ATHLETIC BOWL COULD BE CITY’S NEXT CREATIVE CENTER WITH PUT UP OF ARTISTS HUB

April 5, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

With an Art Bank that helps young aspiring artists develop their talents and a mural of athletes and sportsmen that
could be yet the city’s longest mural work, the Baguio athletic bowl could become an artists haven anytime soon. This after an eyed PhP25 million project that will convert the idle lot that bound the seven hectare facility with the Baguio
City National High School as a two pronged hub. The city is eyeing a PhP15 million artist hub where it can stage artistic events at the sports facility, even as PhP10 million facility is expected to cater to senior citizens will rise at the other half of the area.

Sources say that two projects will be implemented soon that will benefit elderlies and artists. The Art Bank was
established last year through councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr. by utilizing the former city tourism office underneath the
old grandstand. The area was vacated with the CTO moving to the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center but has now been used for creative endeavors including the Krayonz dance group which makes the space as training
area. The Krtayonz left for Thailand Tuesday for a breaking competition. In 2020, the painting of murals of athletes and sportsmen were started by the eponymous Publications and Media Works which has so far completed 68 of the projected 130 final work.

“Slowly, we are implementing the project despite our hectic schedule,” said artist Ged Alangui, one of the two artists to implement the 81 athletes/sportsmen painting effort. Alangui has stopped painting for three weeks now to cater to barangay duties. He is a kagawad of City Camp Central, even as Gladys Labsan has stopped painting due to a tennis
elbow. She is undergoing therapy now. Labsan has earlier ceased working when her five kids got sick one after the other. This as some PhP6 million will be used to remove the practice track in order to expand the grounds to accommodate two basketball courts which at the same time can be used as a volleyball courts.

At present three volleyball courts are at the grounds which are at times used for futsal or badminton. The remaining spaces could be used as a futsal or badminton court. The courts can be used for outdoor basketball or volleyball competitions aside from catering to walk in afficionados of the sports. The new look will have two basketball courts
which are bigger than volleyball courts. Meanwhile, works on the PhP381 million Youth Convergence and Sports Complex after the city terminated the contract with ME Sicat Construction which has been remiss due to backlogs and should have been completed late last year.

Inaugurated in February 2022 and be completed in 620 days or in November last year. Also, the PhP110 million tennis courts construction is expected to be finished late June this year by Gerrard Construction. The athletic bowl has a new gate, a flame figure atop is expected to be completed anytime. The old gate has been blocked, while the space right after the old gate has been repaved where a circular flower bed will be made also.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN