Vintage Cordillera

[Doc Alan]

There were well over 10,000 views of “ Manila in the 1970’s “ ( http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....n+the+1970%27s ) so here’s the first of the follow up “ Vintage Philippines “ threads . Separate Manila thread to follow.


All photos and scanned old postcards are mine, so no copyright issues . They are unaltered from original. I also take responsibility for historical notes – please correct any errors !

Part I :-


1. “ Zig-zag, Baguio Road “ :- Baguio ( “ Summer Capital of the Philippines “ ) was developed by the Americans as a hill station around 1900, and this first road directly connecting Pangasinan was completed soon afterwards.



How the roads to Baguio have changed more than a century later !






2. “ Amphitheatre, Baguio “ :- Part of the Hill Station in what is today the site of Camp John Hay ( named after American President Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of War ).



The Amphitheatre is now a venue for weddings and other activities :-

[Doc Alan]

Part II :-


Camp John Hay became an internment camp for Americans and other nationals at war with the Japanese ... the headquarters of General Yamashita.














General Yamashita was captured in 1945, and hanged in 1946 at Los Banos, Laguna. He had only been sent to the Philippines in 1943 ( after commanding the Japanese Imperial Army when they “ conquered “ Malaya and Singapore ).



There is now a “ Japanese Filipino Peace Memorial Park “ in Baguio ( and many Japanese tourists visit the Philippines ) :-







3. “ Planting rice in Bontoc “ ( capital of Mountain Province, and historic capital of the Cordillera region ) :-







There are now other crops in this region ( these in Benguet, “ Salad Bowl of the Philippines “ ). In fact, with up to a third of the rice terraces thought now to be abandoned, the region’s value to the country as a tourist destination probably exceeds its rice production :-

[Doc Alan]

Thanks so much to members who have viewed this thread .

As with the " Vintage Manila " thread, I'm happy to share my interest in Filipino culture and history through photos old and new on this Forum .

[Terpe]

Great Photos again Doc.....somehow missed this thread first time around.
Having difficulties with my laptop just now ...

Anyway, have some very nice memories in this area.... we stayed at the Hotel there at Camp John Hay. There was a good butterfly sanctuary there at that time.

[Arthur Little]

... all truly fascinating stuff, Alan!

... appreciate your sharing ...

[Doc Alan]

Thank you Terpe and Arthur .


There is still a butterfly sanctuary at Camp John Hay, although when we visited in January the butterflies were quite inactive as the temperature was falling close to freezing at night :-





This is one at the stage of pupa / chrysalis :-




Fully grown “ paper kite “ butterflies in the sanctuary :-

















Butterflies were still quite abundant, flying “ free “ in the parks of Baguio and elsewhere in Cordillera Region ( http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....3-Cordillera-2 ).


See also :-


http://pbh-butterflies.yolasite.com/...utterflies.php


http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/15553007

[Doc Alan]

Part III


Burnham Park :-

… then :-



… and now :-




Old Session Road, Baguio :-




Baguio Market :-

… then :-








… and now :-





Banaue Rice Terraces :-

[mickcant]

Lovely pictures
Mick.

[Doc Alan]

Baguio Market early last century :-




Baguio Market and Session Road, also last century :-






Baguio Market in the 1960s :-






Baguio Cathedral ( construction began in 1920 and was completed in 1936; it’s not just one of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines but also historically significant as it was used for shelter for residents during World War II ) :-






Baguio Cathedral earlier
this year :-






Baguio Pines Hotel in the 1960s – on Luneta Hill at the top of Session Road, this was rebuilt after the original hotel ( on a different site ) was destroyed in World War II. It burned down in 1984 and two decades later the " SM City Baguio " shopping mall was opened on the same site :-

[Arthur Little]

Superb snapshots of Baguio Market's distant past AND the '60s Alan! Quite a contrast ... emphasised, of course, by the vibrant colours of the fruit, vegetables and other merchandise - not to mention what the ladies are wearing - all nicely laid out on display in the 3rd photo.

Likewise, the splendidly-located Baguio Pines Hotel. Pity in some ways that it was replaced by a shopping mall after it burnt down. But there again ... ... the city planners would've had an eye to the business likely to be generated by longer term development in that vicinity.

