An anonymous reader comments on the uglification of Baguio. Again, we do not necessarily agree with the comments but his/her ideas are worth mulling over.
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Anonymous:
Here’s an honest thought.
I hate how Baguio is growing multi cultural nowadays. Just look on how the real Baguio people are being disregarded in favor of the outsiders. Yes multiculturalism is an asset but we must be careful on really being multi-cultural. The pre-war Baguio was a true multicultual society…The Japanese, Cantonese, and Ilocano Immigrants along with the native Ibalois and American colonists created and contributed to the Baguio culture that came about which is now being disregarded by the new immigrants and the city government, whom mostly are immigrants to the city and fake “Baguio people”.
I worry about BLIST. I’m scared that what happened to Baguio would happen to these areas. Baguio once had farmlands but because the local government was so permissive of squatting and “development”, the farmlands are gone. Di malayong mangayari ito sa Benguet, especially La Trinidad.
Tolerance destroyed Baguio. The city gave in too much to the demands of the outsiders even if its at the expense of the city and its people. Kami ang nagbabayad ng tax, bakit kami pa ang napepeste at di naseserbisyohan lagi nalang inuuna yung outsiders..poor or rich. We didn’t like the mall, we didn’t like that flyover…
I firmly beleve that the Urban Poor should be relocated to where they came from. Kung lagi silang magpupunta dito, talagang walang mangyayari sa Ili nila kasi di nila tinutulungan ito.
Here’s an interesting essay from a Baguio boy.
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The Nashman replies (you can visit his blog here):
It’s not the multi-culturalism that is at fault. It’s mainly that people nowadays just don’t follow the rules.
Remember, we live in a country where at least one in ten are economic migrants abroad! We CAN NOT be this RACIST!
Ask yourself now if suddenly the old white Americans start blaming the ills of their society to the new immigrants. Baguio alone is responsible for sending thousands of nurses abroad. What if those host countries suddenly become as xenophobic as Anonymous?????
No, it is not multi-culturalism that is at fault here.
RELATED POST: On the Uglification of Baguio
Familiar ata yan. LOL. Sa asar ko sa city gov’t at maraming bagong salta…(na tagarito “kuno”..hehe)Hay. Hehe. I know some are illogical at di napag-isipang mabuti. =(. I apologize kung may na-offend man ako. =(
No urban devt paradigm exists that can confront the exact pains of Baguio…The uttered comments are part of the continuing narrative about the city…
Heritage, history, nostalgia are important part of that narrative but not adequate as a focus for moving forward, transforming, and change…
The root meaning of community, I was reminded is “together in giving”..not defined by geography but by the process of mutual support….(from the internet, cannot remember the specific source).
It’s not the multi-culturalism that is at fault.
It’s mainly that people nowadays just don’t follow the rules.
Remember, we live in a country where at least 1 in 10 are economic migrants abroad! We CAN NOT be this RACIST!
Ask yourself now if suddenly the old white americans start blaming the ills of their society to the new immigrants. Baguio alone is responsible for sending thousands of nurses abroad. What if those host countries suddenly become as xenophobic as Anonymous?????
No, it is not multi-culturalism that is at fault here.
Hi Kris,
Familiar ba hehe. No need to apologize, you have a right to think what you think. Thanks.
Hi Anonymous,
I agree especially with this one: “No urban devt paradigm exists that can confront the exact pains of Baguio..” I think Baguio will have to develop its own new paradigm to solve its problems. Thanks.
Hi Nashman,
Thanks. I will upload your comments to the main post.