"People of Quirino Hill"
by: liambert
Just after Camdas family granted the place, the Government of Baguio imposed tax declaration on every lot of the place for the people’s occupancy. Afterwards, people from many different places started coming up to the place and applied for themselves their lots. That was also the time when the place was subdivided into political barangays. At first, most of the lots that were taken were improved to camotal lots until sometime when the major roads were constructed that the people started to build their houses for their permanent residency.
Before, Baguio was already considered as a city of opportunities (education for one), and it is without doubt the primary reason why people moved to this city, which proved to be an important quasi-historical event that contributed to the drastic development of the city. The majority of the people that have moved to this cool city were from the neighboring provinces or territories to establish their residency, and consequently they became adopted people of Baguio. Thus for Quirino Hill, the first settlers were composed of people from different cultures and traditions that were easily and readily intertwined because of cultural flexibility and their similarity of being westernized, except the traditional practices that were being kept the obligations by those who practiced them with open acceptance from the others, which is one of the situations that keep the social aspect sustaining the community's parameters with essential values that are being shared and enjoyed by the residents and non-residents alike.
As of this time, the residents of Quirino Hill came from the two waves of people's settlement history. The first wave was the period of settlement by the pioneer settlers and the second wave was when the children of the first group were born at this place, which signified the rooting of the community. In short, the population of Quirino Hill is still composed of the first settlers and their children. The second wave also includes the sudden growth of population of the community due to births, marriages, migrations and landlordships. According to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB), the total population of the four barangays of Quirino Hill is 8,901 as of 2004. The majority of the population is 50% that is comprised by pupils and students. 30% is composed of parents, non-working and working individuals (including OFW’s and contractual workers), and 20% is composed of children (preps and non-preps), OSY’s and Senior Citizens. I have assumed these figures after a careful observation, analysis and rough estimation of the Quirino Hill demography. For any addition or correction, please email me at my address: lamberta85@gmail.com.
|