September 1, 1909
MANILA
Baguio City, the country's summer capital situated about 250 kilometers north of Manila, got its city charter on September 1, 1909.
Governor Cameron Forbes directed Justice Malcolm, a young lawyer in the American-led Philippine government, to write the city's charter.
The name of Baguio is derived from the word "baguiw" in Ibaloi, the indigenous language of the Benguet Region, meaning 'moss.'
Originally, the second Philippine Commission, which arrived in Manila in June 1900, led by Judge William Howard Taft, had one express order from then American Secretary of War Elihu Root to search for a cool place in Northern Luzon, high in the ranges of the Cordilleras, and to lay out plans for its development.
At that time, the Americans were mostly settled and quartered in Manila. Sweltering in heat, they thus began to explore cooler venues where their government administrative machineries could be installed as well as for health reasons.
General Arthur MacArthur, who was military governor at that time, was skeptical on the idea of finding a cooler place, but nevertheless sent a group, including Dean Worcester and Luke Wright, members of the Taft Commission, to explore farther north.
Their efforts were rewarded with the discovery of fresh pine growths among rolling beautiful hills, and Baguio was found.
The wilderness was converted into a scenic city by Daniel Burnham. Roads were built, followed by a survey for a railroad to Baguio.
Kennon Road was finished on January 29, 1905, with no less than Major Lyman Kennon, in a horse-drawn vehicle, riding up the townsite.
This paved the way for the opening up of Baguio as a health resort for Americans. The final cost of road development exceeded 2.7 million U.S. dollars, far from P75,000 originally estimated cost.
The Philippine Commission designated Baguio as the Summer Capital of the Philippines on June 1, 1903. (PNA)
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