Baguio is known for its cold and tall pine trees. It was considered as the summer capital of the Philippines and a home to many, especially "igorots" living in the vast nearby provinces. It is the first ever city proclaimed in the Region of Cordillera. Baguio is a landlocked city located 250 kilometers north of Manila, in the heart of the province of Benguet. It has a land area of 57.5 km². It is known as the gateway to the Cordillera of the mountain provinces of Northern Philippines. According to the 2015 census, Baguio has a population of 345,366. With these growing numbers, the used-to-be mountains of pine trees are now called mountains of houses.
The central part of the city, especially Session road, is a platform for booming business, Fast food chains facing the other, local cafes for morning breaks after walks and parks for personal fitness. Local tourist spots are just around the city including Burnham park, known for its wide lake, mines view (Just a 10-minutes’ drive away from the town), wright park, botanical and many other spots. The city is a home to many tourists. Baguio celebrates Panagbenga on the very first day of February and ends on its last day, the 28th. It is also known for its Lantern Parade or the infamous “Handog ng SLU sa Baguio” hosted by one of the largest university in the Northern part of Luzon, the Saint Louis University. Students, staffs and government officials starts the parade at the upper most part of session road circling around the city to the athletic bowl. The said celebration starts on the first day of December to celebrate Christmas, early with the local residents and tourists of Baguio. The different schools in the University competes with each other showing unique designs of lanterns through dancing with the blinking lights of lanterns. This celebration usually ends in the middle of the night for it starts in the lonely hours of 6 in the evening. The two celebrations attract more or less one hundred thousand people coming from far and nearby provinces.
Majority of the people living in the city are students for the reason that Baguio is known for its top universities and with these, many people including some from the tail area of the Philippines came to Baguio and took their education in here. Maybe the saddest reality about the city is that, after each semester, one night, bars and clubs will be filled with tired college students releasing stress and pressure and after three in the morning, Baguio will have its own peace after a restless night. Baguio is a haven for the many. They come into the city, study, and graduate and leave Baguio for a bright future ahead. The city of pines amidst the coldness of the nights, gives hug to the teary-eyed, restless minds and longing souls.
Last 2020, pandemic came and like any other countries, Philippines was greatly affected. Because of this, many people living in the cities, including the city of Pines, was forced to go back to their provinces. People in the city rushed to pack their belongings and left Baguio. During the pandemic, no clubs were open, cars were left in garages and people inside their homes and it was the first time after a long time, that the used-to -be busy city had its peaceful good night sleep.
With the protocols being followed, I am just hoping and praying that after this crisis, or even during this situation, Baguio will be visited and hugged by its missing pieces with careful observation of rules laid before the city.
Interesting :))