Feed your soul (and stomach) one weekend this rainy season in Baguio.

The weather in Baguio makes it the perfect place to unleash a creative disposition and introspection. Whether you’re someone looking for alone time, or looking to immerse yourself in a very rich culture, there’s always a thing or two for you to do in Baguio.

Taking a stroll in Burnham Park has got to be a nonnegotiable. The entrance is free and you can also try the much talked about strawberry taho.

Despite the influx of tourists, Burnham Park has continued to preserve its flora, with new sections and installations (such as a sunflower display).

If you need “company” for your Burnham visit, an unassuming bookshop sits among the pine trees near Brent. Mt. Cloud Bookshop carries titles ranging from expository compilations to nonfiction, written mostly by Filipino authors.

There was an entire section on the Marcos regime and World War II. It made me wish that the selections were more ubiquitous in bookshops in Metro Manila.

Abundant history

While reading up on history from your book, don’t forget that you’re also standing in a place with abundant history.

Baguio is rich in culture being in the Cordillera Administrative Region. While there are many museums in the heart of Baguio, there is one in Benguet that shares a piece of history in a contemporary manner.

The BenCab Museum is a marriage between culture and art with different rooms and floors dedicated to indigenous sculptures and architecture. Many people come to the museum for different reasons—maybe to bask in the greenery from the deck, or to have a quick bite in Café Sabel, or maybe just to do everything to treat the senses. For P150, it’s quite a bargain as the museum experience is priceless.

After dark

As the day comes to an end, Baguio doesn’t follow suit. Session Road becomes a thriving ground for buskers and night owls. There are buildings here that display a little bit of European influence in their design. It feels welcoming and very intimate.

A night market also takes place on the streets. From secondhand clothes to various street food, vendors line up offering stuff we never knew we needed.

Session Road, for me, is a party, after party and pit stop all at once.

At 108 Session Road Café, talented performers give the audience a taste of the creative scene of Baguio. You’ll experience an audiovisual excursion down and up the road. Many movies have portrayed this road to be for the brokenhearted, or people longing for muni-muni (reflection). Session Road can be anything you wish it to be.

But what’s Baguio without a gastronomical adventure? It has numerous restaurants and eateries catering to the wide spectrum of cuisines or appetites.

There is a row of restaurants near Camp John Hay that offers Greek, Italian and Korean cuisines. The ambiance and the view are icing on the cake; they exude a balance of comfort and splendor.

For those yearning for lutong bahay, the Slaughterhouse is a must. The meals feature freshly cut meat and homegrown vegetables, such that you’re not only filling your stomach to your heart’s content, but are also contributing to the local community.

Plan a trip one of these weekends and you’ll see why Baguio is everyone’s home away from home. —CONTRIBUTED