The Baguio Chronicles - Chapter 5: Baguio Cathedral, "A Historical Marker"

(taken from my Multiply Blog dated May 6, 2009)

The Baguio Cathedral was something to see. Visible from many parts of Baguio City, stood this pink structure that tower the skyline of the commercial business district of the city. During my first visit to the Cathedral two years ago, I found out something more. More than a structure that housed the seat of authority of the diocese, it also served as a tomb.

"Well, so what?" as many of you would say. Yes most churches nowadays have facilities as such, but for me this was different. As a teacher of history, there were certain points in my life where I would stand still to appreciate some of the markers that history places before us.

In the late 1940s when the American's came back to "redeem" the Filipino people from its Japanese captors, they targeted to claim their air force bases located in Baguio. In order to succeed in this plot, they decided to defeat the enemy through a "carpet bombing." It claimed hundreds if not thousands of lives. The Baguio Cathedral was the structure that was spared from this bombing. The lot in front of the church building was used as a mass graveyard. A marker still stands there to remind us of the effects of the Second World War on the Filipino people.

History teaches us many valuable lessons. As Sir Issac Newton puts it, "for every action is an equal and opposite reaction." The acts done by a person can pose great and catastrophic effects on others. Great thought should be given before a person acts especially if lives of others are involved. During those times the Japanese wanted glory. They wanted dominion. They wanted to conquer the world. They wanted to do this, but at whose and at what expense? Lives were lost. Wake up!!! how long will you play dumb. History repeats itself. The Japanese may no longer be here, but we have stupid and senseless people running the Nation. How does that sound for a starter?!?!