ABSTRACT
The establishment of Baguio City during the Early American occupation of the Philippines is a prime illustration of the nexus between health and place. A historical overview is presented to describe how the Americans heard about an idyllic place in the mountain range north of Manila, which promised to heal and rejuvenate ailing and sick soldiers who were unaccustomed to tropical environments. With a sense of urgency, American civilian engineers and surveyors were assigned a massive infrastructure project to improve an existing railway line and construct a road along steep mountainous terrain. Access to the Cordillera region and the Baguio site was critical for the American Insular government’s operations, especially during the hot summer months. Indigenous lands were taken to build places for a convalescent campus, retreat camp for teachers, military base for rest and recreation, and other venues to meet the needs of Americans and rich Filipinos. Eventually, the city expanded in population, land size, and functions and emerged as a vibrant regional center.
