Yup, I’m visiting Baguio again this Thursday. I’ve been there a couple of times so I actually don’t have the intention of going. The idea just came when I knew my family would be visiting us here in Manila to attend my sister’s oath taking. I made a promise to my sister before that I would treat her of a trip to Baguio if she passed the board exams; she did and so I have to fulfil my end of the deal but now, with the entire family! Luckily, she offered to split the expenses between us. I thanked God for the blessings! :-D
For the past week, I’ve been busy making arrangements. Its Holy Week next week so a lot of lowlanders are going up there. I know we can go there without reservations and just rely on some ‘manongs’ that will offer us accommodations as we get down from the bus upon our arrival. But maybe there would be less options as the good and affordable ones were reserved in advance. Thanks to technology, I just searched the net and came upon various ads and listings for transient houses, most with pictures and mobile contact numbers. Many were already reserved when I made inquiries but I have managed to find one that suit our needs and budget. Most require down payment to make reservations so I just deposited the amount required to their BDO cash card. It’s amazing how technology made our life easier.
At first, I am reluctant to deposit; they might run away with my money. But since their DTI registration number was also posted in their website, I had it checked through the DTI hotline, and it was legitimate. Well, I really hope that I won’t be scammed, I’ll update you next week after we go there :-D
Before, I didn’t have to worry about accommodations. The first time I went there in 1994, I was a participant in the national secondary schools press conference (NSSPC). We were billeted in Teacher’s Camp. It was my most memorable visit because it was then that Baguio captivated my heart. It was really cold then. The place is full of pine trees, with lots of flowers blooming everywhere. Fewer structures were built. It was so beautiful.
The second visit was with my classmates in college on a factory tour of Texas Instruments (TI). We stayed at Hotel Supreme. The water supply then at that hotel was not so good. I remembered some of my classmates toured without taking a bath yew!:-D I also remembered my classmates who were occupying the basement have hair-raising experiences.
The third time, I was already here in Manila training for basic ANSS course. We had a break for the Lenten season and my parents didn’t buy me an airline ticket to go home so I went with a co-trainee to Baguio instead. We stayed at her sister’s boarding house.
A year after that, I went to Baguio again with this same girl, who attended her sister’s graduation. She was already my office mate, friend and one of my flat mates. This time, SM Baguio was finished and I consider it then the most beautiful of all SM malls because of its top location, 360 degrees overlooking the city. Baguio captivated my heart once again because of the picturesque view on SM. It was also during this visit that I went back to Manila all alone. No big deal, it’s just two rides to my apartment – one six-hour bus drive and one jeepney ride. J
My fifth trip was in November 2005, after we went to a batch mate’s house in La Union. Most of us are from ATO so we made arrangements to stay at ATO staff house at Loakan airport. I brought along my mom with me since she was here in Manila that time.
On each of those occasions, we toured and visited attractions. Although I got so familiar and bored with visiting usual places, there’s always something new each time I visit so I think that’s what makes me go there again and again.
For my sixth, I know it will be different because it will be a family affair. I think this will not be my last time; I have viewed some pictures of those who visited Asin Hot Springs and I want to go there on my seventh visit haha ;-)
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