Baguio: My Second Home

No, my ancestors did not come from Baguio. But being brought there every year when I was a little girl probably formed that feeling that Baguio is.

In the later 80s, my grandfather, Daddy Totoy, would bring all of his six children's families to Baguio with him and my grandmother, Mato. Every year around the Independence day weekend, all six families plus the grandparents would travel to the North and go on a vacation. I have to thank Daddy Totoy for giving us that privilege of spending time with our cousins. Daddy would have us stay in a really big two-floor condotel, in Villa Alpino, near Mines View Park. Funny thing is, we usually do the same things every year. We went to Baguio until he was too sick to go up. Daddy had cancer. But even when he was sick, my family would go with him to Baguio. I guess, that's a major reason Baguio always had a place in my heart. We owe it also to Daddy that we, his grandchildren are a lot like brothers and sisters, because of the many times of bonding he provided for us.

Fast forward to the recent years, my family and I would go up to Baguio, but stay in a family friends' place somewhere still near Minesview Park. Until I learned to go to Baguio on my own, with friends.

When we were younger, we would go up to Baguio on a convoy of about six cars. My uncle would provide us with walkie-talkies, my grandmother would give each of us hardboiled eggs for our breakfast on the road. A few stopovers, the most memorable for me is the one in Tarlac, a restaurant where we would have our real breakfast. But I do not remember the name of the place. Haha.

When I went up with friends in the more recent years, we would take the bus from Victory Liner. It was as fun as going up with family.

Now that I have a family of my own, my husband drives through Kennon Road or Marcos Highway to the City of Pines.

There is so much to say about Baguio City. I write about this because of a recent trip last weekend but this time with my fellow brothers and sisters serving the youth of our community.

As I said, I love traveling, I love exploring places and food. Well, not so adventurous about food, but I do like eating as I have mentioned in my earlier posts.

A few places I love going to in Baguio are:

1. Burnham Park
We go there for boating, biking, roller skating/blading (is there such a word?), eating taho (both the regular and strawberry flavor), inihaw na mais, kwek-kwek or fishball.

with my mom near the boating area

biking with my dad watching over me

  

2. Camp John Hay
Back in the days, John Hay had an Ice Cream Parlor, a really cool playground, a mini-golf, and a skating rink. Then as I got older John Hay was more for the new restaurants and shopping and luxury accommodations.

3. The Public Market
Oh wow! The only time I look forward to going to the market. Well, at least, the dry market. When we were younger, cardigans from Baguio was the in thing. All of us cousins would get them, in different colors and patterns. 
And even until now, we would buy fresh strawberries, this peanut butter brand that used to be Enrico's but is now the nameless brand. Thank God we still remember where they are in the market. 
Baguio's famous walis, but they say they are no longer made there. 
And there are the pasalubong: Tantamco and Romana peanut brittle, Rico's lengua de gato, and sometimes the strawberry jam. Sometimes, for pasalubong, I also buy Baguio-made products to give to friends.

4. Mines View Park and Good Shepherd
I put them together because we usually go there for both. Mines View for the view, throwing 25 centavo coins to the locals who might cause tourists a heart attack because they stand balancing on the dangerously inclined mountains of Baguio. Maybe that's the reason many tourists throw coins to them. 

Mines View Park

Mines View is the place for pasalubong also. I remember buying silver jewelry from there. Food trip can also be done there, actually having the same food as Burnham Park.
Good Shepherd: Ube jam, my lola's favorite, strawberry jam, and their strawberry-calamansi drink is a must! Also the view deck is a common photo op place.

5. Food trip!!! My favorite restaurants:

Cafe by the Ruins: a little expensive but really good food and drinks

Pizza Volante: Pizza's are really yummy but so are their pasta and rice meals

O Mai Khan and Cafe Veniz: for sulit monggolian eat-all-you-can (Cafe Veniz has a cheat guide by the way)

Solibao: for your good old lutong bahay that is easy on the pocket

Choco-late de Batirol: need I say more? A warm cup of tsokolate on a cold place = perfect! It is a garden, by the way.

Family time in Choco-late de Batirol

Forest House Bistro and Cafe: I've only gone here once, yet, I never forgot about it. Really good selection of wine. Maybe the good company plus free drinks made it unforgettable.

A new place I tried this weekend, Caffe Picarre. It is owned by a brother from our community. They serve really good pasta and cakes. It is a high end kind of cafe located in SM Baguio. But if you come from Manila, truth is, the prices are actually not expensive. Honestly, I try to avoid going to SM when in Baguio, but Caffe Picarre gives me a reason to go there. Oh yes, and do some grocery shopping. 

