Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Henry Sy, Sr. would have stopped the cutting of Baguio’s pine trees

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By Raïssa Robles

Having watched SM grow from one Manila shoe store into a giant conglomerate today, I believe the founder Henry Sy Sr. would have stopped tree-cutting as soon as he saw the sharply negative reaction of Baguio residents.

I believe this because it was not all business with Mr Sy, who willingly spent millions just to house a giant ice skating rink inside his mall in this tropical country.

I’ve noticed a sea change, though, after his children took over. They are not that hands-on like their father, who took the trouble to walk through his giant malls every day looking for things to fix here and there.

That was how I got to talk to Mr Sy – by approaching him in one of his long walks in SM Megamall in late 1997. I introduced myself as a reporter and asked him how long he thought the global financial crisis would last for the Philippines. He said, well into the next millennium – about four or five years. He was right.

Now that I recall, no bodyguard had stopped me from approaching him although I assumed they must just be about somewhere because it was also the height of the kidnapping crisis in the Philippines.

Mr Sy is now in a wheelchair and his children are running the business. Of course the takeover of the new generation has led to the influx of more professional managers unrelated by blood to the family owners, and to a rapid depersonalization of the business.

The move has enabled the SM group to grow by leaps and bounds but it could also be a source of weakness. And that is seen in the way the SM Group is now mishandling the issue over the pine trees inside its shopping complex in Baguio City.

Why cut trees

I listened with disbelief this afternoon at the explanation of SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia over radio station DZMM to justify uprooting 182 pine trees. She told anchors Karen Davila and Vic Lima: “It is our attempt to find a solution to a topsoil erosion problem. We need to uproot trees for us to be able to create a wall structure.”

She said they had local and international consultants to look over the problem and “one solution was to put up a new structure” not just a wall but a structure that could strengthen the area and prevent soil erosion.

Her explanation rings hollow, though, when one considers that SM intends to build there a seven-storey structure with underground parking for a thousand vehicles. In other words, SM’s real motive is to make more money. And sorry, the trees are getting in the way.

Henry Sy, Sr. would have stopped cutting Baguio pine trees

SM says it will plant trees on the rooftop of its planned seven-storey expansion

Because if its real motive was to solve soil erosion it would plant even more trees and would put something in the area to make the trees cling to the top soil better.

One other thing that Annie Garcia said that really grated in my ears. She said: “We are talking of a hundred trees. In our own lot there are 1,180 trees.”  She also said SM would be planting thousands of more trees elsewhere in Baguio.

And then co-anchor Vic Lima asked her: “Are you saying you could remove those?”

She replied: “We could have done so maybe if we got the permit to do so, but we did not.”

To me, her subliminal message was that SM “owned” those trees and could well do what it pleased with them.

Legally, it does own the trees.

But I think Annie Garcia forgot something which she herself once said: “The secrets to SM success are sheer hard work and in knowing your customer.”

In this case, SM customers do not want the mall owner to cut trees.

If SM persists, it may well have its way through the courts but could lose customers.

The draw of SM has been what its slogan says: that in SM, “we’ve got it all for you.”

Over two months ago, my hubby Alan – a former science and environment editor – said on the social networking site Twitter that the mall’s slogan seems to have changed to – at  SM, “we’ve cut it all for you.”

Soon enough, someone else was inspired to paste this on a poster:

SM-We-cut-it-all-for-you

Trees have been cut with great abandon

Millions of trees have been cut through the years in the Philippines and no protest against tree-cutting ever gained ground. It would be interesting to see whether SM would find itself at the losing end of the first successful protest against environment degradation in the country.

If angry Filipinos somehow manage to protest by emptying SM malls all over the country for one day, that would deliver a stronger message than any Earth Hour would.

Comments

  1. This is a bit out of topic, but one of my pet peeves is the loud loud music of malls in this country. And the loudest and noisiest of them all are the SM malls. They are so noisy you can’t hear yourself speak or hear your cell phone ring.

