Philippine Festivals

The City of Baguio (Ilokano: Ciudad ti Baguio; Filipino: Lungsod ng Baguio) is a first class highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 and created by the Philippine Assembly as the Summer Capital of the Philippines on June 1, 1903.

There is a presidential mansion, and supreme court and legislative offices in Baguio. Baguio is the seat of government of the Cordillera Administrative Region. The name of the city is derived from the word bagiw in Ibaloi, the indigenous language of the Benguet Region, meaning ‘moss’. The city is at an altitude of approximately 1500 meters (5100 feet) in a moist tropical pine forest conducive to the growth of mossy plants and orchids.According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 252,386 in 52,302 households.

Geography

The three main access roads leading to Baguio from the lowlands are Kennon Road, Marcos Highway, and Naguilian Highway. Kennon Road starts from Rosario, La Union and winds through a narrow, steep valley. This is the fastest route to Baguio but is dangerous, with landslides during the rainy season. Marcos Highway, which starts from Agoo, La Union, and Naguilian Highway, which starts from Bauang, La Union, are longer routes but are safer than Kennon Road and are the preferred routes for coaches, buses and lorries.
 

Economy
The primary economy of Baguio City is its educational centers of which it has in excess of seven colleges and

universities as well as a plethora of trade and technical schools. Estimates are that these schools compose in excess of one hundred thousand students.

The secondary source of income for the residents is its character as the commercial hub in the province of Benguet.

Many of the agricultural and mining goods produced in Benguet goes to Baguio City for central distribution.

The city is also a major retail center for the Cordilleras and the Ilocos provinces, with shoppers from the provinces coming to the city to take advantage of the diversity of competitively priced commercial products on sale, most of which are only available in Manila. Despite the city’s small size, there are numerous shopping centers and malls in the business district catering to the growing commercial activity in Baguio. These are the SM City Baguio mall, Baguio Centermall, Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza, Abanao Square, Maharlika Livelihood Center, and Porta Vaga mall.

The areas of Session Road, Harrison Road, Magsaysay Avenue and Abanao Street comprise the trade center of the city.

It is in these areas where commercial and business structures abound. First class movie houses, hotels, restaurants, department stores, and shopping centers are found in this downtown area. Shopping at the famous city market offers one a wide array of locally sourced goods and products, from colorful woven fabrics and strung beads to primitive wood carvings, cut flowers, strawberries and vegetables. (Strawberries and string beans - known as ‘Baguio beans’ across the Philippines - are shipped to major urban markets.)

Baguio is also home to one of the country’s most profitable Philippine Economic Zone Authority areas (PEZA), called the Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ), located in the southern part of the city between the Camp John Hay leisure resort and the Philippine Military Academy. Firms located in the BCEZ mostly produce and export knitted clothing, transistors, small components for vehicles, electronics and other computer parts. Notable firms include Texas Instruments Philippines, MOOG, and Client Logic. Recently, there has been an influx of call centers in the city with American companies outsourcing their technical support facilities in the country.

Tourism is one of Baguio’s main industries. Commonly, overseas visitors pass through Baguio, while Filipinos make it a destination.
 

Tourism

Baguio City is home to many tourist spots and is a weekend getaway of those living in Metro Manila.

Burnham Park

Located at the center of the city, it is named after the city’s planner, Daniel Burnham. The park features a promenade and a man-made lagoon where bancas (rowboats) are available for hire. At the center of the lake is a seldom used “dancing fountain” that sprays water to a height of 50 feet. The park has cycling areas, a children’s park, and a covered skating rink. At the northeast portion is a soccer field, with Melvin Jones Grandstand at one end where concerts are performed. Local plant varieties and flowers are sold at the City Orchidarium on the eastern side of the park. The southern area of the park is occupied by the dilapidated Athletic Bowl, once the best track and field oval in Southeast Asia, and the new but unused Olympic Swimming Center.

Baguio Cathedral

A majestic church built on atop a hill is visible from much of the city. The rose-colored Baguio Catholic Cathedral, on a hill in the heart of the city, a familiar Baguio landmark. This beautiful structure has twin spires is one of the most photographed buildings in the city. From Session Road it is accessible via a long stairway. Visitors avoiding the climb drive up an access road.

Construction of the cathedral was begun on a hill which was referred to as “Kampo” by the native Ibalois. It was later called Mount Mary by a Belgian Catholic Mission headed by Fr. Lorimund Carlu, CICM, the parish priest. The cathedral was consecrated in 1936 and dedicated to Our Lady of Atonement. During World War II it became an evacuation center and withstood Japanese carpet bombing in 1945, saving thousands of lives.

Session Road

The main avenue of the city and is its commercial center. Along the main street and sidestreets are numerous shops, restaurants, billiard halls, and duckpin bowling alleys.

Baguio Grand Mosque

There are several mosques and prayer rooms in the city, the largest being Baguio Grand Mosque at Campo Filipino. It caters to several thousand Muslim families from Mindanao as well as Cordillerans. The Mosque also houses an Islamic Madrasah.

