Celebrating Baguio City’s Country Music Heritage

There’s no other place in the Philippines that’s going to get any more country than Baguio City. Country music, Levi’s, cowboy hats, horses, cowboy boots – Baguio is where you’ll hear and see it all. Baguio locals proudly embrace their country heritage. In fact, in the 110th Baguio Day celebration, the City chose to honor its history with the Western lifestyle.

First off, there was a country line dance contest where people of all ages joined and dressed in actual cowboy garb and danced to country music. Then, there was a fantastic country concert and last but not least, there were fun classic carnival games. Even in other local celebrations in and around Baguio, locals proudly live up the cowboy life. And a big part of this culture is country music.

Beginnings of the Country Music in Baguio

Believe it or not, it’s country music that allowed the American colonizers to get through to the native Igorots. Unlike the Spaniards who used violence and force, the Americans took time to know the culture of the land. And when they arrived, they took the time to gain the confidence of the people. According to the radio broadcaster Cris Bartolo in his interview with the Baguio Midland Courier, the Americans used to play folk and country music through a gramophone in the town square. It sounded odd at first for the people but, they soon came to embrace it.

Io Jularbal, a University of the Philippines Baguio professor also said in the same interview, that the Americans sent in their finest men who were used to the terrain and dealings of the land. These men included cowboy types from states like Utah who soon became friends with the natives. They shared their cowboy movies, songs, and everything in the culture cowboy and the natives fully embraced it. Decades after this first encounter, wearing Levi pants and cowboy hats and listening to country tunes is still hip for the locals.

Despite the influx of modern music, country music still has a revered place in Baguio. In fact, if you pass by some bars along Legarda Rd. or La Trinidad, you’ll hear that distinct country tune flooding out the doors. In gatherings, when the uncles and lolos start singing, guaranteed, they’ll be belting out some universal classic country hits. And when you hop into rides going to other parts of the region, you’ll hear drivers jamming to their favorite country hits.

Country Music Withstanding Time

In the 70s, folk houses were all the rage in Baguio City. People flocked to places like the Fireplace in the corner of Session and Assumption Rd., the Gingerbreadman along Bonifacio, and the Cozy Nook by Assumption. Then after a decade, the Baguio country music scene moved on to karaoke bars and places with live band music. These years were the peak of country music in Baguio City. Local stars like Bubut Olarte, Lourdes Fangki, Mike Santos, Conrad Marzan, and the Buckstrait Band, who gained quite the following, sang songs by stars like John Denver, Kenny Rogers, Bob Dylan, and Willie Nelson.

In these years, while country music was rising to the top in the small city of Baguio, the international country music scene was experiencing a transition. Veering away from the cowboy ballad, country music in the international scene shifted towards country pop and country-rock. Singer-guitarist John Denver came out with his hits “Sunshine On My Shoulder’s,” “Annie’s Song,” and “Rocky Mountain High.” Meanwhile, Kenny Rogers shifted from the pop and rock music genres to country. Some of his hits include “Lucille” and “Lady.” Then, there was Bob Dylan who’s known for his country-rock music that started with his album John Wesley Harding. George Strait and Alan Jackson are also among those who have made a name for themselves on the country music scene. Female artists such as Dolly Parton and Olivia Newton-John were also in the spotlight of that era. Other acts who dominated that time were The Eagles and The Rolling Stones.

Now, the country music genre includes a huge mix of every other genre out there. Artists such as Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood are adding a more modern flavor to the genre. Meanwhile, others like Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Luke Combs, and Billy Ray Cyrus continue to keep their songs close to home. There are other rising country starts who continue to make waves in the music scene. One of them, unfortunately, passed away just at the age of 30 according to a report by Country Thang Daily. Her name was Kylie Ray Harris.

Just like them, plenty of artists here in Baguio who love the genre keep their originals purely country. Plenty of Ibaloi songs heavily draw on the old country styles. One thing that doesn’t change with the genre wherever it goes, however, is that the music continues to come from the heart. With country music, you’ll hear stories, experiences, and messages that are relatable and stikes home. You’ll hear sweet love stories, songs singing of the beauty of life and family, bold social commentaries, and even songs about the truck driving life. It’s colorful, timeless, and bold. And it’s one of those genres that will forever withstand the challenges of time.