    Is it a policy of SM to play loud blaring music? Parang barangay fiestas on weekends. Or is it because those in charge of the sound and music systems are the young ones? Why don’t they play soft but lilting music pre-selected and have pre-set volume settings so that nobody plays the system based on his or her own preferred settings?

    As far as noise pollution is concerned, SM is the number one violator.

    • I agree 100%. There is loud music playing not only in the department store, but also in the hallways and from every other shop that has speakers set up. It’s just noise and cacophony, so I avoid SM as much as I can. It is such a relief to go to malls that are much more peaceful.

  2. The case in Baguio reminds me of SM Novaliches. SM Novaliches was built on the former site of Boy Scouts of the Philippines where less than a hundred mature trees lived.

    • DENR MUST REALLY BE THE PROBLEM and in CONNIVANCE TO OUR LOCAL GOVERMENT UNITS.

      YOU SEE IN PALAWAN THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE RIGHTEOUS PERFORMING PCSD PALAWAN COUNCIL for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. PERMITS OF ALL KINDS PERTAINING TO ENVIRONMENT ” daan muna sa kanila” before going to DENR for APPRVAL.
      MAHIRAP SILANG BAYARAN, ANG MGA OFFICIALES NG PCSD, but you can get killed for OPPOSING THOSE ILLEGAL PERMITS, LIKE THE LATE GERRY ORTEGA.

      KAAWA AWA SI PRES. AQUINO, HE REALLY WANTED TO CHANGE, FOR US TO CHANGE THE WRONGFUL PATH WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR DECADES, BUT MOST OF US STILL BELIEVE ” sa salitang bahala na sila dyan o kaya ganyan naman talaga ang kalakalan ng opisinang iyan, o kaya pareparehas nga iyan magnanakaw din sila
      kung ang mga SENADOR MGA ALAM NA MALAKI ANG KASALANAN NI CORONA O LIER SI CORONA AY KUNWARI DI PA NILA ALAM di ganon din ang mga taga DENR at LOCAL GOVT. UNIT, at panghuling banat ay wag tayong magbayad ng kaukulang TAX MAKAGANTI MAN LANG TAYO SA MGA IYAN. CHAIN REACTION NA KASI PAG MAY NAKA WITNESS NA NG ISANG CRIMIN, habang Hindi pinapasukan ng media, sasabihin ng witness o kaya ang magulang nya, wag kanang makialam anak , hayyaan munasila sila dyan. SUSMARYA , KAHIT KATAKOTTAKOT ANG EBIDENSYA KAY CORONA PARA MA IMPEACH marami paring NAGSASABI , IMPEACHABLE OFFESE BA ANG NAGAWA? SENADOR AT CONGRESSMAN PA! ABOGADO PA.

      PRES. AQUINO WANTED TO ERRADICATE ” NUMBER GAMES OR HUETING”
      KAYA LANG NAHIHIRAPAN SYA, BAKIT KAYA? MAY NAAMOY NA BA KAYO KUNG SINO NANAMAN ANG PINAKA GOD?

      • Sa ginawa nilang papalabas ng Bank Accounts ni CORONA… may nilabag agad sila..

        yung ang BANK SECRECY LAW…

        Regarding PNOY…

        tss… Pilipino ang kawawa…
        mga mahirap…lalo pang naghihirap…

        meron ba kayong idea sa mga ginagawa or transactions ni Pnoy outside the Country?!

        wew….

        • @Elena Lemi Mukhang dumadami ang mga apologist ni TJ Corona a, kagaya ni @Parusa. Parusa talaga ang ginawa ni Corona sa bayan,

        • Di sa kumakampi ako kay CORONA..

          it’s all scripted…

          ung ibang nakaupo.. bat di nila i-impeach?

          kung sa yaman lng din naman na nakuha nila sa pawis ng bayan..

          drama nlng… marami pang sangkot sa mga ganyang kaso..

          daming tiwali…

          ung sa L.R.A. naglalabas ng fake na title…

          tapos ang DENR mag i-issue ng ECC…
          Environmental Protection..?
          pero ina-allow nilang sirain ang mga gubat para lng i-develop?

          oh common…

    • @adian,

      Now tell us the difference between the empty old site of SM Nova and now that SM Nova is there.

