Pangasinense, Fil-Indian days in Baguio / skating rink

CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city will finally bid out the operation of the skating rink at Burnham Park.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan last Dec. 10 formed a special committee to administer the bidding process for the lease and operation of the facility.

City Administrator Carlos Canilao will head the committee with Officer-in-Charge City Legal Officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes, City Human Resource Management Officer Agustin Laban, City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias, General Services Officer Eugene Buyucan and City Environment and Parks Management Officer Ruben Cervantes as members. 

After the contract with the present concessionaire Quirante’s Fun Rides/Skates Rentals and Recreation Center expired in 2014, the skating facility has been managed by the same firm under a hold-over arrangement.

The committee will take charge of setting the terms of reference (TOR) to specify the parameters of the project.

In 2014, the mayor formed a technical working group headed by urban planner and former city architect Joseph Alabanza of the Baguio Heritage Committee and city building and architecture officer-in-charge Johnny Degay to draw up the master development plan for the facility as a guide in the formulation of the TOR.

Amid the call then to open the facility to the public, the mayor assured that in the drafting of the terms, the city will consider their clamor to shun commercialization and to improve public’s access to the facility in the light of the fact that the facility cannot be used for free being one of the few income generators where the city sources out funds for the maintenance of the park. 

In his order, the mayor directed the committee to immediately convene to start the bidding process.

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Pangasinense, Fil-Indian Days marked in the city, why not?

The city council on Dec. 10 approved on second reading two proposed ordinances declaring a day of celebration each for Pangasinenses and Filipino-Indians.

Authored by Councilor Edgar Avila, the proposed measures set the “Natan La-Pangasinense Day” every December 8  and the “Indian Day” every October 19.

“The legislation aims to recognize and celebrate the contributions of both the Pangasinenses and Indians in the socio-economic and cultural linkage of our city,” Avila said. 

In the measure, Avila recalled that the Pangasinenses migrated from their coastal homes in Pangasinan located more or less 50 kilometers away from Baguio to the city hoping to find fortune in the gold mines of Baguio and Benguet while others sought employment in Chinese owned businesses.

“Eventually, as their lives progressed many ventured into their own businesses becoming stall owners in the local city market thus the predominance of Pangasinenses in the area. Soon they established their presence in this mountain resort not only in private agencies but also in the local government. Many of whom occupied important seats in the in the City of Baguio such as Former Mayor Jun Labo, Councilor Nicasio Palaganas and Atty. Edilberto Tenefrancia,” he noted. 

As to the Indians, Avila related that the Indians from Mandaras known as sepoys came with the British expeditionary force to Manila since the mid-18th century and they then eventually settled in the country and became merchants who went into textile business through retail stores and door-to-door peddling of merchandize and later on employed skilled Filipino labor in their garments re-export business. 

“Some of the many well-known Indians owned Baguio businesses such as Valirams, Bombay Bazaar and Fil-Indian. Most of our Indian brothers have inter-marriages with Filipinos and it is apparent that they are here to stay,” he said. 

“Henceforth, October 8 “Indian Day” and December  8  “Natan La –Pangasinense Day”  shall be celebrated annually to pay tribute to the culture, traditions and accomplishments of the Indians and the Pangasinenses and most especially for their many contributions to the City of Baguio.”