Don't expect too much from Baguio

[baguioboy]

I love Baguio, I was born and raised there. If you want to visit Baguio just to see what it looks like, you are more than welcome to visit. But if you want to visit Baguio for tourism purposes, I would strongly suggest other places like Palawan or Sagada.
If you enjoy traffic, polluted air, littered streets then Baguio will be just fine for you.
I hope my fellow Baguio people won't take this the negative way but it is embarrassing for a Baguio local like me to call Baguio a tourist center when there is nothing tourist quality about the place.
Whenever Baguio improves then I can recommend it as a tourist destination but for now save your time and money and look else where.

Baguio is not all bad for the traveler of course. If you are heading north to visit Sagada, Bontoc or Banaue. Baguio is a good place to shop for your travel accessories like extra batteries and travel apparel.

[asprv]

I don't know but the last time I went to Baguio, I enjoyed my stay in Burnham Park.

[tadz1158]

I love Baguio, I was born and raised there. If you want to visit Baguio just to see what it looks like, you are more than welcome to visit. But if you want to visit Baguio for tourism purposes, I would strongly suggest other places like Palawan or Sagada.
If you enjoy traffic, polluted air, littered streets then Baguio will be just fine for you.
I hope my fellow Baguio people won't take this the negative way but it is embarrassing for a Baguio local like me to call Baguio a tourist center when there is nothing tourist quality about the place.
Whenever Baguio improves then I can recommend it as a tourist destination but for now save your time and money and look else where.

Baguio is not all bad for the traveler of course. If you are heading north to visit Sagada, Bontoc or Banaue. Baguio is a good place to shop for your travel accessories like extra batteries and travel apparel.


I have never been to Baguio and Im still looking forward to go and see the place despite what you have written about it now. Perhaps, just the same, other places could have some negative feedback too. I still want to go to Baguio. Thanks for the info anyway.

[Manix16]

I love Baguio, I was born and raised there. If you want to visit Baguio just to see what it looks like, you are more than welcome to visit. But if you want to visit Baguio for tourism purposes, I would strongly suggest other places like Palawan or Sagada.
If you enjoy traffic, polluted air, littered streets then Baguio will be just fine for you.
I hope my fellow Baguio people won't take this the negative way but it is embarrassing for a Baguio local like me to call Baguio a tourist center when there is nothing tourist quality about the place.
Whenever Baguio improves then I can recommend it as a tourist destination but for now save your time and money and look else where.

Baguio is not all bad for the traveler of course. If you are heading north to visit Sagada, Bontoc or Banaue. Baguio is a good place to shop for your travel accessories like extra batteries and travel apparel.I respect your views, man. And it is true. Baguio has more people and buildings than 10 years back which would probably account for more pollution. But instead of just discouraging people to go to your city, why not go to your mayor and/or congressman and tell them what you told us? I'm sure they'll do something. Election's coming, man. :p

[tadz1158]

I respect your views, man. And it is true. Baguio has more people and buildings than 10 years back which would probably account for more pollution. But instead of just discouraging people to go to your city, why not go to your mayor and/or congressman and tell them what you told us? I'm sure they'll do something. Election's coming, man. :p


Such an intelligent suggestion Manix. I like that!

[wanderlust]

I'm sure they will be clamoring for that opportunity to show off their credibility. Heck politics. tsk.

[tadz1158]

I'm sure they will be clamoring for that opportunity to show off their credibility. Heck politics. tsk.
"Promises are made to be broken".....I hope they're gonna do something that is real, not just in the meantime that election is fast approaching.

[Manix16]

"Promises are made to be broken".....I hope they're gonna do something that is real, not just in the meantime that election is fast approaching.That's up to the townspeople. They should choose projects that they'll see into fruition before election day and not settle for anything less than what they're expecting.

[wanderlust]

"Promises are made to be broken".....I hope they're gonna do something that is real, not just in the meantime that election is fast approaching.
Politics in the Philippines is...... blah. But I'm not losing hope. :)

[purpleaf]

Well, the ukay-ukay was still worth the trip. Haha! And the breakfast buffet at The Manor made our trip there so memorable.

