Baguio

For other uses, see Baguio (disambiguation).

City of Baguio Lungsod ng Baguio Ciudad ti Baguio
—  Highly-urbanized City  —
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Summer Capital of the Philippines, City of Pines
Benguet Province map locating Baguio City
City of Baguio Location in the Philippines
Coordinates: 16°25′N 120°36′E / 16.417°N 120.6°E / 16.417; 120.6
Country	Philippines
Region	Cordillera Administrative Region
Province	Benguet
Barangays	129
Congressional Districts	Lone District of Baguio City
Incorporated (city)	September 1, 1909
Government
– Congressman	Bernardo Vergara (Timpuyog Ti Baguio-NPC/Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
– Mayor	Mauricio Domogan (Timpuyog Ti Baguio-Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
– Vice Mayor	Daniel Fariñas (Timpuyog Ti Baguio-Nacionalista)
Area
– Total	57.5 km2 (22.2 sq mi)
Elevation	1,500 m (4,921 ft)
Population (2007)
– Total	301,926
– Density	5,251/km2 (13,600/sq mi)
Time zone	PST (UTC+8)
Area code(s)	74
Languages	Ibaloi, Kankana-ey, Tagalog, English, Chinese, Korean, Pangasinan, Ilocano,and Kapampangan.
Website	http://www.baguio.gov.ph

The City of Baguio (Ilokano: Ciudad ti Baguio; Filipino: Lungsod ng Baguio) is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway. Baguio City was designated by the Philippine Commission as the Summer Capital of the Philippines on June 1, 1903 and incorporated as a city by the Philippine Assembly on September 1, 1909. Baguio is the seat of government of the Cordillera Administrative Region. The name of the city is derived from the word bagiw in Ibaloi, the indigenous language of the Benguet Region, meaning 'moss'. The city is at an altitude of approximately 1500 meters (5100 ft) in the Luzon tropical pine forests ecoregion conducive to the growth of mossy plants and orchids. Baguio City has become the center of business and commerce as well as the center of education in the entire Northern Luzon.^[1]

According to the 2007 census, Baguio City has a population of 301,926.^[2]

The City of Baguio celebrated its Centennial on September 1, 2009. The celebrations marked the first 100 years of the Baguio City Charter, which was authored by former Philippines Supreme Court Justice George A. Malcolm.

History

The region around Baguio was first settled primarily by the Ibaloi's and the kankanaey's. In the nearby town of La Trinidad, Benguet, Spaniards established a commandante or military garrison, although Kafagway, as Baguio was once known, was barely touched. In 1901 Japanese and Filipino workers hired by the Americans built Kennon Road, the first road directly connecting Kafagway with the lowlands of Pangasinan. Before this, the only road to Kafagway was Naguilian Road. On September 1, 1909 Baguio was declared a chartered city. The famous American architect Daniel Burnham, one of the earliest successful modern city planners, laid a meticulous plan for the city in 1904. His plan was, nevertheless, realized only to a small extent, primarily due to growth of the city well beyond its initial planned population of 25,000 people. The Americans earlier declared Baguio the Summer Capital of the Philippines on July 1, 1903 and The American Residence as the residence of the American governor-general to escape Manila's summer heat. They further developed Baguio, building parks and public structures such as Wright Park in honor of Governor General Luke E. Wright, Burnham Park in honor of Baguio city planner Daniel Burnham, Governor Pack Road, and Session Road.

On April 26, 1945, Filipino troops of the 2nd, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th Infantry Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, 1st Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary and the USAFIP-NL 66th Infantry Regiment and the American troops of the 33rd and 37th Infantry Division of the United States Army entered Baguio City and fought against the Japanese Imperial Army forces led by General Tomoyuki Yamashita which started the Battle for the Liberation of Baguio City during World War II.

Baguio is the site of the formal surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita and Vice Admiral Okochi. It is where they gave up the entire Imperial Japanese Armed Forces to American authorities at the High Commissioner's Residence (now the United States Ambassador's Residence) in Camp John Hay on September 3, 1945, marking the end of World War II.

A very strong (Ms = 7.8)^[3] earthquake destroyed most of Baguio on July 16, 1990. A significant number of buildings and infrastructure were damaged, major highways were temporarily severed, and a number of houses were leveled or severely shaken with a significant loss of life. Some of the fallen buildings were built on or near fault lines. Baguio City was rebuilt, however, with the aid from the national government and various international donors like Japan, Singapore and other countries.