      Aren’t you happy that the people of Novaliches have an alternate site to spend their leisure time, can cool off during this intense summer heat instead of going all the way to SM Fairview?

      • Leisure? well, nandun na tayo..

        magiging masaya nga ang tao sa pag punta nila sa Mall…
        pero panandalian lng un…

        paglabas nila? ano na?

        Ung mga nawalan ng bahay… masaya kaya sila?

        IF THERE’S NO RELOCATION, NO DEMOLITION !

        Nakasaad yan sa R.A. 7279

        Anong ginawa ng mga nakaposisyon?
        Konting pera lng… Pirma agad…
        Kahit Fake ang Title..
        pinapahintulutan nila..

        tsk

  3. PLAZA MIRANDA IS AWESOME.

    It has all the human resources to make the country RIGHT, Name the professions in science and the humanities from students, young professionals, middle to senior managers, experienced retirees. They have KSA: the KNOWLEDGE, the SKILLS and most important and awesome, very strong ATTITUDES against corruption. PLAZA MIRANDA CAN DO IT.

    • IF we put them together with all the intelligent, factual and practical reactions by Filipinos at home and overseas all the articles of Ms Raissa we will see that our country is a sick man of the world; our problem is both systemic and system-wide and generations-long.

      In this topic alone, the consensus is NOW is the time for us to act; to stand up and be counted. If P NOY does not act on the problems exposed in Plaza Miranda, we might have to come out and be identified wherever we are and START CRACKING.

      The problem we are seeing now is systemic affecting almost all parts and institutions of governance, implicating even the abuse of the environment for BIG BUCKS. P Noy should RE-READ his PROMISED VISION AND MISSION and act on them NOW and be pro active to prepare for floods, earthquake and tsunamis.

      PLAZA MIRANDA is getting restless and itching for action.

  4. Calling all Plaza Miranda lawyers. Can something be done. Is not the labor laws on the side of the SM MALLs’ contractual employees? IF these casuals had worked for many many years, can’t they file for restitution, back pays (or whatever) of their illegally denied benefits. From the Department of Justice to the Court of Industrial Relations to the Court of Appeals, up to the Supreme Court. The Department of Labor should have all the records.

  5. hello everybody,its hurt me about the news in baguio,may close ralative ako na nag work kay mr.sy very close ang pinsan ko sa kay mr sy kaya every time na nauwi ako ay tinatanong ko ang pinsan ko kung bakit palaging may strike ang worker sm,sabi niya kaya daw mga iglesia ni kristo na ang kanilang employee iy dahil bawal sa iglesia ang mag strike.
    hindi ako racist pero sa mga nababalitaan ko mukhang masyado na tayong nilalait ng mga insik na iyan.pati iyong mga island natin ay ina angkin na nila .i just want to share sa inyong lahat since sa issue ng spartly island iniiwasan ko ng bumili ng made in china,big sacifice ito para sa akin kasi pag made in china mura, so kahit mahal bibihin ko na lang .pag tinatamad akong mag luto chinese restaurant kami palagi before now hindi na,kahit sa asia shop sa indian na lang.iam telling this kasi kung mag kaka isa tayo na huwag bilhin ang made in china mararamdaman ng chinese na nagkaka isa tayo di nila tayo mamaliitin kahit mahirap na bansa tayo.nag uupisa na akong kausapin ang pari namin to say something about being makabayan kahit malayo kami diyan sa phil.let start from here .May God bless Philipines.

  6. @parengtony says:
    April 15, 2012 at 12:17 am

    Then if our labor Laws favor the workers then why sub-contracting is tolerated up to the extent of exploiting them? They become casual workers even if they are working many years in the same company like SM. You can clearly see how this companies are greedy. They lost all the right of a permanent employee.

    If this will not be corrected then it is hopeless for Filipinos who are working in this sector and we are talking of sizable number kaya pati ang government is compelled to subsidize social services tulad ng PHILhealth.

