BAGUIO CITY: The Panagbenga Experience

The Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City is number 1 in my 28 Things at 28. I have been to Baguio several times but I never had the chance to catch the flower-studded floats that make their way through the streets of Baguio City every February.

At 10:30 in the evening of February 23, 2013, Dex and I were comfortably seated on board Dagupan bus bound for Baguio City. We were unquestionably saturated that after a few glimpse of Cubao, we were awaken by the conductor’s voice, “Baguio na! Baguio na! Hanggang dito na lang po.” Wow! It was 3:30am. We were in deep sleep all throughout the ride! So with grainy red eyes, we folded our malongs, grabbed our bags and alighted.

We headed straight to Jollibee to warm ourselves and to eat breakfast. We were amazed by the sight of people sleeping by the side walk. Teenagers. Adults. Children. 1 y/o being the youngest I have seen (I think). We were supposed to take a nap at Jollibee after we ate but the thought of the growing crowd pushed us out. We surveyed the nearby streets and we found no place for us. There were vacant spaces but were already “reserved”! Imagine that! So we walked and walked and walked until finally, we settled ourselves at the intersection. There, we stood and waited for the parade and for the sun.

Then it’s 8:00am! Marshalls and police officers secured the area with ropes to provide space for big floats and to contain the spectators at the sidewalk. When the colors came, everyone was excited! Some clapped. Others cheered. I jumped!

There were 19 gorgeous floats. They were really big and beautiful! I can just imagine the process of putting the flowers together weaving them into patters and different designs! That must have been very laborious.

A brief dragon dance ended the float parade. People from opposite streets merged and made their way to different directions reminding me of my first sight of Divisoria! But here, it’s not hot of course.

At 11:30am, we took our lunch at Ebai’s. We had a breakfast set and pansit because lunch is not ready yet.

Meet-a-friend.

It has been three or four years since I last saw ate Jack. Now, she is married. With her is my godson, Aidan. We had lunch at Jollibee in SM and did a short “catching-ups”.  After she handed us our ticket back to Manila, Dex and I waited for a cab until our patience ran out.

Siesta

The plan was to explore Camp John Hay. But we settled for Burnham Park instead. Traffic and transportation did not favour us that time. The effects of lack of sleep started to creep as we walk to the lake at Burnham. The sight of families camping under the trees lured our drooping eyes and in no time, the grass kissed our back, our eyes shut. After an hour, we woke up to the roasting heat of the sun.

 Merienda

At last we found a cab. Although the traffic was slow, we reached Camp John Hay. Pizza and fruit shakes soothed us from our scorching nap.

Sunday

Sundays are for the Lord. We attended the 6:00pm mass at the cathedral. The priest delved into the significance of the celebration, its impact to the society and how aspiring leaders took advantage of it. While it is true that we must all be aware of politics and our system of government, I submit that such is not appropriate to be brought for discussion inside the church specially so when no one could ever rebut.

Session in Bloom

After mass, we walked along Session Road. It is closed to traffic. Food and souvenir stalls occupy the streets. It was the first night of the week-long bazaar.

Waiting for the ride home

We were set to travel back to Manila at 1:00am. We still have 5 hours. Because Session Road is not yet in full bloom, we went to SM, had dinner and watched Bruce Willis’ A Good Day To Die Hard.

The Joy Bus

At Php665, we were cradled by a lazy boy and a blanket with a bottle of mineral water and biscuits! There’s an attendant too! But the ride was too swift (though steady) for me to rest.

Manila

We arrived at 6:00am, Monday. We arrived at our respective offices just in time! ;)

Our Actual Itinerary

10:30pm Depart Manila for Baguio via Dagupan Bus Php445/pax

3:30am Baguio City. Breakfast.

8:00am Parade started

11:30am Parade ended. Lunch

12:30nn Meet a friend

2:00pm Roasted at Burnham

3:30pm Merienda at Camp John Hay

6:00pm Attended mass

7:30pm Checked the stalls at Session Road

8:30pm Dinner at SM

9:20pm A Good Day To Die Hard

11:30pm Checked-in at Genesis Terminal Joy Bus Php665/pax

1:00am Manila-bound

6:00am Arrived in Manila

Check Photos at: https://www.facebook.com/KunNanuNano

Mt. Pulag: Notes of My Come Back Climb

Initially, I arranged this climb for my sisters and my cousin. After scaling few mountains, I want them to experience the beauty of Mt. Pulag. Later, however, Rose passed the accountancy board exams, immediately got employed and was given an important task. Wan, on the other hand received her regular employment contract and a seminar was set at a date close to the climb.  And so, my sisters were forced to back out.

