended until 2013 had lapsed.
In July 7, 2017, the current mayor Ejercito Estrada had a strong mindset and firmly proposed for the establishment of Manila University's gymnasium. The said university needed to upgrade it's facilities to be granted accommodation to give way to the establishment of the so-called gym. The proposed gym would surely occupy almost 5.4 acres of the forest park that would certainly lead to the cutting down of almost all the trees.
The Relevant Protest
The plan of establishing a gymnasium has become a controversial issue among environmentalists and other concerned groups. Many wrote an open letter to the office of the city of Manila to consider preserving the forest park since it is the only one left in the city. Many had accused the mayor for neglecting and not giving importance to significant role of the trees in helping keeping the air clean. Some have even mocked him for not having a "common sense" for not realizing the importance of trees and knowing that Manila has been suffering from heavy air pollution and destroying the forest can only worsen the situation.
- Photo courtesy of Joma Sulit -
Because of the strong protest made by different groups of conservationists, the mayor later differed his desicions to reacquire the land after meeting with members of the Winners Foundation Club and other environmentalist groups. Though as of now, the construction of the gym may have to wait for a while but still the pending doom of the forest park awaits and there is no certainty that the mayor of Manila will consider keeping it. A group of environmentalist -"Gising Maynila ( Wake up Manila) " posted on social media about fighting for the Arroceros forest park to conserve it and hoping it would reach the President's attention. President Duterte has been known for his strong political will when it comes to environmental matters. He was able to give way for the successful rehabilitation of Boracay, Pasig river and the esteros of Manila.
Well, indeed many have completely forgotten about what the trees can do for us. Trees are the ones who are responsible for giving us clean and breathable air. Here in the Philippines, many forest were destroyed just to have spaces for different malls and modern establishments to be erected. It is very frustrating to know that many have become deluded with modernization that many trees has to be sacrificed just to give way to these modern structures . It is appalling to realize that many politicians and oligarchs are preoccupied with greed and ambitions that had caused many harms indirectly to people by destroying and not conserving our natural resources. I hope and look forward that the battle to keep the Arroceros forest is far from futile. It is the only one remaining in the city and the last lung of Manila.
It was on the news both online and tv news programs that the historical bells of Balingiga is now being returned to the Philippines after all of these years requesting for them to be returned. But what are these bells? What are the stories behind this historical relics? Why are they in Wyoming and why are the people Wyoming specially the governor consistently refused to give them back and what's in it for the people of Balingiga of the eastern visayas? Many people in both United States and the Philippines shared common story of a bloody and gruesome history behind religious relics. These bells were taken away by the American infantry as a war trophy or booty.
Photo of Balingiga bells in Wyoming
The two faces of massacres in Balingiga.
Photo of the Balingiga church: Date unknown
Balingiga is a small town in the eastern Samar of the visayan island. After the Spanish-American war, it was followed by the short period of the Filipino-American war. The 9th infantry of the US army occupied the town Balingiga in 1901. It was here when the two massacres on both sides between Filipinos and Americans took place and both were very gruesome.
The massacre of the American Soldiers.
A portrait of villagers running out of the Balingiga church some were dressed like women with their jungle bolos after the bells were sounded signaling the attack.
A portrait of the gruesome butchering of the American soldiers
Anothet portrait of the massacre of the American soldiers
In August 11 of 1901 the 9th infantry of the US army arrived in the small town of Balingiga. At first there was a harmonious relationships between the american soldiers and the villiager of Balingiga and it was so peaceful during that time but in the second week of September everything went different when the Americans discovered realized that the Filipino guerrillas ( Filipino soldiers who were fighting against the Americans) had arrived in the town. With the strong suspicion of surprise attack from the infamous guerrillas, the American infantry carried out drastic measures of strictness among the villagers. Men were gathered, bolos were confiscated and villagers were deprived of food and water. There was also a report of water torture carried out among suspected guerillas. Such strictness were considered inhumane. Filipino villagers sought to drive the Americans out of Balinga carried a plan to get back to the Americans.
