I have so many stories to tell.
None can take you back to me.
Last night, I dreamt of a maze;
the exit point was you.

There you were,
so near, yet so far,
babywearing a sick dog.

I felt its weight
and heard the silence of its howl.

Lately, when everything feels like nothing,
I make up a city in my mind:
sometimes it's warm,
sometimes it's cold.

We hug different friends
and kiss different lovers.
We tell new and old stories to anyone.

But I always know your address
when it's time to come home.

- Cristine A. D

If I’m not tied down by anything or if my financial resources aren’t limited, one of the things I would do is spend some of my fortune to see the world. That obviously isn’t the case for me yet, but the promise of tomorrow and God’s grace make me look forward and trust that, in His time, I will get to fulfill the wanderlust within me. I haven’t traveled abroad yet, but I am not mad because God has allowed me to visit some of the best places in my beloved country, the Philippines. With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines is home to boundless wonders. I’m not just talking about the places, but also about the smiles of its people and the richness of its culture, which take my breath away.

As I blogged last year, 2025 has been exceptionally good to me, allowing me to visit some of our country's finest destinations. I revisited Bohol, Manila, and Palawan, and explored Baguio and Siargao for the first time. This blog is dedicated to the bliss I've experienced in Baguio City, often called the Philippines' City of Pines. Baguio is a highly urbanized, chilly, and creative city in the northern Philippines. It is commonly known for its sweater weather, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 23°C. These can drop to as low as 10°C to 13°C due to the northeast monsoon—or, from my experience, just before daybreak after a night of rain. While in Baguio, I once woke up before 6 a.m. to a temperature of around 11°C, which was probably the coldest I’ve ever experienced. 

Baguio's cold weather is one of its charms, and also one of the reasons why I love the place. Baguio is now one of my favorite cities in the Philippines, and if I could relocate for free, I would love to live there. I adore the noise and the upbeat life in Cebu, but there's just something irresistible about the peace and quiet Baguio offers. Sometimes, parts of the city get eerily quiet, rumored to be haunted. Let's just say, it could get chilly in Baguio, but if that bothers you a lot, you can always stay somewhere along the Session Road, where fun and sound are more alive. I prefer staying a bit far from the town proper, though, like I usually do when I travel. 

📌Baguio Bell Staycation Hotel

Address: Upper Westside, Crystal Cave, Foothill St, Baguio, 2600 Benguet

I traveled to Baguio DIY, which means I booked where I stayed and took care of everything else, such as my transportation and itinerary. Booking a travel tour would have been much cheaper and easier, but I like traveling at my own pace. I prefer going to places of my choosing, when I want, walking when necessary.
The best part is that it allows me to talk to the locals about the place and take my time savoring the little moments that fill me with awe. This includes simply looking at the flowers, the verdant mountains, and enjoying my cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

I booked a four-day, three-night stay at Baguio Bell Staycation Hotel. S told me it's probably not the best place to stay in since it could be a bit far from the town proper. But then, that's exactly why I like it, and based on the reviews I've read, it checked the box for what I'm looking for in a place. Baguio Bell is a hostel; not a hotel. It didn't have the amenities of a hotel, but it is very decent, and if I may be honest, it's a real bargain. The only downside about the place is that it's a bit far, probably 30 minutes far from the heart of the city, but that doesn't bother me. It also lacks a restaurant, cafe, or store, so you'll have to get your food elsewhere. Or, you can cook in their kitchen, which is great because you can always buy fresh goods in Baguio, and Bell won't even charge you for gas, and they all have the kitchen utensils you need. 

Another thing I love about the Baguio Bell is the peace it offers. It can feel too quiet or even a bit spooky at times, but I still love it. The view is scenic, and the place, though not fancy or aesthetically pleasing, is well-kept, organized, and clean.

The best part is that the staff and the owner, Mr. Young, are all welcoming and accommodating. They even let me use their laundry room to wash my clothes when I asked where I could have my soiled clothes laundered. Kuya Renee, who works with Bell, also gave me a free ride to the bus terminal going to Clark Airport.

I appreciate them so much, and honestly, if I had more dough with me, I would have stayed longer in Baguio; at Bell Staycation, of course.

FACT: I was their only guest during the first two nights of my stay, which is kind of funny and scary, having the huge place by myself. 

Some shots taken during my stay at BELL Staycation: 

📌 BenCab Museum 
Km. 6 Asin Rd, Tuba, 2603 Benguet

Whenever I travel, I always try to visit a museum wherever I go. One of the places I wanted to visit in Baguio is BenCab Museum, an art museum that houses the works of the Philippine National Artist for Visual Arts, Ben “BenCab” Cabrera. What makes the BenCab Museum a standout for me is its location and the scope of the artist’s oeuvre it offers every visitor. It’s located somewhere far from the focal point of the city, which would turn off some would-be visitors, but for me, it’s one of its hallmarks. The museum offers a panoramic view of the mountains. Combine it with the museum’s landscaping and interiors, and the result is visual art in itself.

It was raining cats and dogs when I visited BenCab, which I find cinematic. That probably won’t be the case for some, but the artist in me can’t spare the drama. The cold didn’t bother me much, since Café Sabel, the museum's in-house café, offers hot drinks, including BenCab’s Brew. It’s made out of Sir Ben’s coffee from his farm.

Below are some photos of my favorite spots and artworks inside the museum. 

One of the most interesting displays I found at the BenCab Museum is the Bulol Installation, installed on a gigantic wall spanning two to three floors of the museum. This is fascinating to me as a Cebuano, since we don’t have Bulol in our culture or traditions in my hometown. I’m not entirely sure, but the Bulol figures must be unique to the northern Philippines. The Bulols, by the way, are figures of spiritual guardians of fertility. In a way, the installation allowed me to appreciate a Filipino heritage distinct from my own.

