The Perks of Living in Baguio City
I have always considered myself and my family to be modern-day nomads. Ever since I was a kid, we’ve been relocating from one place to another, endlessly searching for a place to call home. I remember parting ways with old friends whenever we moved out and finding it hard to make new friends whenever we moved in to a new house. I spent my childhood years in about ten different locations in Manila.
When I was in high school, we relocated to my dad’s hometown in Bataan to take advantage of a cheaper cost of living. In college, I moved back to Manila for my bachelor’s degree. Grad school came and I had to travel back and forth, getting used to the occasional 4-hour drive via NLEX. Several years later, I’m now living in Baguio with my family. I know what you’re thinking, “Ang kati ng paa ha… fickle-minded much?” Yeah, you could say that… and somehow, I got used to this kind of setup.
After living in Bataan for several years, we eventually decided to move out and buy a house in Baguio for two main reasons:
My sister ended up studying in UP Baguio and my parents didn’t want our “bunso” to leave without us. #clingyparents #inagoodway
Mom and dad finally decided to buy a house of our own after renting for years.
This coming May 2015 marks our first year anniversary of living in Baguio. Although I miss my friends back in Manila, as well as all the action that happens at the center of civilization, Baguio is starting to grow on me. Here’s why…
Cool Weather-weather lang yan!
This is a no-brainer. Is it just me or are all Filipinos obsessed with air conditioners?? Up here in Baguio, the air-conditioner is a centralized system without a remote control. The coldest months start from November to February, going as low as 10°C since we moved in. Whenever I’m out in the sun, I no longer have to worry about “baskil moments” or “Saturday night sweat fest.” The best part is when I get to wear my leopard cotton pajamas at night, cover myself up with a velour blanket and cuddle with Unan, my beloved pillow. Artificial bear hugs to the tune of Yakap sa Dilim. These moments are priceless.
Cheap Electricity Expense: Electrocute those extra charges.
In Baguio, although the cost of water is a bit pricey, our electric bill is surprisingly affordable for a household of 9 people. Wayyyy cheaper than our bills in Bataan or Manila. Meanwhile, our electric fans are collecting dust in the corners of our home, begging to be used. We’ve also started ironing clothes less frequently since we moved in, because most of the time, we wear non-iron sweaters over t-shirts and blouses. I think the only thing that needs ironing now is our neighbor’s I’m-mad-at-the-world face.
Tourist Spots Right at My Doorstep
Tourist spots are everywhere. Most of them are just 7 to 10 minutes away from our house. Burnham Park, Camp John Hay, Bell Church, Wright Park, Mines View Park, Sandara Park, and the list goes on. Burgis!
Delicious Food and Uniquely designed Restaurants
The food and restaurant community in Baguio is like a bigger version of Maginhawa Street in Quezon City. Homegrown restaurants and food establishments include Café by the Ruins, Ketchup: Food Community, Azotea Greens, Oh My Gulay, and Ili-likha Artist Village to name a few. Most of the restaurants here have unique concepts and artistic facades, making every dining experience memorable. Good food plus art is definitely my kind of combo.
Flourishing Art Community
I haven’t really gotten around that much but I’ve heard people raving about art exhibits and museums such as BenCab. Being an art and sculpture enthusiast myself, I’ve been wanting to visit the Woodcarver’s village along Asin Road. It’s such a shame that I haven’t had time to go to these places yet. So little time, so much to do. Arggghhh!
Organic Veggies and Fruits
My family will eat anything that’s organic. That’s why we love it here. An abundance of fresh fruits and veggies have invaded our everyday meals. Another good thing is that, our garden soil is so fertile that we’ve somehow managed to plant fruit-bearing trees in our garden. After-meal desserts will often include avocados, papaya and… pretending-to-be-organic peanut butter sandwiches.
Manong Vendor’s Strawberry Taho
Every morning, I no longer use my phone alarm to wake myself up. Every time I hear Manong Vendor shouting, “TAHOOOOOOOOHHH!!!” I’m reminded of the rooster’s tik-tila-ok. OMG. Strawberry taho! Gosh. It’s like..so good, da ba? Grabeh. Like, pah-rang breakfast ko na sya every morning. I’m just like..
Taxi Drivers are Not Greedy
I remember the first time I took a cab from SM Baguio back to our house. It cost me around 73 pesos. When I handed over 80 pesos to the cab driver, I was a bit surprised when he quickly gave me change – I wasn’t expecting it at all and I was even preparing to give him a tip. This scenario rarely happens in Manila. More often than not, Manila cab drivers even have the audacity to ask you, “Ma’am, paki-dagdagan na lang po ng trenta kasi ma-traffic.” If you’re familiar with the usual Facebook and blog rants about these drivers, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Luckily, the culture in Baguio is quite different.
Ukay-Ukay Haven: Thrift Shop, Baguio Style
You don’t have to be rich to become a shopaholic in Baguio. If you’re not picky like me, you can even swim in a pool of branded, but pre-owned clothing (just don’t sniff the clothes until you’ve washed and soaked them in hot water). Ukay-Ukay outlets also sell second-hand shoes, boots, socks, undies (which I don’t recommend, by the way), caps, toys and even roller blades (I actually bought a pair for a DIY project).
Living in Baguio has been an enjoyable and fulfilling experience for me and my family. The locals are quite warm and friendly; our neighborhood is very peaceful, especially at night. Sometimes, it’s just too quiet that a creaking door can wake me up. Although I’ve read a few blogs discussing Baguio’s so-called “downfall” which has a lot to do with the traffic, congestion, as well as the city’s urbanization, I still feel like this is one of the nicest places to call home.
Have you been to Baguio lately? What are your favorite perks?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
The Perks of Living in Baguio City was originally published on
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