Thankfully, the beautifully-appointed Cathedral (even if not of great antiquity) has been well preserved.

I think I've mentioned my particular interest in Baguio before - partly due to Myrna regularly attending Teachers' Summer Camps there, and partly because of its cooler temperatures. So naturally, it's on our list of places to go for my next visit to the Philippines.

[Doc Alan]

The Kennon ( Benguet ) Road project began in 1903 and opened for travel two years later. It was named in honour of the builder Col. Kennon of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Over 2,300 foreign and local workers constructed the road, some killed from falls and others from malaria. It was damaged in the 1990 Luzon earthquake. The steepest portion of the road, known as the Zig-zag Road, is shown here :-

[Michael Parnham]

Nice update Alan, I've learned a great amount over these past few years. Thank you so much

[Doc Alan]

This view of Baguio from the late 1960s shows pine trees in the foreground ; Session Road ( central ) ; the 80 years old " Our Lady of Atonement " Catholic Cathedral ( top left ) ; Burnham Park ( right, over a century old ), named after architect Daniel Burnham ; and Pines Hotel ( top right, on Luneta Hill ), built on this site after World War II, burnt down in 1984, replaced by " SM City Baguio " shopping mall in 2003 :-

[Steve.r]

I remember our day in Baguio Alan, fond memories.

[Doc Alan]

I remember our day in Baguio Alan, fond memories.

Indeed Steve, unforgettable

[Doc Alan]

I remember our day in Baguio Alan, fond memories.

Indeed Steve, unforgettable

[stevewool]

Wonder pictures of now and then, how things can change sometimes for the best too, keep them coming Alan ,

[Doc Alan]

Wonder pictures of now and then, how things can change sometimes for the best too, keep them coming Alan .

Thank you Steve, I will

[Michael Parnham]

Nice addition to an amazing collection Alan

[Doc Alan]

Thank you Michael


Another view of Session Road, Baguio. It derived its name because it used to lead up to the old Baden-Powell Hall, where the Philippine Commission held its sessions in 1904 and officially designated Baguio as " Philippine Summer Capital ".

[Michael Parnham]

'Quaint' is the word for your latest picture Alan, love the colours and brightness of it, looks like the world was a happier place at that time

[Doc Alan]

March 1941 had marked the maiden flight of Philippine Airlines from Nielson Airport in Makati to Loakan Airport in Baguio City. PAL services were interrupted during World War II, and resumed in 1946. How ironic that 75 years later Baguio’s airport can’t attract any investor to run commercial flights there . It seems there are safety problems ( perimeter fence and access road needed ) ; also the need for new passenger terminal building. The 1.6 km airstrip is maintained for Philippine Military Academy.


This view from the late 1960s shows the airport with a PAL British Handley Page Dart Herald airliner. Handley Page went into voluntary liquidation in 1969.

[Michael Parnham]

March 1941 had marked the maiden flight of Philippine Airlines from Nielson Airport in Makati to Loakan Airport in Baguio City. PAL services were interrupted during World War II, and resumed in 1946. How ironic that 75 years later Baguio’s airport can’t attract any investor to run commercial flights there . It seems there are safety problems ( perimeter fence and access road needed ) ; also the need for new passenger terminal building. The 1.6 km airstrip is maintained for Philippine Military Academy.


This view from the late 1960s shows the airport with a PAL British Handley Page Dart Herald airliner. Handley Page went into voluntary liquidation in 1969.

Very nice aircraft Alan, I wonder if they made it a museum piece

[Doc Alan]

Camp John Hay, in Baguio, named after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of War; first established as hill station in 1900 ; became military reservation for U.S. soldiers ; headquarters of Japanese General Yamashita and internment camp in WWII ; now a tourist area :-

[Arthur Little]

Camp John Hay, in Baguio, named after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of War; first established as hill station in 1900 ; became military reservation for U.S. soldiers ; headquarters of Japanese General Yamashita and internment camp in WWII ; now a tourist area :-

's especially interesting to those such as Myrna & myself, who - for the reason(s) I've mentioned in #10 above - are keen followers of Baguioan history, Alan ...

[Michael Parnham]

Thank you Alan, It's nice to learn the history of your pictures

[Doc Alan]

Thank you in turn Michael and Arthur