Baguio in the summer

Every summer I look forward to spending my time on the golden sunlit beaches of our beautiful country. Whenever I am at the mall I shop for new bathing suits or suntan oil or flip-flops, looking forward to when I can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ocean view.

This summer, however, I decided on another option. Since the heat has been stifling and all-consuming I began to think how nice it would be if I could find a cooler summer destination. A place where I wouldn’t begin to sweat the moment I walked out the door or where I could actually breathe fresh air that wasn’t sticky and muggy from humidity. 

I didn’t have to think long. As a matter of fact, as soon as the words “cool” and “fresh” popped into my mind I knew they could only lead to Baguio. Ever since I was a little girl I have loved Baguio. I was very young the first time I went there and would barely remember it if not for photos my mom took of our family in matching shirts and me with this pageboy hairdo. I also remember this huge stone lion’s head we would always stop at to take pictures with and, of course, my very first pony ride. Good memories albeit slightly fuzzy.

When I was older I went with my folks again. I remember laughing at the gag gravestones in Camp John Hay and climbing the hundreds of steps up to the grotto. I also remember biking around with my mom and, of course, riding ponies again. By that age, I may have outgrown the pageboy look though I recall my hair was no better in a frizzy shoulder-length style with some Aquanet high bangs. (Am I revealing too much about my age here?)

Then as I got older still, I remember Baguio trips with friends, with Nino, and just last year with family. Every trip is always memorable and a lot of fun and no matter how many times I’ve been there I never get tired of it. I am in love with fresh cold mountain air and I love breathing in the scent of pine. In fact, I love it there so much I purposely make it a point to go later on in the year when it will be even colder. I like the cold and the pines always remind me of Christmas.

This summer, though, I decided to head to Baguio early for some much-needed rest, relaxation and recuperation. Lately I have been pretty stressed out and harassed (not complaining, though, since I do enjoy my work so much and it’s been really good). In either case, I think the sleepless nights and the worrying weakened my immune system and I was constantly getting sick. I figured some sleep and fresh air would do me a world of good.

So, Nino and I packed a bag, filled the car with gas and headed to our favorite mountain province. We actually made it pretty quickly (or so I’m told since I slept the whole way) and the moment I stepped out of the car I already began feeling better. The cool and fresh air was positively uplifting and I found myself thinking — I want to live here!

We checked into the beautiful Baguio Manor which I have to say I adore! Not only is it a world-class functioning five-star hotel with impeccable service but the architecture and cozy interiors are a perfect mountain getaway designed to blend neatly with the gorgeous pine trees and give a breathtaking view of the Cordillera mountain range. In essence, it was perfect and the most fabulous place to go for our “summer vacation.” We also enjoyed the art exhibits in the lobby where we came across some wonderful artwork.

While I would have been content with just sleeping all day long there are just too many things to do in Baguio while you are there. After relaxing for a bit in our fabulous one bedroom suite and sitting on the balcony enjoying the view and the weather we decided to go for a drive and just enjoy the scenery.

There is just so much to do in Baguio. You can visit Burnham Park or the Baguio Cathedral. You can pass by the Mansion or go for a horseback ride in Wright Park. You can also buy delicious strawberry jam or ube jam at the famous Good Shepherd Convent or enjoy the many sights and sounds of Mine’s View Park where you will find the adorable St. Bernard dogs who are always up for a good photo. The possibilities are endless. You can even just drive around Camp John Hay which, in itself, has become a destination. There are several outlet stores, delicious restaurants, and fun activities such as zip lining and rappelling. You can even play mini golf and enjoy a delicious cup of hot chocolate afterwards at my favorite place Chocolate de Batirol (if you are in Baguio, you have to go here!).

As for us, after a short drive, we decided to just enjoy our beautiful hotel and get some rest which we enjoyed until it was time for dinner when we headed down to the famous restaurant Le’ Chef which is one of Baguio’s premiere restaurants headed by world-famous chef Billy King. It did not take us long to see why it was so well-known either. From the first bite of my delectable chef’s salad (which included perfectly grilled chicken and prawns) I was in love. Nino enjoyed an excellent French onion soup and a perfectly done ribeye while I dined on steak and prawns and penne Bolognese, all of which were scrumptious and unforgettable.

To say it was the perfect little summer retreat would be an understatement and even now being back in the city I find myself thinking about Baguio and wishing I was back there instead. If you are looking for a great summer destination that is beautiful and is a wonderful respite from the heat, try the City of Pines. You won’t be disappointed!

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The Baguio Manor Hotel is located at Camp John Hay, Loakan Road, Baguio City. For bookings and inquiries you can contact (6374) 424-0931 to 43, (6374) 424-0945 to 47, (6374) 424-0950 to 53 local 1003/1004 or their Manila number at (532) 845-0892. You can also check out their website at http://www.cjhhotels.com/