"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
– Marcel Proust
Our family outing to Baguio City this year was by no means a pioneering journey having been in Baguio as a household many times in the past. Still, this ‘family’ tradition seems to always lead our every voyage to something new….experiencing something unique. At the very least, the old familiar sights are always rediscovered with ‘new eyes’.
So it was on the 25th day of September. After passing by my parents’ home in Project 8 early in the morning to drop off some documents, we were off to the summer capital of the Philippines!
We again called on the transport services of Ate Edna, an officemate of my wife who rents to us her Toyota FX Revo driven by hired driver Romy. We all had breakfast at NLEX – Petron at Tapa King to be later followed by a short stopover at Starbucks – Hacienda Luisita.
Breakfast at Tapa King (Total Gas Station - NLEX)
Coffee break at Starbucks - Hacienda Luisita, Tarlac
After a few hours, we finally arrive at Baguio City via scenic Kennon Road!
Our first stop was at Baguio Cathedral to give a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the safe travel to this beautiful place.
On the outer walls of this venerable landmark you will find the words of the prophet Isaiah in several languages – “My house shall be called house of prayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:7)
Constructed on a hill the Ibaloi natives called ‘Kampo’ (later named Mount Mary by Catholic missionaries), the Baguio Cathedral was constructed in phases starting in 1920 and finally consecrated in 1936 and dedicated to Our Lady of the Atonement (Domina Nostra Adunationis). It became an evacuation center during the Second World War. By some miracle, it survived the carpet bombing of the city in 1945 saving many lives protected by its shelter.
Our next stop was a restaurant we have gone before but have never tried their food yet – Café by the Ruins.
Lunch at Café by the Ruins
I don’t remember how I first knew about Café by the Ruins but when I first saw the place for myself, I knew it was someplace special.
It is most certainly one of the most unique places to eat in Baguio in terms of ambiance and food menu.
Located at 23 Chuntug St., the Café is a stone’s throw away from Baguio City Hall. The restaurant does not really have a big parking area and at night, you possibly might miss it on your first pass as they don’t have any glaring sign board to catch your attention like other restaurants put up.
But once inside, I felt an idyllic atmosphere which is distinctly Baguio.
The ruin referred to by the establishment is a stretch of stone wall nearby, relics of the house of the American civil governor of Benguet, Phelps Whitmarsh. The bamboo poles, the native artwork, pictures of Mt. Pulag and the lush greenery all contribute to a relaxing atmosphere inside the restaurant.
Besides the stone tablet chairs of the garden
The ‘Ruins’ serve good mountain rice and a number of delectable viandsThe Café’s menu designed to feature the natural and local ingredients of the Cordillera complement its rustic structure and philosophy.
We tried their red mountain rice, chicken and pasta, signature Session Rd. Mami and another soup viand. The mountain rice was something the kids had to adjust to, but personally I thought it was a tasty and nutritious treat to the senses.
We didn’t get to order the following dishes, but I’ve read that their so-called ‘Cream of Hearts’ (strawberry brandy sauce with cream cheese and yoghurt), ‘Baguio Bounty Salad’ (fresh vegetables and fruits which include strawberries, bananas and mangoes tossed with lettuce, chicken breast and prawns), and ‘Strawberry Short Cakes’ were worth trying out.
Photo ops with another 'Ruins' patron - local acoustic singer Aiza Seguerra
Obviously a haven for artists and cultural patrons alike, we saw some musical celebrities.
Having lunch at the Café alongside us were members of the band ‘Sandwich’ and the family of acoustic singer Aiza Seguerra.
The Café by the Ruins experience is definitely one experience I’d like to go back to again in Baguio.
Now to our accommodations – Hotel Elizabeth.
Inside our Hotel Elizabeth accommodations
Relatively a new hotel, I’ve seen Hotel Elizabeth’s beautiful evening façade in previous trips to Baguio. Always on the look out for good deals and new places, I read last mid-August of their 50% discount on room rates. After both checking out their website and reading through various reviews, I decided on trying out this hotel for this year’s family outing.
The verandah outside our penthouse suite provides a new stunning view of Baguio
Hotel Elizabeth is located atop a scenic peak of Baguio, at the corner of Felipe Street and the more familiar Gibraltar Road, a district of the city where numerous pine trees still grow and the air is still fresh as it can be.
