Touch Philippines!: Things not to miss in Baguio City

This post should have been titled "You should not miss Baguio City." But enough have been written already about the magnificence (and slow loss of it) of this city nestled atop 5,000 feet-high mountains that were once verdant but now teem of houses and other structures.

Baguio's cold, soothing embrace that once smelled of fresh pine trees has beckoned countless tourists. The Americans so loved its weather that they developed it in the early 20th Century as a special place for their R and R.

For many years, Baguio City's laidback lifestyle was quite conducive to learning and artistic pursuits. Inspired students pored over books and artists unleashed their creativity amid the pine trees and rolling terrain. The cold weather too was perfect for lovers who could cuddle all day without being too close for comfort.

Baguio City has changed in so many ways lately. Urban decay is slowly setting in and the number of tourists is just so overwhelming that it has become a melting pot. It's a great thing that the Baguio natives (mostly Ibaloi and Kankana-ey tribes) have kept their cultural tradition which is now Baguio's main showcase.

Tourists who come to Baguio basically know where they want to go, what they want to see, and what they want to buy as souvenir or pasalubong (stuff you bring back home to prove you came from some place). The following are just some of the things that tourists flock to when going up Baguio:

1. Panagbenga

Panagbenga literally means "blossoming season" or a time when the flowers bloom. Baguio is known for its cutflowers, of course, and these flowers serve as centerpiece during Panagbenga. It is Baguio's version of "Parade of Roses" with streetdancing included. City dads initially thought of Panagbenga as a sort of gimmick to lure tourists during the lean season of February. Now it has become a month-long celebration with tourists filling almost every square foot of the city proper, especially during the grand parade. A word of caution though: be careful with your personal stuff because pickpockets and slashers also abound, most may be posing as tourists.

2. Strawberry jam and peanut brittle

Tourists usually buy these goodies at the market or stalls along the road. However, the best-tasting ones are those produced by the Good shepherd Sisters and marked "Mountain Maid." Their products' prices are usually a little more expensive but it's really worth it.

Ordinary peanut brittle, for example, costs three for P100 at the market. But the Good Shepherd product costs P150. Don't fret though for the premium price because you actually help Cordillera youth go to school when you buy Good Shepherd products.

My oersonal favorite is the cashew brittle which is quite nutty and not too sweet. A pack costs P180. Ube jam costs P250, blueberry jam P105, mango jam P95... There are just plenty of goodies that Good Shepherd offers so you simply have to be there to see it all, including the lively flowers hanging around the store and the view deck that offers a magnificent view of the foggy mountains.

How to get to Good Shepherd: Take a Plaza-Mines View jeepney at Otek St. If you're walking along Session Road, it's the street beside Mc Donald's. Alight at Mines View (check out Item #4), enjoy the view and buy goodies, and walk down to the convent, just a 100 or so meters away.

3. Burnham Park

You wouldn't miss this place. It's right at the heart of the city. From the main Session Road, just go down to parallel Harrison Road and you'll stumble on a large park with a huge auditorium and a manmade lake at the center. This place named for Baguio's architect, Daniel Burnham, is a favorite relaxation place of folks, whether local or tourist. You can go boating or biking, or simply stroll around. You can also watch a football game or teens practicing dance, or simply lay down a mat and have a picnic!

4. Mines View Park

Fram with ate Lina anf Ms Mona at the Mine's View Park

This park used to be a viewing deck for a mining company. Now the mines are gone but the park stayed. It has a scenic view of the serene mountains and a private cemetery below. Kids holding cone papers used to run on the mountainsides to catch coins from eager tourists, but this practice has been banned due to many lives lost. At the park, you can buy various plants, delicacies, rugs, clothings, T-shirts, the famous Baguio walis (broom) which is not actually made in Baguio but in Nueva Vizcaya, and all other stuff. It is also a favorite photo session spot. Don't forget to have a photo donning Igorot costumes, or with apong (grandmother/grandfather) Igorot, the huge labradors, or the colored ponies, all for a fee of course.

5. The Lion

I never thought I'd finally have a picture here as a grown-up

This is the famous landmark that tells you that you are almost there :-) When I was a kid, I used to anticipate viewing this huge artwork. The Lion is situated somewhere along the Zigzag Road. You can only view it when you take Kennon Road going up.

6. Zigzag Road

Best viewed from the View Deck at Camp 7, the ZigZag Road at the famous Kennon Road looks like a slithering snake going up the mountains. One portion of the Zigzag Road actually has a 45-degree angle, just a curve after the Lion when going up. At this point, the vehicle starts to slow down a bit because of the angle.

