Baguio City is the summer capital of the Philippines, a highly urbanized city located in the province of Benguet in northern Luzon island of the Philippines. It has always been my dream to come and visit this place, I am so curious with there weather climate and the culture. So when my boss is sending me and my co-worker to Baguio for a business meeting I was very excited and happy.
We arrived Baguio at 6:30am and head DTI-CAR office, our home for a few days and we were greeted with Ms. Florence Gredonia DTI-CAR Chief of Finance. After settling in; we took a nap and start our business agendas. It was supposed to be a 5 day business meetings with different suppliers and manufacturers of local fabrics in Baguio, but we managed to finish it in 2 days, and since we had a few more days left, we decided to explore the city.
Baguio City offers travelers many places to visit and the city takes its pride of rich culture, excellent craftsmanship, artisans, fresh produce fruits, vegetables and delicacies. And we started our days touring....
TAM-AWAN VILLAGE
This made to our first stop because we are both curious of the Ifugao culture. Upon checking online about this place we found out that Tam-awan Village is a 2.5 hectare- mountain-side village that was built to preserve and showcase Cordillera's culture and history. An artists’ colony set amid a charming collection of Ifugao and Kalinga huts. It is the heart of Cordilleran arts and culture uniquely blends indigenous aesthetics and exquisite Cordilleran craftsmanship with an artist’s concept for a village adapting to Baguio setting.It is located at the Pinsao Town Proper at the northwestern part of the Baguio City.There are a number of Igorot huts within the village which allows us to see the traditional homes of the Cordilleran people.Tam-awan means (local speak for “tanawan” or vantage point). Tam-awan also offers portrait sketching for Php 150.00 to 350.00 and held arts exhibits in the village art gallery showcasing local talents. In Tam-awan you would also get to see authentic bulols a carved figures of the Ifugao rice god. Tam-awan has a restaurant available for tourist who wants to spend there breakfast or lunch at the village. And some huts are available for rent so you have an option to stay the village and experience the Cordilleran culture. Lodging rates per day are as follows: 1 Person- P500; 2 Persons- P1,000; extra person will be charged: P300 each. Some huts can fit in up to 7 people. Beddings and towels are provided. Other toiletries should be brought by the lodgers. (Pls. prices may change without prior notice).
Ifugao huts a far.
Up close.
Inside.
Bulols or Rice God.
Portrait sketching rates.
In house artist sketching me.
Souvenir shops.
Tam-awan arts Gallery.
Different art works from local artist in Tam-awan's art Gallery.
Poster of art gallery in the village.
Cool artwork hang in one of the restroom in the village.
MINES VIEW PARK
Mines View Park is located in the northeastern section about 4 km from downtown Baguio, known for its silver jewelry and handcrafted souvenir items. Standing on a small observation deck we saw a spectacular view of the Amburayan Valley and adjacent mountains and over the gold and copper mines formerly operated there by the Benguet Corporation.
at the observation deck with my co-worker Rose Antonion. They can be reached by following a winding stone-constructed stairway. Sometimes the stairway can get a bit slippery in Baguio's damp weather -- so take care!
view of the Amburayan Valley.
At Mines View we also had to experience wearing there traditional costumes, you can rent it for Php 100.00 with unlimited picture taking. You can also experience horse back riding in the area, since there are horses for rent for Php50.00 (3 shots). One of the charming denizens of Mines View Park is a popular and friendly Saint Bernard named "Doglas" who is available, for Php50.00 (3shot), for picture-taking with tourists. It is interesting to note how in Baguio City, it is actually possible for a dog to feed his owner!:)
me in there Traditional Costumes.
Mines View souvenir shops selling items such as tribal artifacts and silver jewelry. Some tourists (like Moi) wearing the Traditional costumes for rent.
Of course! I wouldn't miss this moment to try to ride a horse :)
with Doglas :)
THE MANSION
Is the summer residence of the Philippine President. The Mansion House is located at the eastern part of Baguio City along Leonard Wood Road and right across from Wright Park. Built by the Americans in 1904 as the summer residence of American Governor Generals like William Forbes and William Howard Taft, a very popular historic spots in Baguio for pictures taking. Although unfortunately "NO ONE IS ALLOWED" to enter this vicinity mostly tourist are only allowed to take pictures outside the gates. But sometime the guards on duties would allows tourist to enter the gate for a better picture of the mansion and we are one of a few lucky person to come in beyond the gate.
THE WRIGHT PARK
This is right across The Mansion House, a perfect place for strolling, horseback riding and unwinding. Unfortunately rain begans to pour so we didnt have much time to explore the place. But I did a have a quick snap shot on that welcome sign.
PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY
Thanks to Maam Myrna Pablo DTI CAR Regional Director for letting us borrow her car and driver and we were able to tour this area. Philippine Military Academy in Baguio is located at the at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City, about 20-30 minutes from the city proper. A place symbolizing glory and discipline. As we entered the vicinity I was hold at the gate entrance for a moment because I was wearing sleeveless. The place is strictly "NO SHOWING OF SKINS" especially for the girls and thanks God my co-worker Rose has a cardigan to lend. And then we were asked if do we have an permit to tour the place, luckily we were riding a red plate car (a government car) and our driver Manong Ben told the guards on duty that we are from DTI so we were able to pass through the gate.
PMA's Gate Entrance.
As we get to the vicinity we saw a monument of PMA's hero, Gen. Gregorio del Pilar.
Gen. Gregoria del Pilar's Monuments.
Then we stop by and took our a snap shots at the Cadets Circle where you would find a super-sized cadet cap sword, sword casing and gloves.
Cadets Circle.
