The Lion's Head is a statue along

Kennon Road Kennon Road, also known as Rosario–Baguio Road, is a two lane roadway in Benguet province in the Philippines connecting the mountain city of Baguio in Benguet to the lowland town of Rosario in La Union province. The project begun in 1903 and o ...

, a major highway in

Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. Located in Camp 6 near the

Baguio Baguio ( , ), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...

–

Tuba The tuba (; ) is the lowest-pitched musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, the sound is produced by lip vibrationa buzzinto a mouthpiece. It first appeared in the mid-19th century, making it one of the ne ...

boundary, the Lion's Head measures in height.Kennon Road Pushed as Heritage Site
Dexter A. See, ''

Manila Bulletin The ''Manila Bulletin'' (), (also known as the ''Bulletin'' and previously known as the ''Manila Daily Bulletin'' from 1906 to September 23, 1972, and the ''Bulletin Today'' from November 22, 1972, to March 10, 1986) is the Philippines' largest ...

''. 29 September 2010. Quote: "Part of the attraction along Kennon Road is the scenic mountain ranges on one side and the waters of the Bued River on another side coupled with the presence of the ''famous'' lion's head at the middle of the zigzag portion of the road." (emphasis added)"Killer lap makes Guevarra Tour champ"
Joey Villar, ''

The Philippine Star ''The Philippine Star'' (self-styled ''The Philippine STAR'') is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines and the flagship brand of the Philstar Media Group. First published on July 28, 1986, by veteran journalists Betty Go-Belmonte, ...

''. Updated 19 April 2009. Quote: "Baler Ravina (21) pedals past the ''famous'' Lion’s Head along Kennon Road ..." (emphasis added)

Conception

It was conceptualized by the

Lions Club The International Association of Lions Clubs, more commonly known as Lions Clubs International, is an international non-political service organization established originally in 1916 in Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , ...

members of

, during the term of Luis Lardizabal as mayor of Baguio from 1969 to 1970 and as the club's president, to become the club's symbol or imprint in the area. Prior to the artistic sculpting, the

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

was prepared by a group of engineers and miners, then the "actual artistic carving of the façade" made by the late sculptor Anselmo B. Day-ag. The construction project began in 1968 but was interrupted. The project was continued in 1971 by another Lions Club president, Robert Webber, and was unveiled in 1972.

Forerunners

The forerunner of the man-made Lion's Head was a "large rock" described to be "naturally shaped like a

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...

", which prior to 1972 was the landmark that tourists observe along Kennon Road towards Baguio. However, according to the article ''Lion's Head in Baguio City - Philippines'', the current Lion's Head landmark was also a limestone naturally shaped like a "male lion, with a mane".

Restoration

The statue has undergone several coloration changes before restoring it to acquiring its traditional gold and black color. It was at some points in time painted white and brown, or yellow. It had also undergone restoration after being damaged by vandalism and by an earthquake in northern Luzon in 1990.

References

{{Baguio Landmarks in the Philippines Buildings and structures in Baguio Sculptures of lions Lions Clubs International Tourist attractions in Baguio Vandalized works of art Outdoor sculptures in the Philippines

Conception

Forerunners

Restoration

See also

References