BAGUIO BREEZE

Most Filipinos - whether they frequently travel or not - have Baguio on their bucket list destinations. Given that the Philippines is a tropical country and it’s almost always searing hot this time of the year, Baguio is a haven. And like most Filipinos dreaming of ever feeling that perennial cold mist against your skin, I once embarked on a journey that would take me to the coldest weather that is Baguio. 

We got our air tickets 3 months in advance [tip: lowest fares usually come in December] for a bargain at 1,183 round trip.

GOING THERE:

From NAIA Terminal 3, take a cab going to Pasay (technically the closest overland terminal from the airport) Another tip, be mindful not to talk to strangers, especially if they wear NAIA IDs they can be abusive. Just to let you in on our experience, we were harassed to take the cab for a whopping 950 pesos ride. 

I’m writing another post on this here soon. Going back, Pasay terminal is just about 15-30 min away sans the traffic. Hence, I was most grateful for the really early morning flight my colleagues booked because then I don’t have to deal with the much dreaded Manila traffic. Ugh, you have no idea how easy breezy it was to travel at such ungodly hours.

From Pasay, you take a bus going to Baguio. Unlike most bus companies in Visayas and Mindanao, Buses in Manila going to certain areas are usually booked ahead of time too. Be vigilant if it’s your first time as you may have to squeeze your butt in if you haven’t gotten a ticket yet. Baguio is approximately 6-7 hours away from mainland Manila.

WHERE TO STAY:

There are a ton of helpful folks around town and surprisingly (something not included in our research) they have a tourism booth when you arrived at the Victory Liner Terminal. Some old folks are ready to pitch in. Yes, they know they lived in a tourism capital so there are a hundred folds of hotels, inns and even hometels. We decided to walk around the streets of Session Road and we were guided by a local to Tuvera Inn. It’s nothing fancy but enough for backpackers like us. There are plenty of places to stay in, don’t worry.

WHAT TO SEE:

This is a no-brainer. Baguio is a must for every traveler because of the weather so savor the moment even in the streets and the alleys. Take time to look up in the sky and get lost in the wonders hidden behind the palms. We have no definite plans when we went there. 

We just let our feet guide us and marvel at its infinite beauty. One good thing about Baguio is that most people are helpful enough to tour you around. We were supposed to go to SM Baguio but had a good deal with the taxi driver who graciously took us to some of the most awesome destinations. Here is the list and enjoy!!!!

MINES VIEW – There are no mines, really! Just an awesome array of stores selling goods you could honestly take home including the greens and ugh…just fantastic.

BAGUIO BOTANICAL GARDEN – Another tourist-ee destination but full of incredible wonders. Literally landscaped to please your eyes.

CAMP JOHN HAY – It was drizzling when we went there so we didn’t get to see everything. It’s a splash of goodness plus we had the chance to see the incredible mansion of the famous scent scion Joel Cruz. If you’re lucky, you can also get a glimpse of his sprawling estate and the rest of the residential mansions inside John Hay.

STRAWBERRY FARM – Make sure to experience this! My regret is that my and my friend's brain weren’t exactly working when we were there. They offer 150/kl strawberry picking experience which you and your friends can pitch in. We just failed to do that. Huhu....but we get to taste the samplers. Judgment? Baguio berries are sweet and so yum yum.

TAM-AWAN VILLAGE – It’s a garden in the sky dedicated to honoring the lives of their ancestral heritage. If you think you’ve got stronger legs, go ahead….explore, and let loose!

BUDDHIST TEMPLE – You see, this is not in our research too but we trusted the cab driver and he did not disappoint. The temple is a manifestation of Baguio’s acceptance of faith.

STO. NIÑO CATHEDRAL – An old church converted into a seminary and an execution place during the Japanese regime. The place is rather old and creepy protected for tourism purposes.

Pasalubong ideas

WHERE TO EAT:

The cab driver graciously took us to where he usually eats for lunch. The food is rather odd because of the Ifugao way of cooking where the meat is grilled first to clot the blood before finally cooking it to your desired taste. We had grilled fish and squid and the usual "Sinigang" (sour soup).

One day is definitely not enough for a whole Baguio experience. There are a lot of beautiful places to go to including the famous Burnham Park which we didn't get to see because of a tight schedule but I'll go back for sure and I'll savor every moment of it.