(Baguio City, Philippines)
It was 1900 when they stumbled upon these pine-covered mountains.
They quickly set to work building their new hill station—
a Shangri-la in the north, cool waterfalls tumbling over limestone.
It didn't matter that the natives had their own name for it.
Quickly, the new hill station started to take shape—
first, the winding Benguet road; government buildings, a park.
What did it matter that the natives called this home Kafagway?
A sanatorium, a church; a football field, a country club.
Over 2,000 laborers worked 2 years on the winding Benguet road.
When it was done, Major Kennon rode a horse and buggy from Twin Peaks
to where they'd build a sanatorium, church; football field, country club.
Old pictures show a marketplace, hills with rumored stores of copper
and gold. Up the newly built road, more came by horse and buggy and car.
After sweltering in the lowlands, cold air woven with the call of shrikes.
Old pictures show a marketplace, hills with rumored stores of gold—
now they're covered with highrise condos and tin-roofed houses.
After sweltering in the lowlands, cold air woven with the call of shrikes.
A Shangri-la in the north, cool waterfalls tumbling over limestone.
Now the hills are covered with highrise condos and tin-roofed houses.
In 1900, they first stumbled upon these pine-covered mountains.
Purveyors of fine poetry since 2003.