    If it is so that it favors the labor sector, then it is the implementation of this laws that disfavor them. Balik tayo sa CORRUPTION na naman. Laging doon ang direction ng lahat ng paghihirap ng bayan.

  7. @ Raissa : ——-This particular OPM essay of Raissa has not only vastly contributed to the quality of discourse on the environment, the reactions thereto have likewise shown how much initiatives toward environmental protectionism have legitimately grown in the country among all who care and are concerned. The gospel for the good of our piece of earth must grow and must be sustained. Vigilance followed by action is indispensable.
    Having said that, there is a much bigger onslaught in the name of commercial development that is soon to come. Let us all prepare for it.
    I am speaking of the projected Manila Bay reclamation of foreshore,mangrove and other marine vegetation preserves, along with its avian population, and other unique aquatic resources. All these will all disappear.
    That is in the bayfrontage of Las Pinas & Paranaque. Congresswoman Cynthia Villar has filed with the Supreme a case against this perceived deleterious private commercial development.

    The national government must be shaken up severely to come to its sensibilities. If this is not stopped, MetroManila will only be adding to its many imbecilities, principally more congestion and overpopulation.

    May I suggest and request a future exposition on this —–another event with nothing more than good old GREED behind it!!! Raissa, Alan and all……pag-handaan at pagtulungan!
    Puwede po ba? Maraming salamat.

  9. HOW TO SUPPORT LOCAL SUPPLIERS OF SM IN OUR CALL FOR SM BOYCOTT
    In fact this can be a shared project between us, overseas Pinoys and our folks back home. Talking of making a stand, the following can be done:

    1.I would suggest for suppliers of SM to submit their addresses here or put it in a directory and we will support them.
    2.We will inspire our folks back home to patronize these products/services instead of going to SM. Ang bentahe ng SM is the airconditioned ambience but its just a big box housing these stores.
    3.Someone can set up a fulfillment center to box the orders and send them to buyers. We will inspire our folks back home to support these suppliers who are getting the lowest price from SM. 4.Perhaps someone can now visit SM outlets and identify which products can be bought from home.
    5.Someone can set up a website so our folks can order online. We can on our end track if the money we send are going to these suppliers instead of SM.

  11. @Mafe says:
    April 14, 2012 at 2:53 am

    @Johnny lin

    There was a comment as to how PLAZA MIRANDA can expand to tackle a lot of issues affecting the nation like starting from TREES expanding to labor subcontracting class room etcetera etcetera. This is a very good sign that RAISSA BLOG and PLAZA MIRANDA is turning into a THINK TANK participated by FILIPINOS exposed inside and outside the country.

    It is really fascinating the speed of information gathered with facts being lead out by individual commenters. and actions taken by the community.

    even the presentation of the pros and cons were very intelligently dissected. hindi katulad ng ibang site na di mo maintindihan at may murahan pa at name calling.

    RAISSA i would suggest na based on issues affecting our discussion, we should take priorities like CORONA as no. 1 then we can make no. 2 the problem of unfair labor practice by big companies that for me is a major reason why naghihirap ng husto ang mga obrerong PINOY. sa aking pananaw ang mga sumusunod ang nagiging resulta.

    1- malaki ang nawawala sa kaban ng gobeyrno dahil sa lost taxes
    2- mananatiling mahirap ang obrerong pinoy sapagkat laging minimum wage ang tinatanggap.
    3- lalong dumarami ang di nakakapagtapos ng pag-aaral sapagkat di kayang tustusan ng mga obrerong pinoy na sakop ng sistemang ito
    4- walang aasahang retirement benifits ang mga ito.
    5- paano ang kanilang SSS, PAGIBIG? kinakamkam ng mga kumpanya ang dapat na mapunta sa mga obrero bilang counterpart sa SSS.
    6- patuloy ang sabwatan ng mga CORRUPT na opisyal ng goneyrno at ng mga BIG companies.
    7- marami ang nasisirang pamilya resulta ng pagaabroad ng isa sa mag-asawa or both na naiiwan ang mga anak sa pilipinas.