[stella]

I'd like to go strawberry picking there if given the chance. Baguio is the only place cold enough in the Philippines to hosts such fruits. :p

[tadz1158]

I think Baguio is still popular until now with its nice tourist spots. I have just talked to someone who just came back from her vacation in Baguio and she says, it's still a nice place to go.

[moohlan]

I'm from Manila and I've been to Baguio. I still think that visiting the place is still worth the trip and I would encourage anyone to try and experience Baguio.=)
I would surely enjoy another trip.:)

[tadz1158]

I'm from Manila and I've been to Baguio. I still think that visiting the place is still worth the trip and I would encourage anyone to try and experience Baguio.=)
I would surely enjoy another trip.:)


I agree with you Moolah. Some of my friends have been going back & forth to Baguio and they always say they love Baguio. Even my daughter went there twice, a gap of only two weeks. She likes the place so much and was inviting me to travel there with her.

[rosadel]

I don't know but the last time I went to Baguio, I enjoyed my stay in Burnham Park.

that really puts a smile on my face, i'm so glad that travellers still enjoy burnham park up to these days. and oh yeah, as purpleaf said, the manor is the place to stay. i still remember the breakfast buffets too. much better than country club actually. i would also recommend breakfast at the cafe by the ruins. i'm still craving for their homemade strawberry jam with pandesal and fresh brewed coffee.

i think baguio city is still a nice place to visit, it has the most unique sm mall, yes, the ukay-ukay, nightlife, food, strawberries, camp john hay, pma, pinagbenga. only downside is the traffic these days and yeah it's getting a little too tight because of the sprouting schools and universities, making rise to more buildings for accomodations as well.

can the local government put a limit on the number of buildings than can be built in certain areas of the city? save several pieces of land on each area for community parks so that not all we see are buildings. there should be a better structural planning to save the city from looking like sprouting buildings everywhere. any politician with this kind of vision? pls save the city...

[purpleaf]

what's the brand of the yummy ube? is it "good shepherd"?

yeah, i think the government should do some preservations...


hey, i just remembered, my mom and i had this picture taken along the cliff with some igorot costumes for ten bucks each. what is that place? we had fun making fun of ourselves.... and i admire the vibrant colors of the igorot costumes!

[jbrayos]

I just go to Baguio to buy strawberry jam and peanut brittle.

[rosadel]

what's the brand of the yummy ube? is it "good shepherd"?

yeah, i think the government should do some preservations...


hey, i just remembered, my mom and i had this picture taken along the cliff with some igorot costumes for ten bucks each. what is that place? we had fun making fun of ourselves.... and i admire the vibrant colors of the igorot costumes!

yeah, good shepherd makes several good products like the angel cookies too, peanut brittle, ube jam, strawberry preserves, pili nuts, etc.

picture taking with igorots in costumes are usually at imelda park and mines view park

[orangerain]

Well, the ukay-ukay was still worth the trip. Haha! And the breakfast buffet at The Manor made our trip there so memorable.

I second this. Haha! :D

[memph]

I love Baguio, I was born and raised there. If you want to visit Baguio just to see what it looks like, you are more than welcome to visit. But if you want to visit Baguio for tourism purposes, I would strongly suggest other places like Palawan or Sagada.
If you enjoy traffic, polluted air, littered streets then Baguio will be just fine for you.
I hope my fellow Baguio people won't take this the negative way but it is embarrassing for a Baguio local like me to call Baguio a tourist center when there is nothing tourist quality about the place.
Whenever Baguio improves then I can recommend it as a tourist destination but for now save your time and money and look else where.

Baguio is not all bad for the traveler of course. If you are heading north to visit Sagada, Bontoc or Banaue. Baguio is a good place to shop for your travel accessories like extra batteries and travel apparel.
Baguio is still Baguio. Pollution and traffic is part of our lives now, so instead of dwelling on problems beyond our control, let's just enjoy what the city has to offer.