Camp John Hay

Camp John Hay used was the rest and recreational facility for employees of the military and Department of Defense of the United States. This 690-hectare property was turned over to the Philippine government in July 1, 1991 and was initially administered by the Philippine Tourism Authority, then turned over to the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

The facility, named for US President Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary of war, was used by the Japanese as a concentration camp for American and British soldiers during the war.

Its name was changed to Club John Hay after it was turned over to the Philippine government. It is now called Camp John Hay once again. The facility was opened to the public for the first time in 1991 and converted into a recreational complex.

It had been off-limits to Filipinos, except for the privileged few who could get entry passes from its former American administrators. During the 1956-1958 period, however, and possibly later, admission to pedestrians as distinct from motor vehicle traffic had been relative free and required no particular invitation.

One simply followed the sidewalk that led onto the base. It passed well to one side of the guard house where incoming motor vehicles were checked. Of course, once on the property admission to certain facilities, like the PX or the Officers Club (but not the Nineteenth Hole Restaurant), was restricted. There was also another limiting factor, an economic one. Payment for most services at John Hay Air Base was in US Military Payment Certificates (Script), not in Philippine Pesos.
Prior to its turnover to the Philippine government, there were 290 fully-furnished rooms in the cottages, duplexes, apartments, and lodges around the complex. It even had a “Honeymoon Cottage” for newlyweds. Each unit has a fireplace for warmth during December, January and February when Baguio is cold.

Mines View Park

Located at the extreme northeast of the city, it has a spectacular view of Benguet’s gold and copper mines.

The Mansion

The official summer residence of the President of the Philippines. The Mansion is located on the eastern part of the city along Leonard Wood Road and across from Wright Park. Built in 1908 for US governor-generals, it was destroyed in 1945 during the battle for the liberation of the Philippines.
The Philippine government rebuilt and improved the structure in 1947. Since then it has been used by Philippine presidents during their official visits. The Mansion served as the seat of the Second Session of Economic Commission of Asia and the Far East in 1947. It has also been the site of first meeting of the South East Asia Union, popularly known as the Baguio Conference of 1950, conceived and convened by President Elpidio Quirino.
The elaborate main gate of the Mansion is said to be a replica of the one at Buckingham Palace in London. Vehicles entering the compound pass through a great circular driveway, usually open only when the Mansion is used for official functions. With its beautiful gardens, it is a favorite site for sightseeing and photography.

Baguio Botanical Garden

Also known as the Igorot Village, it contains many Igorot houses amidst flora and fauna that grow in the cool climate of the city. Tourists often take pictures with Igorot tribesmen in traditional costume. It is the home of the Baguio Arts Guild, where they hold art workshops and portrait sittings.
Originally the Botanical and Zoological Garden, it was home to the Baguio Zoo in the 1950’s. The name changed to Imelda Park in the 1970s. Botanical Garden is tasked with growing pine seedlings and other flora and fauna for the constant “greening” of Baguio City.

The Orchidarium

A showcase for the flowers and plants grown around Baguio. Located on one side of Burnham Park, the Orchidarium has local plant varieties and flower species for sale.

Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary

Provides ecotours of tropical flowers.

Mount Kabuyao

A hilly nature reserve.

Tam-Awan Village

A reconstructed native village with an art gallery, attracts many indigenous artists.

Itogon Wood Carver’s Village

Three kilometers of independent indigenous wood carvers. The works of these carvers range from small figurines to huge statues.

Asin Hot Springs

Located in Benguet but considered a city resource, it has a natural hotspring, where the city and private concerns have built swimming pools. The area is under-developed but is a place that tourists should consider visiting.

Wright Park

Named after Governor-Governor Luke E. Wright (who ordered architect Daniel Burnham to build Baguio as a refuge for American soldiers and civilians), it features a shallow elongated rectangular body of water known as the “Pool of Pines”.  At one end is a circle where visitors can ride horses.

Philippine Military Academy

In 1950 the Academy moved from its former site at Teacher’s Camp to a 373 hectare compound in Loakan, ten kilometers south of downtown Baguio. It is housed in a fort named after the hero of the battle of Tirad Pass, Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar.

The Academy site was developed into a military training institution with facilities for a growing military. Its unique 4-year curriculum has been designed to fit the needs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As in military academies in the US, female cadets have been enrolled by PMA since 1993.

Bell Church

The Bell Church is located north of downtown Baguio along the road to La Trinidad, Benguet. In its compound are intricate arches and buildings adorned with flags, bells and dragons. It has a pagoda and beautiful gardens. There Buddhist artifacts at Bell Church, as well as literature on Chinese history.

Lourdes Grotto

The Lourdes Grotto is a Catholic shrine in Baguio. It is located on a hill in the western part of the city, and houses an image of the Lady of Lourdes. It is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week, especially during Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Access to the top of the grotto is by climbing 252 steps or by driving a vehicle on a winding, narrow road.

Devotees who go to the grotto to pray usually light a candle at an altar below the image. There are also vendors at the shrine who are will light a candle and say a prayer for visitors.

Some other frequently visited locations in the city include the Teacher’s Camp, Lion’s Head, and the public market, a favorite place for tourists seeking souvenirs.