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The Dreaded Bus Rides to and from Baguio

Recently, my family went to Baguio without me as I was tied up at work. At the last minute, I managed to get some free time and I decided to go to Baguio. To my utter dismay, I discovered that no airline flies to Baguio anymore. For some reason, I could not also get anyone to drive me up to Baguio. I had no choice but to take the bus. “What a nightmare!” was the first thought that came into my mind. Followed by doubts about whether I should travel to Baguio. Since I really wanted to go to Baguio, I decided to take the dreaded bus ride.

I dread bus rides to and from Baguio because, on 9 out of 10 times I take the bus, I get dizzy and throw up in Kennon Road or Naguilian.  The bus rides where I am sure to get dizzy and puke are on those buses with pine tree air-fresheners. The smell of those air-fresheners combined with the almost roller-coaster like movement of the bus means only one thing for me – VOMITSVILLE. (more…)

I am a Baguio girl.  I was born and raised there. I spent the best years of my life in Baguio with the people who molded me into what I am today. Sadly, some of those people are no longer around and Baguio is no longer what it used to be.

I never imaged the day would come when I would feel the same way my grandparents did about Baguio. My grandmother was born and raised in Baguio while my grandfather began living there in his twenties.  When they were in their seventies, they would always look at me with sad faces and tell me that Baguio was not what it used to be.  My grandparents would tell me that Baguio was so much more beautiful in the early days.  I was a child then and I could not believe what my grandparents were telling me.  To me,  the Baguio of my childhood was beautiful and magical.  It was the best place in the universe. (more…)

I was planning to post, at a much later time, several articles on Baguio City to commemorate its 100th year as a chartered city.  Baguio bacame a chartered city on 1 September 1909.  I was also thinking of posting Baguio trivia.  For instance, according to this article, Justice George A. Malcolm wrote the Charter of Baguio. According to this article, Justice Malcolm was the first dean permanent of the College of Law of the University of the Philippines. He was also an associate Justice of Philippine Supreme Court. This is probably why that place on the bottom of Session Road that is (or was) used as a public parking area is called Malcolm Square.

As I was thinking happy thoughts about Baguio, I read Padma’s blog and was saddened to learn that a portion of the Baguio market, one of the few places left in Baguio that reminds me of the Baguio I knew as a child, had burned down a couple of days ago.  After reading Padma’s article on the Baguio market, I decided to post the few articles I have about Baguio starting tomorrow. I feel the need to be reminded of home.

Speaking of things to come (like my articles about the Unexpected Adventures of Boktor and Pandora in Legazpi, Albay), I was in Baguio over the weekend when I found out that the Bencab Museum will be opening in March 2009.

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