At the beginning of my stay in the City of Pines, I knew three things: Baguio was the Summer Capital of the Philippines, the cost of living was inexpensive, and tasty pasalubong like strawberries and ube jam were bought there. Little did I know, three years later, that there was more to it than that. Aside from being a home …

Baguio City has its charm for artists, artisans, musicians, and culturists. This is one of the many reasons why it seems easy for some to make Baguio their new home. In 1996, this what Karlo Altomonte experienced. When he recalled that specific time of his life, he simply said, “I came for a vacation and never left. So, I am …

The tattoo gun’s buzz messes up my goosebump-laden skin. I’m not even the one having a tattoo, it’s just that the sound of the machine gives me trickle amounts of a scare. That’s the story of my life—a grown-ass adult who’s afraid of needles. Gradually, though, my fears subsided as I sat down with Rommel “Toto” Quinque, a young tattoo artist …

Wherever you look, there’s always something that’s bound to catch your eye. I’m not talking about being a pretentious creep here. But in terms of what Baguio City has to offer, there will always be a focal point when you’re out and about. A random piece of advertising from a local shop. That weird caricature that’s blatantly embossed on a …

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 …

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 …