Around May 2003, a petition initiated by Dion Fernandez to declare Baguio a heritage zone was circulated on the Internet and national print media, gaining more than 10,000 signatures. The petition calls upon unspecified officials to create the Zone prior to the Baguio centennial in 2009. In May 2005, the Heritage Conservation Society(HCS) submitted to the Baguio City Council a proposed Special Heritage Bill drafted by HCS Trustee Ivan Henares. It has been approved on second reading but is being opposed by a group of businessmen^{[citation needed]}.

Geography and climate

Geography

Baguio City is located some 1,500 meters above sea level, nestled within the Cordillera Central mountain range in northern Luzon. The city is enclosed by the province of Benguet. It covers a small area of 57.5 square kilometers. Most of the developed part of the city is built on uneven, hilly terrain of the northern section. When Daniel Burnham plotted the plans for the city, he made the City Hall as a reference point where the city limits extend 8.2 kilometers from east to west and 7.2 kilometers from north to south. It is the highest major Philippine city in terms of elevation.

Climate

Baguio City features a subtropical highland climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city is known for its mild climate. It is because of this that Baguio is nicknamed the "Summer Capital of the Philippines". Owing to its high elevation, the temperature in the city is 8 degrees Celsius lower compared to the average temperature of the rest of the country.^[4] Average temperature ranges from 15 to 23 degrees Celsius. It is usually lower during the late and early months of the year. The lowest recorded temperature was 6.3 degrees Celsius on January 18, 1961. This is in contrast to the all-time high of 30.4 degrees Celsius recorded on March 15, 1988 during the 1988 El Niño season.^[5] Baguio seldom exceeds 26 degrees Celsius even during the warmest part of the year gawisan.

Like many other cities with a subtropical highland climate, Baguio sees noticeably less precipitation during its dry season. However, the city has an extraordinary amount of precipitation during the rainy season, with the months of July and August having on average more than 1,000 mm of rain. Baguio averages over 4500 mm of precipitation annually.

Climate data for Baguio City, Philippines
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	26 (79)	27 (81)	28 (82)	29 (84)	27 (81)	27 (80)	27 (80)	27 (80)	26 (79)	27 (81)	27 (80)	27 (80)	29 (84)
Average high °C (°F)	22 (72)	23 (73)	24 (76)	25 (77)	24 (76)	24 (75)	22 (71)	22 (71)	22 (71)	23 (73)	23 (74)	23 (74)	{{{year high C}}} (74)
Average low °C (°F)	11 (52)	13 (56)	14 (58)	16 (60)	16 (61)	16 (61)	16 (60)	16 (60)	16 (60)	16 (60)	15 (59)	14 (57)	{{{year low C}}} (59)
Record low °C (°F)	6 (43)	8 (47)	11 (52)	10 (50)	14 (57)	12 (53)	12 (54)	13 (55)	14 (57)	11 (52)	9 (49)	8 (46)	6 (43)
Precipitation mm (inches)	22.86 (0.9)	22.86 (0.9)	43.18 (1.7)	109.2 (4.299)	401.3 (15.799)	436.9 (17.201)	1074.4 (42.299)	1160.8 (45.701)	713.7 (28.098)	381 (15)	124.5 (4.902)	50.8 (2)	4,541.5 (178.799)
Source: http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=082389&refer=

^[6]

Government

Like most Philippine cities, Baguio is governed by a mayor, vice mayor, and twelve (12) councilors. However, being a highly-urbanized city with its own charter, it is not subject to the jurisdiction of Benguet province, of which it was formerly a part.

The current mayor of Baguio is Mauricio Domogan, and the lone congressional district is currently represented by Congressman Bernardo Vergara, who has already served before as the Baguio's representative to congress. They were re-elected last May 2010.

