Burnham Parked, Session Obsession

Here’s a more detailed recollection of my Baguio visit. The pic that accompanied this article for Super is me posing at SM’s rooftop, as taken by our photog Christian. That’s the one I posted in the “Session Ode” entry below. Some people I know, the ones who saw the photo, were kinda amused that my mug’s in the paper. This is the third time that a picture of me appeared, but I still find the thought of my face getting printed on thousands of copies surreal and daunting. And yeah, quite cool, admittedly.

Chilling out in breezy Baguio

Words by Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Photos by Christian Aldrin Garcia

Ah, Baguio. The City of Pines is still the place for that quick summer getaway, if you prefer something chilly and relaxingly familiar to escape your scorching home metropolis.

Going there via bus is its own separate experience; prior to reaching elevated Baguio’s comforting embrace, you get to see and cross provinces that you don’t normally visit. Going northbound at night meant that you get to see quiet, tranquil spaces lit by a few star-like lights in the engulfing blackness, too.

Interestingly, the restrooms at some bus terminals and stopover places at certain provinces require you to pay a small fee--depending on what you intend to do--just like some comfort rooms in Baguio. They’re clean, mostly; but declaring your specific business to someone by the door takes some getting used to, though.

Catching some z’s in the bus came in useful for this trip, especially when there’s little else to do during the 6-hour-plus ride. But once you set foot on good ol’ Baguio, you can’t wait to freshen up in your hotel room, get out, and re-acquaint yourself with the city. Session Road feels like it used to, but the addition of popular food establishments common in Metro Manila makes it an architectural fusion of decades-old structures with contemporary commercial design. It’s probably inevitable, but the change gives it a unique disparity.

Walking to the “C2 Explore” event at nearby Burnham Park meant that you get to see more changes in the surrounding area. The Park, however, is still big and busy, made lively by a wide assortment of visitors such as picnicking families, peddlers of trinkets and other souvenir items, relaxing tourists, and biking and skateboarding youngsters.

The C2 weekend event, which lasted till the late afternoon, attracted park visitors to its invigorating series of activities. Geared towards the improvement of “the body, mind and soul,” these involving presentations that lured spectators and enthusiasts all day long. Taichi sessions were received favorably, attended by the young and elderly alike. There were aero-hiphop numbers led by a gifted, nimble dancer named Kimberly, who never seemed to tire. The petite instructor also taught participants the rudiments of bellydancing in a separate, equally well-attended class.

At the C2 tent, where sudden gusts of aircon-cold winds wafted in periodically, visitors got to join different activities that catered to their creativity. Classes for bead jewelry-making, sculpting and basket-weaving were held; attendees enjoyed getting informative lessons in unique sessions that lasted a few hours each. C2 buyers got free henna tattoos, too, for every purchase of the beverage.

The C2 Explore event successfully finished that Saturday afternoon, before a big downpour drenched the place. But the soaked tents were ready and cleaned up early the next day. The series of entertaining dance exhibitions proceeded as planned, like it never rained.

The streets leading back to the hotel at Session Road were alive by nighttime with different people, many of whom seemed to be walking to the nearest food joints, ukay-ukay stalls, or convenience stores. There were a number of net cafes across the place, as well as comfy-looking restaurants that look like they’ve been around for generations, and would stay for more to come. Again, the meshing of the old with the new gives the area new character and it’s easy to appreciate the different textures that the changing landscape brings.

Hailing a cab is quite easy, as they’re pretty common in the area. Next stop: the hip and happening Nevada Square, where the young and some young-at-hearts converged, dined and had fun. A few snazzy bars and restos surround a wide courtyard that has tables for diners and drinkers. The Square attracts a wide clientele that, judging by that particular Saturday night, included all persuasions and even non-Pinoys. The music varies; if you fancy thumpa-thumpa house stuff, acoustic cover bands, or ‘80s-themed remixes, there are bars or bistros there that have them.

The evening was a few times cooler, and you could see your breath as a mist whenever you exhaled as a result. Since the hotel’s at the heart of Session Road, getting quick breakfast meals aren’t a problem. Also, this Metro Manilan soon discovered that, while most SM malls look and feel alike, SM Baguio has the distinction of being one with the chilliest top floor. There’s an open area there that gives visitors amazing views of the city, apart from a perpetually cold breeze.

For something that practically just popped into the work schedule unexpectedly, the trip and short visit were the highlights of that week, definitely. Thoughts of going back soon and staying longer to literally chill out and explore the sights and sounds of Baguio lingered. The bus ride home allowed for views of provincial greens, gradually fading into darkness and getting lit by those tiny star-like, earthbound lights.