PRICELESS EXPERIENCE IN BAGUIO CITY

My wallet kept on whining when I went to Baguio City. I thought that travel was a total waste of time, effort and money. But, when I got there, I realized that nary an experience of mine was vain. Let me enumerate here my priceless experiences :

a. Attended Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines Symposium

It was my first time to attend such symposium at UP Baguio. The presentations inspired me so much to be always a good environmental steward and a wildlife conservation enthusiast. I think I would do it best by doing more wildlife researches in Mindanao. Through this, I could possibly come up with a more effective conservation management strategies.

b. Met WCSP people (researchers and conservationists)

It felt good to have met WCSP peeps – those with great hearts for nature. Running into this new circle of friends was more than a gift. It made me enhance my professional network. All the more, it had driven me to become more active in saving whatever has been left in the wild.

c. Travelled Alone

Travelling alone as far as Butuan City to Baguio City for the very first time was super fulfilling. I mean it took me a lot of courage to dare travelling all by myself to reach the place I have never been in my entire life. Thanks God I reached there in a perfect safety. Well, that travel taught me a lot which I guess would truly help me grow up and become more mature.

d. Tour around Baguio City with Tess and Ate Nelie

Before and after the symposium, I got to see the beauty of Baguio with Tess and Ate Nelie (my co-grad students at MSU-IIT).

Boating at Burnham Park was a whole lot of fun. Viewing the mountain sceneries from SM Baguio and Mines View Park was truly breath-taking. The colorful blossoms and their fragrant scent in Botanical Garden and Wright Park were incomparable. I saw that stunning elegance in The Mansion as well as in the Philippine Military Academy. The lovely red color of strawberries was very pleasant to my sight. And I just couldn’t help hobnobbing with the pine trees parading along the roadways. In short, Baguio is a paradise.

e. Met my Thesis Adviser – Dr. Neil Aldrin Mallari

Finally I met my idol during the WCSP symposium. I looked up to him more when I saw his paper presentation. I gave him two thumbs up for that. His outstanding presentation inspired me to do something like that later. I wonder if I could do that. Hmmmmmm………..let me try lol! One thing I couldn’t forget about this person is when he kept on pushing me to go for excellence and nothing below it. What a pressure! But I will keep that in mind………promise…………….

f. Met Peter’s relatives for the very first time

I was so happy that I finally met my hubby’s mother-side relatives in Scout Barrio. Camp John Hay. Actually, I stayed in their house all throughout my short vacation in Baguio. I was so grateful for their hospitality. Thanks Lola Agus, Aunt Bebe and Aunt Lilia for your warmth and kindness. The cute bracelets I received from Aunt Bebe would forever be treasured.

g. Chilly wind and very cold water in the bathroom

I wish we have that chilly wind and extremely cold water in Butuan City too hahahah! My God, I absolutely relish the chilly wind in Baguio. It felt so refreshing. The cold weather knocked my mood swings and tantrums out of me. From the time I got there ‘till I left the place, I felt so fresh and light because of its low temperature. I loved taking a shower early in the morning due to that cold water that was seemingly distressing.

h. Lola Agus gave me a traditional “Hilot” to put my uterus in its proper place

She’s a known “manghihilot” in their place. When she offered to do free hilot for me, I didn’t turn her down. I got my uterus prepared and ready for pregnancy already. But I think I’ll be more ready for pregnancy several months from now yet.

i. Wishing Well

I made a wish after I threw a 1-peso coin into the Wishing Well at the Philippine Military Academy. Not just a wish but a bunch of wishes………….hope they will all come true.

j. Night Life

Another thing I love about Baguio is the diversity of bars. The city is dotted with several bars. I had much fun with Merben, a new friend from Alaska, Tess and Ate Nelie at Kamalig Comedy Bar. The two gay comedians in that bar were pretty amusing who made us laugh endlessly.

A night after, I was at Gecko Bar with Tess (PhD student), Daniel (world expert on large lizards), Pinky (from UPLB) and Twinkle (from UPLB). The most exciting part of the conversation was when Daniel told me and Tess to go to Polillo Island for a monitor lizard research exposure. I would more than love to go there and get trained on the specs of such field research. This would be another promising experience. I’m looking forward to go there maybe anytime this month. Whew! Exciting!

Those were my top-rating experiences that money can’t buy in Baguio City. They were all priceless, aren’t they? I never had any regrets in going there at all.