Baguio -- Not the typical summer capital!

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Did you know that Baguio was one of the places that Spaniards have tumbled on in the early 19th century? But after series of attempts, conquerors failed to fully bring the land under dominion because of the natives’ strong refusal to Spaniards’ supreme authority. Though, I must admit that after hearing and reading stories about Spanish occupation, their introduction to coffee was a truly remarkable one.

Then, during the American occupation, Baguio city was developed and laid out by premier American Architect Daniel H. Burnham and roads were built connecting to the main highways.

Did you also know that Baguio was obtained from the word “Bag-iw” an Ibaloi word for “moss”? And according to most, American colonizers pronounced it as “bag-ee-yow”?

It was also during the American colonial period when Baguio was declared as “The summer capital of the Philippines”.

In 1941, Japanese bombed Baguio and occupied it after a couple of days. It was after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor then targeted the Philippines as it was the only colony of the U.S. Then after almost 4 years, General Yamashita ceded to the Americans and Baguio gradually recovered until Philippines gained its full independence in 1946.
So, Baguio continued fulfilling its role as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines and is now considered a Highly Urbanized City.

It has been the “place to be” for those mainly escaping from the tropical heat of summer. Not only its cool temperature that is appealing to many but also its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, the subtle scent of pine trees, wood carvings of the Cordillerans and the tourist-friendly locals.
One day, my friend and I were on BUDGET-TRAVEL mission and we decided to go to Baguio as it is the easiest place to go to and explore.
It only took a little less than 7 hours by bus to get there. Though this may vary depending on how heavy the traffic could be. It was my 2nd time visiting Baguio so my trip was somehow filled with throwbacks. :)

Read on and discover some of the places you can visit in Baguio.

a place of craftsmanship, art and collection of cordillera. It mainly showcases the culture of the Cordillera region.
Here’s its Map

When you get inside, you will see paintings that mostly speak about Cordillera‘s culture. Apparently, I won't be able to share any as we were obedient enough to follow what was posted on the wall “Please do not take pictures of the artworks” :)

This is the attire used by the tribes in mountain province and I surely didn’t want to miss trying it on.

As you tour around the village, you will also be seeing traditional Ifugao Huts.

Here they are stunned by the scenes of nature and aimlessly walking that they forgot the map they were holding just a couple of minutes back. Yes, they almost got lost. HAHA

We found the way out without a doubt! :)

NEXT STOP

BenCab Museum is located in Tuba town of Benguet province and is just 6 kilometers away from the city. BenCab is short for Benedicto Reyes Cabrera. He is known as a master of contemporary Philippine art.
Interestingly, I found out that Paul McCartney owns a BenCab painting.

If you look closely and observe deeply, the paintings build a connection and express various stories.

The museum also houses tribal Cordilleran art. Some say that these are being well taken care of as their ancestors’ spirits reside in them. Yes! The idea gave me creeps but I still managed to smile! HAHA

You will also find a man-made duck pond connected by a wooden bridge to a gazebo right outside the museum.

Perfect spot to relax and enjoy the cool weather.

It is located near the session road. It was completely finished in 1936. It had its solemn dedication in the same year. It is said to be having a Precinct where remains of thousands that died during World War II are placed.

As far as I know is the most visited part of the city. From its elevated sightseeing point, you’ll get to see a wide view of Benguet’s gold and copper abandoned mines and nearby mountains. The crowd was overwhelming when we got there so, I wasn’t able to capture the breathtaking view from the observation deck.

Here we are with the very accommodating Doglas. It is Baguio’s most famous St Bernard dog.

How could you not notice this horse with pink hair? I thought of its eyes smiling and definitely not closing during the pictorial!

Wright Park is situated in the eastern part of the city. It was named after Governor Luke E. Wright.
The park is most famous for Pony Rides/horseback riding it offers. It was seriously my first time to see herd of horses and I was enthralled. Did you know that horses, among any land mammals, have the largest eyes? Both eyes work together and can perceive almost 360 degrees at one time.

I also heard that Wright Park conducts horse racing events. To witness it live would patently be a fun and exciting experience.

----To the upper part of the park

Over 100 stone steps didn’t really bother us as we know we won’t even sweat buckets. Thanks to the chilly weather.
WE reached the TOP! And as we walked on, one of the Igorots (natives of the northern part of the Philippines) asked us to wear their traditional clothing for photo ops. Who are we to decline? HAHA

The afternoon stroll continued and we headed to The Mansion where the Philippine president is accommodated whenever in Baguio.
This is the Mansion’s main gate that some say is a replication of one of the main gates of Buckingham Palace in London, England.

The mansion is located across Wright Park and was built in 1908. The World War II has caused it extensive damage so it was rebuilt and its structure was developed in 1947.
Until now, you will just be kept at a distance and will not be allowed to come closer for security reasons, I guess. So, make it a perfect photo backdrop instead. :)

------ Right at the heart of Baguio City!
Burnham Park was named after an American architect that designed the original plan for Baguio. He is Daniel Burnham. As I went into the park, it instantly brought back memories of my childhood. Flowers, Greens, Swan boats and BIKES! It has been forever ago since I last rode a bike and the vibes at the park is absolutely refreshing.

I personally chose this bike and riding it made me feel like the lead in a Korean TV series. LOL

Sunflower!
I remember one of my colleagues said that it is the only flower that has “flower” in its name and can grow up to 8-12 feet in just a couple of months. It’s my favorite flower when I was in grade school as its appearance and color radiate positivism. And seeing them up-close really perked me up.

And the journey continues…

There’s still over an hour left before we head to the strawberry fields and my friend could not stop sharing thoughts about their love for strawberries.
I don’t eat strawberry but its color is seemingly delighting. It was my first ever fruit picking experience and I ended up buying the basket full of strawberries I gaily picked. When I got home, my family and friends immensely enjoyed eating them.

There’s some serious strawberry picking going on here. :)

-----at Camp John Hay
It was once a US military base now a pleasingly scenic mountain hotel. Admittedly, I was astounded by its structure that is boasting with elegance. Its location also gives you an impressive view of Cordillera mountain range. Though we did not stay at the hotel, we couldn’t be more thankful that one of our colleagues helped us through and showed us its luxurious interior.

A few good laughs over a cup of coffee that made us feel the cool breeze even more, aimlessly walking that turned into endless discoveries, natural scenery that persuaded us to a profound appreciation for nature and deeper understanding of its history that without a doubt resulted to expanding knowledge and many life lessons.

There’s still a lot more that Baguio can offer that my friends and I wanted to explore, if only we were not pressed for time. It was just an initial plan of blowing off steam that indisputably transitioned to a very educational and enriching experience. Hope you see Baguio not just a place to keep you from the summer heat but a haven of great love for art, culture and nature.

Thank you for swinging by!
No goodbyes! See you on my next post!

Truly,
Larni