Nope.
Rocky Mountain Resort?
Nope.
Denver!!
No, no, no.
Again.
It's Baguio City - the Philippines!!
Located up in the mountains of Northern Luzon, Baguio is every Filipino's favorite Summer get-away location. The Mile Hi moniker comes from the fact that it's over 5000 feet high. So they have pine trees and and cool breezes and waterfalls and everything you'd expect in the mountains back home. Here in the Philippines! Crazy!
Everyone urged us to take a sweater or jacket so we wouldn't get cold. Good thing too! It got down to about 70 degrees F!!
Franco encouraged me to purchase this poncho to keep warm.
Baguio has a few claims to fame. One of the things they are most proud of is that Baguio was left untouched during the 300+ years of Spanish occupation. It wasn't really discovered until the Americans came in and made it a recreational area for the servicemen. It had always been a mining community and so the Barangays are not given the usual names. They are called Camps instead. Camp #1, Camp #2, etc.
Now, it is also home to the Philippine Military Academy, which, interestingly enough, is named for a guy, known as the Boy General because of his youth, who bested the Americans in a battle known as the Battle of Tirad Pass during the Philippine American War. I share that only because I got fidgety when I learned it - sortof felt like I should apologize for the War. Duh.
All our textbook history comes from 2 of the best tour guides in the Philippines. One is Franco Advincula and the other is Elder Benson Misalucha, Director of Welfare in the Philippines and an Area Seventy. Elder Misalucha served his mission in Baguio, so he's very familiar with its history, sights, folklore, etc.
On the way up into the mountains, we stopped to admire the waterfall and bridge that belong to the homeowner in the background. Our hope is that he is always perfectly sober when he arrives home late at night. Elder Misalucha is younger than us - he had no fear of this rickety old bridge.
Baguio is also a favorite summer get-away spot for the presidents of the Philippines (as well as American governors in the past). There is a large residence there known as "The Mansion".
Enjoyed the shops, the sights, the wishing wells, the pink ponies (could have had our picture taken on this one for 50 pesos), and the wet market. Love wet markets. This one was big and wonderful and we bought flowers for Minnie (Franco's wife) and me.
And, lest you think this was all fun and games - way up at the end of that long path, in a little log cabin, we enjoyed a wonderful meeting with a dozen S&I Coordinators, discussing the new PEF process.
Right there amidst the pine trees and the tropical plants.
Only in the Philippines.
Love it.
It was a tough job - meeting with the S&I group - but someone had to do it. Luckily it was you two nice people. I will remember this the next time you write about how hard you are slaving over a hot desk into the wee hours of the morning! ; o)
ReplyDeleteWe loved our visit to Baguio--it was such a beautiful place and so different from the usual daily activities and scenery. The accommodations were exceptional also. It makes us homesick for the Philippines to see and hear of your adventures there and we love it.
ReplyDeleteWe met with a new couple that has been called to serve with PEF in the Queson city mission as teachers with CES. This must be an expanded new program--we are excited about all the growth and progress of PEF in the Philippines and all over the world.
Wow - what a fun place! You guys are having way too much fun over there. You'll never want to come home!
ReplyDelete