THIS coming weekend, the Philippines will be celebrating National Heroes Day. While this means that Filipinos should set some time aside to honor the people that fought valiantly in the past to ensure the freedom of the generations to come, this also means that everyone gets to enjoy an extra day of rest.
One thing that could hinder a weekend of relaxation is the blistering Manila heat. At present, those residing here are suffering from the heat of over 31 degrees Celsius, and this is expected to linger until the weekend.
A great way to enjoy the weekend is to strap in for a road trip and travel to a place much cooler than the heatwave currently residing in Manila. If you’re in the North, Baguio’s the best option for you.
If you have the means to go to Baguio for three days, as well as a driver that’s willing to overcome its scary mountainous roads, here are some places you can go that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are fun.
- Camp John Hay’s Butterfly Sanctuary
Location: Loakan Road
Opened back in the late 1990s, Baguio’s Butterfly Sanctuary is a small, quiet place where you can not only enjoy a number of butterflies fluttering around you but a moment of peace from the outside world, as well.
For just 85 PHP, you can walk around the sanctuary to marvel at the abundance of flowers as well as to watch butterflies flying and sipping nectar up close.
There are also informational posts scattered all around the sanctuary that provide readers with fun facts about butterflies, as well as their life cycles from caterpillars to cocoons to the present.
There’s no time limit, so you can look at these creatures for as long as you want. Remember though not to pick any flowers, and not to touch the butterflies.
If they like you enough, they’ll come to you.
- Camp John Hay’s The Lost Cemetery of Nihilism
Location: Loakan Road
This has long been a part of the history of Baguio. It was made by John Hightower, the commanding general of Camp John Hay back in the early 1980s.
The Lost Cemetery of Nihilism is home to several tombstones with figurines on top, some of people, others of animals, and others of nothing at all.
Don’t worry, though, because there are no real people buried here; no spirits will come to haunt you if you snap a pic.
As written on one of the markers by the cemetery: “Negativism is man’s greatest infliction, his most limiting factor, his heaviest burden.”
Here, it explains that this cemetery was made as a means of burying negativism forever so that those that visit it may have a lasting reminder to be more positive in their lives.
There’s no entrance fee required to view these gravestones, so you can take as many pictures as you want, or simply look through the tombstones that say things like “I wanna die; born on a blue day and stay that way.”
In short, this place is perfect to snap a wittily self-deprecating pic for your feed.
- Vanilla Glasshouse Cafe
Location: 20 Ignacio Villamor Street
This isn’t the only branch of the French-inspired Vanilla Cafe. You can also find them in SM Fairview, Mother Ignacia Avenue – the list goes on and on.
What’s special about this one, though, is that the ceilings are made of glass.
As you drink your coffee, you can look up at the transparent ceilings, out toward the huge windows, and enjoy this new, unusual perspective along with the cool air fanning your face. Whether it be rain or shine, you still get a great view.
The food at this restaurant costs between 149 and 799 PHP, while the drinks range from 78 to 250 PHP.
They also serve hot chocolate in a cute little teapot for you to enjoy, which is something you can’t miss out on since Baguio’s tsokolate is something that they’re popular for.
They also have chocolate strawberries you can try out, another fun twist to one of Baguio’s known delicacies.
- Hill Station
Location: Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road
If you’re looking for a place that truly gives off the warm, rustic vibe of Baguio City, a great place to visit is Casa Vallejo’s Hill Station.
The restaurant is adorned with wide windows, allowing sunlight to come in and shine down toward the polished wooden floorboards, and to bounce off the chandeliers hanging from the ceilings.
The food served is a mixture of different cuisines, based on the travels of owner Mitos Yniguez across Europe, America, as well as Asia. The prices, on the other hand, range from 110 to 995 PHP. If you get there from 7 to 10 AM, they throw in a free drink as well.
Be sure to make reservations, because the seats here fill up fast.
And if you’re not here for the food, there’s a quaint little shop just below the cafe, perfect for lovers of trinkets and vintage items.
Shop here for lockets, pendants, stickers, and a number of other cute thingamabobs you can take home or give to friends as souvenirs.
- Ili-Likha Artists’ Wateringhole
Location: 32 Assumption Road
According to its Facebook page, the Ili-Likha Artists’ Wateringhole is a place of unique food and great art – an “indie theater unlike any other,” they call themselves.
Here, you’ll be able to find several restaurants like Leandro’s, Cafe Cueva, Little Milkyway, and many other places that sell food like yogurt, pasta, dumplings, and even vegan food. There’s a little something for everyone.
More than that, there are also a variety of shops that sell cute clothes, crystals, as well as art pieces that highlight Baguio’s rich culture as well as the talent of its people.
If you’re not in the mood to spend any money, though, that’s perfectly fine; there are a lot of spots in this beautiful treehouse-esque space where you can take pictures.
Just be sure that you’re ready for a lot of walking, climbing, and maneuvering through the maze-like space.
