Baguio  is a city in the Autonomous Cordillera Region. It is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”, owing to its cool climate since the city is located approximately 5,000 feet above sea level. It’s also known as the “City of Pines” due to the numerous pine trees that surround the city. The last time we were there was more than 20 years ago and I can see a big transformation in the city scape – numerous condominium buildings have “sprouted”; they now have a big SM Mall (the biggest chain mall in the Philippines), colorful homes similar to the South American favelas dot the hillsides.

We arrived in Baguio City at around 7:00 pm. Driving in the Philippines at night is somewhat dangerous unless you’ve been driving here for a long time, but driving the long narrow winding road with increasing altitude after sunset is not for amateurs! I saw motorcycles without their head lights on barreling down the highway at high speeds not caring if the oncoming traffic can even see them! Slow overloaded trucks seem to clog the highway slowing following traffic. Fortunately, our skillful and safety-conscious driver knew how to maneuver these “obstacles”!

Finally, we reached Edy Retardo’s (another cousin of Trini) house in Mirador Hills a few kilometers outside of the city. But getting there was another challenge to our driver since the narrow (really narrow) streets with sharp turns and steep grades (I kid you not) were “treacherous” to navigate! Oncoming vehicles have to stop or back out for others to pass.

The Retardo’s house is a two-story home with six-plus bedrooms upstairs and an additional rental unit below. The interior is constructed mostly of narra wood which is the country’s national tree. Unfortunately, the stately tree almost became extinct as a result of massive illegal logging! Had the government not intervened, this hardwood would probably be history by now.

After a somewhat restful sleep and a hearty Filipino breakfast, our group – Edy, Naida and husband Adal Singson, Bess and Patchie Antonio, Joan Borja, Trini and me – decided to visit the Lourdes Grotto which was a short (but laborious) trek from Edy’s house. Those with knee problems had to forego the more than 200 steps going up and down. But we did survive this short visit! I even rented an Igorot costume for a photo ops and tried my best to perform a native dance making a fool of myself!

After the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto visit, we all jumped in a mini-bus to take us to the city market. The fare with senior discounts only cost us 100 pesos (less than $2). The market is typical like most of those in other parts of the Philippines – crowded, various odors of fresh produce and other foods mingling in the air but to my surprise, the vendors are not as “aggressive” in forcing you to buy their wares as I was used to many years ago.

From the marketplace, we decided to walk to the SM Mall about a mile away! It should not been too bad if the road was not a steady incline! Danny and I were ahead of the group and waited until they caught up with us. Trini had been having problems with skin tags and warts and wanted it removed. They found a “skin clinic” that did a wonderful job and Trini is happy. While she was undergoing the laser Joan, Danny and I waited in Starbucks.

After the skin “surgery”, we took two taxis to take us to a hotel nearby that offers all-you-can-eat buffet – pizza, fried chicken, spaghetti, soup and salad – all for about $5 after the senior discount! By this time, we’ve mastered the art of pulling our senior discount cards from our bags!

The following day, I stayed home as I was not feeling well while the rest of the group went out. Trini went to see her alma mater – Baguio General Hospital. They went to buy souvenirs at the Philippine Military Academy (the equivalent of West Point).

They called me around noon and asked if I wanted to go with them to the elite Baguio Country Club. After a couple of hours of additional sleep I felt much better. We agreed that they would pick me up in Starbucks in SM Mall. Another cousin loaned them a Toyota Fortuner (similar to a Toyota Highlander) where all seven of us squeezed in. Imagine how we felt being unloaded in front of the country club while people were staring at the number of passengers coming out of the vehicle! Our good friend in the U.S. Florence Bayquin (a widow of Trini’s cousin) sponsored us to get in the place since it was a membership facility. Florence also footed the bill at the restaurant – THANK YOU, FLOR, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

After buying the famous raisin bread in the club’s bakery, the ladies went inside the boutique to browse and came out with purchased items. This time, the senior discount cards were rejected!

That night, being our last night with the group, we stayed a little bit later to say our farewells. We bought a first class bus ticket (Victory Liner) for 9:15 am so we left at 7:00 am. The ride was very comfortable and only took four hours as it was non-stop. We said our goodbyes and see you laters and off we went!

It was a very memorable three days in Baguio and we felt sad leaving the place and the company we are so fond of.

The following morning Trini and I flew to Cebu….