BAGUIO CITY COUNCIL STINKS

Sometime in 1998 or 1999 I met a British guy in Manila. Upon learning that I was from Baguio City, he started ranting about our local politicians. Apparently, this guy was negotiating in behalf of a British Non-Profit that was hoping to put up an incinerator to solve the already burgeoning problem of waste disposal in the city. It was to be an honest-to-goodness Build-Operate-Transfer scheme as the Non-Profit was going to shoulder all costs. They were only asking that the City of Baguio provide the location for said incinerator. 

He continues to tell me that the City Council then refused to sign any agreement unless they be given "grease money". The British Non-Profit, of course, declined, and so they decided to leave and pursue their project in Vietnam instead.

The local council today likes to blame Mother Nature with the ever-convenient "force majeure" as an excuse. I say, blame it on the local officials. What happened at the Irisan Dumpsite is a direct result of their lack of planning and management and corrupt practices. They ought to be liable for this.

note:  I only met this British guy once, and I have failed to write down notes, nor get his name. It has been more than ten years since this happened. Had I been a blogger then, I would've been more meticulous in my gathering of facts. This is basically a recollection of that exchange. But I still remember though certain names he mentioned who were members of the City Council during that period. I think I shall go through the council's files to investigate this further. I also urge the local media to look into this as well.

photo by Harley Palangchao taken from abs-cbn news

BRILLIANT IDEAS FOR THE OLDE PHONE BOOTHS (seriously)

I wonder where all the old phone booths went? I hope they didn't end up in some dump or recycle bin. PLDT could still make use of them...


1. Turn them into 'smoking sections' along Ayala Avenue. Make sure there's an exhaust or filter in the roof  so passersby won't complain of the smoke when a user opens the door.


2. Remember our terrarium projects in science class? Why not transform these phone booths into terrariums and scatter them around the metropolis. You could make a simulation of a tropical rain forest (ferns, lianas, moss...etc.)  No primates though.


3.  Attach shelves inside the phone booths. Let people put used books they wish to share with other people -- like a community book drop -- locate these booths inside malls. Tada! An instant public library at no cost to readers! Call the project: 'The Old School'


4. In the same breadth, make them a drop-off for used/old mobile phones, batteries, accessories, etc for recycling later on.


5. Make the booths 'charging stations' for one's laptop or mobile phone in public spaces.


6. Tint the glass, install a mirror inside, make them into dressing areas for our inner Supermen... seriously, when you need a quick change while out in the streets (for whatever reason) or when you're avoiding a stalker or simply to retouch your make-up or change your soiled shirt. These shouldn't be open for 24 hours though, who knows what people would do inside them during off-hours.


7. Make them into 'Solitude' zones for all those who wish for a few minutes of silence from all the din and humdrum of city life. Or when you're alone and overwhelmed with emotions, it'd be a good place to cry without anyone seeing you. Or to shout out your frustrations! Better to soundproof said booths then.


8. Seal them tight and put tropical fish. Scatter booths around the metropolis for that zen feel.


9. Rent them out to the manghuhulas in Quiapo (palm reading, tarot card reading, etc. ) Make sure to install AC.


10. SERIOUSLY: I want one for when I move into that dream loft or old warehouse -- I'll convert one into my shower. No wait, I want two old phone booths. The other I'll install a waterless urinal for my buddies to use when they come over for all-night drinking fests!  


Please, MVP let me have two?!