Caffe Picarre's Display of Cakes and Pastries

I know there are more, but these are ones that stay with me and I never get tired to go back to these places, each time I go up.


Two years ago, my hubby and I stayed at Microtel by Wyndham Baguio. It is a decent budget-friendly hotel. I heard from a friend that The Manor in Camp John Hay gives great discounts during off-peak season. And I hear that it is one of the excellent places to stay when in Baguio.

If I had a past life, maybe I originated from Baguio. In the years to come, I do hope my kids would love Baguio the way I do. Yes, it is more polluted and traffic is crazy. But I still choose to come home to the City of Pines. I do hope I continue to come up for a visit every year.

More of my journeys to come... do continue to take the ride with me.

Homemaking 101: Relationship-building with Househelpers

I was blessed to have parents who have budget for house helpers. They are such blessings! Although, because of them, I grew up not knowing how to do some household chores, especially cooking. I remember how spoiled I was, because during times I did not like the food (this doesn't happen often though), the helper would cook hotdogs or bacon for me. Actually, until now, when I visit the old home, and they serve food I do not eat, our Ate Ging still cooks hotdogs for me.

Beginning our life as husband and wife, I had to learn doing those chores I did not know how to do. Thank God, though, for laundry shops, I did not have to do the laundry, except for the small and delicate items. Later on, especially as I got pregnant, we needed help. So my kind and generous in-laws sent us the weekly labandera/plantsadora. And of course, after giving birth, we needed another help, for the baby and the household chores.

I do believe that other than your husband and children, another relationship you have to nurture is that with your household helpers, whatever their task may be. While pregnant one of my leaders in the community I belong to talked to me about managing the home, specifically handling the helper. In our case, it was the soon-to-be yaya of my son. Looking back now, I am glad my leader talked to me about it. She told me that I also have to take care of my relationship with the helpers. Being the one in-charge of the home, it was my job to oversee the helper.

When I recall stories told by my mom or grandmother about their household helpers, I imagined my grandmother, who was called Senorita then, ringing a tiny bell when calling for the helper. I also recall watching how actors in the movies or tv shows treat the helpers. And I pity them. My grandmother was not so bad though, but still, I cannot imagine being called Senorita! Never!

We were again blessed to find a yaya for our son right away. She stayed and was trained first in my in-laws house, at least, before I gave birth. But once a week, she would be in the house cleaning or doing the laundry of the small items, etc.

I am thankful for the formation I have been receiving in community where how to treat others is part of it. A few friends also shared about the Kasambahay Bill, read through it and got some information on the legal rights of the helpers.

Over the past few months of managing the home with the helper around, it wasn't simple. I had to relay to her some rules and responsibilities. I had to train her and make certain things or tasks a routine to her. Thankfully, she was easy to train and easy to talk to. She has the initiative to do things around the house. I kid her at times saying we're meant to "work together" because we're both not used to not doing anything. She is not perfect, she makes mistakes, forgets things, and well, she is human! But what I learned from this experience is this: most of the time, it doesn't matter HOW she does things, as long as she is able to do what I asked or what is expected of her. She may clean the house differently or wash dishes in a different manner, but what matters is the job is done.

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you." The Golden Rule! I believe that if you treat your helper kindly, she will do the same towards you and especially your children. I try my best to use kind words when speaking to her. I affirm her when I see she did a good job. I let her watch TV, nap in the afternoon, eat with us, give her gifts on special occasions, let her attend church, let her go out with her family or friends, and treat her as part of the family. House helpers are not equal to slaves. They need rest, and they need to have fun, too. I also tell her stories about our life, she tells hers. She shares her problems sometimes. We even prayed for her during her birthday.

What I appreciate about our helper is she's honest and open. I even asked her if she doesn't mind training her in English, too. I guess it is also due our own honesty and openness towards her.

Another good thing about her is she genuinely loves our son. She rejoices in his little achievements and feel bad for his mosquito bites. We are amazed with the amount of energy she has, playing with him, making him sleep, bathing him, especially now that he's sooo active!

Of course, I am not always kind, I am human, too. But I try, my husband tries. And the result is, she has been with us since they day we needed her.

It is a blessing to have budget for a helper. It is a blessing to have a helper who matches your needs and preferences. It isn't as simple, but with the wisdom and experience of friends from our community and the example I have witnessed from my parents, it is possible to maintain a good relationship with our house help.

For the first time I am an employer, and I feel I am doing okay.

Continue the journey with me!