Baguio Through Their Eyes

I spent some of my childhood’s summer months in Baguio. It was truly cold then and the hills were grassy and studded with pine trees. Now that more and more commercial establishments and subdivisions are replacing the verdant hills that I loved, I thought the city has lost its appeal. So when we went there last Holy Week, it was really just to have some respite from the everyday life in the metro. But as we went around, I began seeing Baguio through our kids’ eyes. Discovering new haunts and trying new foods (inihaw na Baguio longganisa!) redeemed Baguio in my eyes. We didn’t go to the usual destinations. Instead, we went to:

Tam-Awan Village

A website called it “Garden in the Sky.” Located at Pinsao Proper, the place showcases indigenous craftsmanship, to enhance people's appreciation of Cordillera life, its culture and its history. It’s about 10-20 minute drive from city proper and is an ideal venue for art and cultural activities. On various parts of the hills are native huts that the Ifugaos built without using any nails, transported to the village from various sources in the region and are still in their original forms, I was told.


Once let loose in the village, my son couldn’t be stopped. He discovered this bamboo bridge that creaks when one steps on it.

He also led us to a not-too-well-worn track that we followed all the way to the top of the hill. We were able to see the whole village from where we stood.


Butterfly Sanctuary

Also inside Camp John Hay, the butterfly sanctuary is a garden where one’s supposed to learn about traditional butterfly ranching and captive breeding techniques. The four kids went inside, and, well, while I highly doubt they were taught the rudiments of butterfly breeding, at least they were each given a chance to hold a butterfly or two.



Camp John Hay’s Mini Golf

An 18-hole miniature golf course located at Scout Hill (I refuse to call whatever they call the area now), it’s a good place to lose one’s self, to laugh, to bond, and to eye other players, especially good-looking ones J ! Fee for one round (18 holes) is P75.


Strawberry Farms

Mais naturellement! What would a trip to Baguio be without strawberries?


We picked strawberries from the fields, located at La Trinidad, Benguet. I think pickers are currently charged P150 a kilogram, too expensive by my standards, but the experience is well worth it! In fact, we didn’t get to pick even a kilo, having arrived there mid-afternoon. We found out too late that picking is usually done in the morning. What’s important, though, is that everybody had a grand time peeking through shrubs for hidden delights that escaped other pickers’ eyes.
Because of the high demand for strawberries during this fruit-picking season, farmers have gotten creative: they’re now selling frozen strawberries as well. I remember this very nice hub in Quezon City that used to serve frozen strawberries. They’d put honey and fresh cream and it was such a treat to the palate.
I read somewhere that the more than 700 farmers till 77 hectares of strawberry farms in Benguet. They produce an annual average of 3,234 metric tons!

Eve's Garden

Owned by Evelyn Acosta Bond, this unique garden is situated at Upper Lampang , La Trinidad. Lunch is served strictly by reservation only. The menu offers a hearty repast of some of the freshest garden-picked greens, pasta, and grilled chicken (or choice-cut meat) atop a hilltop abode, overlooking sloping land on which grows eleven types of lettuce! We were told that they used to grow more, or at least they originally planned to, but settled on growing eleven. There were also some carrots as well as herbs like thyme and basil (my favorite).