In the eve of a festivity, Filipino gathered pretended to be partaking of the preparation of the festivity. They brought tuba ( a liquor made from coco water) and were given to the Americans. In the early morning of September 28 of 1901, the bells of Balingiga church were sounded and roared the air that morning signalling the onset the attack. Men who were dressed like women carried out their sharp jungle bolos started butchering the drunk American soldiers cutting them into pieces one by one. Many were massacred but few managed to fight back. Since the assailants didn't have guns, the 28 remaining soldiers were able to get their riffles and fired and the murderers were driven away leaving 36 deaths including Major Richard S. Griswold and Captain Thomas Cornwel.
The massacre of Filipino villagers and the burning of the town.
General Jacob H. Smith
After the atrocious and horrific massacre, General Jacob H. Smith went furious that he ordered his men to gather all men 10 years old and above to be shot down. Many were taken and placed in regimens and were shot to death. He also ordered that houses should be burned down. " The interior of Samarmust be made of a howling wilderness!" as he commanded Major Littleton Waller. Indeed many men were shot to death and a total of 255 houses were burned down and the town of Balingiga turned into a land of fire. The following day the air was filled with mourn and the small town were filled with bodies. The three bells of the Balingiga church were taken as a war trophy.
Photo of the 28 American soldiers who survived the horrific massacre with a young Filipino boy and one of the Balingiga bells
The seized Balingiga bells that served as a war booty
Photo of Balingiga massacre General Jacob H. Smith ordered to kill every male over 10 years old - Picture from NewYork journal on May 5,1902
Photo of General Jacob Smith and his staff inspects the ruins of Balangiga in October of 1901, a few weeks after the US punitive mission by Captain Brook Miller and his troops
The demand for the return of the Balingiga bells.
After the bells were taken away by the American soldiers as war booty, they were pass on from one place to another until they were made commemorative relics which are now in Wyoming. The Philippine government after a century demanded from the American government to return the bells to their rightful place. The former president Fidel Ramos was the first president of the Philippines to make such request and followed by those who succeeded him but such request turned out to be denied and futile. It can also be recalled that current President Rodrigo Duterte in his 2017 state of the nation address also demanded from the US to return the Balingiga bells and for the first time, it was heard.
Suprizingly there were also well known American figures who supported the demands for the return of the historical relics. Dana Rohrabacher a US congressman stated that he was horrified when he found that there was a national treasure of the Philippines kept in the United States soil. " The bells of Balangiga touch the souls of Filipinos and should not be taken lighlty and the fact they have not been taken back, it doesn't speak of us ( Americans). " Dana Rohrabacher stated. Jack Silverman an American documentarist who used to be in Balingiga also supported the demands of the return of the bells. According to him, the villagers of Balingiga have good sense of history. The bells represent their culture, religious beliefs, history and the most important of all is the struggle for freedom and independence. Logan Clark an international investigator who shares the sentiment of returning the bell. He is known retrieving possessions and giving them back to their righful owners and also individuals who were returned to their families who were victim of human trafficking. He stayed in the Philippines for so many years and made a research of the Balingiga bells. He consulted Dana Rohrabacher about this and made it as another of special mission. He raised fund for this and made a special team to help get the bells back to the Philippines he also made moves to creat full awareness of the relics wity the special help of media personnels. XanderBerkelley an American activist also have the same compassion for the return of a historical treasure to the Philippines. He stated that when a religious artifacts were stolen and if peace has been established and if such religious relics in laguish in obscurity in a foreign land, they needed to be returned
The granted demand.
Photos of Secretary James Mattis and Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdes at the ceremony of Wyoming in November 15, 2018 marking the process to return the Balangiga bells to the Philippines
Photo of Balingiga bells after being removed and to be returned to the Philippines - Photo courtesy of Dave Miller
After so many request demanding to return the historical bells to it's rightful place and supports from concened figures, they were finally heard. The US government and the governor of Wyoming has finally agreed to return the Balingiga bells to the Philippines. In November 15, 2018 Secretary James Mattis and Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez held a ceremony in Wyoming marking the process to return the Balingiga bells to the Philippines. The bells will be mounted again in towers of Balingiga church and the villagers of Balingiga are excited to see the bells once more that represents their religious culture.
Well, these bells may have been used to signal the attack of the early villagers that lead to the horrendous incidents to both Americans and Filipinos but with the return of the relics to Balingiga, these will help to forget the nightmare that occured 117 years ago and establish better relationships. These are some of the historical treasures and tokens of friendships that will be shared by both Americans and Filipinos though they were once the bells of bloodshed.
