Baguio Insider

Although visitor volume figures aren’t in yet, judging from the bumper-to-bumper traffic on almost all major roads in Baguio, especially Leonard Wood Road (connecting Session Road to Mine’s View Park — with Wright Park, the Mansion, Botanical Garden, Teachers Camp, Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay, etc. in between), all I can say is that Baguio is back as the favorite Holy Week destination in Luzon.

And the weather cooperated very nicely, too! April showers were just right: two minute drizzles enough to cool the city down by a few degrees and get rid of the dust but light enought not to make Baguio muddy (important for the horseback riding areas). It was cool enough at night to light up the fireplaces for that “total Baguio experience.”

Of course the smoke emissions were high and some folks actually complained declared that Baguio is polluted, even in the heavily forested areas. Hel-lo? Like no one wanted to walk… It is a chicken before the egg issue: Too many cars, too much heat and smoke from emissions, so there was less walking because of too many cars, too much heat and smoke from emissions. If we make Baguio a walking city on Holy Week, no one will come because Filipinos really prefer to ride than to walk, even when it is not hot.

I kept walking instead of bringing my car but it was not my usual Baguio because of all the cars in slow moving traffic. I noticed though that the traffic control was pretty good, with lots of volunteer radio groups manning the flow. I noticed the annoying lowland habits of tailgating (staying just two feet away from the car in front) and not giving way. As if this would get one to his destination sooner. These habits just cause gridlocks especially at the roundabouts (rotundas).

Then magically, at around 8pm Baguio would fall quiet - something the visitors were surprised about. A lot of the bars and restaurants closed on Good Friday (stupid business move in a top tourist destination). Of course the teenagers and yuppies could not be deterred from partying late into the evening on this most solemn of Filipino holidays because they were, after all, on vacation!

Everyone enjoyed brisk business, except the SVD priests who must have been on break from making all those longganisas that I recommended, in Go Baguio!, that everyone buy. A lot of guests complained that there was none for sale! Figured they must be on retreat. The nuns at Good Shepherd Convent were very prepared though. After all, the SVD longganisa is not a full cottage industry like Good Shepherd’s goodies.

All hotels were booked and only had vacancies starting on Black Saturday. Even the resorts at Asin Hot Springs were full. I think those who came up the weekend before had more fun. Then another set of travellers coming from Sagada and the lowlands booked the next two nights because today, April 9, is a legal holiday (Bataan Day). A guest of mine from Bicol complained that, after two days of being here, he had seen only two places because of the traffic, so after a late midnight dinner on Session Road, I took him to see ALL OF BAGUIO by night. Hahaha!

I noticed that Burnham Park was full of parked owner jeepneys and vans at 2:30 a.m. Those guys either had no place to stay or meant to camp out in their cars. I believe it’s the latter as they were complete with coolers and lawn chairs. I hate that because Burnham Park gets trashed that way. Plus the pubic restrooms only offer toilets, not showers. Yeewww!

Was Holy Week the “end all and be all” of Summer 2007? Nah, just the beginning.