Up in the Clouds Part 2: Baguio City

Baguio City isn't probably your usual weekend getaway. First of all, it's just too far away. It is about 250 or so kilometers away from Metro Manila, and it is a 5-8 hour drive depending on the traffic conditions and also on how many stops you make along the way (and trust me, you cannot make it to Baguio without making any stops to eat or go to the restroom). Second of all, well, it's too far. If you want to get out of town just to escape the heat of the lowlands then you might as well go to Tagaytay in Cavite instead, which is just an hour and a half away from the city.

So, why do people still go to Baguio anyway? Well, it is for the very same reason, I guess--it's too far. Since it is too far away, people don't get to go there as often, unlike Tagaytay (I myself have been there thrice in the past year alone). The long trip to Baguio is still worth it anyway, since it is a larger city and there are more sights to see and things to do. Tagaytay seems to be more of a food destination than anything else to most. 

And with that, I now present to you this blog post, which covers just some of the things to do and places to go in the City of Pines. And trust me--there are lots more places to go; we just didn't have enough time to explore them. So, read on.

Getting There

Along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)

If you're heading over to Baguio, it's best to leave Manila early (preferably, between 4-5 am) because it is a long drive ahead and you'd want to make the most of your stay in Baguio. It is also advisable to plan your stopovers in advance, so that you could mentally prepare yourselves should you suddenly feel hungry or have the need to use the bathroom during the car ride. In our case, we left home at 5 am and made two stopovers: the first one was for breakfast at one of the fastfood chains along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and another one was for a snack break and a bathroom break at a gas station along the MacArthur Highway at Rosario in La Union.

SCTEX going to Tarlac City. The stretch of the highway going to Subic has much better views.

There are three ways to get to Baguio City: first is through Kennon Road, which is the shortest way up the mountain to Baguio from La Union. This road, however, is known for its steep and winding climb through its narrower roads. As such, motorists are advised to take extreme caution. This road is also prone to closure due to landslides. Another way to get to Baguio from La Union is through the Aspiras-Palispis Highway (formerly known as the Marcos Highway), which is a longer route but i generally safer, though it could also be prone to landslides at times and also has its own share of hairpin curves. You could also get to Baguio via the Naguilian Road, though this road is commonly used by visitors to Baguio who come from the other provinces in Northern Luzon.

Great views along the Aspiras-Palispis Highway

Giant Jollibee sign along the Aspiras-Palispis Highway

Our hotel, The Manor at Camp John Hay

Right inside Camp John Hay is the Mile Hi Center, which is home to a number of restaurants, a duty-free mini mart, souvenir shops, and outlet stores of brands such as Mango, Nike, and Adidas. You could also get jeans, jackets, shirts, bags and shoes by brands such as D&G, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, and Lacoste (and so many others) at discounted prices. 

The Mile Hi Center

Philippine Military Academy

Located around 8km from Camp John Hay is the Philippine Military Academy, which is open to the public anytime. Here, you could check out the different tanks, helicopters, places, and weapons on display, or check out the wall that lists the names of departed alumni (who probably died in battle). If you're lucky enough, you might even get to watch cadets during their training sessions at the large empty field. On our first visit there in 2007, we were lucky to have witnessed the cadets' training. It was pretty intense.

The Korean War Memorial

Old tank on display

The memorial for departed alumni

Melchor Hall

Cadets marching

The large empty field where we were lucky enough t have witnessed cadets training back in 2007

Good Shepherd Convent

For the best pasalubongs (take-home gifts) in the city, you might want to head over to the Good Shepherd Convent located along Gibraltar Road, near the Mines View Park. The Good Shepherd nuns, with the help of some local women, make and sell a number of food products as well as handicraft items. A must-try would be their Ube Jam which is undeniably one of the bets you'll ever try. Also worth trying re their Alfajor cookies (at P160 per container) which I've only just recently discovered. I can't wait to come back for more!

Before proceeding to the counters, customers are advised to write down their orders here first

Customers ordering and paying for their purchases. They accept credit cards, by the way.

Good Shepherd Convent's Alfajor cookies. Photo courtesy of Spot.ph

This is an absolute must-try! Photo courtesy of Spot.ph

The Mansion and Wright Park

The Mansion, the official summer residence of the President of the Philippines

The most picturesque portion of the nearby Wright Park

Baguio Botanical Garden

Portions of the Baguio Botanical Garden are being renovated at the moment. There isn't much to do here, though you might still want to check out the numerous souvenir stalls here and look for the best deals.

The entrance, where you can have your photo taken with tribesmen for a fee

Some paintings for sale

A row of souvenir stalls

Session Road and the Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral (Baguio Cathedral)

Session Rad, Baguio City's busiest street with a row of restaurants and shops

The cathedral 

Steps leading to the cathedral--and that's not even the halfway point yet

Inside the cathedral

Random Photos

The controversial SM City Baguio

SM City Baguio offers a good view of the city

Fog covers the city in the late afternoon

One of the best ways to get around Baguio City (if you don;t have a car or if you just don't know how to get to the different places of interest) is to take a cab. Cabs in Baguio are mostly new and look clean, compared to many of the taxis we have here in Metro Manila. They usually use larger cars such as the Mitsubishi Adventure or the Isuzu Crosswind because they have a larger capacity (perfect for tourists who come to Baguio in large groups) and maybe because the smaller sedans would have a harder time getting through some of Baguio's steeper roads.

A typical Baguio City cab. 

Stay tuned for Part 3 of our Baguio adventure!