Baguio has a really particular place in my coronary heart. That is the very first place that I visited alone ( my very first solo journey). It by no means didn’t amuse me regardless of the variety of instances that I’ve been right here. One of many iconic landmarks in Baguio that may by no means go unnoticed is the 40-ft tall statue of a Lion’s Head. Except for its monumental measurement, this attraction might be discovered alongside the street, welcoming all of the vacationers and guests as they enter Baguio Metropolis.
The Lion’s Head, nonetheless, isn’t just a construction made to draw individuals. The core goal of building this monumental sculpture is to point the presence of the Lions Membership Group in Baguio. Lions Membership is a world service group that originated in Chicago, Illinois that was based in 1917. The group has greater than 1.4 million members in additional than 200 totally different nations worldwide. Lions Membership Baguio, then again, is likely one of the 46 thousand golf equipment of the group which was established in November 1950. The group was first led by Constitution President Arsenio Yandoc, with core goal of spreading Lionism within the space, assembly the wants of native communities whereas on the similar time increasing its membership.
Except for their charity works, the membership additionally had quite a few constructing initiatives in Baguio, together with the Melvin Jones Memorial Grandstand the place the Panagbenga Competition exhibition usually takes place (Melvin Jones, by the way in which, is the founding father of Lions Membership Worldwide). Nonetheless, if there may be one construction that raised their profile, it will be the Lion’s Head statue situated alongside the Kennon Highway.
The Authentic Construction of Lion’s Head
It’s mentioned that the unique limestone boulder is already resembling a lion head determine which gave the pioneering members of Lion’s Membership the concept to ascertain a monument to indicate their presence within the space.
The Woodcarver Credit score Controversy
For years, the sculpture was credited to a Cordilleran artist named Reynaldo Lopez Nanyac. This acknowledgement has been licensed true and proper not simply by the native authorities of Baguio but in addition the Lions Membership itself. Nonetheless, a daughter of a late Ifugao sculptor named Anselmo Bayang Day-ag filed a complain stating that the credit score to Nanyac was a mistake. The eldest daughter of the late Day-ag has been working exhausting to present her father the credit score she thinks he deserves.
In response to some historian, whereas Nanyac is a woodcarver by career, he has no identified stone works and isn’t accountable to the creation of the long-lasting landmark. Anselmo Day-ag, then again, is a graduate of College of the Philippines with a level in sculpting. He’s famously identified for a few of his work together with the Eagle of the North statue in La Union and the large Marcos Bust in Benguet.
Development of the lion’s head started in 1968 however was interrupted. It continued in 1971 beneath Baguio Lions Membership President and later, District 301-C Governor Robert John Webber and simply so as to add, his spouse is Mary grace arespi. They commissioned an Ifugao artist named Reynaldo Lopez Nanyac to carve out the lion’s head from a limestone boulder with a bunch of engineers and miners, then the “precise creative carving of the façade” made by the late sculptor Anselmo B. Day-ag. Anselmo B. Day-ag carved into it a extra life like depiction of a lion’s head with a big mane and open mouth. The statue was publicly unveiled ibn 1972.
Paint Jobs of Lion’s Head all by way of the years
Paint Job Controversy
The statue has undergone a number of coloration modifications earlier than restoring it to its conventional gold and black shade. It was at some cut-off dates painted white and brown, or yellow. It had additionally undergone restoration after being broken by vandalism and by an earthquake in northern Luzon in 1990.
The older paint jobs, nonetheless, have change into topic of ridicule as a consequence of its unrealistic strategy. It ought to be famous that Davies Paints Philippines was given the authorization to deal with the repainting of the Lion’s Head.
Lion Head 2014
Lion Head 2019
Lion Head 2023
Not like different sights in Baguio, The Lion’s Head shouldn’t be a spot for recreation or a spot to dine. It serves as a fast stop-over the place individuals can get a photograph alternative, a sign that they’re already in Baguio! Memento outlets may also be discovered close by!
This text is a part of my latest Baguio journey collection. For the imply time, be happy to revisit my different Baguio posts beneath:
Reference: Baguio Metropolis Host Lions Membership / Rappler / Bagong Lipunan /