Boracay had it's soft opening in October 15, 2018 and it is one of the most likely talk about issue today next to election. It is being tackled on online media particularly in Facebook and Tweeter. Those who supported the rehabilitation of the so-called "pristine paradise" are now rejoicing and applauded the job well done by the current Philippine administration under the leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Perhaps this would make it as one of his highly successful achievements this year. The supporters of the Philippine president and environmentalists are now using the social media to attack the critics and the oppositions for discrediting the president's plan to rehabilitate the wonderful paradise. There are photos and videos posted showing the successfull results of the rehabilitation of Boracay.
Photo of Boracay during the late 70s As you can see there were only nipa huts but now the huts were replaced by modern establishments
Background.
Boracay island paradise became popular during the 70s. Filipinos enjoyed much of it's pearly white sand and emerald green-colored water. Gradually during the 80s, it earned the reputation of as one of the most beautiful white sand beach paradise in the world. Since then, tourists from around the world started to flock boracay making it as one of the top tourist's destinations in the country. In the 90s, the boracay from beimg a humble paradise became highly commercialized due to the increase number of visitors. Small nipa huts were replaced by motels ,restaurants and casinos and as time went on more commercial establishments were built and the local government units due to good revenue brought about by tourism became lenient on giving business permits without thorough inspection and not realizing the dangers of pollution and overused. There were reports of water pollution and formation algae along the shores brought about by human waste dumped directly to the sea due to the alleged improper sewage system and improper and illegal connections of pipeline of different establishments. There were many attempts by the previous administration to close Boracay to rehabilitate it but because of the fear of the lost of revenue brought about by tourism, rehabilitation were not carried out.
Last February of 2018, a concerned citizen posted a video about a dark and ghastly liquid comming out of a drainage directly towards the sea which intendedly made as a drainage of rain water. This video went viral online. It was then realized the allegations of improper sewage system and illegal connections of pipelines of different commercial establishments were true and the local government unit leniency in providing business permit were proven and such violations were carried out.
The polluted Boracay dubbed as cesspool before the closure In this photo you can see algae along the shoreline
The Closure of the Paradise.
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of Boracay and stated that it became a cesspool. He ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ( DENR ) secretary Roy Cimatu to clean up the tourist destination Boracay for Six months. " I told Cimatu in a general meeting, he was assigned here, I will give you six months to clean the g*****thing. I will close Boracay, Boracay is a cesspool. You go into the water, it's smelly. Smells of what? Shit! " President Rodrigo said.
The president was serious about it and the boracay was closed for rehabilitation started April 26 and will be reopened October 26, 2018. The environmentalist and his supporters applauded this but his critics strongly opposed .
The critics who strongly opposed the rehabilitation of Boracay Senator Antonio Trillanes on upper left, Maria Ressa in the middle left, Joven Laurio in the lower left, Raissa Robles in the lower right and Senator Francis "kiko" Pangilinan on the upper right
The Rise of the Antagonizers.
Since Rodrigo Duterte bacame the President of Philippines though he has legions of supporters, there were those who stood firmly against him. These are the members of Liberal Party, Catholic clergy and and pro-Liberal party journalists and bloggers. These are the active critics of the current administration and will use every means to discredit anyone who are not the their side and non-members of the Liberal party. The President's political will to save Boracay was not spared by his antagonizers and made strong allegations regarding this matter. They often claimed that there was an scheming agenda behind it and not really a pro-environment act. Such allegations were claimed by the oppositions as only a front to give way to a rich Chinese business man to establish a mega casino in the island.
Senator Antonio Trillanes was the number one critic of the President. In the Boracay issue, he accused the President as giving favor to a rich Chinese business man to establish a casino in the island that suspension of Boracay was the period of constructing the alleged casino but he could not show evidences to verify his allegations. Now, that the Boracay is undergoing dry-run as a part of the soft openning, no mega casino was seen.
