Art and Food Appreciation at the BenCab Museum and Cafe Sabel

A trip to the city of Baguio will never be complete without paying a visit to some of the city's more famous attractions such as Burnham Park, The Mansion, Wright Park, and even the Strawberry Farm in the neighboring town of La Trinidad, Benguet. Going to Baguio without visiting these places is like going on a trip to New York without immersing yourself in the chaos that is Times Square, or visiting Agra in India without admiring the beauty of the Taj Mahal. The places mentioned above are an essential part of any Baguio visitor's itinerary.

These past few years, however, another attraction has been quickly cementing its place among Baguio's must-see stops. The BenCab Museum in the nearby town of Tuba, Benguet houses the works of National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto "Ben Cab" Cabrera, as well as a number of other artists. This blog posts covers our visit to the museum to see the works of art, as well as our dining experience at Cafe Sabel, the museum's in-house cafe and restaurant.

The BenCab Museum is a 20-30 minute journey from the heart of Baguio via the Naguilian Road and the Asin Road. Our journey, however, took longer than that because we got stuck in a nasty traffic jam along the way (yes, traffic in Baguio can be pretty nasty at times--they even have a number coding scheme in effect just like in Metro Manila to somewhat ease the congestion).

A view of the museum from behind. To see all the works of art, visitors must start from the uppermost level (where the entrance is) and then work their way downwards.

Even the parking area is decorated with works of art.

The museum's lobby. Tickets to get into the museum are at P100 each.

The museum has been getting a lot of attention from the media since it opened its doors to tourists back in February 2009.

32 Variations on Sabel (Glaze on Mariwasa Tiles) by Ben Cabrera.

The museum also houses an Erotica Gallery. Obviously, this area is off-limits to minors.

What an amazing view!

The museum also has its own duck pond and mini-farm where crops like onions are grown.

Cafe Sabel

After exploring the museum and seeing the wonderful works of art, we decided to have lunch at Cafe Sabel, the museum's in-house restaurant and cafe.

Since it was already lunchtime, the cafe was already quite crowded. The line at the counter where guests order the food was long, and the place seemed understaffed. As a result, service was a bit on the slow side.

Visitors must order their food at the counter. On their menu are items that include salads, sandwiches, pasta, and dessert. They also have a decent selection of beverages.

This section of the wall is adorned with promotional posters of Ben Cabrera's previous art exhibits.

It was my first time to try Lemongrass Tea (with honey), and I actually like it. This whole "lemongrass" thing didn't seem so appealing to me at first, when I would see it on TV.

A plate of Organic Vegetable Lumpia. Being a veggie lover (but not vegetarian), this one was a winner for me. It was really good!

I ordered a plate of their Carbonara which came with a slice of wheat bread toast. It was certainly one of the better carbonaras I've ever tried, but nothing I would exactly rave so much about. The serving size was decent.

Camote Fries, which I did not get to try.

It took a really long time for this Blueberry Cheesecake to reach our table. We had to call the attention of the staff several times. This was served to us warm so the cheese was runny (it should be refrigerated first), so it didn't taste as good as it ought to be. How disappointing.

Overall, I think the staff could be better trained to handle a sudden influx of diners. That should have been expected already for a tourist attraction such as this one, that gets hounded by local (and even foreign) tourists on holiday weekends such as the time we were there. Still, with the exception of the Blueberry Cheesecake, the food we ordered (the lumpia, especially!) did make up for everything.

BenCab Museum

Km. 6 Asin Road, Tuba, Benguet

Tuesdays-Sundays, 9:00 am-6:00 pm

Website: www.bencabmuseum.org 

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/BenCab-Museum/148385238553174

A Great Weekend at The Manor at Camp John Hay

(Note: This will be the first of a series of posts I will be making on Baguio-related topics. Please do watch out for the other posts in the coming days.)

