Dubbed as the City of Pines and Summer Capital of the Philippines, we had a chance to rediscover the city last summer. To be honest, Baguio City has bored me over the years. We used to visit every year on my dad's birthday and found that there is not much to see anymore. However this year, it was me who created our itinerary. With the addition of a new baby to the family, I needed to make the itinerary as family-oriented as possible. For those who, like me, want to see Baguio City off the beaten path, I would like to share with you the places we visited this time.
Bell House at Camp John Hay
Originally a vacation house of the Commanding General of the country, the Bell House is now a modern museum. It features a cozy home with American style furnishings. In the center of the living room hangs the portrait of John Milton Hay whom the whole camp was named after. I loved the veranda surrounding the entire house. It features panoramic views of Benguet and even Mt. Pulag. There is also a library you can visit, and don't forget to take photos at the ampitheater.
Cemetery of Negativism
I love the concept of this unique attraction. A place to bury all the negativities in your life, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the writings on the little graves. They were examples of man's common negative thoughts, limiting beliefs and heaviest burdens. It is right outside the Bell House so you definitely wouldn't miss it. I was beaming with positivity at the end of our short visit.
Here are a few more photos of the surrounding area.
BenCab Museum
What I loved about this museum is that it features the works of local artists, who are truly exceptional in their craft. I am not really a big fan of art muesums but BenCab graced me with an amazing experience. We hired a guide to better understand the displays since none of us is knowledgeable enough in this field. I was in awe of how meticulously done some creations were. For instance, a big plyboard which was carved using a magnifying glass under direct sunlight and then hand-painted. The carvings were miniature, so it must have really took a lot of time. Another is a large rubber sheet which was also carved and had-painted featuring tiny patterns. I guess my descriptions do not really do justice to the artists' work so you really have to go there and appreciate them yourself. The musem also has a cozy cafe and an eco-trail for those who wish to explore nature. All in all, the museum offers art, local coffee and good dishes, eco-garden and trails, and panoramic views of the mountains.
Bell Church
A Chinese Temple and park, Bell Church was a welcome change to the usual Baguio sight-seeing attractions. We spent an hour or two there, taking lots of pictures, admiring the pagoda and small ponds, and taking in the architecture and landscaping. I highly recommend visiting this place because it will surely give you a nice break from jam-packed Baguio city attractions.
Food Experience
We usually cooked and stayed in the villa throughout the trip because there were so many of us and restaurants were really packed. However Vid and I run off one time to dine out. We went to Cafe by the Ruins near Burnham Park. Yes, the restaurant was really constructed with the ruins still there. It has a cozy ambiance with warm and friendly staff. We chose a table by the garden to feel really close to nature while dining. The interiors were interesting and relaxing, however it was the food they served that made us fall in love with the place. Baguio City is known for its fresh and organic greens and Cafe by the Ruins' menu saw to it that their customers get this. The food was A-MAY-ZING! Local dishes were prepared with a twist and I really loved their red rice. Heck, even Vid who wouldn't eat rice other than white rice enjoyed his meal and ate with so much gusto.
If you're visiting Strawberry Farm, we recommend the food stand at the corner by the parking lot nearest the fields' entrance for a quick snack. They offer shawarma, burgers, potato wedges, etc. I forgot the name of the stall but you will notice it as they offer mexican burger, tacos and nachos. It is really cheap but good and filling. Additionally, try the straberry ice cream sold by peddlers, it is quite yummy.
50's Diner is also a cool dining option. Finally, here is my 5-month old niece enjoying the strawberry ice cream's cone and her happy face afterwards. I think she really loved Baguio as much as we did this time.
Other attractions off the beaten path which are worth visiting are Brahma Kumaris, Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary, Ifugao Woodcarvers' Village and Tam Awan Village.
I bought all my fresh greens at Good Shepherd. Three big bags of your choice of Romaine Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce, Arrugula, Basil, etc only cost 100 pesos. What a deal! In Manila, these cost 3-4 times more.
Thank you Baguio City, we had a blast! See you again real soon.
I bought all my fresh greens at Good Shepherd. Three big bags of your choice of Romaine Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce, Arrugula, Basil, etc only cost 100 pesos. What a deal! In Manila, these cost 3-4 times more.
Thank you Baguio City, we had a blast! See you again real soon.