| Page Views: 1,156 Last Visit to Baguio: December, 2005 I Used To Live Here | The City of Pines & Salad Bowl of the Phils by joiwatani - last update: Jan 11, 2009 |
Honeymoon Capital of the Philippines | My nephew Kennichi in Igorot Costume |
This city is very famous because of its very cool climate. At one point, it was even considered the "Honeymoon Capital of the Philippines".
The weather is absolutely charming. Since the city is located up in the Cordillera mountains, perched over 6,000 feet above sea level, the weather is always very cool during the summer season. Early in the mornings, it gets very cold and foggy. The fog sometimes enveloped the outskirts of the city and it goes all the way to the city that sometimes you can't see the next person walking besides you.
And, as soon as the sun shines, you can see the mountain dew slowly disappears. The bright sun rays cascade piercing the pine trees and as it slowly goes up, the weather gets a little bit warmer .
Most newly weds come here for their honeymoon because of the cooler climate. When it gets so hotter and humid in Manila or the nearby provinces, the "lowlanders" drive to the city!
As they say, the city makes you get into the mood of loving!
P.S.I should be considered a VT expert traveller of Baguio City because I have lived here for 12 years. I went to college and finished my law school here. My foster family still lives here. However, I left the city in 1990 after the terrifying earthquake that devastated the whole city! The city has changed now. The newer buildings that collapsed then were replaced and the older ones remained standing. Although some structures have changed and sprouted, some remained the same. Some businesses like restaurants and tourists stand the test of time... |
| My sister Elena at the Panagbenga Festival |
|  | The Panagbenga Festival (Flower Festival)
The government of the Philippines is promoting local tourism which is more sustainable than foreign tourism. So, they formalized their idea of bringing local tourists by having festivals. And, which is more but fitting than the flower festival! The city is very famous for its flowers anyway, so they might as well utilize it!
That's where the "Panagbenga Festival" (Flower Festival) started.
Baguio City has a lot of flowers. The cool climate is good for these flowers to grow. The city has different flowers that you can't find in the lowlands. I remember that in our dorm at St. Louis Universty's Cardijn's Hall where I stayed for over four years, the rooms were named in flowers from A-Z andI you can find all these flowers in Baguio City! Anthuriums, Begonias, Carnation, Dahlia, Everlasting, Fuschia, Gladiola, Hibiscus, Iris, Jasmine, Lilies, Magnolia, Nasturtium, Orchids, Petunia, Roses, Sylvias, ...There are also baby's breath, cala lilies, the long stem roses, baby's breath, morning bells, Spanish skirts.
There are many flower stores in Baguio at the back of Magsaysay Avenue and at Kayang Street. In the early morning, you will see truck loads of flowers being delivered to the lowlands to sell. The local farmers market these flowers to the different cities in the Philippines for weddings, funerals, and other occasions.
The local parks are beautiful in the city because of the silvia flowers, Spanish skirts flowers, verbenas, begonias, gladiolas and marigolds. They paint the city with different colored live plants! |
| Myself at the Panagbenga Festival 2002 |
| | Session Road
It is best to explore the city of Baguio by foot. You can go down the famous Session road and Magsaysay street where there is an array of vegetable and street vendors. Go inside the market and bargain souvenir items from key chains to local woodcarvings. Go up Kayang street where you can find the best deals of food -from the locally grinded coffee beans (it's better than Starbucks, believe me!) to a bunch of bananas! Eat some "goto" (warm pooridge) at the corner of Magsaysay avenue and grab some peanut brittles as "pasalubongs" (gifts). The locally woven baskets and belts are inexpensive- that is if you know how to bargain. They last forever because they are made of rattan. Bring home some handcarved fork and spoons!
Places to visit in Baguio City:
Mines View Park
Mansion House
Lourdes Grotto
Burnham Park
Baguio Cathedral
Camp John Hay
Asin Hot Springs
Pink Sisters
San Pablo Seminary
Maryhurst Seminary
St. Louis University Silver Shop
La Trinidad
Narda's Gift Shop
SM Baguio
Maharlika
St. Louis University
University of Baguio
University of the Philippines |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "The cool weather! Beautiful woodcarving, arts and crafts" | | Cons: | "Local tradition is diminishing! Pine trees are being cut down!" | | In A Nutshell: | "I love Baguio City! It is a city you want to come back and visit each time!" |
joiwatani's Baguio Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 6 - Photos: 21 | | | Restaurants
Tips: 1 | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs
Tips: 3 | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping
Tips: 2 | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 joiwatani's Baguio Travelogues | | | | Title [Click to view] | Travel Year | Pictures | | The Panagbenga Festival 2002, Part I | December, 2005 |  8 | | The Panagbenga Festival 2002, Part II | January, 2005 | 8 | | The Panagbenga Festival 2002, Part III | January, 2005 | 8 | | The Panagbenga Festival 2002, Part IV | January, 2005 | 8 | | The Panagbenga Festival 2002, Part V | January, 2005 | 8 |
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 Comments for joiwatani about Baguio | | | | |
jusdenise93 Sun Jul 19, 2009 03:23 UTC
aaw. you beat me! I've only lived in Baguio for 9 years, i think. :) Nice tips! | OH_DK Sun Apr 26, 2009 15:14 UTC
It was a great experience seeing the sunrise from Mt.Pulag with this group! see also my videos - we sure had a lot of fun. There's more pics coming. | unaS Thu Apr 9, 2009 20:10 UTC
You make it so enticing that suddenly I want to visit. | georeiser Fri Dec 12, 2008 13:56 UTC
Hi Jo. Your Baguio pages are great!!! :-) |
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