BAGUIO, Philippines — What’s to love about Baguio? Is it the ukay, the chilly weather, the elegant Manor at Camp John Hay? Ask photographer Rudy Furuya. He can give you a hundred more by way of photographs.
Born in Baguio in 1933, Einosuke “Rudy” Furuya was 12 when his family had to leave due to WWII. Back in Japan, he kept thinking about Baguio, and longed to return to where he grew up. It took 44 years for his homecoming to take place. Since then, he has frequented the summer capital in search of old friends and to relive memories of his younger years.
Since his retirement in 1999 from a 50-year career as a commercial photographer in Japan, Furuya has been focusing on projects with Baguio as the central theme. His current exhibition, entitled “Keeping Count…Homing In…” was a three-year endeavor that led him to nooks and crannies of Baguio to complete his goal of shooting numbers from 1 to 100.
The result is an extensive piece of photographic work that captures the hidden charm of the city by way of numbers. Looking at each picture brings about an appreciation for the photographer’s ability to frame what seems to be mundane, but in the end turns out to be a rich and striking shot.
Furuya’s colorful work is also an apt representation of the city’s bigger celebration — its centennial. Baguio’s 100 years will be celebrated on Sept. 1.
Philippine Star: Was Baguio’s centennial celebration your primary inspiration?
Einosuke “Rudy” Furuya: Well, not directly. The idea came when I was taking photographs of Baguio and realized there are many unique and beautiful numbers scattered around the city. I took this to be a representation of being a citizen of Baguio, which I consider myself to be. I continued my search until I reached 100 and luckily, it also coincided with the centennial celebration.
How long did it take to get to a hundred?
It took three years in total. I started seriously looking for these numbers from 2005 and finished in 2008. It took a lot of walking around the city by myself to find these numbers but I never got lost, as I am a “Baguioboy” (a nickname he calls himself).
What was the hardest number to find?
Well if I were just looking for the number, it wasn’t hard. To satisfy my criteria for a number that looked beautiful and interesting was what made this project difficult. The numbers 64, 68, 70, 73, 75, 76, 79, 86, 93 and 94 were especially hard to find, but I am satisfied with the final result.
What do you love about Baguio?
I love walking around Burnham Park, speaking in Ilocano. And, of course, my friends like Baguio photographers and artists like Ben Cab. I also like making new acquaintances.
What is beautiful about Baguio?
Baguio is my hometown. It is not my second home — Yokohama is my second home. Probably the best representation of what Baguio looked like during my days is Camp John Hay. But whatever changes have occurred, the beauty of my home still shines through.
* * *
“Keeping Count...Homing In...” runs until the June 14 at The Gallery, SM Baguio. For more information on Baguio’s Centennial Celebration, visit http://www.baguiocentennial.com.