Baguio 2017

I badly needed a break.  There are a lot of things going on in my personal life and I wanted to just escape out of it all for a while.

My family and I went to Baguio last March 27 and 28 to unwind.  Of course, Papa has to work but it was still a time well-spent with the family.  Now, I have no more vacation leaves left! Well, the six remaining VLs I have are already scheduled for the rest of the year…

Now that traveling to Baguio is a lot easier, I didn’t mind that we only spent a day and a half there.  Travel time is now less than four hours for a one-way trip from Bulacan to Baguio.  Take note that when I get stuck in traffic (which happens way too often), Bulacan to Makati is almost four hours, too. Ha.

First stop is at Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan.  We used to go there every year, but if I remember correctly, I didn’t go there last year so I’m glad that I came with my family this year.  My depression and anxiety is getting worse and somehow, my mind felt calmer when I attended the mass.  I needed all the distraction in the world right now.

We checked in at Baguio Palace Hotel, which is one of the worst hotels I’ve been to 🙁 I don’t mind if it’s a small room as long as it is clean.  The room smells like dust (maalimaom (???)– not sure how to translate this in English) and the bed sheets are itchy.  Good thing though that instead of spending a lot of time inside the room, we were forced to go out because it really isn’t the most relaxing place, haha.

For lunch, we ate at Lemon and Olives.  The whole place is visually pleasing– this is where Eugene Domingo filmed one of the best scenes in Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2–– but I’m not a huge fan of Greek food.  And salads.  Gahhh.  I seriously feel like a goat. But it’s pretty in pictures!

I love the view outside the restaurant tho and. While we were busy taking photos, one guy stepped out of his vehicle…

Mommy: Ang pogi oh!
Me: Ma, ang lakas ng boses mo!
Mommy: Eh pogi naman talaga.
Me: Onga po e, napansin ko.  Parang kamukha ni Atom—

AND THEN ATOM FREAKING ARAULLO CAME OUT!!! I was starstruck! My brother was holding the camera and when we decided we wanted a picture with him, we both froze.  Hahaha.  We were shocked and embarrassed. LOL.  I have this huge crush on him (who wouldn’t???) but I didn’t expect he’d be so gwapo in person, hahahaha.  I didn’t want to be one of those annoying fans who didn’t value their idols’ personal space so I thought, he must’ve been there to eat and I didn’t want to disturb him.  The security guard saw us and he said, “Pwede po Ma’am, nandito din po siya kahapon.” Turns out, he was shooting for one of his shows.  Aww shucks.  Missed opportunity!

We went straight to Good Shepherd but I didn’t buy anything, heh.  Me and my kuripot self.

Afterwards, we went back to the hotel to leave all the ube jams 😛 We slept a bit then headed out to *tada* SM Baguio! Hahaha.  This was actually planned ahead of time, I didn’t watch Beauty and the Beast yet because we were planning to watch it in Baguio.  The movie is at 8pm so we have more than two hours before it starts.  We left Mommy in SM (gosh, so shopaholic 😛 ) while my brother and I headed out to Camp John Hay.

He highly recommended Pizza Volante—he mentioned that he used to go there when he was down during his college days.  I didn’t want to go there initially because the place has bad lighting, HAHAHA.  I gave in because he said the food was good… but it wasn’t.

I ordered an Alfredo and the Choco Lava cake (hot brownie with vanilla ice cream on top! I LOVE Jack Loft’s!) but the former was too salty and the latter was dry.

My brother got addicted to photos ever since I asked him to become my model when we were strolling at my workplace, lol.  He’s been bugging me non-stop to send him his best pictures so he can post it and earn likes on social media.  Ang lala.  Haha.  I had nothing better to do and I wanted to practice (the 25mm lens is still killing me, sadly) so, no choice.  Haha.  We went back to SM Baguio just in time for the movie.  Will not comment further on Beauty and the Beast but it was so beautiful and magical in so many ways ♥ SM Baguio’s cinema, however, is the worst, ISTG.  I was worried I’d get bitten by rats and/or bed bugs since I was wearing a skirt.  Eep.

Our plans to go cafe/bar hopping didn’t push through as well because we had to get up early the next day.  It was 17 degrees cold and I was shivering so we ended the night earlier than planned.

The next morning, we walked around Burnham Park (wow, so many childhood memories!), stopped every now and then to literally smell the flowers (and take photos of course).  Papa was in a hurry because of work (again) but we didn’t mind.  We’re glad that at least he’s with us physically and he made a lot of effort to be with us for a mini vacation.  We visited the Baguio Cathedral too after a hundred-step staircase, lol.  Ginusto niyo yan!

After stopping by the local market (couldn’t help it, my Mom’s a shopaholic even though she never admits it lol), we went back to the hotel to shower and check out our belongings.  A Baguio trip wouldn’t be complete if we don’t stop by 50s Diner! Heeee.  It’s still my favorite resto in Baguio because aside from the Riverdale-like ambiance, they offer big servings without the large price tags! Sulit na sulit.  Fell in love with it the first time, still in love with it until today.

Sadly, we had to say goodbye after eating lunch.  My brother stayed there for a while since he missed it so much! He studied in UP Baguio for four years, worked part-time as a DJ there for another year.  I know how it feels since Los Banos is like that to me.  I stayed there for six years so it’s hard to let go!

Thankfully there was no heavy traffic on the way home and we arrived around 5 in the afternoon, at a scorching 32-degree temperature. It’s now super easy to go back to Baguio!  I wouldn’t be surprised if itwill only be a two-hour drive in the future 😛

Me trying to look cool with all these annoying roots