The last mayor was Peter Rey Bautista, who took over Yaranon's term, which, was clouded in controversy primarily because of his harsh attacks on previous city officials who initiated the scandalous Uniwide Market Project, Jadewell Parking Systems Project, the now finished 172 million, 274-meter BGH flyover project, and the proposed operation of a Casino inside Camp John Hay. The Jadewell Parking System was approved by the city council in 2000 and then City Mayor Mr. Mauricio Domogan. The parking firm's owners filed administrative charges against Yaranon for his stand against its operation. He was eventually suspended until the end of his term on June 30, 2007. Bautista had his "interim/acting" tag removed from his title as he emerged as the winner in the 2007 city mayoral race, beating Yaranon, Vergara, former Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. and post-People Power mayor and spiritual healer Ramon "Jun" Labo Jr. His running mate, three-term vice mayor and law dean Daniel Fariñas, returned to that post as well after previously serving a term in the City Council.

Barangays

Baguio City is politically subdivided into 129 barangays.^[2]

Apugan-Loakan Asin Road Atok Trail Bakakeng Central Bakakeng North Happy Hollow Balsigan Bayan Park West (Bayan Park) Bayan Park East Brookspoint Brookside Cabinet Hill-Teacher’s Camp Camp Allen Camp 7 Camp 8 Campo Filipino City Camp Central City Camp Proper Country Club Village Cresencia Village Dagsian, Upper DPS Area Dizon Subdivision Quirino Hill, East Engineers' Hill Fairview Village Fort del Pilar General Luna, Upper General Luna, Lower Gibraltar Greenwater Village Guisad Central Guisad Sorong Hillside Holy Ghost Extension Holy Ghost Proper Imelda Village Irisan Kayang Extension Kias Kagitingan Loakan Proper Lopez Jaena

Lourdes Subdivision Extension Dagsian, Lower Lourdes Subdivision, Lower Quirino Hill, Lower General Emilio F. Aguinaldo Lualhati Lucnab Magsaysay, Lower Magsaysay Private Road Aurora Hill Proper Bal-Marcoville (Marcoville) Quirino Hill, Middle Military Cut-off Mines View Park Modern Site, East Modern Site, West New Lucban Aurora Hill, North Central Sanitary Camp, North Outlook Drive Pacdal Pinget Pinsao Pilot Project Pinsao Proper Puliwes Pucsusan MRR-Queen Of Peace Rock Quarry, Lower Salud Mitra San Antonio Village San Luis Village San Roque Village San Vicente Santa Escolastica Santo Rosario Santo Tomas School Area Santo Tomas Proper Scout Barrio Session Road Area Slaughter House Area Sanitary Camp South Saint Joseph Village Teodora Alonzo

Trancoville Rock Quarry, Upper Victoria Village Quirino Hill, West Andres Bonifacio Legarda-Burnham-Kisad Imelda R. Marcos (La Salle) Lourdes Subdivision, Proper Quirino-Magsaysay, Upper (Upp A. Bonifacio-Caguioa-Rimando Ambiong Aurora Hill, South Central Abanao-Zandueta-Kayong-Chugum Bagong Lipunan (Market Area) BGH Compound Bayan Park Village Camdas Subdivision Palma-Urbano (Cari?o-Palma) Dominican Hill Mirador Alfonso Tabora Dontogan Ferdinand (Happy Homes-Campo) Happy Homes (Happy Homes-Lucban) Harrison-Claudio Carantes Honeymoon (Honeymoon-Holy Ghost) Kabayanihan Kayang-Hilltop Gabriela Silang Liwanag-Loakan Malcolm Square-Perfecto Manuel A. Roxas Padre Burgos Quezon Hill, Upper Rock Quarry, Middle Phil-Am Quezon Hill Proper Middle Quezon Hill Subdivision Rizal Monument Area SLU-SVP Housing Village South Drive Magsaysay, Upper Market Subdivision, Upper Padre Zamora

Transportation

By air

Loakan Airport is the lone airport serving the general area of Baguio City. The airport is classified as a trunkline airport, or a major commercial domestic airport, by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, a body of the Department of Transportation and Communications that is responsible for the operations of not only this airport but also of all other airports in the Philippines except the major international airports. It is about 10 minutes by car from the city center going south. Due to the limited length of the runway which is 1,802 meters or 5,912 feet, it is restricted to commuter size aircraft. This perhaps contributed to the city's declining competitiveness against other medium-sized cities around the country. The airport is used primarily by helicopters, turbo-prop and piston engine aircraft, although on rare occasion light business jets (LBJ) have flown into the airport.

