The Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the stuff of grand and generous celebrations here in Baguio City. This year, the Year of the Pig begins on February 5, Tuesday. Baguio’s Filipino-Chinese community begins each Spring Festival with a flag-raising ceremony at the Baguio City Hall. Media practitioners and social media influencers participated in the …

Most of us would think that artists are borne out of sheer talent or someone who develops it after intensive training. But in truth, art is non-binary. As I’ve been going around Baguio to meet with local artists, I’ve come to understand that no one is “a mere natural.” True, Baguio was designated as a creative city under UNESCO, but …

In 2018, the Philippine Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported the lowest temperature of the year on January 14 at 11.4 degrees Celcius.  But, 2019 is quickly catching up and even going lower on the temperature scale. Just three weeks in on January 22, temperatures dropped to 10.4 degrees Celcius. However, a few days later on January 28, temperatures …

I’m a sucker for smoked food. Ever since I saw that “House of Cards” episode in 2011 where then-Democratic congressman Frank Underwood visited this smoked BBQ restaurant that he usually frequents, I knew there was something about the dish that makes people come back for more. Sure, I’m familiar with the Baguio smoked dish Kiniing, but my cravings only took …

The Baguio Flower Festival season is almost upon us. As early as December 17, 2018, Baguio City announced the line up of activities for the 2019 Panagbenga Festival. This year, the festival officially starts on Feb. 1 and ends on March 10. It lasts a week longer than the usual one-month celebration. Here are the schedule of activities for Panagbenga …

Creativity and artistry abound in the Baguio City. So it’s no wonder the City if Pines has been named a Creative City by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2017. The city’s cool mountain weather lends itself well to get one’s creative juices flowing, so it’s also no wonder why artists like Neil Acosta, choose to make this their home. …

One thing that’s so great about City of Pines is that you get to walk the streets on a normal day and not realize that the person right next to you is either a musician, a poet, a writer, or an artist. It’s just the Baguio way. That could be one of the reasons why Baguio City has been named …

In celebration of the friendship and ties between India and the Philippines, the Filipino-Indian community in Baguio launched the Colors of Incredible India Cultural Exhibit at the Baguio on Nov. 24. The exhibit runs until Dec. 15 and is located at the basement of the Baguio Museum. An Afternoon of Culture and History The exhibit opened on the afternoon of …

There’s just something great about knowing how restaurants in Baguio City actually make their way to the City of Pines. One would think it is done purely out of business. But having a sit down with husband and wife Hansel David Co and Hollan Co of King Chef Dimsum Kitchen Baguio changes this idea and separates them from just another …

Baguio City, the melting pot of Cordilleran Culture, is home to the Cordillera Ubbog Writers, a group of writers from different backgrounds whose literary works primarily feature the Cordilleran way of life. As part of the Baguio Creative Festival, UP launched the UP Talastasan Series; discussions which aim to promote Cordilleran Creative thinking. This lecture titled The Future of Cordillera Creative …