For the long weekend, my family and I decided to go on a road trip up north to Baguio City, known as the City of Pines and also the Summer Capital of the Philippines because of its cooler climate, even during the summer. People from the lowlands flock to this bustling city of over 300,000 to escape from the heat and unwind. From Manila, it is a 5-8 hour road trip depending on traffic conditions and the number of stopovers along the way. 

Around this time last year we also went to Baguio for the Undas long weekend, and stayed at The Manor Camp John Hay. We loved the place so much that we decided to stay here again this year, and once again we were very impressed, as it was a stark contrast to the hotel we stayed in during a trip to Baguio in 2007. Well, let's just say that hotel almost has the same name as that city in Italy known for its canals and gondolas. 

After an exhausting 8-hour road trip (we left home at around 5:30 a.m.), seeing this was such a welcoming sight.

The lobby was already decorated for Christmas. The last time we were here (which was around the same time last year), they were already decorating for Christmas. I guess they don't really decorate for Halloween.

A welcome drink, a cup of hot Calamansi Tea with Honey, was offered to us as we were checking in. This somehow helped relieve the headache I got during the trip.

Our Deluxe Room, with a view of the sprawling garden. This room is similar to the one we stayed in last year (but slightly more expensive at P6,000 per night), though our room last year had a view of the forest--which looks pretty creepy at night, so I don't really go out to the balcony after dark. The garden view is a lot less creepy. 

The hotel's occupancy rate was high during the long weekend. Parking, though, wasn't really a problem, since there is a large parking lot shared by guests of The Manor and The Forest Lodge which is located right next to The Manor. There is a security guard assigned to look after the cars who takes note of the guests arriving and departing. 

We haven't even fully settled down when we heard a knock on our door. We were offered more of their Calamansi Tea with Honey and some mini cakes for us to munch on as we got some rest. We weren't offered this during our stay here last year. 

The hallway which we would pass by to get to an elevator which I refer to as the "secret elevator" since it is rarely used, unlike the two elevators near the Le Chef restaurant which can get quite congested. The "secret elevator" is also much closer to our room so we prefer to use that one.

The Manor covered in fog during the night...

...and day. Seeing all this fog is such a rare sight in Metro Manila.

It is such a strange sight to see a manghuhula or a fortune teller at this hotel. It's pretty amusing, though.

The hotel's restaurant is called Le Chef. They have a dress code in effect (i.e. no wearing of shorts and flip flops), though they seem to be more lenient during breakfast time. We tried out their breakfast buffet on our second day, which cost us P500 per person. Despite the price, the restaurant still gets pretty crowded anyway--luckily we had our breakfast early that day so the restaurant wasn't as crowded yet.

They have a wide selection of food. Seen here are just some of them. The items here on my plate include bacon, chicken embutido, mashed potatoes, fish fillet, and canton guisado. 

I loved the canton guisado and the mashed potatoes so much that I helped myself to more. You can also choose from different kinds of bread and pastries. Seen here is a cherry danish which I found to be really good.

I also helped myself to a slice of banana bread and a blueberry danish which I also loved. I was already too full to eat anything else after this!

The garden area is so peaceful. It looks really good all lit up at night, too. There is a gazebo at the garden with rocking chairs where you can stay when you just want to relax and lounge around for a while. 

The Philippine-American Friendship Garden, with statues of Abraham Lincoln and Manuel Quezon seated on chairs facing each other.

The American flag is raised alongside the Philippine Flag to remind us of Camp John Hay's American background. Camp John Hay, or John Hay Air Station, was used for rest and recreation by American soldiers during the American colonial period.

My Verdict

The Manor at Camp John Hay has managed to impress me once again. Their level of service is remarkable. The staff never fails to make the guests feel important, and their attention to detail is noteworthy. Even the smallest of gestures are certainly enough to make a lasting impression. Last year, I was already very impressed by the service, but they have managed to take it up another notch this year. The rooms, too, are well-maintained, and breakfast at Le Chef is excellent. 

Still, though, I wish they would do something about their internet connection. The lobby seems to be the only place where WiFi connection is decent, and we've already had the same problem last year. This is a minor issue though, and I hope they do fix this. 

