The Shame of Burnham Park

Burn Ham Park is the most popular destinations of everyone, locals and those coming up to Baguio City to refresh from its natural beauty and cool weather. 

With those many things, worth of thousands if not millions of pesos, added by the city government bolstering its beauty to become appealing to the public, such as the dancing waters from the fountains they stalled, there are simple things they don’t see or don’t really want to see at all.  

Dancing Waters at Burnham Park, a new feature

One of the three fountain added to boost Burnham's Beauty

 

One of the fountain added to the Beauty of Burnham Park

For critics, it is not hard to guess the reason why the park administrators don’t want to give attention to those small things yet very important for the dignity of the park and to all the residents of Baguio; those simple problems are not worth it – or simply don’t worth millions of pesos.

If one goes to Melvin Jones, the sight of its balding playground where the kids love to play soccer is very obvious.  During summer the ground is dusty, and during rainy season the soil becomes muddy. And while walking around the park, garbage from the people litters the area because of lack of garbage cans and not strict implementation of the anti-littering law.

The Balding Melvin Jones playground

And when one looks for a place to sit down, it is easy to be attracted at the sides where it has the shades of the tall pine trees.  If you are on the side, facing the lagoon, you’ll surely be fascinated to a monument of a man sitting on top of big artificial boulders on the right, in a corner about 20 meters away from the ganza restaurant.  But once you get near to that stone-monument, you can’t help but feel repulsed to the condition you will see.  Between the pillars that hold the statue is wet and stinks with men’s call of nature.  There are two big comfort rooms on both sides of the park; however, one should pay a minimal fee of five pesos to use the facilities.  But in my observation, the position of the monument is very convenient and enticing to use because one can hide their front without being noticed they are relieving themselves.

The place where the undisciplined sons of Adam hide each time they feel the call

I am hoping that the city will look into these small things yet very important to the image of not only Burnham Park, but also to the city and people of Baguio City as a whole.

Baguio City's Burnham Park Under Renovation

 

We went with my baby girl to Burnham Park late yesterday to let her get her walk as we have done occasionally when she gets bored at home.  As we got into the front of the lake, I saw a banner.  We walked to the banner so I could read what is written.  I was surprised that the park’s lake is under renovation. I did not notice it when we were walking towards the lake.  Though I saw materials for construction, it did not occur to me that the lake is under renovation, probably, because what was on my mind was the lake is in full business of renting boats to the people who want to enjoy its serenity.

When I look straight to the lake, I saw cranes, and backhoes in standby, and the lake has no water and the soil were excavated and partially removed.

I remember that we were here last January 13, 2013 and all the boats were all in business.   I had no idea this was coming.  That’s what happen when one have not tuned in to the radio or TV for years to know what was happening around and those that are bound to happen. 

Anyways, if you’re a tourist planning to come up to Baguio City, or a local resident on the outskirts of Baguio City, planning to go there to enjoy the lake, this shall inform you that you’ll be frustrated.  However, all the other recreations for children like biking, and the others are all working.

Here are some images you will see if you want to go there:

                                                
                                         Figure 1 = A banner about the Burnham Lake renovation

                                         Figure 2

                                          Figure 3  = Equipments at rests

                                         Figure 4 = The boats are grounded

                                          Figure 5

                                          Figure 6  I guess these duck-boats are eager to swim

                                         Figure  7

                                         Figure  8

                                         Figure  9

Images Of Sagada

If you are planning to visit Sagada, here are some pictures you'll expect to see. And when you are planning to go there be sure to always have with you a jacket, especially, on the months of November to February. It is always cold there for people who have low tolerance of low temperature. However, the temperature usually goes down to the least 9 degrees centigrade or about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and can have a high of 24 degrees centigrade or 75 degrees Fahrenheit. These images are just some of the common things one can see.

Thick forest of Pine Trees is a wealth of Sagada. It gives residents and visitors the real scent of Pine trees.

Rice Farms found in Demang, next to Patay.

Carpentry and furniture making is one of the source of income of the men of Sagada

This is the center of Sagada. This is the Junction(Crossing) of Sagada where one gets down.  The road going down to the left(where the police station) is going top Bugang area, and the road on the right where the man is standing is going to Besao.

                                                

            

Restaurants and eateries are found along the main road

This is the St. Mary's Church of Sagada

Next to St. Mary's is the bus parking area where it waits for passengers going back to Baguio City.

Due to the rising popularity of Sagada as a tourist destination, transportation is becoming a problem.  People have to wait in line;  though buses are always on time.

The famous Sumaguing Cave.

The curtain. One of the view inside of Sumaguing cave.

Can you find the hanging coffins in the picture?  If you look straight just above the grasses below you'll see them.  This was an old traditional practice in Sagada.  Some prominent people are put high in this place, a hole is made through those stones and the coffin with the body is push in.

One can view this scenery at Ambasing.  That is where the hanging coffins are.

I found this image to be cute so I snapped a picture.  This two kids climbed up on the side of this mountain to get shelter from the rain.

If one happens to have a chance in visiting a wake, it is no surprise to see how meat is cooked.  This menu is called "Anger" or boiled meat.  Only salt was added but one could taste the real taste of meat.