Baguio City is a rapidly progressing metropolis above the mountains of the Cordillera region. The Baguio experience our parents had might have some similarities but would still vary according to the generation. The perspective we have is from personal accounts and experiences we had as residents of Baguio and may not necessarily reflect the cultural identity of the entire city.
Here are some of the defining experiences, actions, and moments that makes one a Baguio boy/girl through the 90’s.
1. “Anya ngay!?”
In Baguio we don’t say Hi/Hello we say “Anya ngay!?” and we think that’s beautiful.
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2. As tradition goes even with the released Parent edition. You had a child picture of you at the stone elephant at Burnham Park.
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3. At every christmas party sometime around highschool someone in your class would bring either a Streamline cake from Sessions Delight or a bilao of either pancit/palabok from Tea House.
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4. You still know where to buy the yummiest sansrival.
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5. You’ve have had a barkada/block/class outing at either of the ff:
A. Asin
B. Itogon
C. Piraso Resort
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6. You know where to hear the words “Pokis ading?”
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7. You probaly have had a framed family picture from either prism, pines studio or babes. (This includes group barkada shots on your wallet)
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8. When it was not that much populated ,whenever you go to town you always bump in to someone you know.
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9. During your elementary or highschool there is a good chance that you participated directly/indirectly at the Panagbenga. You might have been a dancer, lyre player, marching band member, drummer, taga buhat iti props, or a Boyscout/Girlscout marshall.
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10.By the time you grew up ,instead of watching the Panagbenga Festival in the streets of Session/Harrison road you just watch at either Skycable or Viacom. (Hopefully the festival would be equally enjoyed by both locals and tourists in the future just a passing thought)
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11. You were forced by your parents to tour your kamag-anaks atleast once in your life.
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12. You saw the Mines View Park minus the number of houses below plus the children catching coins at the cliff.
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13. You must have went through the local tourist destinations atleast once in your life.
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14. You have a friend that gave your barkada a treat at Good Taste (Original Branch).
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15. There was a time that Centermall was the only shopping mall. (Wonderpark and KFC was my favorite)
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16. If you loved to party you definitely had your fare share of fun at the famous Nevada Square.
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17.You saw the giant racetrack at Cooyeesan at the height of the Tamiya (Let’s Go!) craze
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18. You asked your parents to buy you this cool puppet toy at Burnham Park.
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19. You know where to find half-half. (Including where to eat arf-arf or aw-aw)
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20. If you loved playstation, fingerboard, magic cards, etc. There is a strong feeling that it is somewhere inside Maharlika.
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21.You probably knew a friend who was a gangster back then (yes, there was a funny time that we had a lot of highschool and college gangsters). You have seen them wearing the trademark elephant pants, Nike Cortez, Do-rag, and accompanied by either a big football jersey or an oversized checkered long sleeve.
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22.You remembered that there were a lot of shoeshine boys at Malcolm Square.
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23. You know where to go to play chess.
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24. You probably had a conversation like this before.
Me: San tayo meet?
Friend: Mcdo Session Road
Me:
Friend:
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25. There was still Boys High and Girls High.
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26. This might be true for some or not. You used “ngarud” even thou you don’t know what it means. (I still don’t know what it means LOL)
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27. You don’t care when you see a famous celebrity. (I still don’t know how to explain this phenomenon)
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28. You definitely tried to walk from town to your house atleast once in your life. (Madik gamin nga ag 123 idi)
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29. Select your favorite expressions:
A. WEN YAH!
B. Aw Adi!
C. Ay-Yu yah!!!!
D. Gemays!
E. Dayta ah! Dayta gamin!
F. Piman met
G. Mayat ah!
H. Ta-rupam.
J. Uk*nam! (Yes, I have friends with this favorite expression)
K. Anyamet!
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30.You feel uncomfortable going to town on slippers. (Why is that???)
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31. You do not own/wear a Baguio shirt or Bonnet (Watch out for our clothing line we will make you wear one)
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32.There are a good number of times that you did not take a bath. (Especially during the rainy/cold season)
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33. This is fashion.
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34. Your mother has multiple recipes for sayote. (Sayote manen ti sida tayo anyamet!)
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35. If you were a catholic, you or someone you know tried to write a prayer/wish note at Pink Sister’s.
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36. You rode a jeep/taxi playing country songs from 99.9
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37.You are familiar with the “loafers” sold at Trinity. (Boys High ti suki da)
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38. There were highschool wars before. (Does anyone know why or atleast the reason???)
Boys High vs City High
City High vs Pines
UB girls vs Girls High
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39.You played at the indoor skating area and playgrounds at Scout Hill, Camp John Hay. (There was also no taga-collect and payment for tables back then)
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40. You know the original location of Rose Bowl before it transferred.
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41. It is not unusual for you to see people riding horses on the concrete road.
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42.You use wagwagan instead of “ukay-ukay”.
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43. You know this family names: Domogan, Vergara, Bautista, Hamada, Alabanza, Carino, and Del Rosario.
(You probably had a classmate/batchmate from their family)
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44. You referred to the lowlanders as “Taga-Baba”. (Maybe somewhat discriminating)
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45.You believed that “Town’s Pizza” was the best pizza in Baguio. (Before it was only P50-P60 for one box. Yum!)
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46.You saw the fountain at the Burnham Lake when it was still functioning. (Duals as a shower for boat riders)
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47. You ate at the Jollibee/Greenwich branch at Gov. Pack Road.
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48. Good Taste Rice, Marosan’s Rice, Jack’s Rice, and Cathy’s Rice. (No Explanation needed)
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49. You know that “Sport ta..” would not have the same meaning as the actual sport.
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50. You saw the Marcos head at Marcos Highway.
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51.51. You have a natural rosy cheeks whenever you go to the province. (Instant mestizo effect kunam man!)
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52. You call the parents of your friends or the random people really older than you “uncle” or “auntie”.
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53. You enjoyed the kasla perya/amusement park beside the Biking area. (My favorite was the giant slide wherein they made you ride a basahan. LOL)
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54. Lastly, being taga-Baguio means not literally experiencing all or any of these. Being a true taga-Baguio means showing love and concern for the city we love.