I'm definitely looking forward to our next visit (whenever that may be)!

The Manor at Camp John Hay

Camp John Hay, Baguio City, Philippines

www.campjohnhay.ph

Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMANORCampJohnHay/info

Twitter: @themanor_cjh

A "Little Feast" at Little John's Convenience Outpost at Camp John Hay

Baguio, just like its sister city Tagaytay, is known as a culinary haven for those who love going on food adventures. With numerous rave-worthy restaurants and cafes, Baguio City is one of the must-visit places for those who love going on food adventures and pig-out sessions with their friends and family.

The night before we left for Baguio, I did a bit of research on restaurants or cafes that we could eat in while we were there (fast food places were out of the question)--and Little John's was one of those that I did read about in one of the websites I came across. Conveniently located at the Mile Hi Center at Camp John Hay (where the hotel we stayed in is located), they claim to serve the best baby back ribs in the city. It is their best-selling item on the menu, and upon our arrival in Baguio after an exhausting 6-hour car ride, we were to find out why. 

Inside the restaurant--it does look a bit cramped

After checking in at the restaurant at past noon, the restaurant was absolutely packed with people! That, and the fact that the restaurant space was tiny made it a bit difficult to move around and find a table. luckily, just as we arrived, a family did leave and we took over the newly-vacated table.

The restaurant seems a bit too understaffed, though--there was only one woman minding the cashier and one man who would clean the tables and bring the ordered food to the tables. It took quite a while before our table was cleared, which was quite annoying, actually--the man who was supposed to be cleaning the tables would come to our table to pick up the utensils then come back after several minutes to get the plates and then come back again later to wipe our table clean and put new utensils and paper place mats  In-between, he would also be clearing other tables or would be bringing the food to the other customers. Yikes. 

When we got to the restaurant, we actually had no idea that their baby back ribs were their bestseller (or I might have read about it the night before but I just completely forgot), but we did end up ordering it anyway. At just around P155 pesos, it is still more affordable compared to other places that sell baby back ribs. Other items on their menu include items such as Fish and Chips, Veggie Lasagna (which I heard is also a must-try), and also all-day breakfast food and burgers, among others. 

Their famous baby back ribs

Apparently, they seem to be a bit understaffed in the kitchen, too. It took quite a while before our food got to our table. Interestingly enough, one of the things this place is known for is for their paper place mats which customers could draw on while waiting for their food. There are small buckets of crayons provided at each table so that customers could keep themselves preoccupied while their food is being prepared. The best drawings would then be framed and hung on the walls of the restaurant.

Customers' artwork on the walls

Cute drawing!

This customer decided to get clever and took the opportunity to advertise his/her company for free

I must admit--their baby back ribs are delicious! The sauce that went along with it tasted great with the meat, too--I do think the time we spent waiting for it was worth it. The meat was actually quite soft and doesn't really stick too much to the bones--they could easily come right off when you use your spoon and fork. For people like me who don't like to eat with their hands, this is definitely a big plus.

For dinner the following evening, we decided to come back again, because we were already too lazy to try out other food places both inside and outside Camp John Hay (the Mile Hi Center is just a short walk from The Manor). While my family decided to order their baby back ribs again (you'll just want to keep coming back for it), I decided to try out their Fish and Chips. 

There seems to be a lot less people eating here at night--even during the peak dinner hours of 6-8pm. There were a lot of vacant seats and service was noticeably faster. Perhaps it would be better to drop by the place at dinner time instead.

Fish and Chips

The Fish and Chips was okay, I guess, though the servings were much smaller than I had expected. The Fish tasted good, though the potatoes were a bit too soggy and bland for me. I probably wouldn't be ordering this the next time we're there.