    Para sa akin ito ang isang problema na napalaki ang epekto sa pag-angat ng bawat pilipinong nagtatrabaho sa pilipinas.

    ISANG BATAS NA MAG-AALIS SA SISTEMANG ITO AT MANGYAYARI LAMANG ITO KUNG ISANG MALAWAKANG COORDINATED MOVEMENT.

    NANINIWALA AKO NA DITO SA PLAZA MIRANDA MAARING UMPISAHAN.
    A- kalampagin natin ang Executive
    B- kalampagin natin ang Legislature
    C- Expose natin ang mga unfavorable decision ng JUDICIARY lalo na ang SUPREME COURT.
    D- Expose natin ang mga sabwatan ng mga POLITICO at BIG companies

    • @johnny

      WOW! Tama ka, CPM is moving into a positive force direction. With a healthy labor environment, hindi na aalis ang mga tao.

    • Mabuhay ka @pinoyparin and the rest of the commenters, you can be lofty in your ideals
      but with the capacity to use street talk. The very thing this little country of ours need.

    • The Philippine labor environment has been greatly influenced by two things –

      1. An overly pro-labor Labor Code enacted by politicians to pander to the labor sector without much regard to its impact on economic development. The Philippine Labor code is even more pro-labor than the laws and regulations in communist countries like China and Vietnam!

      2. A well entrenched culture of impunity whereby the implementation of the Labor Code is easily manipulated in favor of the employer. The PAL vs FASAP case is a typical example.

      From the perspective of both the labor sector and the business sector, the ideal solution is to achieve national economic progress (such as in Singapore, South Korea, even Malaysia) sufficient to create robust competition among local business for good performing employees resulting into a much more desirable labor environment comparable or better than those of the countries where millions of Filipinos are now forced to work and live in.

      There are no silver bullets. (Silver bullet solutions even exacerbate the big picture, I think.)

  12. Hi Ms Raissa

    In a previous post, I said this piece of yours is a catalyst and an impetus to action. Wrong almost, because read the post after or above this one and see the UNEARTHING of the hidden things, bad things unraveling about the high and mighty not only in politics but also its partner: BIG BUSINESS.

    There is so much to know denied us by the powers that be. And your pieces have encouraged the conscientious and patriots among us to speak out. God Bless you and your family Ms. Raissa.

  13. Mr. Henry Sy and to all of us,

    We should not forget that Mr. Sy is five(5) steps or more ahead of us, when he succesfully acquired the NATIONAL HERITAGE SUPPOSED TO BE RE-BUILD BAGUIO PINES HOTEL instead that SM MALL was constructed, after BAGUIO CITY was visited by a strong earthquake( date of sale). Our government should have not allowed the disposal of the said property or the HERITAGE NAME. BAGUIO PINES HOTEL SHOULD have been RETAINED by the buyer , a condition precedent on the SALE.

    BAGUIO PINES HOTEL , remember The word PINES, means HERITAGE PINE TREES ENVELOPING THE HOTEL. SM extension is not an excigency, what the people of Baguio needs in the near future are adequate water supply and stable flow of electricity.

    Mr . Sy already owned the majority of NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION of the PHILIPPINES. So SM can focus their REFORESTRATION PROGRAM inside the water shade areas of AMBUKLAO DAM, BINGA DAM and SAN ROQUE DAM . Steady power supply by these HYDRO PLANTS all passes to NGCPs ( Mr. Sy) transmission lines and CHARGES are being paid to Mr. Sys company. We are talking here, millions of kilowatts per day passing to your transmission lines , collecting fees by the millions. MR SY IBALATO MUNA SA KALIKASAN ANG Hindi PAGPUTOL SA MGA PINE TREES NA ITO.

    You can even joint venture with the local Govt. Of Baguio city and the owner of those HYRDRO PLANTS in constructing resrvoir/pumping station utilizing water on their lakes
    for Baguio residents water supply consumption. HIRAP PO SILA NG SUPPLY NG TUBIG SA BAGUIO LALO NA PAG SUMMER, ngayon PUPUTULIN NYO PA ANG 182 pine trees. ILANG CUBICO BA NA TUBIG ANG MAWAWLA for every pine trees cut? DENR knows this very well still they keep on APPROVING CUTTING PERMITS and issuing ECC to big companies like SM.

