A friend shared with me a beautiful piece about Camp John Hay. There were actually two articles and both are quite excellent pieces and in my limited understanding about feature writing, these articles are Grade A items that could have been easily published by the National Geographic, or at least the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Sounds like I'm just kidding but I do mean it. I've read the articles and I want to share it with you especially to those who appreciate history and the value of family. Here's the undiluted article (part one of two):
FAMILY
TREES
Ultimate
Family Getaway: Camp John Hay, Baguio
By: Friedrich L. Santos
‘Camp John Hay is the preferred family
destination..’
-Digivoice
(The country’s fastest and most accurate
electronic survey company)
Imagine.
Tall
ancient pines; the smell of a forest that has seen the passage of time, measured
in generations; feel the acute diversity and magnitude of life that can only be
found in the bark of the ancient wood; the mist that permeates the trunks and
low-lying branches of an enchanting forest…
Road Trip
When
planning for a family road trip, there are many preparations to make: clothes,
snacks, drinks and other basic necessities that contribute to the convenience
of travel. Studying the route is also
important. While many may argue that the
journey is the main thing, the choice of destination is the crucial aspect in
any family road trip that creates the anticipation: the activities that the
family will do when they arrive, the food they will eat, where they will sleep
and of course is it a nice place all round?
With
the advent of more well developed motorways such as the wider NLEX, the far
reaching SCTEX and the newly opened TPLEX, the obvious destination for the
perfect family getaway is the world famous Camp John Hay in Baguio City. Envision a relaxing drive through picturesque
rural landscapes free from congestion, noise and pollution.
No
need for plane fares and delayed flights.
The
camp has everything that a family wanting to get away will ever need. But most importantly, no other place in this
particular mountain province completely captures the essence of Baguio –in just
one contiguous location. It literally
has everything that one would come to expect in a mountain getaway: cold
weather, lavish log cabins, mountain themed hotels, history, good food, long
trails and spaces for nature walks and other family activities and of course,
the prerequisite pine trees that are as staple in any photo album from
Baguio. It is the 21st
century interpretation of the camp that embraces the advances of the future
while retaining the legacy, beauty and character of the camp’s early years.
Story For The Road
The
history of Camp John Hay can be revisited through books and old photos from the
past era, easily downloaded from the web.
The romance of history is punctuated with episodes wherein charm and old
world manners were the order of the day.
Reading about the camp’s history and searching for old sepia photos is a
treasure hunt that transports everyone to an earlier, more gentle period in
history; the early years of the camp are a golden age that carries over to the
present day and knowledge of this charming and sometimes turbulent history make
the visiting the camp a much deeper and meaningful experience.
One
great way to spend the journey to John Hay is to revisit this history, making
for an educational treat, especially for the younger members of the
family. This way, the bonding experience
can already begin long before the family glimpses even a single pine tree. It also reminds us of the rich history of the
country and the struggle of our ancestors who fought for our country during the
wars.
In
the beginning, Camp John Hay was not the lavish mountain retreat that most are
familiar with today. It was founded in
times of war.
Originally
conceived as a hill station by one Captain Robert Rudd of the 48th
Infantry Unit, the area where Camp John Hay is situated today was once a part of
pasture land owned by a local named Mateo Carino. It was referred to as ‘Kafagway’, meaning
‘wide open place’ by the local people called the Ibalois. The hill station was
established by Capt. Rudd in 1900.
Shortly
after, through a presidential order signed by none other than President
Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, about 525 acres of the camp was designated as a
reservation for American military personnel to relax and escape the higher
temperatures and extreme heat of the lower altitudes –sort of a military summer
retreat for American soldiers. The name
of the camp was taken from Teddy Roosevelt’s Secretary of State, John Hay. Mr. Hay was, incidentally one of the
signatories of the Treaty of Paris and has been a participant in many
historical events yet few people know of him.
It’s actually a good thing the camp was named after him (Camp Teddy
Roosevelt just doesn't have quite the same ring to it).
A
few decades later, war had once again caught up with the camp and in 1941, the
start of the second world war began when no less than seventy-two bombs were
dropped onto the camp’s main gate. The
destruction was monumental. The camp was
then used as an interment area for forces fighting the Japanese that included
not just Americans but also Filipinos who fought along side them against the
Japanese.
At
some point, the camp itself was taken over by General Tomoyuki Yamashita. Rather fittingly, by war’s end, Yamashita
surrendered at Camp John Hay during a formal ceremony that was held at the
Ambassador’s Residence –then called the High Commissioner’s residence.
While
people today do not usually associate Camp John Hay with military aircraft, the
Americans further converted the camp into –remarkably– an airfield. It was called John Hay Airbase.
But
in the end, the Americans finally turned over the camp in 1991 after which the
Philippine Government decided that that camp should become a nature reserve
which will serve as a tourist destination, a human resource development area
and a watershed reserve.
The
camp’s long drawn affair with war had finally ended.
Arrival
Nothing
can compare with the moment when the family finally arrives at the main gate of
the camp. The surroundings suddenly
change and everything just suddenly becomes bigger. The trees are higher and denser, the
atmosphere is instantly changed, as if stepping through portal to another
dimension. It is instantly serene and
exciting at the same time. And
everything is just greener.
The
sense of nostalgia for the older generation hits like a wave –memories of their
childhood before the camp was turned over to the Philippines government and
perhaps even further back, if they were around during the end of the last
war. Youngsters on the other hand are
assailed with what could only be described as feelings of mild reverence (more
so if they listened to the story during
the car trip) and heightened expectation: the camp is now undeniably cool in more ways than one.
It
is at this crucial time that a typical family can begin the delicate task of
bonding.