Conclusion

Three words: (1) Baby, (2) back, (3) ribs. This is undeniably their strength--I've read other bloggers' posts about this restaurant and they do agree that this item on their menu is an absolute must-try (as what I overheard one customer at another table saying, "Panalo!"). While I haven't exactly tried a lot of the other items on their menu to make a proper conclusion, their Fish and Chips did make me feel as if they focused too much on the ribs and neglected the other items on their menu. I could be wrong though, which is why I do think I would still want to come back the next time I'm in Baguio. Their Veggie Lasagna has actually had me curious as other bloggers have said that it was also worth a try. They could also perhaps hire more employees to make service faster, especially during lunch time which is the time of day where they seem to have the most customers. Good thing they have those crayons and paper placemats to make the wait more bearable.

Score: 6.8/10

Up in the Clouds Part 3: Camp John Hay

If you're looking forward to a quiet, relaxing time during your stay in Baguio, then Camp John Hay might just be the place for you. Unlike the rest of Baguio which has become highly urbanized and congested, Camp John Hay still maintains that "Baguio feel"--pine trees and all--to ensure that visitors feel relaxed and refreshed.

We stayed at The Manor at Camp John Hay during our three-day stay, and yes, we definitely had a great time. You don't even have to go out of Camp John Hay to have fun--within the compound, there are already activities which everyone in the family would enjoy. Take a look:

The Manor at Camp John Hay

You can take a stroll through the souvenir shops, outlet stores, and restaurants at the Mile Hi Center

Flags at The Manor's backyard--a reminder of Camp John Hay's American past 

Strolling through the forest near The Manor

The Manor, as seen from the forest

This looks quite creepy, actually

While you're there, you might want to check out the Cemetery of Negativism, designed by Base Commander John Hightower. It is the symbolic burial place of negativism, which is considered to be one of man's heaviest burdens. The epitaphs on the tombstones are actually quite amusing to read, though it is a bit difficult to read some of them as some letters are already missing.

Tombstones at the "cemetery"

One of the tombstones

For those who are more adventurous, then you might want to go to the Tree Top Adventure, where you can choose from activities such as Rappelling or Ziplining, and others. This place is open until 5pm, though they may also extend depending on the number of people still coming in or still in line.

A guide for the visitors

Something to think about while you're making your way there

This looks fun

This young lady tried her hand at rappelling twice but she just couldn't do it

This lady tried it too, but she also couldn't do it

Below

For those interesterd in history, then Camp John Hay's Historical Core is worth a look. For a small fee, you can go visit places such as the Bell House,  named after General J. Franklin Bell which originally served as the vacation quarters of the Commanding General of the Philippines, this house now serves as a museum which allows guests to take a look at colonial architecture, as well as a glimpse of what it was like for the Commanding General each time he was in Baguio.

The Bell House

The Bell House viewed from behind

The dining area

The living room

The master's bedroom

The nearby Bell Amphitheater

If you're interested to know more about Camp John Hay's history, the History Trail is a 500-meter trail with signs here and there telling us more about Camp John Hay's history, tracing all the way to the pre-American period. It can get pretty tiring, though.

One of the signs along the way

Just to give you an idea of what the History Trail looks like

If you want to stay at a cheaper place but still want to stay within Camp John Hay, the Forest Lodge, which  opened just last September, offers guests almost the same amenities as the nearby luxurious The Manor at a lower price. This is ideal for the more budget-conscious travelers who do want to get the most out of what they paid for.

The Forest Lodge is located right next to its more luxurious neighbor, The Manor

Dining and shopping within Camp John Hay are not strictly limited to the Mile Hi Center. You could also head over to the Baguio-AyalaLand Technohub for more restaurants such as Pancake House, Starbucks Coffee, Army Navy, and Yellow Cab Pizza, and shops such as R.O.X. and Res|Toe|Run. There are more shops and restaurants that are still yet to open, so that visitors would have more to choose from.

A word of caution though: The Pancake House branch here seems to be below average (or heck, even poor) when it comes to observing hygiene. When we dropped by for breakfast on our last day, my dad found a small cockroach mixed in with his food. There could be more of them in the kitchen, too.

One side of the Baguio-AyalaLand Technohub

And here's the other side  (which also houses a Convergys call center)