Where have all the flowers gone?

We trekked to Baguio last Tuesday to have some R & R and wanted to beat the rest of vacationers going there this Summer.















Plus a sister was going, so we decided to join her group.

Previously, I searched on-line for a hotel and decided to try either the La Brea Inn which is located at the heart of Session Road or Hotel 45, at its Upper Session location, a stone's throw away from SM Baguio. The clerk at Hotel 45 said there was no need for a reservation.

I decided not to drive. Gas is so expensive and the thought of Manila- long driving got me tired just thinking about it. My sister whose husband was attending a Judges' conference in Baguio took a DeLuxe, non-stop bus trip, so I booked tickets for a Victory Liner day travel, too.

Leaving two dogs at home while their human counterparts were gone became the next issue, since the domestic help had gone on a permanent vacation. So, the eve before departure, I lined up several containers with food not prone to rotting and enough water to last them three days, and popped up a cozy night light for the spoiled younger guard dog, Shadee.

While we were at a Sison (Pangasinan) Pit Stop, sis texted us and queried if we had a hotel already; it seemed someone didn't take his place at the appointed vacation home. Would we want to take his place?




So, upon disembarkation at the Victory Liner station, we hailed a cab which promptly brought us to our temporary digs in the City of Pines. Later, we learned that Manny Pacquiao was also in Baguio doing his training for the fight with Mosley in May.

It was so refreshing to have Baguio CIty cabbies take fares without any grumbling; this, after the recent experience with Kuala Lumpur "teksi" drivers, and also of distant memories of several skirmishes with our own Manila taxi drivers.

Our house was a spacious bungalow with four rooms, each with its own bath. The hallway was wide and windows were everywhere. There were two dining areas and a living room with massive mahogany and upholstered furniture and a Platinum karaoke machine.

Aside from Karaoke singing, we also took respite from walking and eating by playing mahjong. I was an easy target because I hadn't played the game for some twenty years. After this event, I plan to sharpen my knives before I sit again in front of the mahjong tiles.

We went to the usual places: Burnham Park which was walking distance from our digs, the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, the Cathedral, Mines View Park, Camp John Hay, the Baguio Wet Market and the Good Shepherd Convent for their famous "ube." No, we didn't go to the "Ukay Ukay."

I almost cried upon seeing Burnham Park; it was a total disaster. When we went jogging one early morning, we saw huge portions of it covered with blue tarpaulin. Apparently, these were stalls for "tiangge-style" merchandise.

The flowers? They seemed withered and dusted. And at six in the morning, there were litters of varying kind everywhere.

I didn't want to inhale the air; I remember previous visits to Baguio - it was much cooler then, and the air was fresher.











Mines View Park was another big "tiangge." Before you could reach the view deck, you had to pass through stalls upon stalls of sellers. Gone was the "Mines View" of my younger years, when you can immediately view the scene from atop as you alight your car.












Camp John Hay is well developed. The "Manor Hotel" shares elegance with the pine trees, and the food at the restaurants were pleasing to the taste.

And it was a delight to have walked the busy Session Road again, especially on a cool late March evening.

But the big surprise was the University of Cordilleras; it is a big, busy campus.


BELOW , cat seen at the Grotto tiangge; looks like s/he's itching for a scratch.