By Dennis Gorecho
I bought a purple-colored broom, or walis tambo, at the Baguio City Public Market in solidarity with women vendors during the celebration of International Working Women’s Day last March 8.
The Baguio Public Market has long been a cultural symbol of the city since its establishment in 1913.
Located at the lower end of Session Road along Magsaysay Avenue, this traditional market offers a sensory experience — a maze of shops selling souvenir items such as colorful handwoven bags, textiles, wood carvings, walis tambo, and specialty foods — amid the constant buzz of bargaining between vendors and shoppers.
With a total land area of about 3.25 hectares, the market has served as a major trading center for more than a century, showcasing products from the Cordillera region, including vegetables, fruits, meat, flowers, and coffee.
The market is composed of six postwar structures finished with the same Baguio stone used in earlier buildings, which were inaugurated in April 1952.
Although it survived the bombings of World War II, the market has endured several destructive fires — in 1960, 1970, 1992, and 2008 — which gradually diminished much of its original structure.
The proposed redevelopment — or “mallification” — of this historic trading center has been a subject of intense debate in recent years.
The controversial redevelopment plan by SM Prime Holdings involves a public-private partnership (PPP) to build a P4.5-billion multilevel facility. This includes the construction of a four-story building to accommodate around 4,000 vendors selling meat, vegetables, fish, clothing, and other goods, as well as an eight-level parking structure.
Under the proposal, vendors would have been relocated to a temporary market site at the slaughterhouse compound.
The plan sparked several protests, highlighting concerns over vendor displacement, rent increases, loss of livelihood, questions of market ownership, and threats to the traditional culture of the market. Protesters also called for a transparent and locally led redevelopment process.
Critics emphasized that modernization should not merely benefit corporations but must serve the people and preserve the city’s cultural and economic heritage.
National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Eric “Kidlat Tahimik” de Guia, in a letter, acknowledged the need for redevelopment but warned that corporations often prioritize profit over people.
He said corporations are focused on “super efficiency just to get quick cash in, cash out. But the very colorful market vendors, human beings, will lose their place.”
The Baguio City government has since canceled the controversial SM Prime Holdings redevelopment project following strong opposition from local vendors and residents.
“This is not the end. Our fight has just begun. We have proven that we can push back a giant corporation through our unity,” said Sofia Villanueva, president of the Women Vendors Association.
I was present last March 8 during the gathering at Public Market Block 4 in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Proclamation No. 227 (1988) declared March as Women’s Role in History Month, while Republic Act No. 6949 established March 8 as National Women’s Day. Both aim to recognize the valuable contributions of women in society and promote gender equality.
The venue was filled with people wearing purple to symbolize solidarity with women’s rights and struggles. The event featured discussions led by women leaders and representatives from various sectors, including market vendors, advocates and youth organizers.
Performances were complemented by discussions on pressing issues affecting women and the broader Filipino public. These included the market’s mallification, rising prices of basic commodities, privatization of essential services such as water and electricity, and calls for accountability in the face of corruption.
I empathize deeply with the vendors, as my mother was once a market vendor herself.
Growing up, I remember how Mama would scold us, saying, “Buti nga kayo, ‘di niyo naranasan ang magtinda ng kamatis sa palengke.” Then she would cry.
Perhaps that was her way of reminding us that whatever comfort we enjoyed came from their hard work and sacrifice. It is a lesson children must understand — that parents endure much for the future of their children.
The public market issue was also highlighted during the recent 28th Word Cup Philippines National Journalism Conference in Baguio, attended by more than 200 campus journalists nationwide.
Speakers included the author and former members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) — Nonnette Bennet, Eugene Calapit, Ana Marie Calapit, and Jennifer Lee Bonto.
The conference emphasized the importance of fact-checking and contextual reporting on issues that shape communities, calling on young journalists to use their platforms responsibly.
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“Peyups” is the moniker of the University of the Philippines.
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Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786./WDJ