“That’s our situation, we’re hiding, we don’t have a permit here on Lake Drive,” said ‘Naning,’ a massager.

Like cats and mice, this is how Ate Naning, a massager, describes the scene every time police, security guards, and even personnel from the public order and safety division pass through Burnham Park.

The thing is instead of getting a body massage in a spa, it’s being done here in Burnham Park.

She admits that this is illegal, but she doesn’t know of any other way to earn a living.

“To earn for our family, this is the only job we have; it’s what we earn every day,” ‘Naning’ mentioned.

Alias ‘John’, a tattoo artist in Burnham Park, he also clings to any opportunity for income.

Massages, manicures, fortune telling, and others are prohibited under the Environmental Code or Ordinance No. 18 series of 2016.

According to Daryll Kim Longid, Chief of Public Order and Safety Division (POSD), “If the regulations have no teeth, the mouse will play. These activities are increasing.”

Illegal activities have further increased after some massagers were allegedly involved in theft and extortion of customers, and more.

This has become one of the hot topics on social media.

“There are indeed some among us who do that because it can’t be helped, after so long they claim to be massagers, even if they’re not. We’ve increased uncontrolled; that’s the truth,” said ‘Naning.’

“They are circulating around,” Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong mentioned.

Now, the city government will attempt once again to talk to the illegal massagers in Burnham park to allow them to work freely and legally.

**JOSE ROBERT INVENTOR