Visibly Mediterranean by design, it is said that this boutique hotel was crafted by renowned interior designer Tessa Prieto-Valdez. This plush motif becomes more evident as you walk through the hotel’s lobby with a fire place and main hall where an impressive atrium greets your arrival.
Famous attractions are also opportunely nearby. Traveling only a couple of hundred meters from the hotel, you can already visit places like the Wright Park, the Mansion, Mines View Park and the Good Shepherd Convent.
The room I reserved was considerably what I expected. Penthouse 3 & 4 both had one bedroom, a loft and one bathroom. I chose Penthouse 4 because as was recommended by the person from the reservations department, its bathroom had a bath tub. And the smaller kids loved to play in a bath tub!
Both the bed room and loft had queen size beds with Duvet setup. Frankly, it was quite crampy for a family of two adults and four kids with two nannies to boot. But we were on a smaller budget and we adjusted to what we had quite quickly as I recalled.
We brought my wife’s laptop as the hotel claimed its entire premises were WiFi ready. I did see a router on the penthouse floor but unfortunately we still couldn’t get a signal inside the room.
Junior and Mama at the loft
View from the loft
Our room above the clouds
Fortunately, our penthouse suite’s foyer and balcony had remarkable views of the Baguio’s scenic landscape. Despite the foggy atmosphere and rainy weather, we had our glimpses of the relaxing trees and majestic mountains throughout our stay in Hotel Elizabeth.
Our room with a view
An evening walk at the (Burnham) Park
Later that day, we went for an early evening walk around Burnham Park. From there, we decided to go to SM Baguio.
Free concert at SM Baguio featuring the popular band 'Sandwich'
In SM Baguio, I was able to pay my water and electricity bills, bought a coffee mug from the Starbucks branch there, buy Joshua’s birthday cake and partly watch an ongoing ‘Sandwich’ free concert. In the process, we met a high school classmate of Junior – Jason de Jesus.
Who else was in Baguio? Jason de Jesus - Junior's MCS classmate
Eating dinner in biting cold temperature!
We decided to have dinner at the Sizzling Plate branch inside SM. The (literally) cool thing we did was to eat dinner at the covered tables of the terrace. That night, the cool winds were really blowing and that should be part of any Baguio adventure. The more reason to appreciate your warm soup, right?
Happy 7th birthday, Joshua!
We celebrated Joshua’s 7th birthday today back at the hotel. He already had a birthday cake during the advance birthday party we gave him last Sunday at McDonald’s Fairview
But I bought him a new cake anyway because it’s his actual birthday today. A yummy round Sansrival Choco Cake from Goldilock’s. A child’s 7th birthday should always be extra special!
Faith tries to blow the candle ahead of the rest
Mother enjoys....birthday boy emotes
The morning after....my thankful turn to be a year older!
The next morning, it was my turn to get a year older. Happy 42nd birthday to me!
At Hotel Elizabeth's entrance...getting ready to see Baguio
With my birthday and all, we didn’t waste much time to again experience the sights and sounds of the city we love to explore and cherish. Off to Teachers Camp!
Welcome to Teachers Camp!
Teachers’ Camp was founded on the efforts of American Colonial Governor for Benguet William F. Pack on December 11, 1907. Established in a place formerly called O – Ring – Ao, the place became a training ground and recreation facility for government teachers and other civil servants for more than a century now.
The Camp was also for a time the former site of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). From June 15, 1936 to December 12, 1941 eight (8) PMA classes called this place home. After World War II, the PMA eventually transferred to its permanent home at Fort Del Pilar in Loakan district of Baguio.
The camp's running track gets a major makeover
Roaming around its green surroundings
Mother and daughter bonding
Next stop...the gardens of Camp John Hay Manor
Camp John Hay has a special place in the hearts of our family members. Our last family outing when Joshua and I both celebrated our birthdays in Baguio was here in 2007. We occupied a 2-bedroom suite with a forest view beside the adjacent Fil-American Friendship Garden.
Memories of Joshua crying and pleading with us to remain in Baguio and live in John Hay are fresh to me as if they just happened yesterday. I vowed to myself that I would bring back my family to stay inside John Hay again. It hasn’t happened…yet. But one of these coming years it will come. By God’s grace, I know it will come.
