Baguio Adventure: Day 2

Getting ready before we hit the streets

It's day two of our Baguio trip. We woke up to a cold morning and prepared ourselves for do touristy stuff whole day.

With the Ifugao ladies at Mines View Park

The famous dog

Mines View Park. We took a jeepney with "Mines View Park" signboard. The jeepney terminal is located at the back of McDonalds--which is just across the street of La Brea Inn.

It was a weekend and the park was bustling with tourists. Small shops (selling bonsai, jams, knitted wraps and jackets) were everywhere. There are a couple of huge St. Bernards that costs Php 50 for 5 photo shots  (which I think is against the animal rights), horses with pink hair and Ifugao women who got costumes for rent (which costs around Php 10 per person) for unlimited Facebook-worthy photos.

At Good Shepherd Convent

Shepherd's staff

Good Shepherd Convent. They're famous for their strawberry jams. They also sell other preserves and treats. It's just a few steps away from Mines View Park.

Welcome to Happy Tummy

Happy Tummy. After visiting Mines View Park, our group debated if we're going to take a taxi to the Mansion or walk all the way from Good Shepherd Convent. We opted to walking and our sense of direction was gone the minute we took the first ten steps and can't find any signs of the Mansion House. It was already past noon when we tumbled along Happy Tummy (located near Wright Park). An unobtrusive place that looks like a garage but serves great Asian fusion and Thai food. Click here for my blog about Happy Tummy.

Passing Wright Park

The Mansion. After stuffing ourselves with Happy Tummy's delicious Fried Tilapia, we're ready for another long walk to the Mansion. So we walked a couple of distances more, passing tall trees that look like the scene straight out from the movie "Twilight" and finally reached the summer residence of the Philippine President.

Intimidating gates of the Mansion

We arrived at the Mansion with security guards telling us that we are not supposed to go beyond a certain point. It was pretty crowded since it's a weekend. The Mansion has manicured lawns with the symbolic yellow ribbon. A mirrored pond is the opposite the intimidating gates of the Mansion.

The president's vacation house

Camp John Hay and Philippine Military Academy. We gave up walking and finally hailed a taxi to bring us to Camp John Hay. The driver gave us a brief tour around the camp and pointed out rest houses of the celebrities and political figures. We decided not to stop and take photos as the walk back to the main road is very far.

Manila has tall buildings, Baguio City has tall trees

The famous military school

Planes, choppers, cannons and other war stuff at the PMA grounds

The driver dropped us off at the famous Philippine Military Academy. It was pretty funny that some people will actually chase a man in uniform for a photo. And the military students look great when they march all together.

Disturbing the studious PMA students

The academy was huge with great view of the Baguio's luscious flora. Like I mentioned from my previous blog, if one wanted to commit a secret suicide, the body will never be found. It will probably disintegrate by the time it hits the forest floor.

They all look the same!

We also visited their museum and found my PMA graduate cousin's class photo. 

Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral (a.k.a Baguio Cathedral). So we managed to find ourselves a jeepney ride all the way back to Lower Session Road. We freshen up at the inn and head straight to the Upper Session Road for the anticipated mass. And this is the first time I heard Our Father sung in a different dialect (aside from Cebuano and Tagalog).

At Baguio Cathedral after mass

SM Baguio. After the mass, we had dinner at the non-air-conditioned mall--SM Baguio. Prior to our trip, Cebu was shaken by the tsunami scare and strong earthquake. In Baguio, we can still sense the movement of the plates at the mall. It's probably normal for Baguioans. Talk about traumatic experience.

Photos by Chumz, Ana, Jo-an and yours truly

GREENIN Philippines 2012: Green Run All Set

As the second run of the province-wide running and planting event, Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines 2012, is fast approaching, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) through its Integrated Development unit and partners have already made the necessary preparations for June 30, including security and order.

During the event, 38 Talisay City Police officers, 20 barangay tanods, 30 barangay intelligence network officers, and three ambulances with a medical team will be mobilized. The Talisay City Police will take the lead in traffic and crowd control. Checkpoints will be put up inside Vista Grande.

Vehicles must have a parking pass issued by RAFI to be able to enter Vista Grande, otherwise they have to be parked at Gaisano Fiesta Mall, Tabunok, Talisay City.

Parking pass will be issued on June 27, Wednesday, at RAFI Main Office located in Lopez Jaena Street, Parian area, Cebu City.

For the central event, assembly time and area will be at 5 a.m. at the junction of Pacific Heights and Vista Grande. The run starts at 6 a.m. while the planting is at 7 a.m. While drinking stations will be provided, runners should bring their own water bottles for there will be no plastic cups to avoid litter.

This year, 7,500 participants, surpassing the 5,000 target last year, are expected to join the central event in Jaclupan, Talisay City.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines targets to plant 220,000, doubling last year’s target of 100,000, native tree seedlings all over Cebu Province.

Registration has just closed last June 23.

Through Executive Order No. 3 issued by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia last year, local government units of the 51 towns and component cities of Cebu are mandated to participate the event, thus institutionalizing the event in the entire province.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines 2012 is organized in collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Government, Aboitiz Equity Venture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Talisay City local government unit and other LGUs in Cebu, and various government and private institutions.

Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, one of the components of GREENIN Philippines program, is a fun run and planting activity that provides a venue for every Filipino to contribute in rehabilitating and protecting our environment with the goal of bringing back the country's forest cover.

GREENIN Philippines Program, which stands for Generation REdemption and Expansion of Natural resources INitiatives in the Philippines Program, is one of the programs under RAFI's Integrated Development focus area. It aims to replicate best practices in environmental protection, conservation, and rehabilitation to more places in the country for a greener Philippines. RAFI's other focus areas are Micro-finance &Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.

For more information about Run 2 Plant 4 GREENIN Philippines, please contact 418-7234 loc. 515 and look for Myryl Mendoza, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph