Baguio's SLU with a Lantern Parade

The Saint Louis University Lantern Parade

Baguio's Session Road in a Sea of Lights

Coming from the University of the Philippines Diliman, the annual Lantern Parade on our campus is an event that everyone looks forward to; students, teachers, and guests alike. It's a spectacular sight to see and a great way to end the year and the semester with your college friends, right after facing the fires of the infamous 'Hell Week'. However, being held at the end of the year, many of us students who finish exams early and go home to our provinces miss out on seeing the lanterns of the various UPD colleges march around the Academic Oval.

As a Baguio-boy, Baguio is the sight I see when the UPD Lantern Parade takes place. Although this year, I'll be able to watch due to the delay of some exams. Nonetheless, Baguio's Saint Louis University or SLU holds its own annual Lantern Parade to light up the atmosphere of Baguio City during December. 

Upper Session Road's Decorated Christmas Tree

For years now, SLU has been holding its Lantern Parade but just recently they have been taking it up to higher levels with brighter and more elaborate lantern designs.

On December 1, 2014, SLU and its army of students and faculty marched the streets of Baguio, showcasing their bright and decorative hard work.

Like many other events, SLU's Lantern Parade is a competition among the colleges of the university with prizes to be given out and this year was a repeat of last year's School of Engineering and Architecture win due to brilliant craftsmanship and magic trick incorporation in their lanterns. What can you do, it's a college of engineers and architects after all...

Lanterns Used as Hats

All of the lanterns were a bright display of craftsmanship and creativity.

Student with Costumes and Lanterns

With many of the lanterns partnered with costumes worn by the bearers or lanterns being incorporated as a costume in itself.

It was a spectacular event to say the least. Just to see the sheer number of students and lanterns walking down Session Road was a mesmerising event that had both children and adults dazzled by the rainbow of shining lights. There's no doubt about it, the school and its students had to put in a tremendous amount of effort into putting up a show of this caliber.

Samurai-like Lanterns

Taking into consider how well-crafted the lanterns were and just their sheer amount, it must have been an uneasy task to complete all the lanterns and costumes. However, seeing Session Road itself light up like a Christmas tree during the night was a sight like no other and I encourage more and more people to participate and visit this event!

A Large, Dragon-like Lantern

For those who love the shimmer of bright lights and the dazzle of colorful objects, accompanied by the cool atmosphere of Baguio and Session Road, the annual SLU Lantern Parade is a must visit. Aside from the Lantern Parade, a trip to Baguio's many dining establishments along Session Road after watching the show would be a fine and perfect way to end an evening of beauty and decor.

Blogger:

CALUYA, Raphael Roi

BS Tourism Student at UP Diliman

Drummer, food-enthusiast, and photography-enthusiast

A Trip Up Baguio's 'Mickey Mouse Ears': Mt. Kabuyao!

Mickey Mouse Ears and Giant Air Conditioning Units

The Race to the Top of Mt. Kabuyao!

Baguio has always been the go-to destination for tourists around the Philippines. Whether it be the cold weather, horseback riding, sight seeing, food tripping, or whatever it is tourists do, Baguio caters to many tourist demands. As a kid who grew up in this chilly city, I never really understood why people came to visit Baguio. To me, seeing Burnham Park, Mines View Park, the giant lion head, The Mansion, John Hay, and many of the other attractions Baguio has to offer was an everyday thing to me.

But I guess as I grew up, I learned that these were what made Baguio, Baguio. At least to everyone else. 

However, there's one place many tourists of Baguio are fascinated with, but never really have the resolve to even bother exploring or discovering. This very place is Mt. Kabuyao, Baguio's Mickey Mouse Ears and universal Air Conditioning Unit.

'Mickey Mouse Ears'

Yes, many tourists do in fact describe the two radar dishes this way and it has become a widespread joke amongst both citizens and tourists of Baguio. How can you blame them? The dishes look pretty much like Mickey's ears or two giant fans.

So what's up with Mt. Kabuyao? Simple, its a pretty cool jogging, biking, and boarding route up the side of the mountain that you see on your way up to Baguio, either through Kennon Road or Marcos Highway. The road to Mt. Kabuyao starts beside the local Petron in Marcos Highway, known locally as the 'Green Valley' road, or at least the road going to Green Valley, a relatively large subdivision located near the mountain.

The hike up the mountain starts at a local police station where just recently, they began to charge an entrance fee due to the increase in tourist activity.

The best tip I can give you is to go as early as you can, preferably between 4 and 5 in the morning. This way, the police officers are still asleep and you can slip past them without paying the entrance fee! Which is exactly why I can't tell you how much it costs because I've never paid! But honestly speaking, I would suggest you go around these times in order to make it up the mountain before sunrise.

One of the Stations of the Cross

Following your hour and a half hike up the mountain, a beautiful sunrise will be up to greet you, along with some local resident farmers, large radio-communication towers, and stray dogs. Like I said, you can walk, jog, run, bike, or drive up the side of the mountain because just this year, they completed paving the road from the base all the way to the top for the convenience of the residents of the area.

Upon reaching the top, there are some stations of the cross the pilgrims during the Easter season come to visit. In the event that you came up early in the morning, the local residents that have stores in the areas will be glad to serve you some coffee, bread, noodles, or other snacks at a cheap price. If you're lucky, you can even catch them selling some super fresh, recently picked strawberries! Strawberry jam also available upon request.

At last, you can finally walk around the rest of the trail to see the radar dishes and towers up close and personal. As usual, picture taking will most likely be your primary goal around the stations of the cross and these large structures. 

At the top of the mountain, you'll notice that the trail continues on even longer towards the further towers which you can choose to go to if you aren't tired yet from the initial hike going up. And if you're feeling adventurous, you can ask the locals to tell you about the burial or mummy caves. Although chances are, they won't tell you where it is. It's too dangerous to explore around and go looking for it on your own considering that it's literally at the side of the mountain and a few steps away from death but hey, if you find a friend who knows how to get there or contact me, it'll be worth the danger and fear!

Telecommunication Structures

So for those looking for a new place to hike, an early morning jog, or an insane sunrise view, Mt. Kabuyao should be your next target when you go up to Baguio again. In the event that you're too lazy to walk up and you don't have a car, the locals passing by who own trucks will be glad to offer you a ride up or down without charge!

Sunrise at 5:30 a.m.

It is also advised to bring some warm clothes such as jogging pants and a thick jacket. Most of the year, temperatures are normally pretty low but during the latter parts of the year approaching december, temperatures can drop even lower to as low as 4 degrees celsius up the mountain so bring so warm clothes! A temperature like that with the view of a sunrise and a warm cup of coffee from the local sari-sari store will definitely be worth the hike up!

Blogger:

CALUYA, Raphael Roi

BS Tourism student at UP Diliman

Drummer, food-enthusiast, and photography-enthusiast