People who have visited Baguio decades ago would often say "The moment you set your foot in Baguio, you would smell the pines." Baguio was like the best place in the Philippines to unwind, relax, and enjoy the nature. Those days, when you think of a vacation, you think of Baguio. My first glimpse of Baguio frustrated me. It wasn't the picture in my mind. I was expecting clean and well-maintained parks with lots of blooms and fresh greens. Had I not been to Camp John Hay, and if not for the cold breeze, I would have not enjoyed Baguio. I tried to sense the scent of pine trees but nada. In the 80s, Baguio has lost its pine scent, but at least, not its fresh cold breeze. The fresh air was gently soothing; something you can't breathe in in Metro Manila. In the 90s, I visited Baguio again. What I saw was a struggling Baguio, trying to recover from the earthquake that devastated the city dwellers. It saddened me because Baguio was losing its charm and beauty. I thought ...