BAGUIO CITY – Lovers can now renew their vows in the newly opened ‘Love Lock fence’ within the Dominican Hill area as one of the added attractions and place to visit in the city following the significant improvements that were undertaken by the city government over the past several years.
The put up of the “Love Lock fence’ is the contribution of the Baguio City National High School Alumni Association (BCNHSAA) Class 1985 in coordination with the city environment and parks management office in order to provide added attractions in the Dominican Hill which has been turned over to the city government over ten years ago.
The opening of the ‘Love Lock fence’ was done simultaneous with the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the Dominican Hill and Retreat House which was built by the Dominican friars in 1913 and completed two years later.
Cordelia Lacsamana, city environment and parks management officer, said among the physical improvements introduced by the local government in the Dominican Hill and Retreat House included the put up of two function rooms that could be used for religious and other gatherings among others to help enhance the attraction of the park.
She added a steel case ladder was installed to allow visitors to be able to go to the top of the building for them to have a 360 degrees view of the city.
The city was also able to put into operation one of the fountains to improve the interior landscaping and installed the flag staff hill to give tribute to the men and women of ten countries who made significant contributions to the construction and operation of the Dominican Hill building.
Lacsamana said there was also a fence that was installed behind the building for the protection of the park goers and later on was converted into the ‘Love Lock fence.’
According to her, the city government will continue improving on the landscaping of the park in order to enhance the attractions for the benefit of making the area an added tourist attraction in the city.
Among the target activities for implementation in the next six months to one year include the re-installation of the butterfly sanctuary within the compound, construction of two gazebos as view decks on vacant spaces between the Dominican building and the Sandiganbayan property, improvement of the waterworks system of the building to include the partial revival of the rain harvesting system of the building for the domestic use, installation of an aviary in one of the fountains, open the building including the rooftop to tourists and visitors through guided tourist by tourism students.
The city will also transfer all the logs and lumber to the forestry nursery at the Botanical Garden once the road will be paved and improved in order to clear the property.
Lacsamana added a Station of the Cross will be set up for the Holy Week celebration and that there will also be installed a giant rosary in one of the atriums for religious services.
Moreover, there will also be a homing dove house within the compound and the installation of eco-trail within the perimeter of the Dominican Hill and Retreat House as well as continuing capacity on heritage and historical conservation as part of park management.
By Dexter A. See
