Stobosa - Colors of Valley: A Living Art near Baguio City

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Stobosa Colors of Valley near Baguio City

A month after I visited Manila to catch up stories with some college buddies, I headed north to Baguio. It was a few days after Valentine’s Day. I and my friends do not have a concrete plan on what to visit in Baguio for two days but then we decided to visit the places we haven’t been before—and those two are the Colors of Valley in La Trinidad, Benguet and Bencab Museum in Baguio.

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Touch the Clouds at Mt. Ulap in Itogon, Benguet

One of the peak areas in Mount Ulap hike, Itogon, Benguet

We weren’t that tired although we visited one of the highest elevations in the greater region of Baguio. That is because the “hike” to Mt. Sto. Tomas didn’t require as calories to burn to reach Café in the Sky. The road to Café in the Sky is already well paved so to get there, you only need to commute via jeepney from Baguio and hire an FX to bring you on top and have a coffee in the café.

A Taste of Coffee and Clouds at Café in the Sky, Mt. Sto. Tomas, Tuba, Benguet

The overlooking view of Baguio City from Cafe in the Sky, Tuba, Benguet

This was my first out of town trip after I set foot in Manila from a very long flight coming from the lands of southern hemisphere. I embraced my longings with my ever loving home province of Tarlac and when a friend of mine planned to visit Baguio City for the nth time again, I did not think twice—I packed my backpack with good old time jackets, took enough cash and got myself ready for another five-hour trip. Not soon enough, I was back to the city where popular pine trees grow and strawberries are celebrated.

How to Commute to Benguet Strawberry Farm and Bell Church Baguio

Map on going to Strawberry Farm (or Bell Church) from Baguio City

How to go to Strawberry Fields in Benguet:

To go to Strawberry Farm in Benguet, ride jeepneys going to La Trinidad or Buyagan (in La Trinidad) or other jeepneys passing through KM 6 (Kilometer 6). Present terminal is located in the lot corner of Magsaysay and T. Alonzo Street. Fare is about P11.00. You can also ride cabs if you do not want to ride jeepney, but of course it will be more expensive.

Itogon Itinerary & List of Expenses

Posted in here is our very own Itogon itinerary and a rundown of expenses.

Visiting Itogon Hot Springs is a fun activity. It is best suited for a family bonding time or a team building scheme. Otherwise, you can tag along friends and enjoy recreations with the barkada. Itogon, Benguet is not limited to the hot springs, you can also try walking on a nearby hanging bridge or cook and grill foods. And reserve those laughter too.

How to Go to Itogon Hot Springs, Benguet

Map on going to Itogon Hot Springs, Benguet

How to go to Itogon Hot Springs in Benguet:

If you are coming from Manila or outside Baguio City, then you have to reach the City of Pines first before you can directly head to Itogon, Benguet. Many buses are bound directly to Baguio City, like in the cities of Olongapo, Dagupan, Vigan or Manila. You’ll just have to know their last trip and first trip schedule prior to your plan.

The Itogon Experience: Of Hot Spring, Hanging Bridge and Grilled Food

One of the resorts in Itogon Hot Springs

Why do people always look for something different from the usual? Like the contrary from the existing? When I was still in the lowland province, I certainly worry about the humidity and always complain it’s hot. And now I’m in Baguio, I was looking for something hotter than the place. When the weather is hot, we tend to look for cool things to eat, or cold places to visit. And when it’s cold, we look for something that can warm our bodies. Like a hot spring maybe? An hour away from the city is a town called Itogon, and it’s not just the hot spring of Itogon that makes it a tourist hot spot—it is always complimented with the experience, and an additive fun from the hanging bridge and of course, the grilled food.

Itogon Hot Springs: Tips and Guide

One of the resorts in the becoming popular Itogon Hot Springs in Benguet.

If you are in Manila, you most probably think of the beach when it comes to summer things, but if you live in the highlands like Baguio, the nearest you could think for a summer getaway means the hot springs. Well, if you are having fun with us and want more other than the hot springs, then that’s the time we get out of the highlands and go to the beach, the most recent of which we visited were Patar Beach in Bolinao and Ampere Beach in Dipaculao (which is very very far from Baguio, post soon). For the meantime, we decided to check out Itogon Hot Springs, after our friends told us that it was underway to development. It was more than a decade now the last time I visited a hot spring—the ‘recent’ I can remember was Maleluag Hot Spring in Mangatarem, Pangasinan (maleluag means “hot” in Panggalatok, dialect of the Pangasinense).

Strawberry Fields in the Philippines? Head to Benguet

Strawberry fruit in Strawberry Farm, La Trinidad, Benguet

If there’s one thing that makes Baguio distinct from other places in the Philippines, it’s strawberry. But did you know that strawberries are not actually grown in the City of Pines? Strawberry fields are located in the nearby province of Benguet. Not only strawberries are grown here, all the other highland veggies are also harvested in the province like lettuce, cabbage, and carrots.

How to Go to Mount Osdung, Kibungan, Benguet

Map on going to Mount Osdung, Kibungan, Benguet

If you are planning to hike Mount Osdung in Kibungan, Benguet, you can follow what we did to reach the summit (provided here are some maps):

Mt. Osdung, Benguet: The Trail and the Top Load

A lonely pine tree at the peak of Mount Osdung in Kibungan, Benguet

Mount Osdung is a mountain situated in the ranges of Cordillera in Kibungan, Benguet. It is said to be the 16^th highest mountain in the Philippines. “Osdung” or “usdung” is a Kankanaey term (also Ilocano) which similarly means “to stoop” or as in bend your body to look downwards, as when you are on top of a summit or cliff. In Tagalog it means “tumingin sa ibaba (ng bundok) ”. Mount Osdung day hike is one of the easiest mountain climb you can actually do when you are in the highlands of the Cordillera Region.

Planning a Day Hike to Mount Osdung

Wonderful views of Cordillera Mountains en route to Mt. Osdung for a day hike.

Mount Osdung, having the 16^th highest peak in the entire Philippines, is an easy day hike for mountaineers. It lies in the municipality of Kibungan, Benguet and is situated about 3 hours from Baguio City. The jump-off point is at Collideng Junction in Buguias, Benguet (marker is the yellow Trader’s Café) and from there an hour of walk trail is expected along the way to the peak of Mt. Osdung. It may be one of the easiest climb but the view from the mountain is awesome. Road trails going to Sagada, cabbage farms, mountain walls and other peaks can be viewed 360 degrees.