What if… In Baguio, it IS more fun outside of SM
Much has already been said and much will still be said regarding the cutting of 182 trees in SM City Baguio, now called Project Save 182. Sadly, some see this as a done deal and environmentalists and concerned citizens can shout themselves hoarse and nothing will come out of it, at least that is what SM and City Officials would probably want everyone to believe.
Amusing? Funny? or something to really think about?
Maybe so… but then again maybe not. But it IS by keeping quiet that you make sure that those 182 trees do not have a chance, the city does not have a chance.
I am 40, I have never joined a rally all my life, not a very unusual thing, but for an alumni of UP Diliman that is unusual, (I cringe to admit) it speaks volumes of my apathy and indifference.
But last January 20, in an adopted city I found my voice and for the first time joined a rally. And what a rally that was!
From students
citizens
to nuns
colorful brothers and sisters around
all want to save our trees.
With MISSION, a group imagining a different world
together with artists creating a culture that supports it
It has been difficult to write for in the past months, I have hesitated and just forgot about writing, I just didn’t have the motivation to do so. But that rally gave me the reason to write again. I first heard about it through Dr. Bengwayan of A Tree A Day, the main proponent of the movement. A brave man who inspired more than 5,000 people to walk.
Because of him and his inspiration, I realized that it is by finding my voice and way back to writing again, I also give the chance for another to find his own voice and way.
Even at 40, its never too late to have your voice heard.
But doing so earlier doesn't hurt either
I have always thought SM City Baguio was the most beautiful SM, hands down. Why? Simply because of the pine trees. Nothing beats dining in SM with its view of the pine trees and the mountains. At night, dining al fresco even at Mang Inasal has its charm.
Now SM would want us to believe that a skygarden can replace a forest, that it IS the tourist destination of the City of Pines (without the pine trees).
That is NOT fun, that is funNY (if it weren’t so sad).
I have also thought SM City Baguio was one of the most ecologically progressive among all SM malls, with limited airconditioning, recycled water flushing system and even supporting our Climate Change Presentation of Shiela Castillo, one of the Philippine’s top experts in Climate change.
But recent developments is changing that perception. Can SM’s green advocacy merely just a marketing ploy to give them a little competitive edge? uhhmmm… Personally, I’m no expert here, but if that IS merely a positioning, it is a very dangerous one in a world that is waking up. Eco or green has very definite parameters that are very transparent, evident and obvious when you are NOT it.
Now that is NOT fun nor funny.
I would suggest you read more credible discussions on the issue so you can have your own opinion, you can read it in the Green Pen and Rappler via JP Alipio.
But what can we do about it? I am just a mother, a teacher, what can I do? Do we stand a chance against a corporate giant with billions in their pocket? Maybe if we start to rethink where we spend the pesos in our wallets, then they will start to understand and we will start to understand.
Here is our most highly respected Tatay Kidlat Tahimik (with the camera), showing us we can do something even at any age.
Not to promote activism for activism’s sake nor protest just to protest. I am imagining what would make this more fun?
Incense at a protest, only in Baguio, why not???! When its about the environment, what better way to show the spirit of conservation than doing it peacefully.
With fun and spontaniety!
hmm… what if we are to imagine another way of making our voices heard? what if we imagine another way of enjoying Baguio?
What if… In Baguio, it is actually more Fun outside SM.
Here’s just partial list why…
Bookstore: Mt. Cloud, National Bookstore in Abanao Square, CID stores
Grocery: Sunshine, Victoria’s, Tiongsan
Clothes: Tiongsan, Ukay-ukay
Furniture: Tiongsan Harrison and Mabini
Dining: OMG, Eve’s Garden, Cafe by the Ruins, Oh My Khan (mmmm…this is getting exciting!)
Cinema: Cinemateque
Family and Kiddie Fun activities: Camp John Hay’s Butterfly Farm, Eco Trail, Tree Top Adventure
The more I think about it, the more exciting it gets!
