Pandoraspace

I am filing this article under “The Baguio I Remember” because recent events have reminded me that, Baguio is not only about the place where I spent my happy childhood, but also, about its extraordinary people.

When my Baguio friends heard about the devastation wrought by typhoon Ondoy, they called on all Baguio people to donate relief goods for the victims of the flood.  I then found myself picking up from Victory Liner in Cubao boxes of relief goods that my Baguio friends had pooled together  and delivering them to the Don Bosco relief center in Makati.

The Baguio relief operations for typhoon Ondoy had not yet ended when Baguio itself was hit badly by typhoon Parma, a.k.a., typhoon Pepeng.  As I was still reeling from the effects of typhoon Ondoy, I immediately asked Padma how she was doing. Her text message to me read “Baguio has experienced worse weather”.  That was the first day of typhoon Parma in the Philippines.  Little did we know then that typhoon Parma was a slow moving typhoon that dumped a lot of rain on the first few days it was in the Philippines.  As we all know, things took a turn for the worse when typhoon Parma took a U-Turn as it was leaving the Philippines and came back for a second visit.  To everyone’s horror, typhoon Parma not only caused massive floods in many Philippine provinces up north, it also caused multiple landslides, which led to the isolation of many areas in Benguet, including Baguio.

For many days after typhoon Parma fled the country, northern Philippine cities and towns, were isolated.  My Baguio friends advised me that as no supplies could be brought into Baguio, there was a food shortage and the prices of goods increased. Although Baguio is now open to light vehicles, there are still many places beyond Baguio that remain isolated.

As soon as typhoon Parma left Baguio, the Cafe by the Ruins, began its relief operations.  From its own funds, the Cafe by the Ruins purchased available food from the Baguio Market to feed the victims and rescuers.  I cried when I found out that the meals consisted of boil bananas, rice, monggo and dried fish.  Meat and other fruits and vegetables were too costly to include as part of the meals.  I laud Padma and the others who are heading the Cafe by the Ruins relief operations for their creativity in serving healthy meals on such a tight budget.  As days passed, my admiration for the Cafe by the Ruins team and the rescuers grew tremendously when I learned of the efforts they took just to bring food to the people in isolated areas.  The volunteers had to trek over landslides and walk through mud and dangerous terrain carrying relief goods that will save countless lives.  This video and this video just shows how difficult the relief operations are.

I am reminded that nineteen years ago, when that terrible earthquake had isolated Baguio, the Cafe by the Ruins also conducted relief operations and the same people were out there helping people.  Once again, in times of tragedy, I remember that the Baguio is composed of these extraordinary people whom I grew up with.   In this respect, I can honesty say that Baguio has never changed.

And so, I am appealing to all of you to help the the victims of typhoon Parma.  You can do so by sending donations in cash or in kind to Cafe by the Ruins.  I assure you, the people there will make sure your donations are given to the people who need it most.

BAGUIO & ITS SURROUNDING AREAS STILL NEED YOUR HELP.  CASH DONATION MAY BE MADE THROUGH  CAFE BY THE RUINS MOBILE SOUP KITCHEN. INT’L: SWIFT code BNORPHMM ROUTING# 0210-0001-8. DOMESTIC: RUINS INC savings account #940060574 Banco de Oro (BDO) Legarda Road, Baguio City.

DONATIONS IN KIND MAY BE BROUGHT TO MARTHA LOVINA AT NO. 1 CAIMITO, MCKINLEY ROAD, FORBES PARK, MAKATI.  MARTHA WILL ARRANGE FOR GOOD TO BE BROUGHT TO BAGUIO.

The Best Memory of the 1990 Earthquake: The Café

People I know that have visited Baguio would inevitably tell me that they ate at the Café by the Ruins. Whenever they would rave about the great food and ambience, I would nod my head in agreement but would seldom tell them of my intimate relationship with the Café.

I have now decided to tell you one of my Café stories. (more…)