The Team

Dex, Kinsy, Anne, Cabs, Joy, Rommel, Shiela, Vese, Marian
Rkie, Grace, Mark, Nikki

Dex and I pushed for the climb. We were joined by my cousin Kuya Buboy and his friend, Anne; my high school friend, Nikki, her boyfriend, Mark and their friend, Joy who happened to be my classmate during my elementary years at St. Agnes Academy; and, my dormmate, Grace and her friends. We were actually two teams. Team uragon and team ilocanos.

The climb was set on a holiday. At first, we planned to leave Manila for Baguio by midnight. However, with more travellers and climbers heading North, we booked for the 8:30pm trip of Victory Lines as the later trips were already fully booked.

We reached Baguio at around 3:00am. Ms. Gina Epi, our contact for the jeepney rental, was already there since midnight. She had a couple of climbers booked for Mt. Pulag on the same day.

Briefing and Orientation

The DENR hall was not enough to accommodate all of us during the orientation. Several groups climbing the Ambangeg and Akiki trails gathered to watch a documentary on Mt. Pulag. After receiving instructions from Ms. Emerita Albas of the DENR, we headed for the Ranger Station.

The Ranger Station was crowded with climbers preparing to climb and those going-down. Unlike in 2010 when I first came here, there were people from the DENR/ DOT (I think) who were facilitating the registration of each group of climbers. We were supposed to have two (2) guides but because of the so many groups climbing, we were provided only with one (1) – Sir Nograce.

The Climb

After a short prayer, we started trekking. We were lucky for the good weather. It was sunny yet cold. It didn’t rain and the trail was never left empty with climbers going up and down.

Dinner preps and photo-ops!
Photos by: Mark Stephen Flores

At 4:00pm, after an almost 4-hour trek, we settled ourselves at camp 2. As it gets darker, our clothes get thicker. Finally, we found ourselves almost covered - two (2) layers of socks, gloves (2 layers too) and bonnets.

mga uragon! Cabs, Joy, Anne, Mark, Nikki, Kinsy, Dex
Photo by: Mark Stephen Flores

The sunset was beautiful! Yellow turning orange turning red. That’s how the sky was before the stars twinkle above us.

As early as 6:00pm, we feasted on the scrumptious dinner we prepared. We had sinigang and sautéed vegetables with meat. The sinigang was perfect for the oh-so-cold night! It was 10 degrees. We eat fast after we noticed that the food cools fast! The rice on my plate was as good as refrigerated after a few minutes! Eating on that night was indeed a challenge!

Lights were off at 9:00pm. At around 1:00am, I woke up cold and chilling. Temperature was recorded at 5 degrees.

Summit Assault

Jumping to the magnificent sunrise!
Photo by: Rommel Gacutan Taqueban

Photo by: Mark Stephen Flores

At 3:00am, almost everyone was up sipping something hot. Minutes later, we set-off for sunrise. Although the group was assigned at the summit, we opted for peak 2 where the possibility of witnessing the sea of clouds is higher.

  

Dawn was beyond my expectation. I (and the rest, I suppose) was in deep admiration of the dramatic rising of the sun as its rays slowly tore the deep blue sky over the thin mass of clouds. The sight was breathtaking. It was more than beautiful!

Descent

at Ambuklao Dam

We arrived at the Ranger Station at around 12:30pm. After we settle our porter fees, we headed to M’Gina’s place for lunch. She offers lunch for those descending at P60/ pax.

Bonus

Our driver was kind enough to show us Ambuklao Dam. We snapped a couple of pictures then we headed to Baguio.

Itinerary

8:30pm ETD Manila for Baguio (Victory Liner) p450/pax

3:00am ETA Baguio City

6:00am ETD DENR Pulag

            Jeepney rental p9000

            Breakfast at stop over, Packed lunch

8:45am ETA DENR Pulag

            Orientation. Briefing. Settled fees. p200/pax

9:30am ETD DENR

10:45am ETA Ranger Station

             Lunch. Secure guide. Settled fees. p100/pax

12:30pm Start Trek

4:00pm ETA Camp 2

            Prepare dinner. Sunset. Photo ops.

6:00pm Dinner

7:30pm Socials

9:00pm Lights out

3:00am Wake-up call

3:30am Summit Assault

5:18am ETA Peak 2

            Sunrise

6:00am Head to Summit

6:15am Summit

8:00am Descent (campsite)

9:00am ETA Camp 2

            Breakfast. Break camp.

1:00pm ETA Ranger Station

            Settle porter fees. p500 round trip. p250 one way

2:00pm Lunch at Ma'am Gina Epi's place p60/pax

4:00pm DENR Pulag

            Bought Souvenirs. Logged-out.

4:30pm ETD DENR Pulag

            Dropped by at Ambuklao Dam

7:00pm ETA Baguio