Baguio Excursion: Cemetery of Negativism

Camp John Hay was not exactly one my favorite spots in Baguio city. It's a vast land more suitable for long walks. It is also a good place if you want to go for a nice picnic or if you want to play badminton or even football. Well, I'm not really into sports or even running or brisk walks, I used to enjoy walking only, when I go shopping (go figure). 

These days though, I relish moments when I can go for some walk undisturbed and get to be alone with my thoughts. That's what prompted me to visit this place. I've never seen much of Camp John Hay except the Mile Hi Center, which is a shopping area. I'm most curious to see place called the Cemetery of Negativism, so one sunny afternoon while I was in Baguio City, I hired a cab to take me to this place and to wait for me while I was mulling over some matters. 

It's a nice and quiet spot where one can ponder some thoughts or exercise one's creativity (write or paint) while being surrounded by the beauty of nature. The tombstones are more amusing than scary and pausing for a moment to read the witty epitaphs will make you wonder about certain moments in your life.

Popularly known as the Lost Cemetery, there are no dead bodies in this place; rather it served as a burial ground for the fears and negative thoughts. One of the receptionists by the entrance told me that this place was erected by Major John Hightower. Known for having unusual and creative ideas, his soldiers supposedly conducted mock burials in this place to leave their fears and negative thoughts behind, before assuming their military duties. Hmmm... Pretty creative indeed! 

So there I was, enjoying the solitude, (there was no one else around) sitting in the middle of the tombstones, happily typing my thoughts down in my tablet. If I had been an artist, I would have sketch the scenery in front of me as it was beautiful. If one is looking for a symbolic place to bury all of those negativity, then this is the spot!