The Bonds That Bind Us
Bonding
is what makes families stronger; while John Hay’s facilities and features –by
themselves– don’t particularly make
families bond (such a convenience has not yet been invented), they do set the
scene that creates the catalyst for this complex process. Not surprisingly, bonding is strongest when
near nature because it awakens the same primeval instincts our prehistoric
ancestors had that strengthened ties with members of the family group –safety,
affection, security (perhaps from predators).
But
in today’s age, the undiluted, uninterrupted effect that nature induces, free
from most –if not all– modern concerns of the outside world, is a powerful
concoction that creates new bridges of communication, new discoveries about
oneself and a revisiting of each family members’ personality. In other words, rather than reawakening our
animal natures and making us regress a rung or two down the evolutionary
ladder, the process of family bonding in a natural setting reawakens our
humanity, creating a stronger foundation for our character and sense of trust
and loyalty –love if you will– to our respective families.The more natural the
setting, the better.
The
trigger for this emotional and psychological awakening is when a family member
is presented with the sheer joy of nature.
The impact of this exposure causes an individual to –to a greater or
lesser extent– return to his/her inner most innocent and basic self; the sense
of vulnerability and wonder in the presence of such quantities of nature
reminds people of their smallness and their part in the larger, natural
world. The powerful emotional and
psychological force that nature –Mother Earth– produces, permeates through to
the core of the family group during bonding.
Why Nature Works
Nature
is a healthy panacea for stress and fatigue –ever hear about the benefits of
putting a plant or a small fish in your home or office to help relieve
stress? Imagine those very same benefits
multiplied a billion times. You get a
free dose of that every time you come to the camp. Since your family deserves the best, the
biggest mountain green house surely should be top of your list to reap the
health benefits that only a natural setting can produce.
Everywhere
in the camp, indoors and out, the man-made contrivances and structures strive to
emulate the glory of nature through its subtle use of color, wood and
landscapes; nature always takes center stage.
Camp
John Hay has many features and facilities that encourage being in touch with
nature. One of the most popular is the
golf club. Many players from all over
the country –the world in fact–come to play the John Hay course. Unlike most courses in the country, the golf
course at John Hay is what can be called a historic golf course –much like the
one in Intramuros. But better equipped. With a full range of locker and lounge areas,
players and friends will be spoiled with the level of appointments in the
club. The greens are beautifully
manicured and always thick and lush –fairways are like a deep green carpet, but
stay away from the rough (its even deeper); the putting greens are a master
class in the art of shaping and grading –watch out for those breaks.
Another
nature attraction is the Butterfly Farm.
Here, visitors can literally interact with nature –a varied number of butterfly
species is kept in stock; these delightful nectar feeding creatures flit
through the enclosure like fairies and every once in a while, if you keep
perfectly still, one or more will land on you.
The experience is utterly enchanting and magical.
There
are numerous nature trails and areas designated for barbecues (you haven’t been
to John Hay if you've not had an outdoor barbecue) –remembering not to burn the
forest down, of course– and simply having picnics in one of the many designated
picnic spots. Take the whole family on
one of the many tree top adventures such as the Canopy Ride, Zip Line and the
Tree Drop. The pictures will be
priceless. And possibly hilarious.
Or,
visit the old Bell House for a taste of American colonial architecture. The
‘house’ has been converted into a museum and is a lovely place to visit
especially those who have an interest for Philippine-American history. Just below it is the amphitheater and nearby,
the Cemetery of Negativism. This last
place, also called the ‘Lost Cemetery’ is perfect for the bonding family
because it is where people come to bury negative feelings, habits and
emotions. Perfect for the family that
seeks healing.
To
balance things off there are 21st century stop overs like Army Navy,
Yellow Cab and of course the unsinkable Starbucks!
But
don’t miss out on other favorites like Tender Joe Steakhouse and the Mile High
Diner. Finally, there’s the delightful
hot chocolate made the traditional way from Batirol’s.
And
don’t forget one of the most ‘fun’ aspects of going to a cold climate: dressing
up for it.
What
could be more fun than trying on that new coat that you've been saving for that
fabled trip to a cold country you've been planning for years? Before the moths get to it, throw it on and
get to wear it in one of the few places you can dress for the cold. The kids will have a blast looking like Eskimos during the coldest of days at the camp.
The whole time chatting, laughing, eating and enjoying the natural world
that so many have taken for granted or have forgotten.
Back To Reality, Or Is It?
At
the end of the day, or lunch or dinner time, the inevitable return indoors –and
to the modern world– is not a violent wave that suddenly shakes the recent
exposure to nature has bolstered and reaffirmed the deep but fragile family
bonds that have been reestablished; the Camp’s indoor retreats such as the
Manor, Forest Lodge and the Golf Club, echo, through the use of natural
materials and indigenous themes the great outdoors, creating a gentle
transition into the familiarity of the modern world with all its technological
and 21st century comforts that threaten to violently strip away the
recently reaffirmed family bonds that may have resulted from the family group’s
most recent foray in one of the camp’s many nature romps.
For
example, having a hearty meal at Le Chef, the Manor’s premier restaurant, is a
warm and delicious experience not just for the culinary delights offered but
the wholesome atmosphere as well.
Appetites will have been quickened after spending a day enjoying the
sites of the camp. After dinner, imagine
having a nice glass of wine or a piping hot cup of hot chocolate while sitting
and chatting by the hearth –the fireplace is a wonderfully magical feature in
many John Hay hotels. Perfect for long
talks or just cozying up. The grand
forest lodge theme of the lavish interior spaces of the Manor as well as her
sister buildings are a welcome sight after a day in the woods; cozy and never
intimidating, the invitation to relax and just enjoy the company of your loved
ones is irresistible.
The
romance of it all is the stuff that memories are made of.