On land

The three main access roads leading to Baguio from the lowlands are Kennon Road, Marcos Highway,^[7] and Naguilian Road, also known as Quirino Highway. Kennon Road starts at Rosario, La Union and winds upwards through a narrow, steep valley. This is often the fastest route to Baguio but it is particularly perilous, with landslides during the rainy season and sharp dropoffs, some without guardrails. This route to Baguio is as spectacularly scenic as it is dangerous. The Aspiras Highway, which starts in Agoo, La Union and connects to Palispis Highway, at the boundary of Benguet and La Union is the major route from Manila, and Naguilian Road, which starts in Bauang, La Union, are both somewhat longer routes but are much safer than Kennon Road especially during rainy season, and are the preferred routes for coaches, buses, lorries (trucks) and many of the more conservative car drivers.

It takes about six hours to travel the approximately 250 km distance between Manila and Baguio City by way of Kennon Road. It is about fifteen to thirty minutes longer through the Aspiras-Palispis Highway, and could take three more hours if going up from Manila via Naguilian Road—which is the usual route for travelers from the Northern areas of Luzon such as Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and northern La Union province.^{[citation needed]}

There is another access to Baguio from Aritao in the province of Nueva Vizcaya passing through Itogon, Benguet but this is less traveled, the road is not well maintained, and public transportation through this route is not as regular. It is particularly difficult during rainy periods. Another road, Halsema Highway (also known as "Mountain Trail") leads North through the mountainous portion of the Cordillera Autonomous Region. It starts at the northern border of Baguio City, in the Municipality of La Trinidad (Trinidad Valley). This highway offers some extraordinary scenery, coupled with some sheer drops of hundreds of feet in some sparsely populated areas. Drivers should be well-versed in Cordillera-style mountainous driving, as this road has, on very rare occasions, experienced sleet / freezing rain conditions as one proceeds North toward Sagada, a town worth visiting for its scenery and historic significance.

There are several bus lines linking Baguio with Manila and Central Luzon, and provinces such as Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Quezon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, La Union, and those in the Ilocos regions. Most transportation companies also offer express and air-conditioned buses at a higher fare, although some "aircon" minibuses offer cheaper fares. Bus services that operate in Baguio include Five Star Bus Company, Victory Liner, Partas, GV Florida Transport, Philippine Rabbit, Viron Transit, Dangwa Tranco, Genesis Transport, Saulog Transit Inc., Dagupan Bus Co.,Inc.., Amanian bus line, and many smaller, possibly not well-maintained feeder minibuses—and all buses should be viewed with an eye to safety and reliable condition before passengers should entrust their families or friends to drivers—many of whom are quite experienced and safety conscious, while a few are less so. A word to wise is to check carefully before you enjoy your ride.

There are also hundreds of Taxi and jeepney operators who provide public transportation in Baguio City.

Economy

The economy of Baguio City is centered on tourism and its educational institutions, of which it has at least eight colleges and universities, as well as a plethora of trade and technical schools. Based on the latest census made in the year 2007, almost half of the city's population are students, many of whom come from nearby provinces, with numerous foreign students to add to the diversity.

Another key source of income for Baguio is its position as the commercial hub for the province of Benguet. Many of the agricultural and mining goods produced in Benguet pass through Baguio City for processing, sale or further distribution to the "lowlands."

Brooms with price tags being sold in market

The city is also a major retail center for the Cordilleras and Ilocos provinces, with shoppers coming to the city to take advantage of the diversity of competitively priced commercial products on sale, many of which would otherwise only be available in Manila. The city is also popular with bargain hunters—some of the most popular bargaining areas include Baguio City Market and Maharlika Livelihood Center. Despite the city's relatively small size, it boasts numerous shopping centers and malls catering to increasing commercial and tourist activity in Baguio: these include SM City Baguio mall, Baguio Center Mall, Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza, Abanao Square, Maharlika Livelihood Center, Porta Vaga Mall and Bonchic bargain center.

Various food and retail businesses run by local residents proliferate, forming a key part of Baguio's interesting cultural landscape. Some of these include Tiong San chain of department stores and supermarkets, Sunshine Supermarket, Star Cafe, Country Mart, the famous Rose Bowl Restaurant, Good Taste, Marosan's, Patao's, eateries along Bonafacio, Session Road, near Teacher's Camp and many others.

