Cool Days in Baguio City: A Summer Travel Story

 It is my childhood dream to one day visit the City of Pines and be able to feel the cold weather and roam around the city. For years, the scent and feel of Baguio were a reality to me but only in my imagination.

 

Baguio is dubbed as the summer capital of the Philippines. It is the perfect place to escape the scorching heat of the summer sun. Hence, I feel so blessed to come to the city right in the middle of the summer month of May.

 

It was three o’clock in the afternoon when our group left Manila on board a passenger bus to take us to Baguio. It was a seven-hour long ride but it was not boring at all. I have enjoyed the wide and smooth expressways as we traversed from Manila to Clark all the way to the provinces of Pampanga, Pangasinan and La Union then up to Baguio City. The sceneries of wide agricultural fields and the countryside along the roads were captivating and relaxing.

 

Serious and funny talks with our group mates and eating with them made us ignore time and distance until we reached Baguio City. We arrived there at 10 o’clock in the evening. The moment I stepped down from the bus, I took my first breathe and had my first feel of the Baguio cold night time weather. It was really cold as if the entire place has a centralized aircon. Our host took us for a late dinner in a cozy restaurant. The food tastes so good. Right there, we proceeded to our hotel and slept so deep the entire evening without turning on the aircon.

 

The following morning, we got up early and braced ourselves for a day long tour. Our first stop was the Baguio Cathedral. What a beautiful postcard perfect view of the church. It is so romantic lovers would fall in love with it and fell more in love with a partner. We went up through several stairs and had some pictures taken at the crucified Jesus. The cathedral’s ground was quite huge and the cathedral’s façade is perfectly-designed like those in Europe. I went inside it and prayed; of course, thanking God for making this childhood dream came true.

 

On a rented van, we rode our way to the Baguio Botanical Park. We had some photos taken at the gate together with the natives wearing the traditional Igorot outfits. Then off we went to the Mansion, the summer residence of the president of the Philippines when he or she is in Baguio. We had some photos taken but only at the gate because people are not allowed to enter the compound.

 

Across the street, we had some photos on a standee of Igorot male and female figures with our face on top. We also have some photos with a gigantic and scary looking dog. All were allowed for a fee.

 

We proceeded to the Mines View Park which is a few minutes away from the city center. There were lots of merchandise like colorful flowers and souvenir items while walking our way to the famous viewing deck. It was really a sight to behold standing on top looking down at the layers of mountain ranges and ocean of greeneries below. The fogs were caressing the top of the vegetation even as I have to lock my thick jacket as it was too cold.  Then, it started to drizzle and so we have to move quickly back to the entrance. We gathered by the ice cream parlor beside the gate and tasted for the first time the strawberry-flavored coned ice cream.

 

Our next place to visit was the Bell Church, which is a Buddhist Temple. Huge welcome landmarks tower the compound. Once inside, you can see the tall and iconic pagoda but before reaching it you will be walking on series of stairs alongside which are some Buddhist’s religious figures. Bougainvilla mostly of red and pink were in full bloom adding more vibrance to this place of worship for Buddhists. A few minutes from here is the Tam-awan Village which we have explored as it features some traditional houses of the Igorots. We even went up the slopes of the hill for a bit of hiking adventure. Down the hill is a small store cum restaurant in which gallery of paintings of some local artists adorned the walls.

 

We rode passed the highways going to the town center of La Trinidad, Benguet. I was really amazed by the several kilometers stretch of walls that shelter the Benguet State University (BSU). I would assume BSU is one of the largest universities in the country in terms of land area. By minutes passed 12 noon, we were already at the famous Strawberry Farm which is located at the further end of BSU. What a huge farm it is. The strawberry plantation is sprawled on a huge flat terrain where strawberries are planted as far as one’s eyes could see.  There were these long lines of stores where we bought some processed strawberry jam and other sweet products for pasalubong. While the farm is the farthest in our itinerary, our leisurely trip did not end here. We are even off to some more awesome spots as we went back to the city.