Here's a better way of explaining the figures, which I took from the museum's copy: 

BULOL INSTALLATION
The lives of the Ifugao communities in the Cordilleras, the highlands of northern Philippines, center on rice cultivation. Thus, the bulols, or rice granary gods, are venerated through rituals that ensure abundant harvests and protection against natural calamities.
Hand-carved from hardwood abundant in the region, these primitive sculptures emphasize the male and female genitalia, representing fertility and abundance. The figures have a rich patina of smoke and sacrificial blood from years of ritual ceremonies during rice planting, harvest, and other celebrations.
The bulols, which can be several generations old and usually come in pairs, are depicted in various positions (standing, dancing, squatting), which help to identify their origin. They are treasured by their owners and passed down from generation to generation.

At a glance, this turtle-like carving might seem plain. However, looking closely, you'd see the art and function within it. This wooden carving serves as a container for preserved meat (itag). The container, called Tangongo, has a ceremonial value. Its lid features a lizard, a sacred symbol of wealth, nobility, and good fortune for the Ifugao people. Another interesting lesson, because ever since I've arrived in the Cordillera, I've been seeing a lot of lizard motifs, particularly in the art of the Ifugao people. Hence, my curiosity led me to read about its significance.

 It was past lunchtime, so I had lunch at Cafe Sabel. I had a simple pork barbecue and fries. I didn't feel like having any dessert, and just ended my meal with coffee. Everything was satisfying. Regarding the resto, it has a huge seating capacity, great views, and a broad assortment of offerings on its menu. 

Photographed above are some of Ang Kiukok's works. 

Visiting BenCab Museum is one of the highlights of my travel in Baguio. The place offers a broad perspective of artists from the Cordillera region, and why BenCab is one of the Philippines' finest. Whether you consider yourself a creative or not, BenCab is a must-visit place in Baguio. 

📌 Burnham Park
Jose Abad Santos Dr, Baguio, 2600 Benguet

I can't leave Baguio without visiting its blooming urban park—Burnham Park. The park is historically significant to the people of Baguio and was designed by American architect Daniel Burnham. It has a botanical garden, an orchidarium, a biking road, and a man-made lake, among its other notable features. I actually feel like I'm in NYC's Central Park while in Burnham, except that I know it's a miniature version of the one in New York. Going to the park is free of charge, but using or availing the services within it, like riding in the Swan Boat, costs a dime.

There were so many things to do at the park, whether you are visiting alone or with a group. I had the best time taking photos of the flowers and simply admiring their beauty. There were lots of them, especially roses in various colors. The park is also a paradise for bird lovers and photography enthusiasts. In fact, I've met some bird photographers in the park, and it was just fascinating to listen to how they got into their hobbies and to get the chance to see the lovely flying creatures that they have captured with their cameras.

The park also welcomes its local artists and provides them with an open space where they can show their art or sell it. This is another fascinating part of visiting Burnham. I got to meet the local artist Adelaida Guia, who is doing giant crochet mandalas. At that time, Guia was vying for a Guinness World Records title. I heard from the news that she was able to get the record, by the way. All hats and flowers to Guia! Mabuhay ang sining ng Pilipino!

As a flower child, I have to visit Burnham's Orchidarium, which houses towering trees, vibrant flowers, and sweet-smelling herbs. How I love to take everything home! lol

Even though the pond is man-made, exploring it with the iconic Swan Boats of Burnham is a great and calming experience. I love the serenity of going around the pond and saying hello to other tourists, who are just as fascinated and happy as I am. This is just one of the most breathtaking moments of my time in the park.

There were vendors all over the park who were selling the infamous strawberry taho (sweetened silken tofu) of Baguio. While we have taho in Cebu, we don't have the strawberry variant like in Baguio, so yep, gotta try it. Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I love the hot classic taho better.

The taho didn't make me smile, but the strawberry-mango ice cream did. This one has a strawberry-flavored cone, which made me giddy like a kid. I think if I were a stranger looking at myself, I'd laugh at how happy I am.

I was about to cross the street to reach Session Road when I stumbled upon Solibao's. Solibao is a popular restaurant in Baguio, which sells hot and freshly made puto bungbong and Ilocos empanada.

Puto bungbong is a purple rice cake steamed in bamboo tubes. It is made creamier and sweeter with its cheese and condensed milk toppings. I'm familiar with puto bungbong in Cebu, but what made Solibao's version much better is their use of butter instead of the usual margarine. They also put a generous amount of ingredients into their delicacy.

Ilocos empanada is a deep-fried dough characterized by its bright orange shell. There are varieties of empanadas all over the Philippines, but Ilocos empanada, which comes from Ilocos (the northern part of the Philippines), makes use of garlicky Ilocos longganisa (pork sausage), whole egg, and vegetables as its fillings. Solibao's empanada is so good, and I can only wish they sold it here in Cebu, because the ones we have here don't come close to the ones Solibao offers.

I got to witness how Solibao prepared their Ilocos empanada, which is so cool because they prepare and cook all their street food in their booth.

The making of Solibao's Ilocos Empanada.

Solibao's buttery, creamy, and cheesy puto bungbong

My dreamy escape to the City of Pines didn’t end at Burnham Park. I strolled along Session Road and explored its indigenous heritage at Tam-Awan Village. This post would be far too long if I documented everything here, so stay tuned for Part 2 of my Baguio City escapade.

If you’re visiting the Philippines, be sure to add Baguio City to your list. I’d easily place it alongside Cebu as one of my favorite cities in the country. Let’s just say—I fell in love with it, and I would happily return to Baguio a million times over!

Stay blessed!
love lots,
Tin