Remembering Baguio

It was a spur of the moment decision for Mom and I. Whatever reasons we had in mind, business or vacation or a mix of both, we decided to head on to Baguio from Manila after talking to an old friend who resides there. She instructed me to just take one of the late night bus trips in Cubao and she’ll meet us at the terminal upon arrival. So we slept the night away in the bus and arrived in Baguio early the next day. After finding a room for us and having breakfast, off we went around the city. First we stopped by the Baguio Cathedral and then to Session Road (my favorite area) where many shops, banks, hotels and restaurants are lined up.

The cool weather in Baguio reminded me of Europe, perfect for walking without being sweaty. The city derives its picturesque charm from the sloping roads and curves and the surrounding lush pine trees. It is a great place for shopping knitted goodies, handcrafted décors, rugs and wooden carvings and all sorts of souvenirs and native delicacies at reasonable prices. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also being peddled along the sidewalks. Dining was not a problem with the many restaurants within the city serving Chinese, European, American and native dishes.

Even though Mom and I busied ourselves with doing some small group business presentations, we took time to explore the city a bit and visited Mines View Park and spent one late afternoon at a mountain retreat center. It was a brief three days stay though. We just can’t get enough of Baguio. It is definitely one place I won’t hesitate in visiting again. My friend told me their Panagbenga flower festival every February is a must-see. Anyway, we went back to Manila with our bags bulkier and few kilos heavier with the many items we shopped!

Some trivia about Baguio (from Wikipedia):
* The name Baguio is taken from the indigenous Benguet language Ibaloi word ‘bagiw’ which means ‘moss’.
* Baguio is approximately 1500 meters (5100 ft) above sea level.
* Being a moist tropical pine forest makes it favorable for the growth of strawberries, mushrooms, orchids and other mossy plants.
* In June 1, 1903, Baguio City was designated as the ‘Summer Capital of the Philippines’ by the Philippine Commission.

Photo credits: Baguio City Official website