Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Heritage Status For Burnham Park Including 12 Clusters

This is a repost of an open letter for the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) I have read in the Week's Mail section of Baguio Midland Courier dated Sunday, August 3, 2014.

The letter came from concerned citizens and various groups in Baguio City.
  • RONALDO A. PARAAN, M.D., Chair, Baguio Heritage Foundation, Inc.
  • MARIA ISABEL G. ONGPIN, Chair, Pine Cone Movement
  • KARLO MARKO ALTOMONTE, Save 182 Trees Movement Open Space Projects
  • MICHAEL BENGWAYAN, Director, Cordillera Ecological Center
  • DIVINA A. BAUTISTA, President, National Delphic Council Philippines 
  • LING-LING MARANAN CLAVER, Baguio Citizens No Waste Initiative 
  • CHRISTOPHER DONAAL, Cordillera Global Network 
  • OLIVE GREGORIO, Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary
NHCP asked to declare B’ham Park as heritage site
This is to formally inform that on June 2, concerned citizens and residents of Baguio City have filed a petition with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to declare Burnham Park and its 12 cluster areas (Melvin Jones Grandstand, Burnham Lagoon, Children’s Playground, Skating Rink, Rose Garden, Orchidarium, Igorot Garden, Athletic Bowl, Picnic Grove, Japanese Peace Tower, Pine Trees of the World, and Sunshine Park), as heritage/historical sites pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 10066 or The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
As you very well know, Burnham Park was part of Daniel Burnham’s original plan for Baguio as a hill station. Since its creation, it has become so identified with Baguio City that people always say “do not go to Baguio without visiting Burnham Park” or “you haven’t been to Baguio if you did not go to Burnham Park.”

It is without a doubt an important component of the cultural heritage of the people of Baguio.

With the recent developments, we are very much concerned about the planned underground and above-level parking structures at Melvin Jones.

Melvin Jones is the only open area available for sports and other gatherings and is important to Baguio City and its people to know that its destruction, in whole or in part, will bring about adverse consequences on their culture, health, social wellbeing, and commerce.

In this regard, we respectfully request that the city government refrain from destroying, degrading, defacing and/or introducing changes to Burnham Park and its 12 clusters and specifically Melvin Jones football fields, pending resolution of our petition by the NHCP.

The 12 Clusters of Burnham Park:
  1. Melvin Jones Grandstand
  2. Burnham Lagoon
  3. Children’s Playground
  4. Skating Rink
  5. Rose Garden
  6. Orchidarium
  7. Igorot Garden
  8. Athletic Bowl
  9. Picnic Grove
  10. Japanese Peace Tower
  11. Pine Trees of the World
  12. Sunshine Park
References:

NHCP asked to declare B’ham Park as heritage site
BURNHAM PARK
Baguio for All Seasons: Feel the Best of the Cordilleras!
Wright and Burnham Parks in Baguio, Philippines
The Undeniable Charm of Burnham Park in Baguio City
Burnham Park has 12 cluster areas
Burnham Park The very heart of Baguio City in the Philippines

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