The Baguio Tourist Attack Survival Guide

With the arrival of Christmas holidays comes the looming threat of the annual Baguio tourist attack. A tourist attack is an event wherein masses of people flock to a certain place for pleasure. Although pleasurable, it could also be inconvenient, can damage public property, and cause mass hysteria and panic. So in the spirit of preparing for the crowded holidays, we bring you the Baguio Tourist Attack Survival Guide.

Baguio Tourist Attack Rule 1: Know your Location

The first rule of surviving a tourist attack is to learn about your location. Why would this place be vulnerable? Well, Baguio City has long been a tourist hotspot in the Philippines. This is largely because of a combination of historic landmarks and cultural background. Baguio is also considered by many to be one of the world’s most haunted cities. This is due to the city surviving multiple calamities, most notably the 1945 Battle of Baguio and the 1990 Luzon Earthquake. This attracts a niche kind of tourist called the Ghost Hunter.

Here are a few tips when considering your location in Baguio City.

• Stock up — a tourist attack puts immense strain on infrastructure. In Baguio, this usually means roads. If you have not stocked up on food and water before the first wave of tourists arrive, you’ll be hard-pressed to compete against them in the supermarket. Do your groceries, order your kitchen gas, and fill up on gasoline (or not; see below) in advance.
• Do not ride to Tourist Spots —  Picture a single 4-kilometer route. Along that route are the following destinations: Laperal White House, Teacher’s Camp, Mansion, Baguio Botanical Garden, Wright Park, Good Shepherd and Mines View. Picture 50 vehicles per destination on that route. Avoid this death trap unless you actually want to experience the tourist attack in all its glory.
• Do not ride at all — While the aforementioned Leonard Wood-Mines View route is the worst example, it is not the only one. Access to Baguio has become much easier thanks to the TPLEX. And Baguio’s plateau is not getting any wider. Walking on the other hand, is free, healthy, and faster than deadlock traffic. Make sure to smile at anyone foolish enough to ride a jeepney as you walk past.

Baguio Tourist Attack Rule 2: Know your Attacker

Basic survival requires that one know the opponent. A hiker must know the terrain. An athlete must study the competition. A local must know the tourists, of which there are two kinds. The traditional tourist is what we will call a “pilgrim.” These people travel because they want to experience new places and new cultures. Pilgrims are people who take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints. Then, there is the second kind of tourist. We will call this tourist a “barbarian.” Like their namesake, they carry their customs and do not respect the culture they invade. They arrive in groups greater than necessary to run the locals out of their homes. Barbarians take treasures home and leave behind trash.

In the case of Baguio, it is easy to tell the difference between a peaceful pilgrim and an invading hun. Pilgrims are the kinds of people Baguio has welcomed since the birth of its tourist industry. They are not afraid to exert effort and sacrifice time and money to on a hard journey because they believe the beauty and substance of the destination are worth it. Barbarians travel to Baguio only because TPLEX gives them easy access. Upon arrival, they will ask locals: “Where can I find the Igorots?”

Baguio Tourist Attack Rule 3: Some Tourists are Friends

While it is ill-advised to fight back against the invading tourists (you are outnumbered and outmatched), some may find it necessary to leave their homes. Many locals have relatives and friends who come to Baguio as well, and they cannot be put aside just because the invasion is underway. If you must abandon safety for a dear friend, remember three main points.

• Do not eat fast food — Pilgrims want to experience new things; food is among those new things. If they are in Baguio to eat at Jollibee, the odds are good you’re harboring barbarians. Go to restaurants that actually give an example of what Baguio food is like.
• Plan your itinerary — Places like Camp John Hay, Burnham Park, and Mines View are all overrated. They are crowded, heavily westernized, and offer little insight into what makes Baguio unique. On the other hand, places outside the city’s urban center are great for getting away from the life most city folk are used to.
• You are responsible for your pet — Pick up after your tourist. They may be unaware of the customs of the area, and as you are more knowledgeable, they are your responsibility. It is your job to teach them the basic courtesies of the local culture. Their job is simply to learn.

Conclusion

To be fair, the folks of the Cordilleras are a very welcoming people. Visitors are always good to have, and exchange of cultures is what makes Baguio’s heritage so rich. So yes, tourists are a part of the Baguio culture. But tourists need to learn to respect the Baguio the way that Baguio respects them. Do not complain about traffic if your car is contributing to it. Do not complain about crowds if you are among them. Never complain about trash if you litter. Baguio now receives 1.3 million tourists per year. Each of them thinks they’re the only one to throw a single plastic wrapper on the sidewalk.

And honestly, it carries over to the locals as well. How can people complain about the way tourists treat their city when they themselves do not do any better? Christmas is around the corner. Soon after will come New Year’s celebrations. After that, the Panagbenga festival will reach its peak. As much as we like to blame tourists for the mess these events leave behind, we have to face the truth. This is our city; not theirs. The responsibility to care for it is on our shoulders.