By Tomas K. Batong

"Halsema" is the trail, road, or highway name commonly known to many Cordillera highlanders for nearly a century. Halsema Highway, also known as the Benguet-Mountain Province Road or Mountain Trail, was built in 1922 and completed in 1930 as a foot trail. It then became a rough road for vehicles from Baguio to Bontoc, eventually becoming an important route and access to the Cordillera interiors for travel, trade, and commerce.

Being a traveler myself for jobs I undertake around the world, I got the chance to visit New Bremen, the hometown of Eusebius Halsema briefly, and most interestingly, the man behind the Halsema Highway so named after him. Halsema was born on December 12, 1882, in New Bremen, Ohio, USA. He arrived in the Philippines in 1908 as an American engineer to work on assignment for the American colonial government. From 1920 to 1937, he served as a longtime mayor of Baguio City. It would be sadly ironic that this civil engineer, mayor, builder, and leader would meet his fate during the American bombing of Japanese forces holed up in Baguio in 1945 during the last months of World War II.

New Bremen has about a population of 3,000. It is a quaint, quiet town founded by German immigrants in the early 1800s. The name itself was from the famous town in Germany named Bremen. I would not have imagined being able to visit the birthplace of Mayor Halsema in my lifetime. A few weeks ago, I was ecstatic to be able to make a quick visit to pay tribute to this man's big contribution to the Cordillera and the Philippines. The only moment I could offer would be silent prayers in this tranquil community as I drove by that early morning. I was lucky to have taken a short turn and located the New Bremen High School where he graduated in 1899. As I continued to drive away, I remembered that the city streets in Baguio City that he designed, the Halsema Highway that I grew up with, and the country and people that he helped flourish and inspire were the outcome of the many challenges he had to endure during his stints, such as illnesses, typhoons, hard communication, and civil engineering as a whole.

Mayor Halsema is buried with his wife in a public cemetery in Baguio. Hopefully, one day a Eusebius Halsema statue will be built in Baguio to honor the man who honored our land.

Related links:
www.igorotage.com/blog/halsema-highway
www.igorotage.com/blog/halsema-highway-travel-guide