BY: CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
A new photography exhibit in Baguio City aims to visually retrace the transformations of the city since World War II, through a series of then-and-now images captured by local photographers.
Photographer Neil Ongchangco has taken on a unique mission: to recapture photos taken during the Battle of Baguio in 1945 by standing in the exact spots once occupied by soldiers and war photographers.
With his camera and smartphone, he meticulously mimics the angles and lighting of wartime photos sourced from the U.S. National Archives.
One photo of the Baguio Cathedral, for instance, shows the difference time has made. “The road has been widened and reblocked,” Ongchangco noted. “It’s no longer the same, but the church remains a key reference point.”
Session Road, another focal point of wartime documentation, has also undergone significant changes, making it challenging to identify historical landmarks. “It’s been more than 80 years,” he said. “Some of these places are no longer recognizable.”
The project, dubbed “80 and Still Free,” is spearheaded by Atty. Samuel Gallardo, who also has personal ties to the war.
His father, like Ongchangco’s, was a war veteran. Gallardo hopes the exhibit will encourage reflection on the blessings of peace and freedom.
Photographer Ramon David, who grew up in post-war Baguio, joined the effort by identifying buildings in old photographs. “Even if the structures are gone, I remember where they stood,” he said.
However, he expressed sadness over the neglect of historical sites in the city.
The exhibit will be launched at SM City Baguio on April 21 and will run for one week.
The organizers hope the project will contribute to preserving the remaining heritage structures of the city and raise awareness of Baguio’s wartime history.