7. Session Road

This is the main road in Baguio City, so you won't miss it a bit. This is the hub, where the famous restaurants, bookstores, and other shops are located. Some of the so-called "institutions" located on Session Road are the 456 Restaurant, CID Educational Supply, Puso ng Baguio Arcade, Handaan sa Baguio, Sizzling Plate, Mario's, and others. There is also a steep stairway on Session that leads up to the Baguio Cathedral. There are plenty of "ukay-ukay" (secondhand) stores and thrift book shops too. It's a relief that Baguio now has 24-hour convenient stores and fastfoods along Session.

8. Ukay-ukay

For those who relish buying second-had designer clothes, bags, and shoes, they will find Baguio City as an ukay-ukay haven. Ukay stores along Session are bit pricier, and some are already selling fake goods that are marketed as brand new. Lower-priced ukays are along Magsaysay, Abanao, and those little shops opposite Burnham Park. For real down-to-earth ukay, go swim in super cheap and ukay-overflowing stalls on Hilltop, the site of the old market. There are even items as low as P10!

In all ukay stores, it is alright to haggle, so brush up on your Ilocano so you sound authentic and have a better chance of striking a deal. (Tips: ask "Sagmamano daytoy?" [how much is this?] while holding the item... "Sagmamano dayta?" [how much is that?] when pointing to an item... Say "Nag-ngina!" when you find an item too expensive, then ask "Ania ti last price mo?"[what's your last price?] and expect that the salesperson will cut a few pesos from the original price. Don't be shy to express yourself in English because real uplanders can express themselves better in English than in Tagalog or Filipino.

9. Pine Tree

When I was a child, I knew I was nearing Baguio City when I could already smell that distinctive fresh pine scent. This smell became stronger as I walked along Burnham Park and Session Road. Perhaps it was strongest in pine-packed places like Camp John Hay or Philippine Military Academy, but I never knew, as I was not privileged enough to visit these places when I was young and my sense of smell was at its keenest.

The pine tree has come to symbolize Baguio because this tree thrives well in this city because of the weather. There are still many pine trees in Baguio, but not as many as perhaps two decades ago. And that pine-scent has gone, except in John Hay and some less-disturbed places.

10. The Baguio Cathedral

Even if you're not a Catholic, this place if a landmark because it is built on a high and very prominent place. When I was in college, I used to just sit down on the ledges and view the cityscape while enjoying the cool breeze breathing on my face (this hurts the nose though!).

11. Camp John Hay

This camp was built by the Americans as a rest and recreation facility for American soldiers. For many years, the 690-hectare property was considered as "Little America" until it was turned over to the Philippine government. John Hay is still one of Baguio's most popular tourist attractions. it has hotels, a shopping center, convention center, foot trail, a "lost cemetery" for the pessimists, and many other attractions.

12. SM Baguio

I don't endorse SM but the view that greets you, especialy when dining al fresco at the resto lane. Just across is the Cordillera University (formerly Baguio Colleges Foundation) that produces some of the country's best lawyers, the Baguio City Athletic Bowl, Burnham Park Lake, even the ukay stores. But of course, you can see these views clearly only during warmer days when there is no fog that looms over these places. At the foot of SM Baguio are souvenir shops that offer various items that are very affordable.

13. Sizzling Plate with its Sans Rival

Hands down, no other coffee shop, deli, resto, fastfood, or even kitchen can offer a better sans rival than that of Sizzling Plate! It is literally "without rival," the winner! It has just enough butter and sugar and won't leave you feeling oily, heavy, nor guilty. The nuts are really chewy and complement the creaminess of this heavenly treat. Most of all, it is so affordable.The last time I ordered one with my meal at the Session Road branch, a 3x3 slice cost P35. In Manila, that would cost you double at half the size!

This is why, when in Baguio, I never fail to have an order of my ultimate comfort food (reminds me of college days when I had a very limited allowance, and buying a piece of sans rival was an ultimate treat!). Sizzling Plate has two branches- the original one is located on Session Road, then another in SM Baguio, then along Abanao Street.

14. University of the Philippines Baguio

I admit I am biased in including my Alma Mater as a tourist spot but I can't help it. This tiny University in its 50 years of existence has nurtured the biggest talents you can now find in the government, academe, research institutions, private firms, and even in the field of arts and theater. This 2011, UP Baguio celebrates its Golden Jubilee and I am quite excited to participate in this landmark event :-)

UP Baguio is just across the Baguio Convention Center and a stone's throw from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, DOST-PAGASA, Narda's, and the new Victory Liner bus terminal. It has a dormitory for those who want to stay for a night or two (in addition to its ladies residence hall) though priority is given to UP Baguio alumni who are also entitled to a 25% discount.