To the Forest (Lodge) we shall go
Four sleepy adults aren’t the best travel companions when one plans to go on a road trip — before the break of dawn — to Baguio. But for STAR Lifestyle sub-editor Kathy Moran, anyone will do as long as “they don’t have smelly feet, they don’t eat in the car, and they don’t play loud music.” And since our cool ride — the Honda Odyssey mini-van — didn’t reek of foul odor when sub-editor Chonx Tibajia, layout artists Jojo Gamboa, Jerry Tanegra and I got in, Kathy started the engine and sped off to the City of Pines on a rainy morning with nary a blink.
We were part of the media group invited by Rosary Ysmael-Palanca to witness the opening of The Forest Lodge (formerly The Suites) at Camp John Hay last Sept. 1. After taking our two male companions to their hotel on Session Road, we proceeded to Forest Lodge where the crisp mountain air and fog-shrouded scenery welcomed us.
Modern paintings and tribal décor add a splash of color to the log cabin-inspired lobby. At the far end is a fireplace where guests can huddle and enjoy the warmth it emits on cold and rainy nights.
The suite life
Checking in at The Forest Lodge was a breeze and the one-bedroom suite they gave us was more than we could ask for. The room is spacious — it has two bathrooms, a bedroom with two double-sized beds (with comfy and sparkly white sheets), a kitchen (replete with a coffee maker and a microwave oven) and a living room — with glass doors that open out to a balcony facing a grove of verdant pine trees partly hidden by a thick fog. After taking a hot shower, Kathy, Chonx and I went under the sheets and dozed off to dreamland.
The roaring thunder of fireworks, which signaled the start of the festivities, brought us to our feet. It was too foggy and was raining hard that night though, making it difficult for us to see and enjoy the fireworks display from the balcony.
The party was already in full swing when we reached the lobby and the sight of five scantily clad men (in their G-strings) performing a native Igorot dance — followed by a flash mob-style performance featuring the talented and energetic staff of The Forest Lodge — got everyone in a party mood amid the bleak weather.
And as soon as the party wound down, and everyone had one drink too many, the guests (us included) then decided to fill their tummies with sumptuous food items — dimsum and dumplings, sushi, sashimi, tempura, plus puto bumbong, among other delish items — prepared by the hotel staff.
Something old, something new
Amid the festive opening of The Forest Lodge, the not-so-new addition to Camp John Hay’s growing number of tourist facilities, we felt that something was amiss as The Forest Lodge managing director Heinrich Maulbecker hinted about the ongoing tussle between the hotel’s developer and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). Reports have it that BCDA tried to take Camp John Hay a few months back, but they were stopped by an injunction issued by the RTC of Baguio due to the “irreparable damage” that may result.
This controversy, Maulbecker says, confuses both tourists and Camp John Hay Leisure Inc.’s clients.
“Last February, Baguio played host to the Neurological Conference of the Philippines. Thousands came to the City of Pines just for that and each one of them asked the same question: ‘Will Camp John Hay still be there?’ So I passed it on to our bosses and the heads of BCDA and told them that they’ve got to settle this matter once and for all,” relates Maulbecker.
10 years in the making
The Forest Lodge, says Maulbecker, has taken 10 years — since construction started — to start its operations.
“The full project development depends on how this thing with the BCDA will be settled. We could never open The Suites because it’s not yet complete. And since we have this thing sitting there for years, which costs us money to maintain, we decided to rebrand it. Hence, the opening of Forest Lodge,” Maulbecker explains.
The Forest Lodge is targeting middle-class Filipino travelers, particularly the budget-conscious students and barkadas looking for a comfortable and relaxing escape at affordable rates.
“We want to make this hotel available to everyone at a price that even the younger market, who’s our future client, can afford. The Forest Lodge will be totally different from The Manor and, yes, it’s way cheaper,” notes Maulbecker.
Room with lots of view
For only P2,900 for a superior room (that’s good for two), the Forest Lodge gives the expensive hotels in downtown Baguio City a run for their money. “When you come to Baguio it’s at John Jay where you want to stay... not downtown where it’s too noisy and crowded,” observes Maulbecker.
The Forest Lodge, which sits on a sprawling area inside Camp John Hay, currently operates 55 rooms, but that will be expanded to 100 rooms within the next couple of years. And when it’s fully developed, “we would have 150 rooms with complete amenities,” he adds.
As a budget hotel, The Forest Lodge cuts down on certain services like room service. It also doesn’t have a gym and recreation center but all these, Maulbecker adds, are now in the works. Wi-Fi access is available at the lobby for those who want to get in touch with family, friends, and business associates while on a holiday.
“Don’t worry, we still make the beds, we still change your linens and bath towels, but the rest are on you. The young market prefers it this way… they’re literally on their own. For them, what’s important is that they have an affordably good accommodation, a comfy bed, a clean room, and a secured place to stay. Besides, they’d be out most of the time anyway,” observes Maulbecker.
Pine, thank you!
Those on a nostalgic trip can still get their fill of the attractions that have made Camp John Hay a favorite all-season destination. Saddle up and enjoy a pony ride along the bridle path shaded by pine at Shalan Ti Kabadjo; take a hike on the eco-trail, or pitch a tent at the nearby campsite and commune with nature. The Butterfly Sanctuary offers a close encounter with the forest’s winged creatures. Here, you can hold the colorful butterflies with your bare hands.
It’s not clear how Forest Lodge was able to open despite the feud between BCDA and the Camp John Hay Leisure Inc. But one thing’s for sure, the lodge seems to have the support of the local community and its new recruits (the young, budget-conscious, and the adventurous)... and that includes our group.
* * *
The Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay is at Loakan Rd., Baguio City.
For reservations, call 687-6710, 687-6524 or e-mail sales@campjohnhay.ph.
