There are two types of people who visit a new place. The one who takes out their cameras and starts taking every single thing that their cameras could capture. The other one is someone who asks, looks, and searches for everything that interests them about the place.

 

Visited and may be known by many for its sceneries and cold weather, Baguio City is also known for its colorful and diverse culture.

 

Like many historical places in the Philippines, the North has an abundant history to offer. From tourist spots to the more important piece that Baguio has — the indigenous peoples (IP) and places, and knowledge.

 

A Place of Paradise

​

 

Originally, Baguio was called "Kafagway" by the people of the Kankanaey and Ibaloi tribes of the Cordilleras who inhabited the city before foreign occupation. Later on, colonization urbanized the Cordillera Region and the city of Baguio. These changes swiftly shifted the lives and identities of locals and IP to a more economic system.

 

One of these was the construction of Kennon Road which connects Baguio to Pangasinan and to some parts of the Ilocos region. The creation of this road paved the way for accessibility and growth in the development of Baguio. 

 

Not only roads are created during these times, but also historical and heritage places that make tourists go back and forth in the City of Pines. Some of these known places that make Baguio City a heritage city are: Baguio Cathedral, Baguio Market, Teacher’s Camp, Session Road, Diplomat Hotel, Baguio Colleges and Universities, and the famous Burnham Park.

 

Session Road, for instance, is not only a touristy spectacle but an avenue of culture and art. Today, it houses the famous Sunday Session where the road closes to cater to artists, buskers, and cosplayers. 

 

These heritage sites go way back in the history of Baguio. A lot of changes were made, but what remains is a paradise city with its cold weather above the clouds and continuous life for locals and tourists. 

 

More than just a city

 

On October 31, 2017, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) declared Baguio a creative city of arts and folk arts. With its heritage sites, rich culture, arts, and people that bring a colorful and bright image to the city, it is no wonder why Baguio was the first creative city designated in the country. 

 

In Baguio, there are numerous galleries and museums that feature works by different artists. But the city’s artscapes do not stop at the galleries, because murals are everywhere. The city also prides itself with local cafes built with the artistic genius of the locals. One of these is the famous Ili-likha Cafe owned by the National Artist of the Philippines for Film, Kidlat Tahimik. 

 

It can be regarded as a popular tourist destination; Baguio stands more than just a place for locals and tourists; it is a city of life and creativity—that is one of the valuable heritages it could have.

 

A lot of things happened that made a valuable change in Baguio, but the cultural heritage it could have will still be the same from the past to the present. More than the progress and changes in the city in terms of environment and infrastructure, nothing can replace the history and vivid memories of someone, whether a local or a tourist, on a hill that is above the clouds that serve as the life for everyone. Indeed, a place of paradise.

​

​

— Kyla Claire Abawag