    • @Victin luz @ Raissa There are two things that every stakeholders should consider in development, corporate social responsibility (not corporate greed) and the carrying capacity of the location.

      In the case of Baguio City, the current SM development could be the tipping point. There are other “developments” in the the area where disasters are just waiting to happen (housing developments on the steep slopes of Quirino hill, the portion of the Sto. Tomas mountain facing the city where often landslides are visible, and other housing areas that may not even conform with the building code).

      LGUs are suppose to come up with their comprehensive land use plan (CLUP) and one of the considerations is the carrying capacity.

      • Yes many areas in Baguio City waiting for disasters to happen, but the CITY CAMP district gets flooded comes strong rainfall and during the rainy seasons up to the roofs of a two storey houses but the local council did nothing. Evacuation site , relief goods and medicines and kaunting widening of the canals that was all they have done.
        The City can utilize their comprehensive land use plan here and it is within the carrying capacity of Baguio.

        SM management are telling us concrete walls is the solution of soil erosion along SM Baguio so that they can cut those 182 pine trees . Do we allow this reasoning? The roots of this trees are the best solution to soil erosion and DENR knows this fully well. BESIDES WATER SHORTAGE IN BAGUIO CITY IS A FACT
        AND 182 PINE TREES IS EQUIVALENT TO SO MANY VOLUME OF WATER,

        The current SM Development as you say is now our TIPPING POINT TO TELL
        HENRY SY NA TAMA NA SA CORPORATE GREED MO. SA IYO NA NGA ANG NGCP
        IBALATO MUNA SA KALIKASAN ANG HINDI PAGPUTUL SA 182 PINE TREES DYAN SA PUSOD NG BAGUIO CITY

  14. Sun-Star explains what Malacanang has not… about SM Baguio
    Posted on 12/04/2012
    SM lot sale finalized

    By JM Agreda

    Tuesday, February 7, 2012

    PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III finalized the lot acquisition requirements to grant a mall chain full ownership of the Luneta Hill property where expansion plans are set to be implemented this year.

    In a copy of the absolute deed of sale of the SM expansion lot obtained by Sun.Star Baguio, Aquino made the acquisition of the Luneta Hill property final with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa signing the document on the President’s behalf.

    The national property sold by the President as representative of the National Government with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje as witness on behalf of the government while lawyer Carlo Alampay represented SM Investments Corporation.

    SM won the bid for the property back in April 22, 1992 during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino who released the order of award on May 5, 1992 for P2,027.34 per square meter or P69,999,995.52 for the 34,528-square-meter property.

    SM Investments Corporation paid for the property in six tranches starting April 22, 1992 with P7-million initial payment and paid P6,299,999.55 for the succeeding years until 1996.

    The last payment for the lot was paid in April 2, 1997 by the mall management for P37,799,997.32, giving SM full ownership of the Luneta Hill property.

    Mayor Mauricio Domogan in an interview said the President is not to blame in the privatization of the Luneta Hill property because it was already paid by the mall prior to his administration.

    The mayor said this makes SM as the private owner of the Luneta Hill property, which has sparked protests from several residents who are opposing the earth-balling of 182 alnus and pine trees to give way to the mall expansion.

    Domogan said the only way for the government to regain the property is to exercise its imminent domain powers and expropriate the property and buy back the land from SM.

    However, he claimed this will of course depend on SM’s approval of selling the property which he believes will not be allowed by the retail giant.

    Another remedy the local chief executive presented is for SM to reconsider the clamor of the people and redesign the expansion plans.

    “But I cannot dictate on them, they are the private owner of the lot,” he said.

    But with the mall chain owning the land, Domogan explained the law will prevail as the city has no opposition to its expansion because it is compliant with existing land use and zoning plans.

    “We are a government of laws and we have to abide by it,” he said.

