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| The Lion's Head in Baguio |
The City of Baguio is known for its cold climate and pine trees. It's geographical nearness from Manila which is approximately 5-6 hours away from each other makes it one of the favorite destinations of the city dwellers to go up there to chill out especially during summer and holiday season. That is I have no qualms about Baguio City being designated by the Philippine Commission as the "Summer Capital" of the Philippines on June 1, 1903.
Historically speaking, It was the Americans who established Baguio as a hill station in 1900 . It was also the first and only one if its kind in Asia that time. The word Baguio is derived from "bagiw", an Ibaloi (indigenous language in the Benguet region) word meaning "moss".
I have been to Baguio 4 times already. First, in 2002 for an educational trip when I was a college student. We stayed in a dormitory at the Teachers' Camp. It was very cold that time when we arrived. Three am in the morning! We also felt some scary vibes inside. We were a dozen of girls inside a big room sleeping in a double deck. Second, in 2002 with my former co - workers. The one who organized it used finished her degree in Baguio so we did not have any problems of finding accommodation and all that stuff.
Third, December of 2013 after spending a 3 day tour to Sagada, Banaue and Benguet we did a side trip to Baguio only for a few hours. It was the last stop before we head back to Manila. Fourth, was this third week of February during the Panagbenga Festival. It was finally I was able to appreciate Baguio. Maybe because I now belong to the Tourism industry so I have to have that extra ear and eye to pay close attention to every tourist spots in this side of the world. Let me share you some places you you should see, should you decided to go up I mean visit Baguio!
Baguio Botanical Garden - Also known as the Igorot Village, it is located between the
Teacher's Camp and the Pacdal Circle. It features native huts simlar to the houses of Igorots found in the Cordilleras. Take a stroll and enjoy a beautiful landscape of plants and trees here!
Mines View Park - An abandoned mine, used by early Ibaloi/Igorot people. This is the perfect place in Baguio to go on a horse - back riding adventure!
PMA (Philippine Military Academy) - The official training schoole for future officers of AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). It was established on Dec. 21, 1936 and located at
Fort Gen. Gregorio H Del Pilar, Loakan.
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| PMA cadets marching during the Panagbenga Festival |
Strawberry Farm - Located in La Trinidad, Benguet which is known as the "Strawberry Capital of the Philippines". This province was once a Guinesss World Record title holder for baking the biggest strawberry cake.
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| Us picking strawberries in 2009 |
Wright Park - It's main feature is the "Pool of Pines", the elongated rectangularbody of
water located jut in front of the main gate of The Mansion.
The Mansion House - This is the official holiday house and working office in Baguio of every reigning President of the Philippines. Built in 1908 as the summer residence of US Governor Generals serving that time.
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto - For Marian devotees and religious Catholics. You have to climb 252 steps before reaching the top of the grotto where you will see the Image. This is a
replica commemorating the appearance of Mary to a French girl named Bernadette in 1858.
Camp John Hay - Said to be the first place in the Philippines bombed by the Japanese soldiers in World War II on Dec. 8, 1941. Today it is now known as one of the must - visit places in Baguio.
Good Shepherd Convent - Best known for their fruit preserves especially the ube jam! There are two additional food attractions: yogurts and the musang, civet coffee which costs P50 per bag. You have to come early to fall in line since it takes hours to buy one here.
The Lion Head - The undisputed landmark along Kennon Road that signifies Baguio above anything else. It is a 40 - foot high lion head created by the Lions Club members of Baguio.
My memory card got busted just a day after I went back to Manila. I was able to save half of the photos we took and some from my Instagram account. So sorry if I dont' have complete photos of each of this. But this I am sure of, I am looking forward to go back to Baguio again.
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| Their best - selling ube jam |
My memory card got busted just a day after I went back to Manila. I was able to save half of the photos we took and some from my Instagram account. So sorry if I dont' have complete photos of each of this. But this I am sure of, I am looking forward to go back to Baguio again.
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