Editing Camp John Hay

{{Short description|Mixed-used development in Baguio, Philippines}}
{{for|the history of the site as a military base|John Hay Air Station}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox property development
| development_name = Camp John Hay
| logo             = Camp John Hay logo.png
| logo_caption     =
| image            = Army Navy, Camp John Hay.JPG
| image_caption    =
| location         = [[Baguio]], [[Philippines]]
| address          = 
| opening_date     = 
| developer        = Camp John Hay Development Corp.
| architect        =
| operator         = 
| owner            = [[Bases Conversion and Development Authority]]
| website          = {{URL|https://campjohnhay.com/}}
| buildings = Bell House, Bell Amphitheater, Manor Hotel, Forest Lodge
| public_spaces           = History Trail, Secret Garden, Cemetery of Negativism
| coordinates      = {{coord|16.398912|120.609463|display=it}}
| pushpin_map=Philippines
}}
'''Camp John Hay''' is a mixed-used development which serves as a tourist destination and forest watershed reservation in [[Baguio]], [[Philippines]] which was formerly a military base of the [[United States Armed Forces]].

==History==
[[File:Philippine Island - Luzon Island - NARA - 68156779.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of Camp John Hay, circa 1930s]]
===Under United States management===
{{main|John Hay Air Station}}
The United States 48th Infantry Unit under Captain Robert Rudd established Hill Station in the current site of Camp John Hay in 1900 during the [[Philippine-American war]]. The site is referred to the locals, the [[Ibaloi people|Ibalois]], as "Kafagway" and is owned by Ibaloi leader [[Mateo Cariño]]. {{convert|213|ha|acre}} of the land was then designated as "Camp John Hay", a military reservation for American soldiers, in October 1903 when US President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] signed a presidential order. American military personnel were given a place to refuge from the relative hotter temperature of the lowlands.<ref name=historycjh>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://campjohnhaybaguio.com/history/|website=Camp John Hay|accessdate=15 January 2018}}</ref>

====World War II====
In December 1941, Japanese warplanes dropped 72 bombs over the main gate of the camp during the onset of [[World War II]] in the Philippines. Camp John Hay served as an internment camp of the Imperial Japanese forces as well as the headquarters of General [[Tomoyuki Yamashita]] during the [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines|Japanese occupation period]]. When the Japanese forces in the archipelago capitulated, Yamashita surrendered to the Allied forces at Camp John Hay, specifically at the [[High Commissioner to the Philippines|High Commissioner]]'s residence which was later renamed as the Ambassador's Residence.<ref name=historycjh/>

====Post war and independence====
After the war, Camp John Hay was converted into John Hay Air Base in 1955 and remained under the control of the Americans.<ref name=historycjh/>

On December 13, 1966 a fourth of Camp John Hay was given to the Philippine government and was made a forest reserve and watershed. The nominal air base has no airstrip and has a golf course. It served as a recreational venue for both Americans and Filipino politicians and businessmen.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dibble |first1=Arnold |title=Agitation In The Philippines |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8n8cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q1EEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2477%2C67287 |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=The Dispatch |agency=United Press International |date=2 January 1971}}</ref>

