German anthropologist Otto Scheerer, a resident of Baguio in pre-American
days, chronicled the struggles of the Ibaloi tribe as culled from the oldest
extant records of Spanish friars and the Ibaloi oral traditions.
The saga of the ancestors and the old tales of their heroism
have, thus, survived Baguio’s
rush to modern times.
JACK’s great
grandfather, Mateo Cariño, the Ibaloi chieftain when the Americans arrived in Baguio, sacrificed his landholdings to make Baguio what it is. His vast pastureland became the Camp John Hay, the rest and recreation center for the US military forces. The
site of the Baguio City Hall now used to be where his cows were herded
up, the Baguio Central
School, where his abode was, and the Burnham Park
and Lake, was where he used to catch snipes.
Mateo and his wife Bayosa’s son, Dr. Jose, Sr., became the
first Igorot mayor of Baguio.
JACK’s father, Atty Jose, Jr.,
became the first Igorot student of Ateneo de Manila, while his eldest sister,
Jingjing, who died in the nationalist struggle in the '70s, became the first coed
of the exclusive-for-boys-school Ateneo (with her male colleagues in awe of her
for being a Physics major).
JACK's sister, Joanna,
is a leader and guiding light of the Cordillera Peoples’ Alliance,
while another sister, Joji, who is based in London, became the first indigenous woman
ever to have addressed the United Nations General Assembly. Another of JACK’s
sisters, Jessica, was the dean of the UP-Baguio, while his twin sister, Jill,
became a nominee of the GABRIELA Party-list. His only brother, Jose III, is a honcho
at Laguna Lake Development Authority, while the youngest, Judy, founder and
leader of the singing group Salidumay,
is famous for retrieving the indigenous musical traditions of the highlands
Cordillera.
A consistent 1st Honor and Valedictorian at Holy
Family Academy, Campo Filipino and then at the UB Science High School, JACK studied four years of BS Mining
Engineering as part of the elite UP Government Scholars at the University of
the Philippines in Diliman.
On the campaign
trail recently, JACK witnessed Baguio's feverish march
towards urban blight. The city has been over-commercialized, it is bursting at
the seams.
Indeed, Baguio
needs to rally and act upon a great urban renewal and restoration program. Baguio, the old Kafagway,
is a stupendous gift. Its Pride of Place and Pride of Heritage should not go to
waste.
JACK Cariño, heir to the historic family heritage of the original
Ibaloi settlers of Baguio,
has visions for a more beautiful city.
At a time when Baguio
governance has been mired in dirty politics -- if not plain mediocrity -- it is
this family heritage of excellence that JACK
wants to bring with him to the City Council of Baguio.
Jack cannot allow Baguio to fail,
the history of this city
is in his veins.
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For more information on JACK’s platform, personal and career
history, you may refer to Midland Courier’s
last two issues or log in to his Homepage -- http://jackcarino.multiply.com