 

We passed by the picturesque Colors of StoBoSa, La Trinidad, a hilly neighborhood of painted houses of varied hues as if turning the entire the village into a living canvas. We took some photos while in the middle of the hanging bridge and bought some souvenir stuff by the cliff’s edge. 

 

Minutes passed and we were already at the Stone Kingdom, a newest attraction in Baguio. By its entrance are two giant monuments of Igorot kings both clad in the traditional outfit made of loin cloth called bahag with headdress on top standing tall holding a long dagger the edge of which touching the ground. As I entered the man-made kingdom, I draw a sigh of amazement looking up the structures of passageways going up the hillsides all made of small-sized thousands of white coral stones symmetrically assembled on top of the other. At the other side is what I presumed to be the kingdom hall. These narrow stone pathways and kingdom hall were all carved on the slopes of a hill encircling the expanse of the square. We slowly and carefully walked thru the small paths layer by layer until we reached the highest point. I find it quite tricky walking down the hill thru the narrow paths as just a small misstep may spell an accident.

 

As if not yet contented with the little hiking adventure, we went up to the overpass that connects the two sides of the hill passing thru the square. While in the middle of the overpass bridge, we observed that it was getting darker and we saw from the west side mounds of moving fog carried by the gentle wind approaching from where we are. As it was getting nearer, we hurried down the hill afraid that the thick fog might engulf us as well as the entire place.

 

After a few minutes ride, we went to the haunted Diplomat Hotel and found it to be dilapidated and nearing collapse reason why visitors are no longer allowed to enter. We just satisfy ourselves walking around the yard surrounding the building and just looked at it imagining how it may have looked like when it was used as hotel and then later as hospital during the American and Japanese periods and in the succeeding decades and today when maybe ghosts of any kinds reside on it. Diplomat Hotel has been featured a lot of times on television shows along with spirit questors, hence, it was me now wondering in real life if horror stories in this haunted hotel were real.

 

To cap our day trip, we had an unplanned pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto nearby. I took the more than 250 steps going up the grotto. Along the staircases are some religious statues of saints and sorrowful mysteries. I said little prayers while on a small stop on these statues. When I reached the grotto atop the hill, I was so happy at my age I can still make it and miraculously I have not felt any tiredness. I prayed for thanksgiving at the foot of the tall statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. I have also prayed on my knees on a chapel a few steps beside the grotto.

 

We went back to our hotel by dusk already. Tired as we are, we slept early.

 

On our second day, we strolled around the Burnham Park. It was a dream come true for me to be in this park that was named after its designer Daniel Burnhan, one of the world’s famous urban planners who came to the Philippines in the early period of American colonial period at the turn of the 20^th century. Burnham was also commissioned to design the city’s centers of Manila, Cebu, and Davao. For us environmental planners, he is considered as the forerunner of City Beautiful Movement. The park is huge enough to accommodate hundreds of daily visitors. Its green expanse is dotted with lines of pine trees, other native trees and long walkways. At the center is a picturesque huge lagoon where one can experience boat ride. At one side of the lagoon, one can wear for a rent some Igorot native costume. On the outskirts of the park, one can ride for a rent on bicycle or little jeeps for fun. My group just enjoyed ourselves walking around thru the pathways.

 

From the park, we walked our way to the Baguio Public Market which I consider as the cleanest wet and vegetable market I have been to. Pathways were spacious enough to accommodate huge number of market goers. Vegetables sold were all fresh and reasonably priced as well as pasalubong items. When we passed by a coffee store, I was allured by the coffee’s aroma wafting thru that portion of the marketplace. On a thrift store, I bought a used Adidas jacket that was lowly priced.

