Baguio won’t stop calling.
After four years of skipping Baguio City as its conference venue, the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Commerce & Industry (ACPACI) is bringing back its Annual National Convention starting today, September 12 until the 14th, at the Baguio Country Club in the City of Pines, the City of Flowers and the Summer Capital of the Philippines--- these are some of the many monikers Baguio City is known for.
Besides Baguio’s towering and atmospheric pine trees and vivid and colorful flowers, the city continues to lure travelers and conference goers with its burgeoning art and cultural scene, museums, pop-up musical events and festivals, sprawling parks and open spaces, its indigenous dresses, friendly locals, fresh fruits and vegetables, shopping centers, fresh-food public markets, its clutch of small, stylish, and affordable hotels, cafés and restaurants, its houses spilling down the side of the hills, its plentiful and inexpensive public transport system, European-like weather, its rustic ambiance, and its countryside, farmlands and foggy highlands. Also, Baguio City emerges as one of the hot spot cities for meetings, conventions and exhibitions; it could accommodate up to 4,000 guests at a time. These and more are the reasons why Baguio City remains one of the most vibrant destinations of the Philippines, and why people love to go back to Baguio City.
A little bit of history
Baguio City was established by the Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi Village known as Kafagway. The name of the city is derived from the Ibaloi word “bagiw” which means “moss”. The city is nestled among the mountains of Cordillera, approximately 1,540 meters (5,050 feet) above sea level. It is completely surrounded by the province of Benguet, which Baguio used to be a town of before being made into an independent City.
The city is most famous for its cool climate. As early as March, urbanites from the lowlands pack their bags and troop to Baguio City to escape the searing summer heat, and to relax and unwind. Baguio is the perfect refuge and the perfect place for cooling off. The average temperature is from 15 – 20 degrees and it can drop down to 8 degrees from December to early February. The Americans declared Baguio City as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” on July 1, 1903 and on September 1, 1909 Baguio was declared a Chartered City, the second after the City of Manila, and the period after saw further development of Baguio with the construction of Wright Park in honor of Governor General Luke E. Wright, Burnharm Park in honor of Daniel Burnham (the American architect who designed his namesake park) and Session Road.
Points of Interest and Landmarks
Baguio has a lot of tourist attractions and scenic temptations, and most of these pleasant diversions are easily accessible via jeepney, FX or taxi from Session Road.
Burnham Park
This is probably the most famous tourist drawer of the City. If Manila has Luneta and New York City has Central Park, Baguio City has Burnham Park. Your trip to Baguio will not be complete without visiting the place. There are a lot of things one can do in Burnham: walking around the park and the man-made lake, paddling a boat in the lake, biking, imbibing the view. At the southern end of the park is a circular skating rink where skates can be rented. There are also tennis and basketball courts, children’s playground, a few restaurants, outdoor kiosks, and an orchidarium where various kinds of plants and flowers are being sold. Like in any park, Burnham has chairs and benches all over the area where you can stretch your legs, relax your body and while away the time.
Mines View Park
The green gazebo and the stunning view of the hills and valleys provide a perfect backdrop for postcard worthy photographs. The main attraction here is the throwing of the coins in the mountain ridge and having those little kids find them even through the smallest cracks. Over the years, the Park has been transformed into a shopping showcase of sorts. It's here where you can load up on the province's bounties: hand woven jacket and blankets, silver knickknacks and jewelries, and various jams and preserve.
Wright Park
Wright Park is another fun park to visit. It’s located at the eastern part of the City fronting the main gate of the Mansion, the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines in Baguio. The Mansion’s main gates are almost similar to the gates of the Buckingham Palace in London. Wright Park’s main features include a shallow elongated rectangular structure filled with tranquil waters and is known as the “Pool of Pines”; its sides are decorated with colorful flowers. It’s best to bring a camera along for the “picture, picture” session. Riding a pony is popular among children and adults as well. For a small fee, you can go horseback riding and the place is swarming with photographers ready to take your pictures while atop the horse, again, for a small fee.
Baguio Cathedral
The majestic church rising above the city skyline is distinguished by its pinkish hues and its twin spires. Baguio Cathedral is one of the more familiar icons and most visited landmarks of the city. This church stands atop the Mount Mary Hill with a great bird’s-eye view of Session road and the City’s landscape.
If you stay in Baguio only for a short time, you can start you tour with a walk down the Session Road. This is Baguio’s main thoroughfare and its commercial center. Session Road is where you get your first bite of the charm and serenity of Baguio. This is where you will find department stores, boutiques, bazaars, restaurants and accommodations, bakeries, grocery stores, thrift shops (ukay-ukay), various offices, drugstores, bookstores, etc. Session Road is the hub for the City’s culinary scene. There are various restaurants specializing in Chinese, Italian, American, Japanese and Mongolian which are readily found along Session Road. Dig in.
From Session, you can go to any Baguio’s premiere attractions: Climb up the 252 steps of the Lourdes Grotto. Play golf at Baguio Country Club or at Camp John Hay. Cook chopsuey with the freshest vegetables from Baguio City Market. Stock up on strawberries and peanut brittle. For night owls, Baguio is alive with pulsating music and warm spirits. There are plenty of pubs and discos until the wee hours of the morning.
In Baguio, your “must-do” and “must- see” list continually grow, and there’s never enough time. Some people may think that they’ve seen enough of the City but in truth, Baguio City has more fascinating layers to reveal specially for those who linger a little longer.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Go Baguio!, www.gobaguio.com
City of Pines, www.cityofpines.com
Asia Travel, www.asiatravel.com/philippines/baguio