A Slight Immersion in IGOROT CULTURE & a Glimpse of the newest ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY Maryheights Campus, Baguio

When we attended a convention of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines, the event was held in the newest campus of St. Louis University Baguio, the Maryheights Campus in Bakakeng. This new campus was recently inaugurated last 2010. The area was formerly a forest but was later converted to the present location of this school. The occasion was a showcase of information and technology exchange with a blend of cultural immersion on the Igorot's way of life.

 The plan to build a new campus here is part of an overall strategy to decentralize the schools in the already congested city and divert part of the studying population away from the city towards this new place and soon enough there were many developments in terms of housing and commercial enterprises that sprung up around the new campus.  

The problem that came out however was the transport problem of reaching the school where only a handful of public utility jeeps are plying the route and a regiment of students and residents to transport them indeed posed a problem that should have been anticipated during the construction phase.  Anyway that is another story to tell.

However seeing the new building complete in all its glory unveils a very beautiful scenery of the Baguio countryside.  It is precariously perched on a steep incline of the mountain and gives students a breathtaking view such that it probably may serve as an inspiring and motivating factor for studying or it may serve as an effective distraction as well. 

 I was a little bit envious of the place compared to the school where I am teaching, the Brothers there also have a uncanny preference of having their school buildings erected precariously along the cliffs, but unfortunately ended building one in a very unstable and hazardous location that was later declared condemned resulting to the abandonment and eventual waste of resources in constructing such a big building.  

The drive to Baguio for the convention was a very challenging one.  We left Cavite at midnight so that the travel time would be just enough for us to arrive at the opening ceremony of the event.  The travel was expectedly very fast and convenient because not only did we travel along the newly renovated North Luzon Expressway but we also got the opportunity to travel at light speed along the newly opened SCTEX (Subic-Tarlac Expressway) that cut our travel time by as much as three hours.  Although Malen was scared during the expressway travel because of the fact that we were the only car traveling alone for more than an hour, I was exhilarated and a little bit euphoric because this is one of a driver's wish when traveling long distances.  No delays!  Just cruising along the ventura highway like a highway star!

We finally met up with our group and it was like a little sentimental

reunion. Just kidding! Anyway it was great that we were finally complete so we had a posterity shot taken in the lobby of the schoolbuilding.

The convention took off without a hitch and soon enough everyone was deeply immersed in an atmosphere of academic euphoria except me who was more interested in exploring the place.  Soon enough I was up on my feet wandering through then halls of St. Louis University-Bakakeng! Hmm...sounds a bit awkward to pronounce because it sounds more like a familiar colloquial word. Ha ha ha. 

Fr. Seraphin Devesse is the Founder of St. Louis University and a Catholic Belgian missionary who arrived here during the American occupation on a mission of converting the Filipinos in the hinterlands towards Christianity.  He met his martyrdom after the war in 1945 at Santiago, Isabela.

Malen also took time to pose on the history wall of St. Louis University showing the chronological development of this premier university in summer capital.  At the present there are already four campuses around the city: the Main Campus along A. Bonifacio St. which houses the Schools of Computing And Information Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, Humanities, Law, Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Nursing and the SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart.  

Next is the Saint Aloysius de Gonzaga Campus along General Luna Road which houses the SLU Laboratory Elementary School.  Third is the Navy Base Campus along Claro M Recto St. Navy Road which houses the SLU Laboratory High School and the School of Teacher Education.  Finally the newest is where we are now, the Maryheights Campus in Bakakeng which houses the School of Accountancy and Business Management

It was pretty cool to wander along the empty halls of the school because there are no photobombers to ruin your shot since it's vacation for the students and teachers alike.  However, we were quite reluctant to do extensive exploration of the campus to get better shots because we were just stepping out in between sessions to do explorations and we were not pretty sure which place are allowed and which places are prohibited.  

I just noticed the the building administrator is a stickler for safety. They have a huge circular stairwell with bay windows providing a spectacular view of the countryside but the entire panoramic view was fenced with small windows giving the a prisoner's view from the inside.  The inner well is also cladded with large glass pane that blurrs the camera show.  The height was probably too inviting for both accidental and deliberate falls that the school doesn't want any untoward incidents from happening.

The souvenir bag that were distributed to the delegates was awesome because it was a shoulder bag that was locally woven using traditional weaving equipment.  It is probably the most cherished souvenir not only from this event but from visiting this summer capital as well.

The event was a 3-day affair of scientific knowledge sharing that often times becomes so information overloading that one cannot avoid getting sleepy once in a while especially in a place with an awesomely cool climate and spectacular scenery.  To top it, all we had a group shot of all the delegates among the pine trees scattered along the campus.

While exploring the building, I happened to discover a balcony with a great overlooking view of the countryside that I wasted no time in inviting my colleagues and friends for a photo opportunity.  However, that day a a foggy day that obscured the scenery but you can still appreciate a vague gog-laden view of the countryside.  It was a fun moment indeed!  We took the remaining time to shoot all afternoon before the evening event.

That evening the school hosted a fellowship dinner and we were treated with a sumptuous feast that would really warm your body on a very cold night.  The food was laden with Baguio's prime fruits and vegetables that were mouthwatering and everyone was indeed delighted by buffet.

