That has always been my credo as a concerned citizen of Baguio, whether it's about defending 182 trees from being killed to satisfy a corporate giant's insatiable greed, or protesting a misguided effort to cement over a wide green space for another concrete monstrosity, or more recently, transforming a heritage site into a communal space that would inspire creativity and forge a stronger sense of community among a very important, often taken advantage of yet largely taken for granted sector of our society.
In the beginning, there was some opposition to the idea of holding Ibagiw at the Old Diplomat Hotel - it's inaccessible, structurally unstable, its current condition not suitable for an event such as the Baguio Creative City Festival - to cite a few of the reasons forwarded by some of the conveners of the city's lead private sector partner for the project. We were asked to explore other options for the festival's main venue, a couple were floated - Camp John Hay and Baguio Convention Center. The latter was a no-go from the get-go, its renovation hasn't been completed, and whatever has been done already were substandard.
I was supposed to explore the possibility of having it in Camp John Hay, but I really believed that the Old Diplomat Hotel was the perfect site for the festival, and that it would be the perfect opportunity to showcase the possibility of transforming it into a permanent cultural center for Baguio.
Fast-forward to the weeks after the festival - Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong now wants to explore that possibility and asked for a basic conceptual design; the Council for Baguio Creative City has been established and within it a Technical Working Group particularly for the purpose of brainstorming for ideas for this transformation; three concepts have so far been forwarded for consideration.
I'm particularly wary about one proposal for a creative hub that includes, among others, the construction of structures for hotel-like accommodations around the Old Diplomat Hotel, a cable car station and an additional floor on top of the heritage building itself. It worries me because of the social and environmental impact it would have on the community that hosts the site, and equally important, the character that such a proposal would give the site.
I ask, should the Baguio Heritage Hill and Nature Park be transformed into a Creative Hub or a Cultural Center?
One would think that it's just a matter of semantics. but it's not. Up until I was practically left with no other choice but to preclude myself in what's supposed to be a collegial body because of the punishment rendered on me when I voiced out what I believed were legitimate concerns, I advocated for a Cultural Center, as follows:
THE CULTURAL CENTER OF BAGUIO
There are three main recommendations that I wish to forward in this regard, as follows:
1. DETERMINING PRECISELY WHAT THE OLD DIPLOMAT HOTEL SHOULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO
In conceptualizing the 2019 Baguio Creative City Festival, one of the main ideas that we forwarded was that the event would serve as an audition of sorts – the 9-day festival must explore the possibility of establishing the old Dominican Retreat House as a permanent art and cultural center.
In recent weeks, several exploratory conceptual designs have been forwarded and discussed by the Technical Working Group among them my initial presentation which I have submitted, and Mr. Aris Go’s and Mr. Paolo Mercado’s which were both very interesting concepts though focused on establishing a “Creative Hub” at the Heritage Hill and Nature Park.
The primary distinction between a creative hub and a cultural center, to my understanding, rests on the former’s far wider constituency, while the latter serves a more focused sector of that wider community. Moreover, a Creative Hub, in contemporary context, is primarily concerned with providing for economic activity for the “creatives” while an art center is more focused on providing a venue for artistic and cultural expression. While economic opportunities for artists are welcome, the city also needs a home for what National Artist Kidlat Tahimik calls “Baguio’s artistic soul.”
While the functions and intentions of “Creative Hub” and a “Cultural Center” are similar, the PRIMARY functions and intentions are vastly different.
Therefore, I forward the position that the site be designated primarily as an Art and Cultural Center.
The justification for this position is that the city already has existing centers that serve the different sectors of the creative community – Maharlika Livelihood Center, OTOP Center, ASIN Carvers Village, etc., add to that the proposed “Creative Hub” that is part of the Burnham Park master development plan. But Baguio has yet to establish a public center specifically for culture and the arts.
2. PRESERVING THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FORMER DOMINICAN RETREAT HOUSE
As we actively pursue the transformation of the Old Dominican Retreat House, we must keep in mind that we are utilizing an existing architectural structure and heritage site. Great care must be taken to ensure that we are not, in the process, defacing and mutilating the historic building.
