Bury your bleak thoughts at the Cemetery of Negativism in Camp John Hay

Posted at 2:56 pm December 30, 2011

Tags: Parks and Recreations, Travel Tales and Tips, Vacation

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By Nikka Garriga

CAMP JOHN HAY, BAGUIO CITY– Some of the more common New Year’s resolutions, if you actually have or believe in one, would most likely include matters of the health and physique.

But what about welcoming the 2012 right by adhering to a more positive outlook in life?

And if you happen to be celebrating the holidays up north, then you can give yourself a ceremonial start by ridding all those unhealthy thoughts at the Cemetery of Negativism.

This truly one-of-a-kind graveyard is situated in Camp John Hay and is one of its must-see sites here.

Others call it “The Lost Cemetery” or even a “Pet Cemetery”, owing to the animals sculpted on top of the tombstones with epitaphs like “Knot a Teemplaer” (Not a Team Player) or “Uhafto or Else” (You Have To or Else).

The idea behind the cemetery’s design by then Base Commander John Hightown is for it to become a symbolic place for a man to bury “his greatest self-imposed inflictions, his most limiting factor and his heaviest burden.”

The cold weather in Baguio plus the quiet, almost serene surrounding of the cemetery sets the perfect stage for someone to reflect on his or her own deepest thoughts.

Inscriptions like “It’s Not Passible” (It’s Not Possible) and “Why Didn’t I?” would provoke one to ponder on similar emotions as you visit one tombstone after the other.

It would seem like any trip to the park for some visitors, but for others, reaching the end of the cemetery’s path would feel quite liberating knowing you’ve buried all those deterring sentiments away.

And perhaps on your next visit to Baguio, you can come back and reflect on the changes that has taken place after your first visit.