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.
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