Senator Francis " Kiko " pangilinan is another member of the Liberal party strongly opposed the rehabilitation of Boracay, he mentioned that it would be a waste of people's money he also denounced the 600 personel from police, armed forces and coastguards sent by the President to ensure safety. He added that Boracay was not war zone but an island paradise and having an infantry was inappropriate. The senator was slamned by a journalist Raffy Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo was a well known supporter of the president and a courageous critic of Liberal Party. He discovered why the Senator Francis Pangilinan wanted to stop the rehabilitation of Boracay was because the wedding celebration that he was attending in which the venue was in Boracay was going to be cancelled because of the closure. Raffy Tulfo stated that it was a childish and selfish resentment of the senator.
Maria Ressa of Rappler also strongly opposed the rehabilitation of Boracay. She's known as " the voice of the Liberal party." She was a former news anchor of CNN and a former head of ABS-CBN news corporation and now the CEO of the online news Rappler. She has been constantly known for discrediting the President all throughout since Rodrigo Duterte became the elected president. She was cynic and pragmatic. She mentioned in one of her articles that rehabilitation of Boracay was a fool's dream and such goal could never be achieved. Because of being a constant critic of the President, she earned Ire among the supporters and accused her of being " the queen of fake news and a precursor of lies. " Rappler and Maria Ressa are now suffering the bad reputation of unreliable source of news.
Raissa Robles and Joven Laurio of Pinoy Ako Blog are some of the bloggers who also stood against the current administration and made strong alliance with the Liberal Party. They supported the allegations of Senator Antonio Trillanes about the Boracay. They are the most active bloggers of the opposition. Up to now they're still posting articles discrediting the President and his allies. But bloggers who support the President are far more intrepid and vigilant. Raissa Robles and Joven Laurio would end up as the underdogs and were often ridiculed and bullied by their counter part bloggers . The deadly duo were often regarded as the " hideous and the beast" because of their appearances. Even I had an heated argument with Robles online.
In The Midst of Restoration.
Despite the very strong opposition and critism of the rehabilitation of Boracay, President Rodrigo Duterte still carried out the plan to restore it and pursued the goal to save the troubled paradise. There were those who stood behind his back. Ms. Imee Marcos and Bong bong Marcos ( son and daughter of the former president Ferdinand Marcos ) had strongly supported him. Bong bong Marcos in one of his interviews with Raffy Tulfo stated that no President after his father had ever dared to close Boracay despite the possible lose of revenue brought about by tourism and only President Duterte who brave enough to do it. Gina Lopez a former secretary of the Development of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shared the same sentiment. During her interview with Karen Davila of Philippine CNN stated that she had no idea of the whole reason behind the closure of Boracay but saving the environment is the most important.
During the 6 months of rehabilitation, there were great numbers of violations that were discovered. 200 cases of violation by 116 establishments found violating the Philippine clear water act, 77 cases of violation of the Philippine clean air act, 5 for violating both laws and 9 cases of opetating without environmental compliance act. Sewage facilities of at least 578 establishments had been inspected and only 385 were found to be connected to thr sewage line of the island's water and sewage system providers and the rest dumped untreated sewage directly to the sea. Squatters were also found living on the wetlands of the island who had no adequate toilets dumping human waste directly towards the water contributing to a severe water pollution. The local government units will face possible charges of negligence and leniency on issuing business permits without proper and thorough inspections.
As the rehabilitation went by, people had seen progress. Bloggers and other journalists helps to update citizens. Mocha uson was one of the bloggers had constantly post videos and photos of the progress of rehabilitation since day one.
The photos of the newly restored beauty of Boracay
Cesspool No More.
The administration began the soft opening in October 15, 2018. It's dry-run will continue up to October 26, 2018.
From being dubbed as "cesspool," the island is " now a sight to behold, " environment secretary Ray Cimatu said in a program for Boracay's opening dry-run. During the dry-run, government will check the island's water quality, solid waste management and transportation system. Now we have seen the all new Boracay, maintenance is very appropriate. Once the island re-opens on the 3rd week of October, officials vowed to implement new rules to preserve what they've promised to save the pristine island.
The Dos and Donts.
People can now enjoy the new Boracay. It can also be our legacy for the generations to come. The goal of rehabilitation was indeed a successful achievement and we all did it. I guess those critics who strongly opposed this must be dumbfounded by now. Oblivious to facts I should say. It may have been difficult but looking back at what the current administration has done, it has been a, rewarding six months for all of us now we have the new and more pristine Boracay.
The Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte The great man behind the restoration of Boracay
