In a bid to save the Baguio City Public Market, a compilation of stories is set to launch.
Heather Pulido, editor of Ili Press, said a compilation of stories, poems, and anecdotes will be launched on Sunday, October 26, at the heart of the public market.
“The zine aims to bring greater awareness to the Baguio market redevelopment issue. It also seeks to humanize the issue by featuring real stories from market goers and other stakeholders, especially Baguio citizens. We are also planning to integrate calls to action into the zine.”
Today, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal for the Baguio City Public Market redevelopment is on a 120-day review by the City Council, following its successful negotiation and endorsement by the City Development Council (CDC). The review ends on January 10, 2026.
During that time frame, the City Council needs to vote on whether the city will accept the proposal, reject it with amendments, or reject the entire deal.
The current proposal is from SM Prime Holdings Inc., which holds the project’s original proponent status (OPS). The plan includes a commercial mall area, a city-owned, four-level public market, and Cordilleran-inspired architecture and improved amenities.
Pulido said, “We acknowledge that the zine is only one small part of the greater movement to defend the market. That said, as an independent press dedicated to promoting and uplifting Cordilleran writing, Ili Press sees this zine as a necessary step in shaping a more socially conscious and active generation of Cordi writers and artists.”
Ili Press is a non-profit, volunteer-run group of creatives in Baguio that publishes free digital and print literature for the modern Cordilleran community. The name “ili” means “hometown” in Ilocano, reflecting their mission to uplift Cordilleran voices. Ili Press has earlier taken a stand against transforming the century-old public market into a tourist-centric commercial space. By Maria Elena Catajan
