Birthday Trip to Baguio

Last February 18, 2011, my mom celebrated her 51st birthday. This year we celebrated her birthday more privately. I cooked pasta for merienda, enough for our relatives. This year also, I decided to treat Mom a family trip to Baguio. Mom was so excited with the tour because this is her first time to visit Baguio.

We took the last trip of Victory Liner Manila to Baguio. We left Manila at 11 in the evening and we arrived in Baguio around 5 in the morning. As usual, we bought first our return ticket to Manila. Then we went to Pinebreeze Cottages, our accommodation site in Baguio.

The time we arrived at Pinebreeze, our room is still occupied by other tenants so we just left our things for safekeeping so that we can start our activities. First, we went to the Mansion, the summer residence of the President of the Philippines. Immediately after taking some souvenir shots we went to Wrights Park for some sightseeing and walking exercise.

We walked from Wrights Park all the way to St. Joseph’s Church but unfortunately, we were not able to take some pictures inside the church because funeral mass was held in the church that time. So we went to Botanical instead. Sabi ko sa mga kasama ko na magrest muna sandali before kami pumunta sa next destination namin. Sabi ng Lola ko sobrang pagod na daw sya, actually expected na namin yun dahil sa layo ba naman ng nilakad naming. Hehehe…After nila magrest syempre nakapagretouch na din sila, picture taking ulit. Sinulit talaga namin yung chance na we were complete in the family in this tour.

Next in the list is Burnham Park. I asked them kung gusto nila na magboating sa lagoon sa park but Papa refused to join us. Sya na lang nagbantay ng gami t namin instead. I asked my brother Roy na sya maging bankero, pero hindi pala sya marunong. Ang ending ako napagod ng kakasagwan. Enjoy yung time na nasa boat kami dahil kahit maiinit ang panahon, we had time na makapagkwentuhan at magbiruan dito.

Almost lunch time na ng matapos yung boat ride sa Burnham. We decided to have lunch sa Sizzling Steakhouse. I love this restaurant dahil bukod sa masarap ang food, affordable pa ang prices nito. Habang kumakain, talagang galit galit muna. Walang pansinan talaga dahil sa gutom at pagod siguro. After the sumptuous lunch, we went back to the accommodation site to have some rest.

Almost 5 in the afternoon na ng umalis kami ng Pinebreeze papunta ng Grotto. Pagdating namin ng Grotto si Mama at Nanay Dely (my grandmother) nagrosary muna sila doon. After they prayed the Holy Rosary, we went to SM Baguio to have our dinner. Nalibot na namin yung buong SM Baguio pero wala silang napiling restaurant where we can have dinner. My brother Roy suggested, Dencios. Cousin Kate and my adopted daughter Faye seconded the suggestion. The best talaga ang sisig ng Dencios. Masarap din yung pinakbet at sinigang ng Salmon Head nila. Sobrang nabusog kami sa mga food na inorder namin.

Nanay Dely suggested that instead of eating out for breakfast the next day, magluto na lang daw kami ng food sa lodging site namin since meron naman daw mga kitchen utensils dun. So, we went first to the Supermarket to buy food for breakfast. Nakakatawa dahil instead na maging cheaper yung expenses feeling ko mas lalo lumaki yung gastos ko. Paano ba namang hindi lalaki yung bill, hindi ko napansin na naglagay ng kung anu anong mga cholates at chi-cha yung mga matakaw kong kasama. Kaya ang ending pagdating sa counter, I paid almost 2,000 (imagine for breakfast???) nakakatawa talaga.

Pagdating sa Pinebreeze, Papa, Roy, Kate and I had some beer while watching TV and after few hours inantok na din at nagpahinga for the next day’s activity.

The following day, sobrang aga nagising ng Mama ko. I think gising na sya ng 4am to cook our breakfast. The best ka talaga Ma!!!! We had bacon, hotdog, egg, bread, and fried rice for breakfast.

We attended the 8 am mass at the Baguio Cathedral. After the mass, we went to Philippine Military Academy. Swerte dahil pagdating namin dun me performance yung mga graduating cadets. They called it “Silent Drill.” Nung nagsimula yung performance ng mga cadets, sobrang bumilib lahat ng mga nanood sa galing ng mga drills na ginawa nila. Pero ang higit na pinalapakan sa performance ay ang paghataw at pagsayaw nila ng Waka Waka, Giling Giling, at Billy Jeans.

After the performance, nilibot namin yung iba’t ibang places sa PMA. Then we went back to Session Road to have our Lunch. We had our lunch at Pizza Volante Restaurant. We ordered pasta puttanesca and Bolognese and 4-cheese pizza. Nanay Dely and Papa ordered set menu of chicken, spaghetti, and rice. Overall, ok naman yung lunch pero hindi ako gaanong satisfied sa lasa ng mga pasta dishes nila. Ewan ko kung bakit. Maybe dahil sa marami na akong Italian Restaurant na napuntahan. Basta for me average lang yung lasa ng food that Pizza Volante is serving.

The next stop is Minesview Park. Medyo traffic yung mga daanan papuntang Minesview kaya medyo natagalan kami sa byahe. Medyo nahirapan sila Nanay sa daanan sa Minesview dahil medyo matarik yung mga steps ng hagdan dito. Si Mama parang bata, nagpapicture pa while riding a horse. We ate inihaw na pusit and other streetfood sa Minesview.

Afterwards, we went to Good Shepherd convent to buy some pasalubong. The best kasi yung strawberry and ube jam nila dito. Bumili din ako ng lengua de gato and alfajur (yan ang mga must try nila). Then we went sa market to buy some souvenirs like walis tambo (yeah…walis talaga ewan ko ba kung ako masusunod I will not buy walis as pasalubong pero Mama and Nanay insisted na matibay daw kasi yung gawang Baguio).

After buying Pasalubong, since nasa market na kami bumili na din kami ng dinner na lulutuin sa accommodation site. We bought fish, veggies, and fruits for dinner. Mama cooked the dinner for us. Then after ng dinner, nagrest lang kami ng kaunti para sa makapagprepare sa mahabang byahe to Manila.

We took the 10pm trip of Victory Liner to Manila. I know Mama enjoyed my birthday gift to her. We love you Ma!