All year round, the City of Baguio in Northern Luzon charms tourists for its cold weather and the warm hospitality that tourists enjoy. Whether visiting its attractions, dining in its popular restaurants serving heartwarming dishes and delicacies, or just being chill and cozy during their stay, travelers going to the City of Pines will never run out of options.
Aside from being the “summer capital of the Philippines,” Baguio City also saw milestones in the country’s history.
The passage of time and the improving economy may have changed the city’s physical features. Still, the reminders of the city’s glorious past – heritage buildings, public roads, and other attractions – remain.
Baguio City earned its reputation as the country’s “summer capital” back in the 1900s or during the American colonial period. According to information from the website of the City Government of Baguio, architect and city planner Daniel H. Burnham prepared the “Plan of Baguio,” a product of his interviews with government officials, study of available maps, as well as hikes and horseback rides to survey the city that was once a military reservation area.
What tourists see during their visits to Baguio City was probably a product of Burnham’s vision to make it one of the Philippines’ most beautiful cities.
Among the government buildings included in the Burnham plan was The Baguio Mansion House. It was built in 1908 and served as the official summer residence of the American governor-general to the Philippines, and later on as the summer residence of the President of the Philippines. Since then, it has been off-limits to the public.
For the first time, The Baguio Mansion House has been declared open to the public after First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, and House Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco inaugurated it as a new Presidential Museum.
According to the DOT, it “houses priceless memorabilia, artifacts, and historical records from former Philippine presidents.”
The recently restored museum houses documents, artifacts and timelines of the 17 presidencies that shaped the Philippines, paintings of past presidents and their spouses, and replicas of what could have been their offices.
Frasco also declared the opening of The Baguio Mansion House would attract more tourists to visit Baguio City, and at the same time spur economic development as envisioned by both the DOT and the Marcos administration.
The Presidential Museum at The Baguio Mansion House is open to the public, free of charge, every Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Just across The Baguio Mansion House is Wright Park, a linear park that features a dancing fountain, filled with mostly pine trees, and is visited by tourists who want to try horseback riding. The park was named after American governor-general Luke Wright.
Tourists who look forward to breathtaking views from the highlands of Baguio City cannot miss the visit to Mines View Park, just a short ride from The Baguio Mansion House.
After a few steps going down to the observation deck, a stunning view of lush mountains and communities will welcome guests. A sea of clouds covering the mountains is a sight to behold especially during the cold season from December to February.
From the park, one can see from above the town of Itogon in Benguet province, where mining companies once used to operate. After enjoying the view of the lowlands and mountains, guests can take photos with Mines View Park’s giant but gentle Saint Bernard dogs.
Among the popular tourist destinations in Baguio City, the six-lane, 1.7-kilometer Session Road is home to some of the city’s iconic restaurants. According to the Baguio City Public Information Office, members of the American-era Philippine Commission used it as the main road going back and forth in Baguio City to attend to the body’s sessions, hence the name.
Just a few steps down Session Road is Burnham Park, one of Baguio City’s popular attractions named after the man who designed the City of Pines. Visitors can enjoy boat rides at Burnham Lake, rent bicycles for a stroll around the park, or just relax and savor Baguio City’s cool climate and blooming flowers – including roses – on its sprawling lawns.
The DOT currently promotes Baguio City as one of the country’s prime tourist destinations. One of Secretary Frasco’s flagship programs, the Tourist Rest Area, is soon to rise in the City of Pines, according to the DOT. The facility will contain clean and decent restrooms, charging stations, an information desk, and booths of local products from businesses.
The DOT’s Cordillera Administrative Region office also tapped tourism stakeholders from Baguio City in its programs and projects.
For instance, the city joined the Mangan Taku food festival, as well as the first United Nations Tourism Regional Gastronomy Forum for Asia-Pacific in Cebu where foreign delicacies grabbed a bite of delicacies from the Cordilleras – including the famous strawberry jam.
With the help of DOT-CAR and other stakeholders, Baguio City was awarded as a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Baguio City is accessible by land using expressways that link some towns here, either by private car or public transport. The best time to visit is during the Christmas season, and during the hot season from March to May when the temperature here is still cool at around 25 degrees Celsius maximum. The most festive time in the city is the Panagbenga Festival held in February, which is also called the “Festival of Flowers” where the best flowers from the city are used as designs for floats.
