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History
The region around Baguio was first settled by the Cordilleranos, primarily the
Kankane-y, Ibaloi, and Itogon tribes. In nearby La Trinidad, Spaniards
established a commandante or military garrison, although Kafagway, as Baguio was
once known, was barely touched. In 1901 Americans together with the engineering
feat of John Kennon built the first road directly connecting Kafagway with the
lowlands of Pangasinan. Before this, the only road to Kafagway is the Naguilian
Road, now known as the Quirino Highway. In September 1, 1909 Baguio was declared
a chartered city. It was planned according to the American architect Burnham,
but his plan was used only to a small extent, primarily due to the hilly
terrain. Americans declared Baguio the Summer Capital of the Philippines and The
Mansion as the residence of the American governor-general to escape Manila's
Summer heat. Americans further developed Baguio, building parks and public
structures such as Wright Park, Burnham Park, Governor Pack Road, Session Road,
Assumption Road.
With Philippine independence in 1946, Americans settled in the city and English
became the primary lingua franca. Ilocanos joined the Cordilleranos in Baguio,
and the population of Americans, Dutch, Belgians, and Germans soared. Baguio was
relatively quiet from 1946 to July 16, 1990, when an earthquake destroyed most
of Baguio. The city was quickly rebuilt. In 2004 the city had an epidemic of
meningococcemia, partly due to its seclusion (Baguio is surrounded by mountains)
and cold climate.
Around May 2003, a petition to declare Baguio a heritage zone was circulated on
the Internet and national print media, gaining more than 10,000 signatures. The
petition calls upon officials to create the Zone prior to the Baguio centennial
in 2009. Initiated by Dion Fernandez, the move has been partially approved in
the first reading of a Special Heritage Bill submitted to the Baguio City
Council on August 2005.
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