Baguio: Let’s go to north!

12-14 October 2007: Welcome to North! Welcome to the summer capital of the Philippines! And welcome to Baguio City! Baguio is one of the coldest cities of the country. The climate of Baguio really attracts the visitors to come especially during summer. It is a city of pines, alluring fresh flowers, fresh vegetables, luscious strawberries, ube jam, and a city of historical places and national heritage. The 5 to 6-hour drive from Laguna revealed the smooth highway of North Luzon Expressway, SCTEX, McArthur Highway, and Kennon Road. These highways present beautiful scenery of lush greens while the Kennon Road (the zigzag road) offers a great view of the Cordillera and ravine on both sides. Driving in Kennon Road needs extra determination and bit bravery.

The Hotel

August is not a peak season, thus, finding an accommodation is not troublesome. Rates were slightly cheaper than usual, less visitors, not crowded and smooth traffic flow. I’m not sure if all the hotels in Baguio don’t have air-con system, but ours don’t have.

Baguio Cathedral

Our city tours started here, give thanks to Him and asked for guidance in our next stop, it is a church with majestic architectural masterpiece which is located near the heart of the city.

Session Road

One of the famous roads in Baguio, near to the city proper and this is where the popular OPM (Original Pilipino Music) Band ‘Session Road’ met and started their early years in the industry. It is a busy road; there are convenient stores, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto and Bell Church

The grotto was located uphill on western part of the city. It is a Catholic Shrine and a meditation place especially during Holy Week. Access to the grotto needs a few hundred steps of climbing up. The Bell Church is a tranquil place with some Buddhist artifacts. The place has a pagoda, flags, bells, dragons, Chinese characters engraved on walls, and many other literatures about Chinese history.

Mines View Park

It is a stopover, a resting place, photo-taking spot, and panoramic view of the mountain, it can also be a picnic ground, and it is the place where you can find the best strawberry and ube jam in town, the pasalubong (place to buy gift present to love ones) corner and many more.

The Mansion and Wright Park

The Mansion is the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines. It was built few decades ago. On the other side of the road, you can let your children experience riding ponies along the Wright Park filled with pines.

Camp John Hay

This place look-like a semi-private or an exclusive one. It is a huge real estate with hotel and restaurants, parks, gardens, outdoor activities, and many more. It is a peaceful place within the city that you can really enjoy nature trip.

Teachers Camp

It is a pine-filled camp with classrooms, cottages, dormitories, oval and other school amenities. The camp served as the training ground for the teachers all over the Philippines, this is also where conferences and some important gatherings were held. But the camp is no longer operational and it is now a National Heritage. We passed-by here one night during our city tour, and tried to observe whether the hear-say about some paranormal activities is present or not. Unluckily, we experienced nothing. Wheee. Haha.

SM City Baguio

The one and only SM in the country that has no air-con system, yet you still need to wear your sweater =)

Burnham Park

It is the heart of Baguio. A park that is well-divided into different recreational areas; man-made lake with row boats for hire, skating rink, jogging path, bicycle lane and rentals, garden, picnic groove, playground, etc. We did jogging here early in the morning, joined the uncles and aunties in their outdoor aerobics, rented a bike and enjoy the park for almost half a day.

Strawberry Farm

Do you want to try the real Farmville? Try it here in Strawberry Farm, the owner/vendor let you experience the real strawberry harvesting. The place has plenty of pasalubong stores selling variety of handmade bamboo, artifact, home decoration, souvenir shirts, etc.

Philippine Military Academy

The training ground of Philippines’ great soldiers. Unfortunately we haven’t witnessed the march and military demonstrations because we were late? Or there might be no schedule at all? Nevertheless, we did photo-taking in the wrecked battle tanks and other fighting guns/machines. We also bought lots of souvenir shirts made and printed by the armies themselves.

Yes, it was my first time to travel in northern part of the country, because I really prefer a beach or an island destination which is commonly located in southern part of Luzon. Anyhow, I’ll see to it that in the next few months or years, and if the time will let me do so, I’ll visit the appealing Batanes and the sweet Ilocos =)