 The main event of the evening was of course a cultural presentation courtesy of the host school.  We were entertained by an Igorot dance depicting certain events such as courting dance between a male and a female Igorot and other traditional Igorot dances.  

The dancers were really dressed with their tradictional Igorot costumes, playing their traditional Igorot musical instrument and dancing to their traditional Igorot songs.  It was traditionally Igorot entertainment at its best!  We had fun watching them indeed! 

There is this timeless joke about a question which place is colder? Baguio City or Tagaytay City? What is the answer to that question?  If you answer Baguio, you are definitely wrong!  Why? People in Tagaytay always wear thick clothing during the cold season whereas in Baguio this are the common sight among the Igorot people even in the coldest of weather. Huh! This joke always pop out in my mind everytime I see their traditional costume.  

The costumes are also iconic of the place and showcase the innovative weaving skills of its people.  The cultural dance is still well preserved despite the changing times.  The Igorots are just one of the few tribes in Philippine history besides the Mindanao Muslims that were not completely converted by the Catholic Spaniards. The American missionary were probably more successful in that aspect.

Malen also took the opportunity to have a photo op with the male dancers who obligingly posed for the camera.  These are probably students who are part of a cultural dance group of the school.  Despite the cold these guys are already sweating all over after their dance number and were already musky as well. Ha ha ha ha! Talk about it's raining men! ha ha ha ha!

Since the city center was quite far from the school, it was best to be accomodated in their dormitories.  It provided dormitory beds, toilet and bath but sadly no wi-fi internet, no tv and cable as well.

Anyway, it was more than enough to provide us with comfortable sleeping needs especially when we only use it during the night.

Overall, the convention was a success and this Baguio trip is one for the books.  The venue was very serene and its ambiance very peaceful for a convention of the scientific minds.  But of course, mixing business with pleasure makes the convention more worthwhile because not only do you broaden your intellectual horizon, you also get to visit new places as well.

Spending Valentines in a MOUNTAIN LODGE in Baguio: A Cozy Fireplace and Sparkling Red Wine to warm the night

The fireplace is an iconic symbol of Baguio where spending a night in a log cabin with your sweetheart watching the wood crackling in the frolicking flame and drinking a bottle of sparkling red wine will definitely provide more than enough warmth to last the whole night through. It's not everyday that one gets to experience a cozy fireplace in the privacy of your room so our Baguio vacation is an adventure worth sharing with you.

The road trip was a challenging adventure although I have driven up and down to Baguio on several occasions but this is the first time I would be driving my trusty Toyota Vios up the summer capital of the Philippines.  We decided to take the Marcos Highway route instead of Kennon road because of the gradual incline during the climb, but we will be taking the scenic Kennon Road route when going downhill.  Entering La Union marks the beginning of the trip uphill.

There were many interesting scenes during the uphill climb.  One of these is the Rotary International Wheel.  They never fail to get your attention on the countless contributions of this renowned charitable institution and the help it had extended to our fellow countrymen in need.

We passed by Realeza and their log cabin homes.  It was still far off from Baguio so staying in this place will not give you that summer capital ambiance.  But it gave an interesting view of the Ilocos countryside.

We were actually looking for the Marcos bust in the overlooking spot but did no find it.  It was a huge face monument of the infamous dictator overlooking the Ilocos countryside creating an eerie feeling of a god looking over his dominion.  Researching on it revealed that it was blown up by dynamite either by the New People's Army or a tribal group that suffered oppression and displacement by the Marcos regime.  At the present, the most commanding view of the overlooking spot is the huge Jollibee sign that can be seen for miles around.  

We finally arrived in Mountain Lodge, a rustic log cabin along Leonard Wood St.  The location is pretty near the other sites in Baguio.  It is just behind the sprawling Teacher's Camp, and all other sites are all within striking distance from the lodge such as Burnham Park, Mines View Park, The Mansion, Wright Park, SM Baguio and even the bus stations are pretty near the lodge.

When looking at the place from the parking lot, the lodge had already seen its glory days in the past and probably one of the vacation places frequented by Americans and foreigners alike.  Judging from the location, this is not a place for the budget traveler during those days.  

But today, with its old, rustic appearance and the mediocre maintenance it had received through the years without any signs of apparent upgrade of its facilities, it is pretty well within any traveler's budget.  Anyway, never judge the book by its cover because when we entered the reception area, we were greeted by a rustic but comfortable American-inspired living room with a fireplace as its centerpiece.  A circular foyer adds up to the elegance of the living room as one drinks tea or coffee while reading a book or newspaper and enjoying the scenery of pine trees and small buildings partly cladded by mountain vegetation as seen from the bay windows 

The old wooden planks of the floor is the testament of its glorious past complemented with large pebble rocks adorning the wall of the fireplace while a old piano resting in the corner completes the picture perfect portrait. The rest of the furnitures are pretty antiquated but cozy and surely this place is for those who prefer the authentic country-style vacation rather than the ritzy hotels which are all so contemporary and modern that anyone who had not visited Baguio in the 70's is not really missing this beautiful place because they have never witnessed Baguio in all its glory during those times.

