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Baguio- Summer Capital of the Philippines |
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I arrived in Dagupan at around 0330 p.m. April 29, 2002. I sent a text message to Tin (Christina Pangdao) informing her that I am on my way to Baguio. I first went to Jollibee in Dagupan and ate my very late lunch. I went to the terminal where I boarded a private van to Baguio City. I was very excited that finally Tin & I will meet again. I've met her last March in one of my adventures as a volunteer for WWF- Humpback Whale Research and Conservation Project. She was a religion teacher from the province of Ifugao, assigned to teach in Calayan Island, part of the Babuyan Group of Islands in the province of Cagayan. The van's terminal in Baguio was near Burnham park. I immediately contacted Tin and informed me of my location. She asked me to wait at Rizal's Monument. I was able to recognize her at once even from a distance. We stayed at Burnham and talked about our plans for the following days. We left the park at around 7 p.m. and astarted looking for a place to stay. We went to several Inns and Hotels but I was able to contact Roland Sarne, a brother from ALNP-Cavite branch. Together with Joel and Larry, they were staying in a condominium lent by Roland's politician friend from Manila. We agreed on the next day's itinerary and Tin finally left me at Baguio. I went over to Wright Parkplace Condominium and was welcomed by the three brothers of my community. I settled for the night and slept excitedly. April 30, 0800 a.m. as planned, I took a cab and told the taxi my destination; Asin Road Kilometer 5. Tin was waiting in a shed near their place. She introduced me to her Tita Norma and we walked down Asin Rd to find her cousins. Her cute cousin Noraine with brothers Kevin and Wendel were eating popsicles near the woodcarving area of Baguio. As soon as Tin's sister, Geraldine came, we took a cab and headed further down the road to a grotto. It looked more like a chapel, with woodcarving images of Jesus. I posed with Tin's family near the altar, and went back to the waiting taxi cab. Tin and Geraldine cooked lunch, while I sat and chatted with both of them. I stayed at their Tita's house until 530p.m. and went back to Baguio. I strolled Baguio for a while, and my footsteps led me to Jollibee Gov. Pac Branch. I ate dinner there and went back to the condominium. Joel was already gone, headed back to Manila. This was my last night in the condominium, I had to find another place to stay tomorrow evening. After paying my laundry services, I said goodbye to Roland and Larry and left for Tin's place. I left my backpack there and we went to Baguio downtown for a tour. We first looked for a drugstore to find a medicine, then we went to the market and looked for Tin's teaching companion named Febbie. We did not find her there but we left a message. Our next destination was Tam-awan Village. It was formed by a community of artist and painters headed by the famous Ben Cab. Tin was amazed to see different kinds of works of art. We were also pleased to meet the artist living there. When I introduced myself as a member of The Saturday Group of Artist, they became more friendly, and they informed me that Ben Cab (an inactive member of the Saturday Group) will arrive soon. Tin & I decided to head back to downtown for lunch so we could back to Tam-awan for me to finally meet Ben Cab. We ate at 50's Diner in Baguio City and went back as soon as we finished lunch. We met Ben Cab and He was noticeably fond of Tin. Every artist they introduced to us were more interested to Tin than me. Ha ha, who could blame them? Ben Cab even gave us (I was lucky to be with Tin) a signed booklet of his latest works. We excitedly left the place and headed back to downtown Baguio. Maryknoll Bio-garden was recommended by Tin's friend and it was worth visiting. It's a garden build on the hillside with prototype native huts, caves and a hanging bridge. A lone weaver sits there all day demonstrating the painstaking art of native weaving. We stayed the whole afternoon and stopped walking only when it rained. We scouted for a place to stay and I took Tin home after deciding on a place. I left Tin's house at 630 p.m. I checked in at Gracious Hotel Angeli and went to Presby's Chicken for a hearty dinner of Spaghetti and Chicken. The food here was really good and affordable. I went back to the hotel and had a good night's rest. Thusrday, May 2, 2002, I woke up at around 0700 a.m., I packed my things and went to Mc Donald's for breakfast. On the way back to the hotel, I passed by the market and bought 1 dozen of peach roses. Had it arranged. I left the hotel and took a cab to Asin Road. Tin was surprised when I handed her the roses, my sign of appreciation. We went to the paper mill, owned by Ben Cab at Kilometer 6. After Tin bought a lavender handmade card, we went to downtown where we rode a jeepney to Minesview park We also visited St. Joseph's convent, the home of Good Shepherd preserved strawberries and other fruit jam. Tin used to work here before she went to college in Manila. She introduced me to some of her close elder co-workers. They offered us lunch and we didn't refuse. After St. Joseph's Convent, we went to her old high school and she showed me her former classrooms. After that, we decided to eat mirienda at Pizza Hut, then I showed her my website in an internet cafe. After 30 minutes, we attended mass at Baguio Cathedral. Tin asked me if I wanted to come to visit her closest friend. We went to Terry Espilan's house in Liteng. They haven't seen each other very long, although they were aspeaking in Ilocano, I'm sure they missed each other. We left Liteng at around 7 p.m. via a jeepney. We rode a cab from the downtown and when we arrived at Tin's place, I asked the cab driver to wait for me while I grabbed my pack from Tin's place. I went to Modi Inn at Session Rd, I asked the price and the receptionist told me it was P500. The whole place was dark and it looked dirty. I requested for to see the room first, as soon as saw the room I decided to stay at Gracious Hotel again. I ate Hotdog & coke at 50's Diner and went to bed. May 3, 2002, 0700 a.m., I woke up, had breakfast and took a leisurely bath. I got used to the cold water of the hotel. I managed to lower the room's rate from P1200 to P800 by not availing of the room TV and hot water. I checked out at 1230 p.m. and went straight to People's Park near Session Road where Beng (Tin's auntie's sister-in-law) agreed to meet me. Tin arranged for her to me my companion this day that she wasn't available. We went to Pizza Hut for lunch then I asked her to accompany me to buy our tickets for our travel back to Manila. I bought two tickets at Dagupan bus station. Tin agreed to go to Manila with me so I can tour her and introduce her to my friends and family. We went to Tin's place after the bus station and I stayed there and chat with Tin's sister Geraldine. Tin arrived with Terry at around 730 p.m. We had dinner and then we went to the carving shops near their place to look for souvenirs to be brought to Manila. It was 0900 p.m. when we left Asin Rd and headed for Dagupan bus station. We boarded at around 10 p.m. and sat on seat no. 7 & 8 on the way back to my hometown of Las Piņas. I slept smiling. |
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