    He added that he respects the protests and legal actions by protesters who are planning to file for a Temporary Environmental Protection Order next week.

    In last Sunday’s Project 182 concert rally, lead petitioner Dr. Michael Bengwayan claimed they have been requesting with the local DENR regional office to furnish them with papers they issued to give way for the tree cutting permit and Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

    He said that despite the mall owning the Luneta Hill property, government officials should make a stand and put in mind the clamor of the people.

    Bengwayan added that the DENR also did not conduct consultations, which are part of the process of granting an ECC to the mall chain.

    In a symbolic show of support, more than a thousand people flocked to the Pine Tress of the World Park to express their disappointment to the mall expansion.

    Fr. Nestor Morales, who represented Bishop Carlito Cenzon, said the Baguio-Benguet diocese is disappointed with SM’s plans for the area.

    However, he asked the people to remain patient and file for appropriate measures to stop the earth-balling of trees.

    For Bengwayan, they will continue their protest and call to boycott the mall chain until the mall management decides not to earth-ball the trees.

    He promised their continuing protests will remain peaceful, very different from the ones in Metro Manila, which he claims will be celebrated through music and prayers to save the trees, the heritage of the city.

    Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on February 07, 2012.

    • Is there a provision or condition in the May 5 1992 order of award the Luneta Hill property to Henry Sy that SM has to restore the Pine Hotel? As my family used to spend many memorable holidays in Baguio staying at the Pine hotel, our hearts really sank when we saw another common mall erected in that once beautiful setting. SM could have developed the area into a quaint, interesting and arresting shopping area like those we see in other countries – shopping areas with character instead of another fast-mall.
      What a waste and it’s almost a crime to be so unimaginative.

      • @ Adriana

        Wala palagay ko dahil katatapos Lang noon ang lindol. Dis organized ang CITY,
        Kailalangan ng mga structures kapallit ng mga gumuhong susali dahil sa lindol. Kaya ko nasabi na 5 steps ahead sa atin noon si MR Sy, kasi na fast break Nya ang local and national govt. In approving the acquisition of earthquake felled NATIONAL HERITAGE
        BAGUIO PINES HOTEL. They should have objected to the sale or a pre condition to it, the name BAGUIO PINES HOTEL shall remain.

        Si mayor DOMOGAN nagpapalusot, lawyer pa naman, alam naman Nya na DI absolute ang kapangyarihan sa ating lupain kung makakaapecto na sa kalikasan at sa mga mamayan kagaya ngayon. Passado daw sa zoning THEN ask your VICE MAYOR TO CONVENE IMMEDIATELY AND PASSED A RESOLUTION WITHDRAWING THE CUTTING PERMIT in the GUISE of EARTH BALLING APPROVED BY DENR. Have your ZONING at SM AREA be REGULATED specifying NO CUTTING OF PINE TREES IN THAT area.

        GLORIA DIE HARD SI DOMOGAN AND VERGARA MUKHANG NATALON NA NAMAN SA KABILA. INGAT PO GINOONG PANGULO, BALIMBING ANG DALAWANG ITO.

    • yes, exercise power of eminent domain. but please don’t overpay these guys like atienza did to the coronas or taxpayers will be scr*wed again.

  15. A very good friend of my cousin used to work for SM, she was an officer in the head office. She said to me that Mr. Henry Sy is a good man, actually siya yun mabait sa pamilya. A lot of people thinks it is Mrs. Sy since she is religious. But my friend said that hanggang doon lang siya mabait. Marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob si Mr.Sy, to the point that he would support long time suppliers nila, and he’d listened to old-time employees. The children are different. There is too much politics in SM. Mas nakakalaman ang mga Filipino Chinese officers. The family prefers their own kind. Yun nga lang, Mr. Sy doesn’t like dark kayumanggi kind in the office.
    Now, the grandchildren are now with them, and one of them is spreading terror in the company. Masyadong manglait ito sa mga workers. He likes to brag about their riches.
    Just hold on, malapit na ang downfall ng SM because of him.
    Robinson is no different, they don’t pay the people well too, and grabe din ang politika sa loob nila.