As we reached to the main are of PMA we were amazed of how quite the place. We only heard the humming of birds, and we continued to strolled around and we saw an old aircraft's on the grounds and we had our photo opt, and then a few blocks a way we saw cadets/officers in a groups looks like their going to exercise, their are big and tall pine trees and in the area and we even saw a tree house, oh i certainly felt in love with it, beeen dreaming of having when I was a child.
Oldest building in PMA.
And then we saw that remarkable spot that we often see in television, "The Borromeo Field". This field is the silent witnesses of hardships and pain that every single cadet went through during their stay in PMA. And this also the place were they held their graduation ceremony at PMA.
The strawberry farm is located in La Trinidad, Benguet, three kilometers or 30 minutes or less from Baguio City proper. Anyone can go here using any way of public or private transportation. You can hire a taxi from the city proper that would cost you Php 100.00 or more depends on the traffic situation in La Trinidad.
We were invited to visit this place by one of our supplier who's niece has a vegetable and souvenir shop in the area. They are very accommodating and tour us around, and introduced us to their friend who owns a plot of strawberries in the field. We are very excited to try the Strawberry Picking in La Trinidad Benguet. Nothing beats the experience of getting this beautiful heart shaped berries fresh from the farm, and definitely the coolest and the most fun way activity a person ( a first time Filipino to visit Baguio City) could experience in the place. But unfortunately, it wasn’t a harvest season when we get there. These beautiful heart shaped berries only grow on certain months. As early as October, farmers start planting (we were here September) they cannot harvest until January, the prime harvest is at least a month more, just in time for the Panagbenga Festival (Flower Festival).
Even if we weren't able to experience the actual picking of strawberries, at least we did try to plant some berries at the farm, we dig the soil and water the berries too.
Aside from planting strawberries in the farm, farmers shift to planting other vegetables as well such as lettuce, beans and onion leaves until the next strawberry season arrives. They also have a sunflower field, and yes, a beautiful bed of colorful flowers in the area.
In the farm we get to see this banana name after our President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the "MACA-GLORIA".
BELL CHURCH
If you are heading to the Strawberry Farm you will passed by this place. Bell Church is a Chinese temple located at the northern part of Baguio City, boundary between the capital town of La Trinidad, Benguet. After visiting the Strawberry Farm we managed to stopped by and check out this place. Like most Chinese Temples, its compound are intricately designed arches and buildings adorned with flags, bells and dragons, pagodas, and beautiful landscaped gardens.There are some artifacts about Buddhism that you will find at the Bell Church as well as some literature about the history of China unfortunately we aren't allowed to see them or go inside their temples. During Spring Festival or commonly known as Chinese New Year local and foreign Chinese tourists flock to this place to pay respect, light candles, pray and give thanks to Buddha for abundantly blessings in their lives.
SESSION ROAD
Well there is nothing significant with this place except that this is one of Baguio's famous road wherein you will fill find variety of shops, stores, old movie theaters, hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants. A majority of banks operating in the Baguio City are found here, as well as various offices, drugstores, book stores and news stands.
BURNHAM PARK
Is a 32.84 hectare urban park located at the heart of the Baguio City, in the Philippines. It was named after the American architect and urban planner, Daniel Hudson Burnham who laid the plans for the city. A walk a way from our hostel, we spend most of our time walking at night since its very close to where we staying. I am very curious and excited to see this place because i grew up seeing them in books and postcards. But to my surprise it wasn't as beautiful as what I've seen in postcards. (Sorry, i'm just being honest here). It looks so ordinary minus the pine trees and beautiful flowers surrounding it. The only thing that arouse our excitement is to tried their man-made lake with rowboats for hire that folks refer to as the Burnham Lagoon. Just be careful you wont fall in the water because the water is so dirty and it stink.
WAGWAGAN SA BAGUIO NIGHT MARKET
Thrift stores locally known as ukay-ukay or wagwagan are found almost everywhere! From great deals on signature items, like clothes, shoes and other fashion accessories you will find here. These are shipped from overseas in bulk and are sold here at a very cheap prices. Your Baguio Itinerary won't be complete without you coming here or check them out at least. Baguio City is known to be the “Shopping Capital of the North”, the best place to buy secondhand garments. And we would't miss it for the world! Every night we would go here and shop, our favorite past time while we were in Baguio.
Our Baguio experience won't be complete without these people who made sure we had fun and we enjoyed the City while working and touring. Big thanks to all of you po.!
Lovely people of DTI-CAR with DTI CAR Regional Director Ms. Myrna Pablo , Me, Ate Rose and Chief of Finance Ms. Florence Gredonia.
Kuya Benny Ms. Myrna Pablo's driver who drove us around the City for a day.
DTI CAR Regional Office we stayed at the mezzanine of this building.
with Kabayan Weaving owner Ms. Maxencia Pili and her niece Kinjud Buayan.
PS. We are not part or employed at DTI the reason why we are having the privileged to stay to there building is that my boss Carissa Cruz Evangelista is the former Usec. of DTI-Regional Operation Group. We stayed to their facility and rent there mezzanine during our stay.
HOW TO GO TO BAGUIO?
Going to Baguio is very easy. Because there are bus companies in Manila that cater passengers travelling to Baguio such as Victory Liner and Genesis Bus. Victory Liner's buses run on a 24-hour service while the Genesis buses operates from 3AM to 7PM. Regular fare/ ticket price is 485 pesos and travel time usually takes 6 to 7 hours. Most of these buses have FREE WIFI. (Ps.prices may change without prior notice.) Check out Victory Liner's website for more information at www.victoryliner.com while Genesis Bus at www.genesistransport.com.ph.
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