History of Baguio

         Years has passed, and as we all can see, there have been a lot of big changes in our fair city (Baguio), even  in our country.
          Through out the years, since Baguio has discovered, it has gone through a lot of renovations, rebuilding, redesigning, from the 1990's earthquake; and until now, we can all see that Baguio city is still on going for a new transformation. So why don't we take a look on how our city first came to be the summer capital of the Philippines.

         Baguio (/bag-gyo/) is a first class urbanized city on the Cordillera Administrative Region in the middle of the Island of Luzon, in the Philippines. Baguio is acknowledge as the Summer Capital of the Philippines because of its cool mountain weather and also known as the City of Pines due to its location that is full of pine trees.

History of Baguio

Spanish Colonizers

Begins at the 19^th century when Spanish started colonizing until Ferdinand Magellan accidentally discovered Philippines while searching the Spice Island. Spanish explored Philippines up to the mountains of northern Luzon. What they found out was a land of a perfect place to apply agriculture and its fullness of precious minerals. The wealth attracted Spanish friars, soldiers and fortune seekers they exploited the natural resources up to the mountains and converted the locals to Christianity.

The Spanish colonial’s government did not find it easy to immediately establish their authority in the region. They found out that the natives, proud,Local Mountain folks was difficult to rule. At first, they had numerous encounters with fierce mountain tribes then they started dividing the land into local government units called “commandancias.” The natives objected and refused to be a part of it. Instead, they moved Higher and deeper into the mountains. Realizing the problem, the Spaniards decided to divide the land into “Rancherias” and was controlled by the landed aristocracy.

    

References of Pictures:
http://ph.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images

References:

http://www.cityofpines.com/history.html

http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lungsod_ng_Baguio

         As I walked along Session Rd., I looked around and started to realize that some of this building are just as old as I am, or even older. Some of them where just renovated or rebuild, and I stared to think, I wanted what would it have been like back then? What Baguio looked like before? So I found some pictures of Baguio city before, off the internet.

https://www.google.com.ph/           

          And I'm really amazed by how much have changed and how people have developed our fair city. But on the 16 of July 1990, a killer earthquake unexpectedly hit and extensively destroys the City of Baguio. As reported, a 7.7 measured in the open-ended Richter scale and lasted for 45 seconds. It was said to be the most destructive earthquake on record within the Cordillera Region. There were multiple aftershocks that followed and the strongest, which it occurred at 3:15 a.m. of July 18, lasted for eight seconds, and measured 5.3 on the Richer scale. The city suffered the most in terms of destruction to properties and numerous deaths. Many commercial and government buildings, hotels, inns, and residences were heavily damaged. The death toll continued to rise as rescuers pulled more bodies from the rubles  It was said that there many as 1,000 people who were trapped and killed in damaged buildings.   

https://www.google.com.phhttp://www.cityofpines.com/baguioquake/quake37.jpg        

          But as time moves forward, so those the people. That citizens of Baguio city started to pick themselves up, and started to rebuild the city. Better than what they've imagined. They found a way to use or found a way to make this travesty, into a way where they can remodel, rebuild and to recreate Baguio city for the younger generations to enjoy and to leave the past behind, and to look forward to a new and brighter city.

     

https://www.google.com.ph/baguio city

for more info about the 1990, earthquake go to this link:

http://www.cityofpines.com/baguioquake/quake.html