Around 6am, I met up with fellow bloggers at Half  Moon Restaurant in Tomas Morato, QC where we had our breakfast before we head to Baguio. 
The trip on a private car took around 5hours only because we took the short cut,  I enjoyed the ride with Ms. Judy of  JMaret Publicity, Audrey, Mee-i, Arvin, and Melody

fellow bloggers at Half Moon Cafe in T. Morato

Although I’ve been to Baguio for the nth time, I haven’t passed by Kennon Road yet since buses to Baguio ply the route of  McKinley road. So when we stopped at the famed Lion’s head, like the rest of the bloggers, I was excited for the photo op.

After a few minutes, along the quiet stretch of road surrounded by  towering pine trees and a majestic view of the  mines and the Cordillera mountains, the car stopped at a Mediterranean inspired-villa.

Mines View Park Hotel

The lobby, the dine area, the and the function hall is separated from the villa where the rooms are located.  I like the cozy ambience of the receiving area, some influence of a usual Baguio country house is highly evident.  I shared the room with 2 fab mommies, Iris and Jen.

After checking in our luggage, we went to the function hall for lunch and mini press con. Sumptuous foods were served courtesy of  the fine dining outlet Zenz Restaurant, which offers Western, Asian and Continental entrees that makes use of  Baguio’s fresh produce such as crisp vegetables, newly-picked fruits and one of the chef’s own gastronomic innovation: the strawberry sinigang which was served to us on our last day in at the hotel.

strawberry sinigang

Mines View Park Hotel’s function hall offers a spacious venue that can accommodate 100-150 guests for both personal or business conventions. It is equipped with a white screen and projector for audiovisual presentations, a sound and PA system, and basic lighting equipment.

After our hefty lunch, we then toured the hotel.  The hotel offers utmost comfort and luxury inside it’s well-appointed rooms. The 29 rooms take from the coziness of an Alpine chalet outfitted with the most modern amenities.

I like it that most of the rooms open to private balconies that offer a view of the Cordillera Mountain and pine forests. Indeed, the refreshing stillness and relaxing atmosphere are the main attractions of the Mines View  Park Hotel. The rooms are also equipped with flat-screen TV with cable and the hotel is conveniently Wi-Fi connected.

The hotel has a gym where one can work out while enjoying a panoramic view of mountain and forest.    They also partnered with Asian Spa, to provide such therapies as the Cordillera massage, which is a tribal technique practiced by Igorot healers for centuries.

Too bad we didn’t get to try it but after the quick tour of the hotel, we headed back to the lobby for Fortune telling, I didn’t try it since the Yoga session is about to begin.  It’s my 1st time to try out yoga and I really enjoyed it, it was led by Elmer of the fitness center at the 3rd floor of SM Baguio.

The Baguio bloggers tour was full of activities, tiring yet fun. I like best the Bibincrepe Making, which is the exclusive offering of the Half Moon Restaurant.  Bibingcrepe is a fluffy bibingka rolled out into a crepe with a slight flavor of caramel. I don’t cook, so it’s an achievement for me to make one. 

After a quick rest, we had our dinner in the diner at the patio entrance. The food was great plus the guest band performer, who are actually students from Baguio wearing Igorot customes performing Igorot dance.  I was too tired and immediately fell asleep after, while some bloggers enjoyed the videoke session. Zenz Bar actually opens from 6pm-12midnight to offer a relaxing hub for cocktails or after-dinner drinks.

The next day, I woke up to a cold, fog-filled morning. It would’ve been best to enjoy coffee or a superb meal at the Garden Veranda but too bad it’s drizzling. The setting under the shade of the overgrown eucalyptus and pine trees is an idyllic venue for a hearty breakfast. 

As much as I wanna stay in our room though, we also have to explore Baguio, and that is one of the advantage of  staying at Mines View Park is it’s proximity to some of the city’s attractions like Mines View  park and Good Shepherd which is just a walking distance from the hotel. But if you really want to take a stroll down at Session Road,  visit the Baguio Cathedral, OMG cafe, shop for ukay-ukay, savor the relaxing view of the city at one of the verandas in SM Baguio, or visit the  Strawberry farm in La Trinidad, Benguet or ask the driver to drop you off at the Bell church, the huge Taoist temple sitting on the hill at the boundary of  Baguio and La Trinidad,  you can avail of the hotel’s shuttle service which drops and picks up guests at strategic locations within the city limits.  Or if you want to commute, just walk down the gate and hail a cab on the road.

