Celebrating our gifts of life in Baguio (Day 1)

The Mendoza family is back in the summer capital of the Philippines

September 24 –

The Mendoza family is back in Baguio! This time around, it was expectedly much better than the last as Baby Faith is out of her mother’s womb to experience Baguio (Odette my wife was around three months pregnant with Faith the last time we were in Baguio).

We caught the 8am Victory bus from Cubao which arrived in the City of Pines early in the afternoon. By cab, we went straight to Camp John Hay Manor which will be our residence for the next three days.

The Manor is a 188-unit condotel facility built at the site of the old Main Club. For the second time, we had availed of their “Irresistible Baguio” promo that gives a 50% discount on published room rates for a minimum stay of two nights. Promotion period starts by June and ends by September which conveniently covers both Joshua’s birthday and my own!

The one bedroom suite we availed of three years ago was great but the two bedroom suite I got for my family this time blew our minds away! Similar to a famous ad campaign – thousands of pesos loaned to be paid in years, countless days of preparation, one long trip, joyous smiles on the faces of my kids and wife…priceless!

Inside our huge master bedroom

Equally awesome was the boys’ bedroom….

…and spacious living and dining areas

After initially savoring our wondrous abode, we went out to experience Baguio as soon as we could.

First stop – the Baguio Cathedral. We thanked God for this trip which couldn’t have materialized without his providence.

At the Baguio Cathedral: Giving praise and thanks to God

My Princess and Queen

My young Knight scouts the Cathedral’s surroundings

The rains had really started pouring onto the city so we decided to look for a place to chill out and have some merienda. That’s when we took notice of Café Paliz Zata.

A restaurant with a view: Cafe Paliz Zata

This unassuming and rather crampy restaurant has been there beside the Cathedral for several years now but we never felt compelled in the past to really try it out. The heavy rains gave us a reason to give it a second look.

The city is showered by rain and covered by heavy fog

I must say, one thing going for Café Paliz Zata despite its confined spaces is a relatively unobstructed panoramic view of the city’s commercial district. The pizza wasn’t extraordinary but good enough coupled with the restaurant’s unique ambience to see you through a rainy late afternoon.

Enjoying a merienda of pizza and Coke Light

We entered a commercial complex beside the flight of stairs going down from the Cathedral to Session Road. There were so many shops selling so many things that we have only seen now for the first time. It was still raining when we finally reached Session Road. Abandoning the intended trip to Burnham Park and a boat ride in the manmade lagoon for another time, we set our sights for dinner.

A sumptuous dinner at the Rosebowl Restaurant

What is surely turning out to be a Baguio family tradition is having dinner at the Rose Bowl Steakhouse and Restaurant. Located at Harrison Road near Burnham Park, I first learned of this old establishment through my parents who dined there during their honeymoon in Baguio way back in 1966.

Beside our round table were numerous awards displayed at one corner of the restaurant. Several banners read first prize in floral decoration for the restaurant category. Evidently, the owners are very active during the city’s annual Panagbenga (flower) Festival.

I ordered a lauriat serving of various Chinese food that Rose Bowl has been famous for through the years which included bird’s nest soup, camaron rebusado (fried shrimps covered in egg batter), yang chow rice, chopsuey (various vegetables and meat) and fried chicken. Value for money wise, the food was worth the price.

Before going back to our relaxing and spacious unit at the Manor, we trekked the Session Road up to its apex where SM Baguio was located. We went around the place with Joshua and Faith enjoying the giant inflatable play area at the center of the mall. We also bought some groceries for our stay at the Manor.

The kids enjoyed their trip down this giant inflated slide inside SM Baguio

Going up anyone?

At SM Baguio’s view deck

SM Baguio remains to me the best SM mall in terms of architectural design. On the other hand, it still sticks out like a sore thumb in the once pristine forested landscape of Baguio. Moreover, I have this soft spot for the quaint shops of Baguio, many of which I fear may run out of business if further mass commercialization occurs in the summer capital of the country.

Back at the Manor, Joshua plays to his heart’s desire at the giant bathtub

Joshua couldn’t wait to come back to the Manor. Upon arrival he set out what he had planned to do all night at the bathroom – play to his heart’s desire in a giant water filled bathtub.

Relaxing at our cozy sala and watching the Koreanovela “Jumong”

After our daily dose of Korean action drama from our TV favorite “Jumong”, my family just took time inside the unit and take pleasure in our cozy ambiance.

The most important people in my life are in this bed

Our first day was very tiring but fulfilling nonetheless! Tomorrow the city beckons to be further explored and rediscovered all over again. Heavy rains or sunshine…it will be!

Good night boys, Baguio City awaits!