The Philippines now has a Creative City of its own that is part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network and it is none other than Baguio City. According to a media release on the UNESCO website, Baguio joins 63 other cities from 44 countries all over the world. These cities are recognized as sites where “innovation and creativity” are seen as “key drivers for a more sustainable and inclusive urban development.”
The Creative Cities Network now comprises of 180 cities in 72 countries. Each city has been identified as a hub for different categories such as Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.
Baguio: First Creative City In The Philippines For Crafts and Folk Art
Baguio City is recognized as a Creative City for its Crafts and Folk Art, according to the media release. It is also the first Creative City in the Philippines, having bested three other cities – Manila, Cebu and Davao during the application process. The final list of new cities was released on October 31.
Among the criteria cited in the 2017 Call for Applications is the active involvement of the city government as well as the private sector and other relevant stakeholders in the application. According to an earlier report, the city was shortlisted in September as announced by the regional Department of Tourism.
The city has long been a hub for artists, especially those who represent the rich indigenous culture of the Cordilleras. Its exceptional loom weaving, for example, has long been recognized as among the best in the country, as well as its indigenous crafts like wood carving. So it is no surprise that Baguio received this designation.
Urban Tourism Rehabilitation
Even before being designated as a Creative City, Baguio has been working on a “revival” of its own since 2016. Under the auspices of the Department of Tourism, a local tourism campaign called REV BLOOM was launched to “revisit, revitalize, revive and rev up the bloom” of the city and the rest of the Cordilleras, through the help of the public and private sector.