New artistic sculptures add depth to the well maintained landscape
"Chilling out" in our favorite park bench
Another mother and daughter garden picture
Beside the statue of President Manuel Quezon
Our brood at the friendship garden
Beside the Manor's "art gallery"
Outside Manor's Le Chef Restaurant
The Mendoza golfers are back at the course
With a score to settle with my kids on our beloved 18-hole mini golf course, we set out on another golf tournament that late morning under the showery skies of Baguio.
What's mini-golfing in Baguio without a little drizzle...
Move over Tiger Woods...a triple bogey is in the works!
Redemption is at hand...I won overall this round!
Lunch at the Mile Hi Diner
A retro themed restaurant, the Mile Hi Diner has an al fresco dining area serving popular American food items like burger, fries and sundaes along with several packaged budget meals to choose from in their menu.
For our group of nine people, we ordered three of their chicken tender meals, 2 burger steaks, one pork chop meal, a carbonara, a tapa meal, a chicken parmigiana with with my coke light in can and some iced tea drinks that came with the value meal all for only P1,545.72. Considering the amount already included a P126.72 service charge, I thought the amount was quite reasonable.
Blasts from the past: Icons from the 1950's
Shopping at the Mile Hi Center
After lunch, we went around the various shops at the Mile-Hi Center. The site of this commercial complex I think used to be the former headquarters of the Americans during the time the place was under their control.
I bought a pair of cool slacks from Export Overruns Bazaar for P795 pesos which I thought was a bargain. An even better bargain was when I was able to buy two pairs of Everlast running shoes for only two thousand pesos! It was on a buy one take one sale at the Sportmart! I gave one pair to Sonny Boy.
In front of the Igorota statue
Merienda at Chocolate de Batirol's new location inside the Camp
Earlier this year when my family joined my in-laws to Baguio, we saw the demolition of some of the recreational facilities inside the Camp. I thought the mini-golf course and the Chocolate de Batirol eatery were goners!
Happily both cherished CJH landmarks weren’t obliterated from the face of the earth. The golf course stands where it was before while Batirol was simply relocated near Gate 2 and the Igorot Garden. In fact I thought the new site was better having more space to relax and enjoy your native choco drink.
We did savor our warm merienda that afternoon at Chocolate de Batirol’s new location, while looking with awe and wonder at the bending pine trees and listening to the sound they make as strong winds make them sway to and fro.
From there we heard an anticipated Holy Mass by 5 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Parish along the Pacdal Circle.
Curious about this particular parish, I decided to bring my family there that early evening to attend an anticipated Holy Mass. It was a most fitting refuge as the rains of Typhoon Ondoy soon poured on outside.
We have heard the saddening news earlier today but could not imagine the havoc brought about the heavy rains of this typhoon on many parts of Luzon particularly Metro Manila.
A lesser known parish, its simple architectural design enhances the solemn atmosphere
Despite the increment weather, I knew I could put a smile on my wife’s face with dinner at Star Café. And it did.
Located along Baguio City’s most famous street, Session Rd., Star Café is an old and classic Chinese restaurant that brings about fond memories from young and old alike. Both bakery and restaurant, Star Café has been serving countless customers with quality breads and comforting dishes since the 1940s.
That night, we sipped on a favorite, Bird’s Nest Soup with quail eggs and dined on two vegetable dishes (beef with broccoli and chopsuey), sweet and spicy chicken and delicious lumpiang shanghai. With its ‘Panciteria’ look this eatery may not be as classy as the other restaurants in the city but you will definitely appreciate their tasty and reasonably priced satisfying food offerings.
Happy 42nd birthday to me!
Today was my turn to celebrate life – 42 years of it!
I thanked God that my family there in Baguio and our loved ones back in Metro Manila were safe and sound despite the devastation brought about by Typhoon Ondoy. At this age and point in my life, I would like to think that I have become more appreciative of what I receive and enjoy, big or small. From appreciation comes contentment. And from contentment often comes joy and peace.
Pampering ourselves with Hotel Elizabeth’s massage servicesAs a nightcap, I treated my wife and myself with the massage services of the Hotel Elizabeth’s Spa boutique. While waiting, I enjoyed lying down at boutique’s electric body massaging chair which was a good prelude to the actual spa treatment. Half awake during the massage, I could still remember the constant pitter-patter as it rained through the night.
Hotel Elizabeth’s Mediterranean wall motif
Tomorrow…another adventure waits!
For now, we welcomingly gave way to forty winks and restful slumber.
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