How to Survive the Cold Weather in Baguio

One of Baguio’s main attractions is, actually, its cool climate. The same weather that gives us clear blue morning skies, foggy afternoons and chilly evenings. This year, however, from the last week of January to today, the temperatures have dropped from the usual 16?C to 9?C (some accounts even claim 7?C). Rumours are rife that 2 drunken men died of hypothermia after falling asleep on the pavement (I will have to verify this).

I was in Manila last Monday and it was comfortably cool, too. But when I got back up last Wednesday in the early morning, 3 thick blankets were not enough! Of course, we in Baguio hope this weather will hold for the duration of the Panagbenga so visitors will “feel” Baguio.

For the sake of you guys coming up, (and for those who do not have a fireplace) here are tips on surviving the cold:

1. Bundle up: covering your heads (even your ears) makes a big difference. Time to bring out the “Autumn/Spring” attire is great — scarves, shawls, socks, long-sleeved shirts, jackets.

2. Your hair dryer can be your best friend: after a shower, use it to dry your body up fast after toweling off. For safety reasons, use the hair dryer in the bedroom, not in the bathroom, and not if you are dripping wet. A friend of mine would put the nozzle inside her pajama top and bottom for a few seconds each (put it on “low” to get more heat, less air) and jump under the sheets, instead of using an electric blanket. You can also train the hair dryer on your clothes before putting them on so that they’re nice and warm.

3. Makeshift radiator: while taking a shower, I would turn on the oven toaster (brought in from the kitchen) with the lid down to warm up the bedroom because I did not have a fireplace or heater. It worked as a mini radiator so that when I got out of the bathroom, the room would be nice and “toasty.” Be careful, though, not to bring it inside the bathroom, don’t put it on any rug or carpet, make sure the floor is even, make sure the toaster oven is clean and does not have any fat or oils that could cause a grease fire. Make sure you take a 5-minute shower so the oven toaster is not left on & unsupervised for too long (for safety and energy conservation reasons).

4. Hoarding firewood: If you have a fireplace, buy your firewood early because others might buy up the limited supply available. Firewood comes from Pangasinan and La Union. On the way to Baguio, stop by the roadside in Sison, Pangasinan (the last town before Rosario, La Union (which has the entry points to both Kennon Road and Marcos Highway), where firewood is available at Php20/bundle. It costs Php35/bundle in Baguio.

5. A hot cuppa: A hot cup of cocoa or coffee raises your body temperature and helps your blanket do the job of keeping you warm before you sleep.

6. Keep your windows closed at night: As the night deepens, it gets colder. Plus, doing this keeps your person and your valuables safe against possible theft (you never know: in Manila, our windows are always closed anyway because of the airconditioning; in Baguio you might forget to do this).

7. Extra Blankets: Ask for an extra blanket from your hotel housekeeping staff, if necessary. If you’re staying in a transient home and have to bring your own beddings, flannel blankets are for sale at the Baguio City Market dry goods section for Php95-150 each.

8. Using the Shade: During the day, when we in Baguio feel warm, we just step in under the shade (usually a tree), and when we want the warmth, we step right out into the sunshine. These are days when we actually look forward to high noon!

9. Malling to keep warm? Do not think that a mall like SM City Baguio will be less cold than elsewhere — I was there yesterday and the wind was blowing in from the many open portals. Remember that it is located atop Luneta Hill, Session Road’s highest point, so from the 1st to the 3rd floors, it was really chilly.

10. Enjoying the outdoors: With great weather like this, it would be foolish to stay indoors, though. So wake up early, get some exercise (raise your metabolism), explore Baguio, picnic for lunch, explore some more, have an early dinner, huddle around with friends and family in the living room (hope you’re lodging has a fireplace, really) or have a bonfire (remember to cover your heads & backs) afterwards, drinking warm beverages brandy/cognac/wine/cocoa/coffee instead of cold ones like beer/margarita/gin&tonic/soda.

And you may ask, why is sharing body heat not on the list? Because we are not stranded in the Alps or the Andes mountains. The Philippine population is large enough!

Come up, the weather is great!

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