 

We rode on a bus that took us to SM Baguio. We spent several hours there and bought some more items. After taking our dinner, we leisurely walked our way from the street along the vicinity of the mall to the famous Session Road now transformed into a long avenue of night stores selling used apparels of all types. I bought myself a jacket. It was really a tiresome long walk passing thru humongous people that crowded the stores. Once we got off from the crowded stores, we turned to a stretch of food stalls gallery on an open space at the Burnham Park.

 

It was already passed ten in the evening and there were no taxis that were passing by. We decided to just walk our way to our hotel. We passed thru a steep road up. Our feet were already aching even before we reached the hotel. Laying my back on my bed, I felt so exhausted but it was worth it. I will never forget Baguio. It was so cold and so cool and awfully a wonderful city. If there is another chance, I would surely find my way to be here again.

 

 

Journeying on Pilgrimage 2026

The best thing about joining a pilgrimage is the opportunity to visit sacred places in a prayerful and reflective way, together with a large number of fellow pilgrims. This Lenten season, I joined the pilgrimage organized by our parish. We visited eight churches in the Diocese of Catarman, including Salvacion Parish in Laoang, the Rawis Mission Center in Laoang, Saint Roche Parish in San Roque, the Monastery of Saint Clare, Mondragon Parish, Dalakit Church in Catarman, San Jose Parish, and Rosario Parish—all located in the province of Northern Samar.

Our take-off point was, of course, our parish church, the Our Lady of the Assumption Church. We began with our opening prayers a little past five in the morning, and by six, we were already on our way to Laoang. Along the journey, we prayed the 20 mysteries of the Rosary, followed by the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.

In less than two hours, we arrived at Rawis Port, where we boarded a small boat, locally known as a sampan, bound for the island municipality of Laoang. From the port, we took a tricycle to the jump-off point going to the island barangay of Salvacion. I was especially excited to visit this place, particularly the church known as a pilgrimage site for devotees of Our Lady of the Salvation.

Before noon, the Holy Mass was celebrated. Afterward, we prayed before the venerated image of Our Lady of Salvation, which closely resembles the miraculous image we once had in Lavezares that was sadly stolen decades ago.

By noontime, we were back at Rawis Church. At around 1:00 PM, we arrived at San Roque Church, followed by Mondragon Church. At nearly 2:00 PM, we reached the Monastery of Saint Clare, where we offered our prayers and then took our lunch. Shortly before 3:00 PM, we proceeded to Dalakit Church. By 4:00 PM, we were at San Jose Church, and by 4:30 PM, at Rosario Church. At around 5:00 PM, we safely returned to Lavezares.

It is always a heartwarming experience to journey with hundreds of pilgrims—praying together, sharing life experiences, and walking side by side in one direction, united in our desire to grow closer to God.

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Noli and Fili: Musings at the Original Manuscripts

 

Finally, I had the rare chance to see face-to-face the original manuscript of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as the original Mi Ultimo Adios. These were on display at the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) along with all other century-old documents and books that shape the history of the country.

 

When I entered the hall of the gallery, what first caught my attention was the portrait painting of Jose Rizal mounted on the far end. I went straight to it. But before getting near it, I saw the original manuscripts of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo inside the glass cases. I had goosebumps as I was standing there staring at the copies. The books that sparked nationalistic ideals during those times were lying next to me. I have imagined the many long hours of thinking and writing that Rizal went through, as well as the financial hardships that accompanied it; the uncertainty of having it finished and published, especially since he was in Europe during that time. It can only be love of country and devotion to the freedom of man that inspired Rizal to endure everything until he reached the finish line.

 

In another glass case is the original Mi Ultimo Adios. There was no title in the original. It was only given later when Rizal was already gone. It was written on a small sheet of paper with handwriting that was so small that all the words could fit. This was inserted by Rizal on a small lamp, which is on display at his museum at Fort Santiago. I had already seen this lamp recently.

