Earlier, we stated that the Baguio Centennial Logo looks cool. We still believe it does. However, Karla raises a valid point in the comment section which we are reprinting here.

Regarding the logo, it is aesthetically pleasing and exudes a city that is vibrant. Logo design is always a controversial process and everyone not directly involved has an opinion. Congratulations to the artist for coming up with a centennial logo that is vibrant. Baguio’s children will remember it for a long, long time because it is very colorful.

BUT it would have been better if it also made one FEEL that Baguio is located in the highlands and that it was once a dominantly Ibaloi place, had an American presence, and now a very cosmopolitan city. Possible solutions could have included an image of zigzag road somewhere, use of Ibaloi language in expressing “culture of caring”, a building reminiscent of American presence, people images that express this cosmopolitan complex.

True indeed. The logo might be a good representation of Baguio now but it says very little about Baguio’s history particularly its Ibaloi heritage. This is unfortunate because the centennial is, more than anything else, a celebration of the past. Maybe they can include an Ibaloy version of the tagline (“a culture of caring”) as Karla suggests? Or add a more distinctive Baguio/Ibaloy icon?

Of course you can say, “What about the strawberry and the sunflower”? Well, I’m not quite sure if these are distinctive enough. They are pretty generic symbols and are not really uniquely Baguio. In fact, without the headline (i.e., Baguio Centennial) you would be hard pressed to immediately identify the logo with Baguio.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the logo looks cool as I mentioned earlier. It is an inspired work and let’s give kudos to the artist who made it. There is no doubt that it is, to use Karla’s words, aesthetically pleasing. However, it lacks a certain connection with the city’s unique character, its cultural heritage, and the past 100 years. What do you think?

By the way, thanks Karla 🙂

PHOTO SOURCE: Baguio Centennial Commission.