[orangerain]

A little note, I've been seeing Baguio in the news more and more frequently lately... and it's not because they're promoting tourism. They've had a lot of gang wars and fights recently. I think the local government should do something about it or they'll have a decrease in tourists. It's important to keep everything safe and peaceful.

[dawn of day]

Baguio is one of the places I would love to visit. I've never been there. Can you suggest any other spots worth visiting?

[orangerain]

Baguio is one of the places I would love to visit. I've never been there. Can you suggest any other spots worth visiting?

Camp John Hay. :D I love the smell of the pine trees there. Plus, the last time we went there, they have a place where you can play paintball and go rapelling. Just follow the signs within the vicinity. I think they also offer horseback rides through the forest trail. I wasn't able to try it, though.

[revx]

Silver's are affordable in Baguio.. One store worth mentioning is Ibay's Silver Shop. But unfortunately I forgot the exact location.

[Subsistence]

I've been to Baguio and I've experienced what the thread starter is saying. Pollution, traffic, huge crowd. It's true. But you know what they say about having a large white paper and having a black dot at the center of it. You'll only see the black dot, the fault not the paper or every thing else around the black dot. Baguio is a beautiful place. I get to see a lot of stuffs unusual to a guy who lived in Metro Manila. The parks, the places and all the things that define Baguio. It's not that bad. Even Hawaii has its own pollution center. Figuratively speaking.

[Kelly]

ive been to Baguio once but I can say that I definitely enjoyed my stay there.:)

[pepper_oni]

I went to Baguio last year and didnt get the chance to visit the Cathedral. Looking forward on coming back and buying lotsa pasalubong and veggies...

[Hisbenz]

Camp John Hay. :D I love the smell of the pine trees there. Plus, the last time we went there, they have a place where you can play paintball and go rapelling. Just follow the signs within the vicinity. I think they also offer horseback rides through the forest trail. I wasn't able to try it, though.

This is actually my favorite place in Baguio. Tried the paintball and rapelling. And i love the starbucks in John Hay. So peaceful

[heyprettymei]

i like baguio a lot but it's way too polluted to be honest. :p but if you're just after the cold temperature, then yes, it's still the best getaway. camp john hay is really nice. i love the hotel rooms :D and i had fun playing golf there. if you're into shopping, you'll like it there as well. lots of cheap buys but of good quality

[voyager]

baguio continues to be a place to consider, it may not be the same baguio of old due to the disorganized way the city planning has been undertaken but there are still sparks of successful improvements here and there to make your stay pleasant. i don't particularly like the traffic, overpopulation and pollution now endemic in the city proper, how could you have a sense of enthusiasm to the place with chaos all over you? what's the point setting out to baguio if you'll just end up stressed? nonetheless, i still would like to visit baguio again if only for sentimental reasons although not as often compared to before. i believe baguio is not yet lost and the effort is worth it despite of it all. :o

[kathangisip]

meron pa rin namang magandang gawin dun...
try nyong mag Balatoc Mines Tour. (http://kathangisip.com/2009/04/balatoc-mines-tour/)

[darki]

A little note, I've been seeing Baguio in the news more and more frequently lately... and it's not because they're promoting tourism. They've had a lot of gang wars and fights recently. I think the local government should do something about it or they'll have a decrease in tourists. It's important to keep everything safe and peaceful.

yeah right,it seems that baguio now is not that safe.I mean,during night gangsters scatter everywhere in the city.shame.

[jabberedonion]

Have read several posts saying that Baguio has become polluted and all. I was there last year and I never thought of it as such.
We were everywhere. We went horseback riding, strawberry picking, dining at 50s diner, hanging out at the mall and that place where all the bars are at forgot the name of the place. We also went shopping at the ukay ukay center. It was fun!

[junrey24]

I would like to see some picture to this place. Hope that you can upload soon. Thanks.