 

Besides, the two books are facsimile or replica versions of the original. I flipped through the pages. I saw that everything was handwritten. I can only imagine the patience and hard work Rizal put into it, through long days and sleepless nights, writing hundreds of pages. I think I have nothing to complain about when I am surrounded by loads of writing tasks in the office. I have my computer and all the online assistance stuff. Rizal had only his pen and paper. Of course, I do not have his genius and his passion.

 

My admiration for Rizal started when I was in elementary and I was about nine or eleven years old. It was at this age that I first finished reading a book, cover to cover. That was the biography of Jose Rizal at my aunt’s house. I got fascinated by his story of The Monkey and The Turtle, which I also came across the original version of Rizal, just a few steps from the original Noli. I cannot forget his story about his lost slippers and the tale about the moth and the lamp. It was then that my yearning to know and understand Rizal started. Even now, I still do not know everything about Rizal, though I have already visited his houses in Calamba and Dapitan, his trial chamber and cell at Fort Santiago, and his execution site at Rizal Park and read some of his writings.

 

Now I realize, the more I discover about Rizal, the more I am convinced that I still have more to discover about him. He was young when he died for the country, yet he lived long.

 

 

Where History, Faith, and Food Meet: Angeles City, Philippines

What amazed me about Angeles City is how its people were able to rebuild their city after the Americans left the Clark Air Base, and after it was severely damaged by the monstrous eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the early 1990s. Because of this, I have come to hold deep respect for the endurance and indomitable spirit of the people here.

The first place I visited in Angeles was the Holy Rosary Church, constructed in the late 19th century and recently declared a minor basilica. Its classic Spanish-era design and towering structure dominate the surrounding area. I felt that I was truly on holy ground as I knelt before the image of Our Lady of the Rosary and the famous Santo Entierro, offering prayers of thanksgiving and guidance. One can easily sense the people’s deep devotion to God and reverence for Mama Mary.

Just across the church is Holy Angel University, which I also had the chance to explore. The campus is neatly laid out, with its structures, green spaces, and open areas properly organized. Having been educated in public schools, I was amazed to step into buildings equipped with elevators and air-conditioned classrooms.

I then went to the Museum of Angeles, also located across the church. In front of it stands the monument of former Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, one of our national heroes who gave his life for the country during the Japanese Occupation in the 1940s. Inside the museum, I learned more about the city’s history and its people through narratives, old photographs, and various artifacts displayed on the walls.

Beside it is the Pamintuan Mansion, now under the management of the National Museum of the Philippines and officially known as the Museum of Philippine Social History (Filipino: Museo ng Kasaysayang Panlipunan ng Pilipinas). Built in the late 19th century by the spouses Mariano Pamintuan and Valentina Torres as a wedding gift to their son Florentino—who would later become mayor of Angeles during the American period—the mansion showcases furniture and artifacts reflective of an affluent lifestyle. I could only imagine the daily life of those who once lived in such an opulent home. From one of its windows, President Emilio Aguinaldo waved the Philippine flag and marked the first anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1899.

What adds to the Hispanic-era charm of this part of Angeles City are the cobblestone streets surrounding the area. It is commendable that the city has preserved its historic town center.

For any visitor, the gastronomic delights of Angeles are an experience in themselves. I am truly grateful to our hosts for treating us to some of the best Kapampangan dishes—kakanin, various pork and chicken dishes, and grilled freshwater fish. I have never eaten this much in my life. It was also my first time to taste the famous Razon’s Halo-Halo, and it was simply perfect.

I also had the opportunity to tour Clark Global City, which is being developed as a major business and government hub in the country. I saw buildings rising, vast green open spaces, and high-end residential areas taking shape. Perhaps in a decade or two, this will not only be a bustling city but a truly livable one, with everything properly planned and managed.

As I reflect on this journey, I can only look up to heaven and hope for more opportunities to return to Angeles and Clark—to once again experience its history, its people, its food, and its vision of a sustainable city.