===Under the Philippine government and redevelopment===
It was officially turned over the Philippine government in July 1, 1991 with Tourism Secretary [[Rafael Alunan III]] in attendance. The plan was to convert Camp John Hay into a resort.<ref>{{cite news |title=Camp John Hay returned |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7MM_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=oVcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4761%2C32763 |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=The Robesonian |agency=Associated Press |date=1 July 1991 |page=5A}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cabrez |first1=Vincent |title=A perfect match, US envoy says of RP-US links |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a1U1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=fCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1834%2C28929582 |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |agency=PDI Northern Luzon Bureau |date=7 July 2003 |page=A14}}</ref> In 1995, the Baguio City Council endorsed a potential commercialization of Camp John Hay setting conditions for its support of a master plan for the former American installation.<ref name="baguio-execs">{{cite news |last1=Cabreza |first1=Vincent |title=Baguio execs to CJH firms: Clarify status, show permits |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2043958/baguio-execs-to-cjh-firms-clarify-status-show-permits |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=15 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1996, the [[Bases Conversion and Development Authority]] entered into a deal with Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevco) of Robert Sobrepeña to convert the Camp John Hay into a commercial development.<ref name=sclift>{{cite news |last1=Bautista |first1= Jane |title=SC lifts freeze order on eviction of Camp John Hay developer |url= https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1928580/sc-lifts-freeze-order-on-eviction-of-camp-john-hay-developer|accessdate=April 13, 2024 |publisher=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |date=April 11, 2024}}</ref> Among the first additions was the 187-unit, four-storey Manor Hotel which had a soft opening on December 1, 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=Camp John Hay Manor opens |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8n02AAAAIBAJ&sjid=hCUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3190%2C2214804 |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=4 December 2004}}</ref>

In 2015, the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center nullified the 1996 lease between BCDA and CJHDevCo due to mutual breaches and ordered the latter to return control of the complex and its facilities to the BCDA. Following protracted appeals, the decision was upheld by the Supreme Court in April 2024, with the BCDA reassuming the property in January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BCDA regains control of Camp John Hay |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/bcda-regains-control-camp-john-hay-baguio-city-january-2025/ |website=[[Rappler]] |date=January 6, 2025 |access-date=January 6, 2025}}</ref>

==Features==
[[File:Bell Amphitheater.JPG|thumb|Bell Amphitheater]]

===Historic buildings and structures===
The Bell House, a historic structure named after Major General Franklin Bell is situated at the camp's Historical Core. Besides the house is the Bell Amphitheater which was designed by Bell himself.<ref name="enjoy">{{cite news|last1=Concepcion|first1=Pocholo|title=Enjoy Camp John Hay while you can|url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/215866/enjoy-camp-john-hay-while-you-can/|accessdate=16 January 2018|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=12 December 2015}}</ref>

===Gardens===
Camp John Hay's history is featured through markers installed at the History Trail and Secret Garden.<ref name="enjoy"/> The Cemetery of Negativism nearby or the Lost Cemetery is a small area within Camp John Hay. The "cemetery" was established by then-commanding general of the [[John Hay Air Station]], John Hightower in the early 1980s.<ref name="oddcemeteries">{{cite news|title=Odd cemeteries in the Philippines|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2016/11/01/odd-cemeteries-in-Philippines.html|accessdate=16 January 2018|work=CNN Philippines|date=1 November 2016|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117012046/http://cnnphilippines.com/lifestyle/2016/11/01/odd-cemeteries-in-Philippines.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It serves a symbolic burial site for negativism. The Amphiteather near Bell House also hosts a gazebo which is encircled by a multi-terraced flower garden.<ref name="enjoy"/>

===Golf course===
[[File:Camp John Hay, Baguio (S. Ciencia) - Flickr.jpg|thumb|Golf course]]
The Camp John Hay Golf Club is situated within the area. In January 2025, the [[Bases Conversion and Development Authority]] took over the course.<ref>{{cite news |title=Camp John Hay Golf Club reopens to public under new management |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/camp-john-hay-reopening-public-new-management-january-2025/ |access-date=3 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112064022/https://www.rappler.com/philippines/camp-john-hay-reopening-public-new-management-january-2025/|archive-date=12 January 2025 |work=Rappler |date=9 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Catacutan |first1=Dodo |title=One of the Philippines' finest golf courses now open to the public |url=https://www.spin.ph/golf/philippine-curling-pair-beat-s-korea-in-winter-asian-games-a791-20250211 |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=11 February 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===Others===
Manor Hotel and Forest Lodge are the two hotels operated by the management of Camp John Hay and are situated within the area.<ref name="enjoy"/>

==See also==
* [[US Bases in the Philippines]]

==External links==
* {{commonscat-inline}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Parks in Baguio]]
[[Category:Birdwatching sites in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Baguio]]