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G U I D E T O F U N I N T H E P H I L I P P I N E S
Our guide:
Kidlat de Guia
Artist and filmmaker Kidlat has spent
half his life in the City of Pines. He
knows the place like the front, back and
side of his hand and would recommend
this jam-packed itinerary for a fun-filled
Baguio getaway.
1
Arrive on a Friday and check-in at
Casa Vallejo on Upper Session Road in
Baguio City (Tel: +63 74 424 3397).
2
3
4
Catch an indie film at The
Baguio Cinematheque, or score books
at Mt Cloud Bookshop, then for dinner,
sample the treats at Hill Station, a
tapas bar and restaurant located in
Casa Vallejo. Must-try: Homemade
Sausages (secret recipe from a French,
Sagada-based chef).
5
Check out The BenCab Museum on
Asin Road (entrance fee is PHP100;
6
On the ride back, stop by the Wood
Carvers’ Village along the roadside
and shop for figurines and furniture at
dealer prices.
BAGUIO
7
Make another stop at Tam-awan
Artists’ Village in Pinsa Town Proper for
a glimpse of the Cordillera culture and
history (entrance fee is PHP50).
8
For lunch head on over to Chef’s
Home (13 Outlook Dr), owned and run
by a Malaysian chef who used to work
in five-star establishments in Thailand.
9
After lunch, drop by the totem pole
in Mines View Park, a centennial tree
of Baguio that died and was recently
carved into a monument by Baguio
artists and Ifugao carvers.
10
Shop for Baguio’s famous edible
treats (cookies and jams) for the folks
back home at the Good Shepherd,
which is right next door to Mines
View Park.
11
Squeeze in some horseback riding
and loop back to Wright Park; instead of
going along the road, ask your guide to
take you down the more scenic Yellow
Trail of Marlboro Country. This will take
about two to three hours. Following
this, score vintage or pre-loved finds at
stalls in the former Bayanihan Hotel,
at Malcom’s Square, in Skyworld along
Session Road.
12
After a jam-packed day, go for an
early dinner at Oh My Gulay in VOCAS
(
Session Road) for some filling gourmet
vegetarian food. Come by 5.30pm and
catch a glimpse of a glorious sunset
above the mountains.
13
Hearing mass? Head to the Pink
Sisters Convent on Brentwood Road,
it’s a treat to hear the choir of sisters
sing.
14
Next stop: the Baguio Market for
fruits, vegetables, highland coffee and
even crafts.
15
Before driving down from Baguio,
stop off on Shuntug Road to pick up a
white cheese salad or BLT sandwich
from Cafe By The Ruins.
Baguio City is approximately four to
five hours’ drive from Manila. Cebu
Pacific flies to Manila from across the
network.