The dining area is also a sight to see and Malen never let the moment passed by without posing amidst the wooden chairs and tables adorning the area.   They serve meals throughout the day but we did not order here to avoid being frustrated in the event that the food sucks.  Instead, we just bought food outside and ate in the luxury and privacy of our room.  On certain occasions we ate out in the restaurants around Baguio and the restos in SM Baguio as well.

Before being led to our room, Malen also took the opportunity to have a traditional pose in the iconic symbol of a cold place in the Philippines, the fireplace.  We're very sentimental people and if a fireplace doesn't strike you as a thing-to-experience in Baguio then probably you'd be better off in a cold damp bed in a sleazy hotel beating the cold with a thick blanket and a beer or whisky to warmth up your night. 

The hallway leading to the room is a narrow corridor with various mountain province artifacts adorning the wall and a collection of paintings and artworks depicting the lives of the people in this mountain province of Benguet.  Viewing the antiques all around the lodge can give you an eerie feeling of the presence of ghosts in this old place because of the fact that this place has indeed a history that is unknown to us.  

When we finally entered our room, we were greeted by a cozy wide spacious abode with a sofa set TV and an exciting fireplace, anticipating a romantic evening ahead.  It had a rather small but clean bathroom equipped with hot and cold shower.  A small dresser lay in the corner so overall the bedroom was a complete room.

The queen size bed is truly comfortable with no creaking sound even as you roll all over it.  We slept comfortably through the night with no airconditioning and electric fan running, only the fireplace and the crackling of wood can be heard.

After unpacking and settling in our room, we decided to go outside for a stroll and buy some souvenir items.  Driving in Baguio is very scenic because of  many spectacular views all around.  It wouldn't be difficult to find a spot to get an overlooking view of a part of the city since the entire city is a sprawling area of rolling terrain dotted with anthropogenic structures all around. 

We also took the opportunity to have a stroll in the many parks dotted with countless pine trees where one could have the feeling of being in another country.  The moment was truly magical indeed which can be read from Malen's expression of a happy moment!

One of the places that we always visit is the Mountain Maid Training Center where you can buy authentic Bagiuo pasalubong food items such as Ube, Strawberry Jam, Peanut Brittle and other food stuffs with the original label of "Good Sheperd".  There are many vendors around the city selling items of the same label so you have to be very careful in scrutinizing before buying so as not to be disappointed in the end.

We also took the time to visit the Mines View Park which is the most frequented place in the city.  The first time I visited this place was in 1970 where you could really still see the places where mining of gold are still being held in the numerous tunnels dotting the mountainside.  Now all you can see are houses and not a single mine shaft in sight.  Such are the times.

Baguio is still indeed the Mecca of vegetables - both the exotic and common types.  You can really buy these vegetables for a cheaper price but there are actually other places that these items can be bought for so much cheaper and even in bulk amounts.

There was this funny moment when I told Malen I saw a store selling mango fries.  Malen was surprised on what I said but I insisted that it's true.  I really thought that they fried the mango and sold it as fries but when we came to to store we found out that they were just merely mango strips where the mango were sliced like french fries but were never really fried at all.  What a bummer!  Malen was laughing her heart off after realizing the bummer!

Before returning to the Mountain Lodge, we took the opportunity for a photo op atop a tall building overlooking the Baguio countryside.  It is this kind of moment that one realizes that life is short and we should enjoy every moment and minute of it with the one you love and with the one who cares for you and loves you the most as well.

It was late in the afternoon when we returned to the Mountain Lodge and the sight of the bed was enough to soothe our aching legs after strolling the summer capital. Since it was getting colder as the night creeps in, it was about time we fire up the fireplace. 

When the fire was already alive and crackling, we had dinner by the fireplace and finally capped the night with sparkling red wine.  

The romantic moments that followed were for us to cherish in the privacy of our minds and for all eternity to remember when moments like this comes to mind.

As the last drop of wine is consumed and the flames slowly die down in the cold night, we settled in for night tired but truly happy thinking that the next day will be another great day indeed!

After a beautiful night sleep, the next day we briefly went out for breakfast and returned to the Mountain Lodge and prepared to pack our luggage for the drive home.  But before we departed this beautiful place, we executed the traditional hug for posterity and an adventure well done!

As we finally settled our bill, we had a last glimpse of the lodge and a quick browse of the  memorabilia rack for us to remember.  We bid adieu to the Mountain Lodge and promise we will return again to enjoy its fireplace once more.

We took the Kennon Road route on the way home for a more scenic drive which really excited Malen because of the numerous hazards we encounter along the way.  Actually I was also a bit scared because it started to rain and water was falling over the roof of the car as it cascaded along the face of the cliff overhanging the road.

Well, that's it folks! For a couple where both of us are afflicted with an ailment of which the future is an ocean of uncertainties, the opportunity to spend a romantic fireplace evening is one for a bucket list adventure.  It may be something that is not possible or unexciting for some but for us, it is one of the most cherished moments of our lives.  We try to live our lives to the fullest and thank the Lord for giving us every moment we spent together.