Last week, I traveled to the Philippines for a quick holiday trip, during which I visited the popular city of Baguio! It's best known for its cooler weather, which sets it apart from most other places in the country. The Philippines generally has a tropical climate, but this particular city enjoys a much cooler temperature because it is located in the mountainous region of the north. This is also why Baguio was chosen as the site of "The Mansion," the summer residence of the President of the Philippines.
The Mansion is one of the most iconic landmarks in the country, which is why I decided to visit and check it out. I had heard that it was now open for public viewing, so I saw it as a great opportunity to experience the place and soak in its atmosphere.
We visited the Mansion last Thursday morning, which turned out to be a good time because we thought it wouldn’t be too crowded.
One thing I learned during my visit is that it’s important to arrive early. The main reason is to secure a parking space and to register for access to the Mansion itself. We were lucky with parking, but not as fortunate with the visitation. By the time we arrived, the morning viewing slots were fully booked. It turns out there’s a limit on how many people can get close to the building at a time. So, the only view I had during my visit is what you see in the photo I took.
I was clearly far from the Mansion itself, but that's okay because even from here, I could already feel how lavish the Presidential residence is, especially with its expansive front yard and the gate! It's the kind of gate that would take more than one person to open at the same time 😅.
All we could do was take a selfie with the Mansion in the background, which was good enough to capture a nice memory.
We didn’t have enough time to wait for the afternoon visitation, so we decided to spend the remaining time walking around the park adjacent to the Mansion, called Wright Park.
The park is quite spacious, featuring Wright Park Lake, the Wright Pergola, and a section dedicated to horseback riding and long, scenic walks.
The lake is man-made, and it was lined with beautiful Peace Lily plants along the walkways. It was well maintained, as I saw a lady carefully removing dried leaves and trimming off the dead parts of the plants.
I'm amazed that it's not even the peak season for visitors to this place, but there were plenty of locals from neighboring cities who drove all the way from the lowlands to visit. The weather has something to do with it because I also felt the allure of Baguio City through it. You can walk for the majority of the time, and yet you won't feel as tired and drained as you would when doing the same in the warmer regions of the country. It just feels comfortable to explore this place.
Doggie is definitely enjoying the attention :)
After a 5-minute slow walk, we reached the Wright Pergola, which serves as the focal point of the short trail. It is a structure made of concrete and designed to emulate the trunk and bark of pine trees. I noticed that this was a quite common design style in this city, which is also applied to some of the houses in the area.
This pergola seems like it was built such a long time ago that nature has already grown on its surface. I do appreciate the cleanliness of this park, and it's respectable.
Just a quick walk down the steps are the souvenir shops!
Of course, the visit wouldn't be complete without a tour of the shops in this park. It's amazing what you can find in these mini stalls because they really showcase the culture of this place, which makes it a unique experience to have.
Most of the items sold here are trademarks of the city, and you won't find them just anywhere else. I found many interesting things being sold here, and I'm fascinated by the creativity in making use of what the locality offers and the opportunities they've taken advantage of as tourists flock to this place.
Snacks, pastries, and knitted wear.
Beautiful paintings.
T-shirts and sweatshirts.
Photo booth or mascot? You have to pay to stand behind the headless mascot and have your photo taken.
The line of stalls doesn't end here. In fact, there is another row of stalls along the edge of Wright Park, extending to the area of the horseback riding station. With this many souvenir stalls, you can get a glimpse of the number of tourists that flock to this place. I guess there are enough tourists to support the livelihood of the stall owners.
There were stalls that caught my attention because of some unique items I saw. First is this stall that sells traditional brooms made of natural materials. If you go to grocery stores or home improvement centers, what you'll find are brooms made of plastic. These ones are unique and traditional, so cool!
I also noticed another stall run by a lady who was knitting something to sell at her stall. Isn't it amazing how hardworking and dedicated she is to both her craft and business? She's so resourceful, using her time while waiting for customers to stay productive.
Lastly, there was an item that caught my attention—a print on a t-shirt of someone who looked familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen her. I believe she has been featured on many social media pages and even in vlogs because of her contributions to preserving local traditions.
It took me a few days to find more information about her. She was featured in Vogue for her dedication to preserving traditional Filipino tattooing. And if that doesn't amaze you, she’s 106 years old and still strong enough to practice her craft. Incredible!
Baguio's unique charm and cooler climate make it a delightful escape from the tropical heat of the Philippines. I left with wonderful memories, a deeper appreciation for local traditions, and a longing to return soon!
