Brief History of Baguio City

During the Spanish Era, Benguet was not a remote area for the Spaniards to explore. The vastness and promissing economic potential of the place lured the Spaniards to conduct series of expeditions. Early explorers included Juan Salcedo in 1572 and Don Q.M. Quirante in 1664. Series of attempts were made to pacify the "Igorots" but failed. Finally in 1864, Commandante de Galvey established his Commandancia at La Trinidad, Benguet (named after his wife). Galvey went to establish the province of Benguet with 31 rancherias. The first Kapitan of Benguet was Pulit of Kafagway, now Baguio, a minor rancheria of about 20 houses.

The presidencia of Baguio was first established in the house of the Campulet at the tio of the new tabacalera road at the lower end of Guisad Valley. Later, the presidencia of Baguio was moved to the present site of the Baguio City Hall.

The Spaniards were able to establish order, built churches and schools, made trails and introduce coffee during their long occupation of the area.

The Americans came early in 1900 and estblished their goverment with H. Whitmarsh as the appointed Governor of Benguet and Baguio as the capital. This was the first provincial government to be established in the Philippines and this happened a year prior to the inauguration of the civil government of the Philippines. Their best administrators and teachers were fervent boosters and promoters: Worcester, Wright, Forbes, Barrows, Eckman and others who together with Filipinos commited to make the place a haven.

Beginnig 1909, a government fleet of Stanley steam autos brought up more than 2,000 passengers a season. The city was well governed and well kept.

The mines near Baguio were developed and productive. Business in the city flourished with commercial centers put up. Recreation facilities were installed. The city was growing before the outbreak of the war.

Baguio was bombed on December 8, 1941 by the Japanese and they occupied it on December 27 of the same year. However, the war changed course and on September 3, 1945, General Yamashita surrendered to the Americans at the US Ambassador's residence in CampJohn Hay, after which, Baguio immediately set to the task of rehabilitation.

Climate

Baguio is 8 degrees cooler any month on the average than any place in the lowlands. When Manila sweats at 35 degrees centrigade, Baguio seldom exceeds 26 degrees centrigrade at its warmest. The lowest temperature reading made by the local weather bureau was 6.27 degrees centigrade, recorded in January 18, 1961.

Baguio is very wet during the rainy season from June to October. It gets the biggest amount of rainfall in the country, twice the volume of rainfall as compared to Manila. The record for the heaviest volume of rainfall ocureed in Baguio in July 1927 when it measured 4.77 meters.

Howerver, from November to May, Baguio becomes a tropical paradise, a refreshing break from the hot and humid Philippine climate. Christmas season is when Baguio glows with the nippy winter air. Nights are good for bonfire.

In the summer months of March, April and May, Baguio lives up to its title as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" when thousands of visitors from the lowlands and Manila take their annual exodus to the city to recommended.