Session Road heritage fest ordinance pushed

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- The city council approved on first reading the proposed ordinance to institutionalize a “Session Road History and Heritage Festival” on the third Saturday of April until the second Sunday of June of every year.

The ordinance proposed P500,000 to be allocated annually for the purpose.

Introduced by Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan and Councilor Elaine D. Sembarano, the measure intends to encourage Baguio residents and tourists alike to be in tune with the history of Session Road which “has already been forgotten and even unknown to most residents.”

“Session Road was named from the fact that it leads to the location of the site (old Baden Powell at Governor Pack Road) where the Philippine Commission held its first session in Baguio, and they conducted sessions thereat from April 22 to June 11, 1904, to which they were able to approve 74 Acts and 272 Resolutions,” Sembrano said in her proposed ordinance.

The Commission was composed of Governor General Luke E. Wright and Commissioners Henry C. Ide, Dean Conant Worcester, Trinidad Pardo Tavera, Benito Legard, Jose de Luzuriaga, James Francis Smith, and William Cameron Forbes.

Sembrano added that among the salient legislations of the Commission were the creation of the Philippine Senate and the Senate’s initiative to dub Baguio as the Philippines’ Summer Capital.

She cited a dissertation entitled “A visual history of Baguio City’s Session Road through photographs and primary dDocuments” through a website (blissfulhawthorn.wordpress.com).

Sembrano also cited different areas along Session Road with historical significance such as the Post Office which then served as a constabulary barracks and later a convent, and the site of Greenwich and Pizza Volante, formerly Session Theater, which was then a penal colony of at least 500 prisoners.

The ordinance proposed closure of Session Road on Saturdays and Sundays of each week within the said period to allow residents and tourists to walk freely from the rotunda near SM to Mercury Drug at Lower Session Road without vehicular traffic.

Restaurants and fast food establishments will be allowed to bring out tables and chairs for their customers “fronting their premises only and will not occupy the whole portion of the street.”

The proposal said there will be no trade fairs or selling of general merchandises along Session Road during the celebration as such activities are not in line with the theme of the festival.

Landmark areas along Session Road with historical value including the site where the old Baden Powel was situated will be provided with banners, tarpaulins, or other appropriate materials containing informational texts about these areas’ historical significance.

The proposal will recommend participation of the creatives in the city such as poets, painters, street performers, and storytellers and allow them to conduct arts events in specific areas along Session Road during the celebration.

A working committee will be formed for the implementation of this ordinance.

The committee’s tasks will be as follows:

Formulate activities or events to highlight the celebration; prepare the rules and regulations in relation to the bringing out of stalls by restaurants and fast food establishments along Session Road; coordinate with departments/offices and the businesses along Session Road; identify strategic areas where the culture and arts events can be conducted; ensure the safety of residents and guests during the celebration; ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the closure of Session Road; ensure that accounting and auditing rules are abided especially in the use of funds; after the celebration, and prepare a report for the enrichment of the event for the succeeding celebrations.

The proposed ordinance was referred to the committee on tourism, special events, parks, and playgrounds for further study.