KVETCH! KVETCH! KVETCH! PART II
While I'm still hot on the topic regarding my love-hate relationship with SM and the cultural insensitivity of the Sy family (I name them point blank here because SM is still a family run entity without a board of directors to keep them in check), allow me to post these two photos. The top photo is a 1957 shot of the original Pines Hotel located at the top of Session Road. The bottom shot is the exact same spot today. In fairness, the hotel burned back in the 1980's and was not razed by the Sys. But nevertheless, I still cannot forgive them for not respecting the original spirit of the area. SM Baguio altered the character of this quiet mountain town beyond repair by building a gargantuan, energy sucking, commercial wasteland on the very peak of a town that was originally built for only 50,000 people. Some even blame SM for the city's string of bad luck and for it's meningoccocemia outbreak because of the strain that mall has put on the city's resources. It's all very nice inside for sure, but sadly, the garbage it spits out has to go somewhere. And believe me, it's not going down the mountain. And ignorance is no excuse, look how successful Greenbelt and Serendra have been in mixing new urbanism and commerce.
I've recently learned from Baguio friends that the mall is not doing well and it warms the cockles of my heart. I will even be so bold as to curse it so that it may close. Baguio's tourism industry will never recover while that behemoth looms over it (or at least until they do a major, MAJOR renovation).
Thank you Time Magazine, Manila Times and kriyayoga.com for the links.
posted by carlosceldran @ 11:07 AM
15 Comments:
The contrast is too depressing to contemplate.
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Well it is the only open-air SM mall ... but it is a terrible eyesore and creates a helluva traffic jam in the area.
Yes it does stick out as an eyesore. Sayang, really. Baguio just keeps getting worse. (they should pedestrianize Session road already!!!)
Speaking of eyesores, have you seen the new streetlamps along Roxas blvd on the Pasay side? Hideous does not even begin to describe them. Next to them, Lito Atienza's 'lollipop' lights are almost stylish! (i said almost).
You know what we should have, and i've mentioned this to friends over the years, is a Dept of Taste, where no edifice or street construction can be put up without its prior approval. Of course the problem then becomes who will head this Dept of Taste, and what will be the criteria for selection?
Whatever it is, something needs to be done, and quickly! Otherwise the architectural monstrosities will just keep popping up (why do we pinoys have such baduy/cursi tastes?? that's another topic for discussion), further 'uglifying' an already butt-ugly city.
I remember when I first saw SM Baguio...an eyesore indeed! It stick's out like a sore thumb and has changed the whole landscape of the city :( It's really sad :(
"dept. of taste" = design review boards.
many cities and municipalities have them. especially cities intent on preserving their historic character.
even better that DRBs (which can sometimes become heavy handed) are citywide design guidelines.
Somehow, judging from the architectural anarchy we have here and the awful aesthetics around town, i doubt if Manila has anything resembling a design review board, or design guidelines. Wish there was, really.
hindi lang yan ang eyesore, isama niyo na ang billboards, steamers, wanted tubero, lipat bahay signs sa lahat ng sulok ng bansa!
While we're at it isama na rin ang smoke belching buses--one of the most appalling things tourists notice when they first arrive in Manila-- and a major health hazard for us locals.
The other major eyesore of course is the 'homes along the riles' community, and other squatter areas (long discussion on solving that issue in torn and frayed's blog). Poverty really does suck, and unfortunately we have areas in this country that are not unlike Bangladesh.
Contrast that with the fact that the Philippines has the 7th largest mineral deposits in the world. That's right, we are in a list that includes Russia, China, the US, Canada etc. Australia, a gigantic continent of a country, is #16 on the list. Sino bang hindi malulungkot dyan...
The urban planners study overseas and never come back. Sigh.
Another traffic and future earthquake problem - the Puregold supermarket along Kalentong. Why do the city "fathers" allow these companies to plonk themselves without thinking how it will affect traffic? All these SMs, supermarkets, strip malls without any rhyme or reason.
Yes, damn that SM building for ruining my city......and a big "shove that concrete pine tree up where the sun don't shine" to my incompetent local goverment for the trip to urban hell....
Yikes! i wish I hadn't seen this entry - the destruction of baguio continues...
I shudder to think what John Hay looks like now (they were already destroying it while i was there - tearing down tres and the historic cabins to make way for tacky chalets).
many go to Baguio to get away from things like SM, but i can understand the need for better shopping for the residents of Baguio City and the area - although I always enjoy the markets there - but this monstrosity is too much.
And someone should really investigate the mess Erap left behind on the top of the hill (behind the Residence) in the old VOA relay staion area....did those awful houses ever get done?
makes me so mad!
Baguio is sacred to me!
hey im from baguio, im into nantucket, nature, and greenpeace....honestly though i like to shop at sm baguio for convenience.....i love the place...should i apologize for this? if baguio (or the country) is going to the dogs---i think it`s far from being sm`s fault.... i mean...if it`s not mr sy..then its sam walton we should diss isnt it? but hey.....Walmart was the first to help the Katrina victims in good ol` New Orleans, faster than the US government...saying that sm is responsible for baguio`s sorry state...was like the assumption sanlo nuns telling all of us kids in the 1970s (maybe up to now?) were all sick because our parents are rich and we didnt give enough of our money away....jeezzz like it was all our fault there were so many poor people in the world.....
i know i shouldnt be commenting here anymore since the original post was dated eons ago but i had to make kwento - i'll never forget the night pines hotel burned down - my mother was there with all her amigas at the casino for some bachelorette party. when the people realized there was a fire - all the well-heeled folks grabbed all the chips they could while she grabbed at her champagne flute... and i'll always remember the livid bruise she had on her leg due to tripping on some tables because she said all the smoke - a s well as the glitter eyeshadow - made it hard to see where to go...ah the 80s....
Although a late post. Still a fabulous one.
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