Keep Cool in the Philippines

If you have a big party or are trying to cut down on expenses, you may wish to rent a house. Check with Gigi (at or call her at +63 (917) 6286792) if they have a property that suites to your requirement. Chances are that she'd have one for you. Judging from their website, they have all kinds of properties that range from the affordable ordinary houses, to ones that have pool tables, basketball courts, large garages, barbecue pits, etc. You have to call or reserve way before. Properties are kept in such a good condition that visitors like going back and staying there so places run out quickly.

We had a chance to rent one of these properties. I only needed a place for 5 persons. But because she couldn't provide me with one just enough for us, she let me use a three-bedroom, fully-furnished house which could actually accommodate about 15 to 20 persons! The house was just about 10 minutes away from the Baguio City proper along one of the highways (I forget which ones) which means it is easily accessible yet far enough not to be bothered by heavy traffic nor the pollution brought about by the numerous vehicles that invade the city.

One good thing I noticed was that the house was kept in a very good and clean shape. In the three days we stayed there, I had not seen a single crawler (ant, cockroach or any bug).

Believe me, the place is worth every centavo you spend. Visit their website at and see for yourself.

In Baguio, good Caesar salad can be found at Mario's. The place is found along Session Road, which is the main street in Baguio. The restaurant is decorated such that you feel you are in a nice log cabin with a Christmas-y fireplace, perhaps because it's always in December when I'm there. There's enough room to be cozy, but not be able to hear what the people in the next table are talking about. The staff wait on you like they have no one else to serve but you, talk about service par excellence.
What other things to eat there? Well, there's lengua, the mango flambe', steak, paella, and other food that will make your mouth water. I love Mario's. It's just too expensive for the average Filipino which is why not too many people dine there. I just hope the dwindling popularity doesn't close it down.

My favorite is the Caesar salad, of course. It's creamy with the right blend of oil and cheese and lemon. I craved the mango jubilee last time I was there.

Camp John Hay is such a delight to go to. We have never grown tired of visiting it because of the many things we enjoy doing there. One of these things is having breakfast at the picnic area near the figaro shop. I usually get to bring food we have prepared in the house we rent, complete with hot chocolate and coffee in a thermos, some sausages bought from the market, eggs, pancakes, fried rice, and some native rice cakes. Then, we stay there after breakfast to play some board games or charoodle, a variation of the charade game. The kids are free to run around the area without the risk of getting run over by vehicles, while the adults get their chance to chat while we watch the children play. There's just one problem: food gets really cold so fast, I normally have to bring the whole pot just to keep them warm! An annual activity we do is to take the 2km eco-trail. Recently we took the eco-trail at CJH and halfway, we stopped at a shady area and played a game of Cranium. We brought some chips, apples, cheese, and water which we shared. Though there were just the three of us (my husband, daughter and myself), we enjoyed our visit there. Camp John Hay is located right in the city. There are other activities suitable for all ages. Horseback riding, hiking, picnic, golf, are among the favorites. There is a commissary where one could find both local and imported items ranging from shoes, bags, clothes, furniture, home decor, etc., at really cheap prices. Camp John Hay has, in its compound, the best hotel in all of Baguio. It's quite pricey but really nice. Some specialty restaurants are also around the compound. They sell burgers, Filipino food, pancakes, more Filipino food, pasta, and others. For those who are out there to splurge or are in a budget, CJH is one of the places that a Baguio visitor shouldn't miss.

I and my family love Baguio. Baguio to us, is eating, walking, and shopping. I love how the city is full of pine trees, and how its scent fills the air in some places of the city. The best place for us is the Tam-awan Village, which is actually a reconstruction of an Ifugao village founded by one of Baguio's best, if not the best, artists - Ben Cabrera. We like going for a hike up the hill and having our portraits done by the artists who volunteer to stay at the village.