Baguio Lion – Brief History Of The Lion On Kennon Road
BAGUIO LION – In this article, we will now learn and know a brief history of the iconic Baguio Lion statue in Kennon Road.
According to FilipiKnow, tt began with the creation of the Kennon Road, formerly Benguet Road. The road was built by the American government when they attempted to conquer the Cordillera in the 1900s.
It is, by far, one of the most expensive engineering work at that time, which costs at about $2.7 million.
The lion statue was built by the members of the Lions Club in Baguio City. The lion is to signify that the club is in the area.
The Lions Club is an organization where its purpose is to meet the needs of the communities on a local and global scale. It was founded by Melvin Jones in 1917.
The name lion was chosen by the founder because it symbolizes “strength, courage, fidelity and vital action.” In 1919, Halsted Ritter disclosed that the name LION symbolizes the true meaning of citizenship: LIBERTY, INTELLIGENCE, OUR NATION’S SAFETY.
The Baguio Lions Club earned its fame for the buildings and monuments it placed, which includes the Melvin Jones Memorial Grandstand at Burnham Park, Baguio Lions Clubhouse in Governor Pack Road, Baguio War Memorial Monument, and yes, the Lion Statue on Kennon Road.
It was firstly conceptualized by Luis Lardizabal, a Lions meber and the mayor of Baguio at that time.
The construction of the lionbegan in 1971 and commisioned an Ifugao artist Reynaldo Lopez Nanyac to carve out the lion’s head on a boulder made from limestone. It was then unveiled in 1972.
As years passed, the form of the statue slowly changes as it looks more of an ape rather than a lion. Still, tourists continue to check out the lion statue and take pictures of it.
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