Quoting the hotel president Mr. Dick Balajadia, “ Mines  View Park Hotel has the advantage of being situated in a quiet part of  Baguio.  It’s tranquility, it’s proximity to nature, and the beautiful view of the mountain set it apart from other hotels in the city, which are built close to the commercial centers.”

True enough, before, whenever I want to escape from the madding  crowd  and bustles of  Baguio, I go to Benguet.  Now,  I’ve discovered a haven where I can come home-to where  nature’s beauty and serenity work together to renew the spirit, refresh the mind and energize the body to rediscover the pleasures of  Baguio City.

*This is a sponsored trip.

Thank you Azrael and fellow bloggers!  Thank you for the memories!

Thank you:

Mines View Park Hotel

1Apostol St. corner Outlook Dr

Mines View Park, Baguio City

Baguio office:

telefax: (6374) 442-1559

tel. # : (6374) 424-1088

cell#:+63922 888 6392

email: infor@minesviewparkhotel.com

website: www.minesviewparkhotel.com

Manila office:

telefax: (632) 372 3984 to 89 loc. 133

some excerpts from Jmaret Publicity

#57-A Mayor Gil Fernando Ave

Brgy. san Roque, Marikina City

telefax:933-8107 or 996-0533

email: jmaret_publicty@yahoo.com

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rice fields somewhere in Central Luzon

a river along the highway of Pangasinan

sunset somewhere along La Union

Manila- Baguio buses  takes Marcos Highway route, one of the most scenic route  and most reliable route as it can withstand heavy rain compared  to Kennon Road.

the picturesque view of the mountains at Marcos Highway

The  upward climb reveals a picturesque view of the mountains, lush vegetation, and pine trees as you get closer to Baguio.

somewhere in Tuba, Benguet as seen from Marcos highway

Arrived in Baguio past 6pm. It was already dark, I don’t wanna take a cab, only problem is…I’ve never commute in Baguio before! So when I saw most people riding the only jeep parked in front of the terminal, I  hurriedly hopped in and asked the driver if it’s off to Burnham Park.  I remember Equa reminded me before, that if  I get lost, just find a way to go back to  Burnham.

So I asked the girl beside me, named Carolyn, it so happend we were on the same bus & she’s headed home to KM11 in La Trinidad.  Talk about perfect timing! So we dropped off the market as  she wanted to buy vegetables, which is also exactly the place I need to go to first before heading to KM 5 as I had to buy a dozen of red roses for my dear friend.   That’s just one of the things I like about Baguio, the flowers & vegetables are super cheap!  One rose cost Php 5 & 1 bundle of vegetables like okra, tomato, pechay, etc is Php 10. Then we ate dinner at Chowking, and  boarded a jeep to La Trinidad in front of  Burnham Park.

The driver dropped me off at KM5 Balili, just right in front of  PNB beside McDonalds and Benguet State University, it was dark already.  There, you can find a small rough street and an old wooden bridge  which leads to a mountain full of houses. The once vacant lot owned by my family’s friend is now full of houses so I got lost…

houses lined up on the mountains of Balili

but found my way after asking an old woman.

Since everybody has work, I had to tour Baguio and La Trinidad on my own.

Balili is a baranggay of the Municipality of La Trinidad in Benguet, Philippines.

It is said that the name “Benguet” was once limited to the area of what is now the La Trinidad Valley.

vegetables instead of strawberries @ the Strawberry farm

On my 2nd day, I went shopping for ukay-ukay in Baguio! I had the chance to walk around Burnham Park, then  I spent the rest of my stay in Balili relaxing and enjoying it’s cool fresh air.

view of La Trinidad from KM5 Balili

KM5 Balili

man-made garden @ BSU

a lost tandang in Balili

The  trip back to Manila is long, but the pleasure  of this new found sanctuary gave me enough reason to return.

Igorot since Birth

How to get to La Trinidad, Benguet:

Baguio:

via Bus:

• Victory Liner: Cubao-Baguio, Pasay-Baguio, Sampaloc-Baguio, Caloocan-Baguio,  Olongapo-Baguio,
• Partas Transportation Co: Bangued-Baguio, Laoag-Baguio, Vigan-Baguio, Bangued-Baguio
• Dagupan Bus: Cubao-Baguio

to La Trinidad from Baguio :

board a jeep going to La Trinidad on General Luna near University of Baguio.

Pinay solo backpacker would like to thank :

Baldo Family for the free accommodation & their hospitality and Carolyn for the company & direction.

@ Benguet State University

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Gael Hilotin

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