In the next few posts, I will be sharing with you the other side of Baguio. And maybe, people would really see why IT IS FUN IN BAGUIO.
Gabrielle Nieman, a German Waldorf teacher said, “You lose the right to complain when you don’t say NO”.
This is my way of saying NO to earthballing, saying NO to the parking lot. Saying YES to Baguio.
Live a life worth leaving to your children,
Theresa
“We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children”-anon
How about you? What are you saying YES to? Sign the petition here.
There will be a public hearing on January 30, 2012 at the Baguio City Hall. Let us all who can and who wants, join so that more would also find their voices again.
Filed under Garden Green, Green Kids, Green Living Tips, Makings of Pinoy Pride by .
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Comments on What if… In Baguio, it IS more fun outside of SM
7:44 am
awesome post and pix tet. fun things for me outside of sm baguio:
- ukay ukay
- bliss cafe
- vocas
- oh my gulay!
- yung veggie resto near grace’s house
- botanical garden
- club john hay
- pao tsin (university of baguio)
- sofia waldorf-inspired school
- ananda marga yoga center
- burnham park
- palengke!!!
and many more.
it’s more fun in baguio outside SM!!!
6:22 pm
on a satirical note,
it is more fun to stand outside sm
looking at the sm herd inflicting pain on themselves
pushing to get inside sm
to take a look at sm (sam milby).
5:59 am
exactly shiela!
6:01 am
the FUNnier thing there is, he wasn’t there
1:03 am
and galing! Let your NO mean NO and your YES mean YES!
NO to TREE KILLING! YES to BAGUIO! YES to the PETITION against cutting/uprooting/earth balling of the 182 trees in Luneta Hill! Thank you!
1:10 am
Excellent blog post.
5:05 am
Let’s go and shop at High Top. Good quality and affordable! Trees have dignity too. No cutting of trees!
12:32 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words. You humble me.. michael
7:43 pm
This is a great post about Baguio. Thanks
2:33 pm
Is is true that one reason why SM Baguio will earthball the trees is to prevent erosion and flooding sa Baguio? Just read it here–> http://smsupermalls.com/smsupermalls/smbg/ Kindly enlighten me about this. Here’s an excerpt from the site about the flood.
”
Flood Prevention and Water Supply
With the trend of increased rainfall in several parts of the country, one of the potential problems is flooding due to water run-off. The redevelopment plan includes the building of an underground water reservoir. When the soil around the mall reaches its saturation point, especially during heavy rains, the water reservoir acts as a catch basin in order to prevent water from rushing off and flooding the areas that are lower than the existing elevation of the mall.
This underground water reservoir can contain 6.9 million liters of water at any given time. If a mature pine tree can absorb up to 4,000 pounds of water, this means that the reservoir will hold the amount of water equal to that which can be absorbed by almost 4,000 pine trees. (Note: A liter of water weighs 1 kilogram or 2.2 lbs.)
Because of the reservoir, the city’s drainage system will also be freed from the said water, thereby helping in flood prevention.
Furthermore, the spacious capacity of the water reservoir will benefit both the mall and the surrounding community, especially during times when the supply of water in Baguio is scarce. The collected water could then be recycled and used to supply water to local firetrucks, irrigation, watering of local parks and public facilities, and other non-potable purposes.”
4:15 pm
According to SM they are going to plant 60,000 sapling in exchange for the tree that they will transfer not CUT “daw”. will this be safe for the tree? will the tree survive?
3:57 pm
@david:
yes it is safe and the tree will survive. we now got the technology for transferring a tree, this is widely use in the developing countries.
4:13 pm
if people of Baguio really care about the environment.. why is baguio as clean as before.. in general Filipinos are concern to the environment and wants to help stop global warming, but why a lot of Filipinos still smokes a lot,why people don’t maintain their car properly, why a lot of Filipinos throw their trash anywhere as if the Philippine is one big trash bin, and Why don’t they help planting tree or plants at their own garden. at least Sm is doing something in return to the environment.