Trip to the Creative City of Dumaguete

 

Every time I think of Dumaguete, what comes to mind is the famous Silliman University where numerous literary geniuses were honed to greatness. This was why when I got the opportunity to travel to the city, I grabbed it at once. The opportunity came when I received an invitation to attend the national convention of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners scheduled from November 3–7, 2025.

As early as 8 a.m. of November 3, I rode a tricycle to Allen and then at 9 a.m. boarded a van bound for Calbayog Airport. It was already Signal No. 2 because of Typhoon Tino, so I anticipated turbulence up in the air.

At past 11 a.m., I boarded a Cebu Pacific flight. Contrary to my apprehension, the trip was almost flawless and we arrived in Cebu minutes ahead of schedule. At the airport, I learned that the typhoon signal in Cebu had been raised to Signal No. 3. At once I had the feeling that I might be stranded there. Indeed, the connecting flight to Dumaguete was cancelled and the next available flight would only be on November 5, when the weather was expected to improve.

Since I was on a connecting flight to Dumaguete, the airline immediately arranged hotel accommodation at Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown, located within the posh Mactan Newtown developed by Megaworld Corporation. Everything was provided for free. A van fetched me from the airport and brought me to the hotel. After checking in and settling into my room on the fifth floor, I had dinner and then retired early while Cebu was being battered by the raging typhoon, which by then had been raised to Signal No. 4. It felt like an unexpected staycation at Savoy for two days, granted by an act of nature.

The following day, November 4, I attended the seminar via Zoom from my hotel room. I spent the entire day listening to the sessions, taking only a brief break during lunchtime. By early evening, I went to SM City Cebu to meet my niece Bea for dinner. Unfortunately, the mall was about to close as it was still reeling from the effects of the typhoon, and most of the food stalls had already shut down. With no other option, we ended up having dinner at a small and rather decrepit eatery nearby, hoping that the food was safe to eat. We chatted for a short while. I did not take much of Bea’s time, knowing she needed to return to her dormitory while the streets were dark because of the power outage in the area.

By November 5, at past 11 a.m., I finally boarded a plane to Dumaguete. At past 1 p.m., I arrived at the airport of Dumaguete City. I rode a tricycle going to the venue at the provincial convention center. Along the way, I noticed a lot of tricycles and private cars along the roadsides. Tricycles, obviously, are the most popular mode of transport. I suddenly became nostalgic about the clay pots we used to have at home during my younger years when I saw many of them displayed along the streets. I had the feeling that Dumaguete is an old city now facing the challenges of urbanization, particularly the need to manage its transport system.

I arrived at the venue at around 1 p.m. I registered, received my convention kit, and proceeded to the plenary hall. After finding my seat, I took lunch and listened to the speakers, albeit with sleepy eyes from the long journey. By evening, dinner was served, sponsored by the city mayor, while a group of students serenaded the participants with old Filipino songs played on their instruments. Feeling tired, I later went to my hotel and retired for the night.

At past 8 a.m. of November 6, I returned to the venue only to find that the session had not yet started and participants were still arriving. Taking advantage of the time, I decided to visit the historic St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. As it happened, a students’ Mass was ongoing. I quietly took a seat near the entrance on the right side close to the altar. I joined the Mass and offered a prayer of thanksgiving.

After the Mass, I took some photos inside the church, at the cathedral’s façade, and at the old park across the street. I also visited the nearby Dumaguete Belfry, a century-old structure which was then undergoing renovation.

Since it was already past 9 a.m., I returned to the venue and listened to the remaining talks until about 3 in the afternoon. From there, I took a tricycle to my chosen destination—the famous Silliman University.

At the gate, the guard informed me that visitors must first secure a gate pass from another entrance. I walked several hundred meters to the opposite corner of the campus to obtain the pass. A pleasant young woman who introduced herself as one of the university’s ambassadresses assisted me in the process and even escorted me back to the main gate. Her American accent was striking and quite charming.

Soon I found myself walking along the tree-lined pathway leading to the iconic Silliman Hall, the first building of the university constructed in 1903. It was like stepping into a picture from a magazine. Standing before the old colonial structure felt surreal.

