Blogs from Baguio, Philippines, Asia

Advertisement

Asia » Philippines » Baguio February 25th 2017

The weekend of April 25th, some members of my team and I planned a trip to Baguio. This trip came about because someone mentioned that it was their famous Flower Festival that weekend. The flower festival is called Panagbenga 2017. The travel time from Cavite (where the office is) to Baguio is around a 6 hour drive north towards the mountains. So the team and I changed our shift so that we could leave work at 12 AM so we could get to Baguio around 6 AM. So on Thursday I worked the normal 9 PM to 6 AM shift. On Friday, we get into work for 3 PM so I had just a few hours of sleep. At 12 AM, we hit the road. I was hoping to sleep in the van, but probably only ... read more

Asia » Philippines » Baguio April 17th 2014

Rumble strips… the bumps on the road made to keep the driver awake. Who knew that these things would serve another purpose… to entertain a group of juvenile adults (if you knew my friends and me, you would know this is not an oxymoron) on a road trip. I will not explain how a highway safety device can be used for something other than its intended purpose for fear that my kids might read this blog and lose all respect for me (haha), but you are free to let your imagination run loose. I can try, however, to explain the phrase “juvenile adults”. Picture 18 adults, all hard-working, all seriously committed to their chosen fields of profession or vocation, all individually well respected in their own right. When these guys get together and go on a ... read more
The great karaoke challenge - the challengers
The 99ers
The glad-this-isn't-your-day-job winners

Asia » Philippines » Baguio April 12th 2014

I've been compiling this to-do list for a while, but here's my first go at ordering it: 1. Bohol, both Panglao Island and the chocolate mountains, including Danao Adventure Park and the Philippines Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary. From there, I can head down to Camiguin White Islands and nearby Katibawasan Falls. Time: one full week minimum 2. Palawan, both Puerto Princesa with its underground river, San Vicente and Tubataha Reef, and El Nido Time: one full week 3. Mt Pulag climb Time: 4 days 4. Calaguas Island Time: 3-4 days 5. Sagada including Banaue and Vigan, via Baguio via La Union Time: 4-5 days 6. Tacloban to see first-hand the devastation Time: day trip 7. Mt Mayon, Bicol 8. Batanes 9. Batangas 10. Return to Zambales: Nagsasa Cove, Mt Pinatubo, Anawangin Cove, Subic Town and Olongapo ... read more

Asia » Philippines » Baguio April 10th 2014

"Villa Escudero is a self-contained working coconut plantation. It was founded in the 1880s by Don Placido Escudero and his wife Dona Claudia Marasigan. Originally planted to sugarcane, the crop was converted to coconut by their son Don Arsenio Escudero in the early 1900s. A pioneering agro-industrialist, he built the country's first working hydroelectric plant to supply his dessicated coconut factory and Villa Escudero, where he and his wife Dona Rosario Adap built in 1929. Their children opened the estate to the public in 1981. From its humble beginnings, the resort has become a prime tourist destination for locals, overseas Filipinos and a wide array of foreign visitors to the country. It has a worldwide reputation as a showcase for the Philippines' rich cultural heritage, offering a beguiling glimpse of its history, cuisine, dress, customs and ... read more
Skies over the plantation
The sing-along carabao ride
"Lunching" with wet feet

Asia » Philippines » Baguio April 8th 2014

Going on a road trip with 18 people in 4 vehicles is not easy but the enthusiasm and excitement was enough to keep the adrenalin pumping. With on-going road repairs along the route to Manila and 2 of our vehicles coded on that day, we had to leave Baguio at 1am to be able to get out of Manila and on to SLEX by 7am. After 2 pit stops and coffee breaks, we made it to Pancake House in Sta. Rosa by 7am for breakfast. You would think that we would have been dead tired by then. Nope, not us! We were just getting started. Ordering breakfast was first on the agenda. With that over and done with, "selfies" and laughter were served on the table. We knew that it was too early in the day ... read more

Asia » Philippines » Baguio March 29th 2014

Quick weekend getaway it is..for the longest time since my trip to KK Malaysia finally..I was able to experience again the joy of touring and exploring new places..This time..hello Baguio!. Since its my first time to visit the summer capital of the Philippines.I was very excited as i prepare and packed all my things especially the outfits..haha..(Epic fail I brought a lot of pullover, long sleeves and pajamas not considering that its already summer) oh well I still manage my not so weather friendly Baguio attire. Baguio is almost 6-7 hours drive from Laguna depending on the severity of traffic or how many stop over you want. We left Laguna friday night and arrived to our booked transient house Saturday morning around 3:30 am. For those who also want a quick peek to Baguio you may ... read more
The Wright Park
Native costume
The Wright Park

Asia » Philippines » Baguio December 29th 2013

So unfortunately our white sands beach experience was dampened (pun?) by the weather. At least we got some good beach (and surf) time in San Juan, so we were ok. It was pretty restful time in Pagudpud for us. We caught a tricycle back to town and took the bus to Laoag. We left fairly early, but it was a long slow bus ride and the exhaust filled the bus with diesel fumes. So that was not great. In Laoag, we stopped for some food at the Jollibee, and I left Vanessa with our bags while I went to grab some water and snacks for the bus trip. The supermarket had a travelator (moving sidewalk) at the entrance, so that was exciting for me... Then we took another tricycle back from the town square to the ... read more
The Worst Hotel Room in Baguio
Gridlock Here Too, Huh?
All the Way Up the Mountain

Asia » Philippines » Baguio December 24th 2013

Baguio – The Summer Capital of The Philippines Baguio is the gateway to the wonders of Northern Luzon: the calm beaches of La Union; the fabled Hundred Islands of Pangasinan; the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces in Ifugao; the ancient churches, Spanish influenced houses, historical and cultural relics of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, the Kabayan of the tribes of Benguet, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, and Abra. Baguio City, approximately 250 kilometers north of Manila, is situated in the heart of the Province of Benguet. The area of the city is 49 square kilometers enclosed in a perimeter of 30.6 kilometers. The developed portion of the city is a plateau that rises to an elevation of 1,400 meters. Most of it lies on the northern half of the city. About half the area of the ... read more
@ mines view park
@ mines view park
group picture w/ the dog

Asia » Philippines » Baguio April 8th 2013

So with the quick introduction to Philippines complete after three days in the sweltering capital, it was time to head north towards the Cordillera Mountains, from where I intend to make my assault on the famed Ifugao rice terraces of Banaue, yet another Unesco World Heritage site. But before that, there was the small matter of a 7h bus ride from Manila to Baguio, the de facto capital of North Luzon, inclusive of the 1.5h or stuck in the crazy traffic of the capital, just trying to get on the interstate expressway! Arriving in Baguio at almost 11 p.m. at night, dark and disoriented, I somehow managed to stumble my way around the winding roads of the former Spanish/ American hill station, before locating several "transient houses" (essentially home-stays). Of course I had the assistance of ... read more
Vote for...Fewer Political Advertisements Please
Burnham Park
Pildoras (Pills)

Asia » Philippines » Baguio February 24th 2013




Tot: 0.154s; Tpl: 0.006s; cc: 5; qc: 96; dbt: 0.0874s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.3mb