It is recommended that much of the renovations be focused on first and foremost ensuring the structural stability of the building, and secondly, the interiors so as to preserve the structure’s inherent aesthetic value. Its exteriors, particularly its architectural silhouette must be preserved, otherwise, what we’re doing would be a demolition and not a renovation.
3. PHASES AND CONTINUING ACTIVITIES
It can be assumed that the renovation would be done in phases so as to allow for continued activities at the site. But there are several minor renovations that I believe could already be executed to make the venue more conducive to artistic and cultural activities, as follows:
A. Completion of the installation of lighting implements which was not accomplished due to the late arrival of much of the requested materials from the LGU for Ibagiw 2019.
B. For security, the installation of doors at the entrances to the building, or pending this, the deployment of more security personnel to provide 24-hour security to the venue (see visuals below):
 |
| Current entrance to the building |
 |
| Installation of door & windows |
 |
| Result |
 |
| Currently, most of the windows at the ground floor are bare |
 |
| Completion of installation of windows |
 |
| Result |
C. Removal of dividing walls in the rooms on the first floor to allow for the establishment of wider exhibition and performance spaces.
Below is how the ground floor is essentially currently laid out:
By removing the dividing walls in the rooms around the courtyard and the fountain therein, we could immediately establish three art spaces that could immediately be utilized, as shown below:
And outdoor, several artists have expressed their willingness to volunteer and help build a dap-ay:
 |
| Current |
 |
| Installation of a dap-ay |
 |
| Result |
D. The assignment of a permanent office for the administrative staff in charge of management of the proposed activities and events.
E. The purchase and installation of basic technical equipment such as gallery and theater lights, public address system, etc. needed for the staging of artistic and cultural events.
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
Exploring possibilities given the current status of the structure, the following are proposed activities that may be carried out in the meantime:
1. THE CRAFTS & FOLK ART SHOWROOM - February to November
A small outlet for selected crafts and folk art pieces where visitors can purchase items. The shop shall be carefully and artfully curated to feature the most innovative pieces available in the city.
2. VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS - February to June
The rooms used as exhibition areas could host visual arts exhibits with slots allotted to different art groups and individuals.
3. FILM EXHIBITIONS - February to June
On certain days of the week, the Main Exhibit Hall at the 2nd floor that hosted the Salubong exhibit during the festival could be transformed into a screening room for independent films.
4. THEATRICAL AND LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES - February to June
Various areas could be used for this purpose – open air performances at the courtyard, the festival’s Orengao Hall or the Ibagiw Hall. The venues could be offered to local school and community-based theater groups.
5. ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM - February to June
To further encourage and develop local artists and artisans, especially the youth, rooms could be appropriated for use by selected individuals to serve as their studio for a certain period of time.
6. THE BAGUIO CREATIVE MASTERCLASSES - February – June
With practicing artists and artisans as the target market, a series of clinics and seminars facilitated by experts in various forms of creative expression and craftsmanship.
7. THE BAGUIO SUMMER CREATIVE WORKSHOPS AND ART CAMP - First batch in April, 2nd batch in June
With the youth as the target market, a series of day workshops and art camps where students stay in for a whole weekend.
All of the above activities could be executed by BACCI which could achieve the following goals:
1. Provide for a center, a physical space where artists and artisans could gather, explore concepts, collaborate, create and exhibit their works and with this further strengthen the sense of community and unity among Baguio’s cultural community;
2. Provide the community with access to relevant art exhibitions and performances.
3. Keep the momentum going for Baguio’s Creative City initiatives and fulfill its commitments to the UCCN;
4. Provide economic and exposure opportunities for the city’s artists and artisans.
In ending, I share another statement I made on SM City Baguio's then plan to remove a forest for concrete parking building in 2012:
It's not about what you're going to build, but what you're going to kill to build it.
I hope the city proceeds carefully with the transformation of the Old Diplomat Hotel.
*The above is part of the full terminal report for Ibagiw 2019 that was submitted to the Mayor, the City Budget Office, the Council for Baguio Creative City and BACCI. The full report is published here.
No comments:
Post a Comment