While taking photos around the building, I noticed Michael Ang and Corazon Cruz (chair and member respectively of Professional Regulation Commission's Board on Environmental Planning) having their photos taken in front of the statue of Horace Brinsmade Silliman. I approached them and introduced myself. We chatted briefly and even had some group photos taken. It was truly an honor to meet them up close.

From there, I proceeded to Rizal Avenue across the university and had a photo at the giant “I Love Dumaguete” marker. Afterwards, I visited the National Museum of the Philippines branch housed in the old Presidencia building—the term used during the Spanish period for the town hall. Inside the museum, I went through the exhibits and learned fascinating snippets of Negros history.

Just outside the building stood a romantic old fountain, and a few steps away was the bust of Eddie Romero. I learned that he was a native of Negros. I remembered his film Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon which I had watched many years ago.

Across the street was the wide plaza facing the cathedral. I also had my photo taken at the statue of Jose Rizal. I later learned that Rizal once stayed in Dumaguete for a few hours on his way to exile in Dapitan, even performing an eye operation on the town’s chief of police during that brief stop.

I ended my walking tour where I had started—at the cathedral—where I again expressed my profound thanksgiving to God for the wonderful opportunity and for keeping me safe throughout the journey.

At 7 in the evening, I boarded a flight back to Cebu. After staying there for the night, I finally arrived home by the afternoon of November 7, tired and sleepy.

The entire experience felt like being in a wonderful dream—yet fully awake.

Second Trip to Boracay

The last time that I was in Boracay was in 2015, exactly nine years ago. From then on, I have been longing to be back in this world-class island paradise. I have missed the powdery white sand, the cool waters and the picturesque sunset.

For three days, we stayed at the posh Savoy Hotel which is located at the Boracay New Coast, a newly-established planned unit development at the mid part and other side of the island. There I with my company was able to explore and enjoy the place which is dotted by new hotels, events venues, shops, and beautiful gardens. We strolled a lot even reaching the topmost part of the island, some secluded beach resorts and the Cuho Rock Formation at the edge of the island.

We swam on our last day just by the sunset. I frolicked like a child in the waters and in the sand. We took a lot of photos until sun down. We also bought some pasalubong items at the shops. We also enjoyed singing and dancing on a bar.

It has been a very memorable travel. I felt I was in the dreamland.

Pinonayan Festival

Sometime in 2004, our parish priest called our attention to the Ati-Atihan Festival in our town. He challenged us to create a unique and distinct festival for Lavezares, noting that the Ati-Atihan we had celebrated for more than two decades was merely adapted from Aklan.

Together with two cultural workers in our town, we decided to meet and conceptualize a new festival for Lavezares. Even before the meeting, I already had a concept and a name in mind. My ideas were guided by a seminar-workshop on festival management conducted by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). From that seminar, it became clear to me that a festival must be deeply rooted in the culture and history of the town to be truly unique and meaningful.

When we met, I presented my proposal to name the festival Pinonayan, the old name of Lavezares. I explained that it would highlight the livelihoods and industries of our people from the different barangays. Since it would be celebrated during the Feast of the Santo Niño, it was fitting that the dance presentations be offered as a prayer of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvests and abundant blessings from God. In essence, the Pinonayan Festival would be a dance of praise to the Santo Niño for the overflowing harvests and blessings bestowed upon the people of Lavezares.

I was delighted when my idea was warmly received by the two cultural workers. One of them volunteered to prepare the festival mechanics and asked me to translate them into English. A few days later, I presented the concept to our parish priest, and he immediately gave his approval.

In January 2005, we staged the first Pinonayan Festival. I handled the program and led the management team. The festival was funded with ₱50,000 from the Local Government Unit. From then on, we have successfully organized the festival every year. This year, we celebrate its 26th edition.

All of these, I can only attribute to Señor Santo Niño, the true focal point of the celebration.