#TodayinHistory in 1909, #Baguio became a city by virtue of Act No. 1963. The new city was put under the direct control and supervision of the American Gov-Gen of #PH, and was envisioned to be the PH "summer capital." (THREAD) #History
At the turn of the 20th century at the height of Western imperial expansion, it was a shared belief among Western powers that the tropics posed serious health hazards to them. The solution was to look for highlands where temperature was similar to their countries of origin.
European colonizers built "Colonial Hill Stations" located on mountains all throughout South & Southeast Asia where they served as recreational & tourist spots for Westerners, as well as seats of imperium at the periphery. The U.S. followed suit upon acquiring #PH in 1898.
Based on the Spanish archival docs & maps, the Americans, led by Dean Worcester & W. Cameron Forbes, chose Baguio as the site of the American colonial hill station. On Gov-Gen W.H. Taft's 1st visit on the site, he marveled at the temp "as bracing as Adirondacks or Murray Bay."
In 1903, the Kennon Road began construction, as the American insular gov hired Filipino, Chinese, & Japanese workers to construct the road to link the area conveniently to the lowlands. Many of these workers & their descendants settled in Baguio.
Architect & urban designer, Daniel Burnham, from 1904 to 1905, proponent of the City Beautiful Movement, who designed a master plan for Chicago, Manila, & downtown Washington DC, was hired to design Baguio. His plans were largely followed.
It was for this purpose that the municipality & hill station was granted its city-hood on this day in 1909, with its own city mayor, city council, and personnel, but all under direct supervision & authority of the Governor General.
Today, the city is bursting at the seams, as its original capacity of 25,000 people have well exceeded to 372,680 (city population in year 2020). The city may become hazardous as it was during the Luzon earthquake of 1990.
Photos:
- Burnham Plan for Baguio, 1905
- Measuring cliff above Camp 1, 1901/Japanese workers, 1903, from edwardianpromenade.com
- D. Burnham in Baguio, from @artinstitutechi
- Baguio, early 1900s from burnhampi.wordpress.com
- Burnham Park, 23 Jan 1934, from John Tewell
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