Session Road

The areas of Session Road, Harrison Road, Magsaysay Avenue and Abanao Street comprise the trade center of the city. It is in these areas where commercial and business structures abound. First-class cinemas, hotels, restaurants, department stores, and shopping centers are to be found in this area. Shopping at the famous City Market offers one a wide array of locally sourced goods and products: everything from colorful woven fabrics and hand-strung beads to primitive wood carvings, cut flowers, strawberries and "Baguio" vegetables, the latter often denoting vegetable types that do well in the cooler growing climate. (Strawberries and string beans—referred to as 'Baguio beans' across the Philippines—are shipped to major urban markets across the archipelago.)

Baguio is home to one of the country's most profitable and best investment areas, a Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) location called the Baguio City Economic Zone (BCEZ). Located in the southern part of the city between Camp John Hay leisure resort and Philippine Military Academy at Loakan. Firms located in the BCEZ mostly produce and export knitted clothing, transistors, small components for vehicles, electronics and computer parts. Notable firms include Texas Instruments Philippines which happens to be the second largest exporter in the country,^[8] MOOG, and Sitel.

File:Going‑baguio.jpg

SM Baguio

Tourism

Tourism is one of Baguio's main industries due to its weather and history. During the year end holidays some people from the lowlands prefer spending their vacation in Baguio, to experience cold temperatures they rarely have in their home provinces. Also, during summer, especially during Holy Week, tourists from all over the country flock to the city. During this time, the total number of people in the city doubles.^[9] To accommodate all these people there are more than 80 hotels and inns available.^[10] Local festivities such as the Panagbenga Festival also attract both local and foreign tourists. Baguio is the lone Philippine destination in the 2011 TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Destinations Awards, Asia category, with the city being among the top 25 destinations in Asia.^[11]

Tourist attractions

Lion's Head Located in Camp 6 Kennon Road, this popular landmark was constructed in 1972 with the contributions of the Lions Club International members in Baguio. This 40-foot head of a lion was carved in limestone by a local artist. Visitors passing by normally stop for a while to take a break and to take photographs as souvenirs.

Tam-awan Village This artificial village was founded by Chanum Foundation, Inc. in 1998. It was constructed for the purpose of showing visitors how a local village in the highlands used to look. Authentic native huts were brought from Mt. Provinces and are rented out to those who wish to stay overnight and experience the way locals once lived. A gallery was also constructed to house paintings and other artworks created by several local artists. The word "tam-awan" means "a high place to view". With clear weather conditions, the South China Sea and the Lingayen Gulf are visible from this location as well as from portions of Naguilian and Kennon Roads.

Philippine Military Academy Situated in the southern part of the city within Fort Del Pilar, Loakan, this military academy was created to train future officers for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has beautiful vistas and offers many photo opportunities.

The Mansion As an official (second) residence of the President of the Philippines, entry to the compound is restricted. The public can view the Mansion through its gate, which is patterned after that of London's Buckingham Palace. It is located in the eastern part of the city. The Mansion has also been the site of several international conferences and a working office of the President of the Philippines during his or her visits to the City.

Camp John Hay This former American recreational facility was converted into a world class resort. It features a golf course, skating rink, picnic area, and a mini golf course at the Scout Hill area. Several cottages and hotels were also converted or built to accommodate visitors. Some excellent restaurant experiences complete with fireplaces and panoramic views await visitors.

Teachers Camp A facility currently run by the Department of Education. It features several function halls, a museum, cottages, and a field and track area.

Easter Weaving Room Located within the campus of Easter School, this location allows tourists to witness the process of cloth weaving as has been practiced for ages by the natives of the mountain provinces.

Wright Park It is sometimes mistakenly called "Ride Park" by some tourists that identify this pine tree park reserve for horse rides. A long stairway leads to the "Pool of the Pines", a 100 meter long pool of water lined on both sides by the famous Baguio towering pine.

Mines View Park Named for its view of Benguet's mountain ranges where gold, silver and other ores were once quarried.

Baguio Sunshine Park The park features flowering garden and a covered stage with ethnic design, which is often used, for cultural presentation. The park itself is designed after a shield.

Botanical Garden It is also called the Igorot village, which features native huts typical of the Cordillera architecture. The garden is also a site of cultural presentations and some special tribal meetings.

Burnham Park The oldest of all Baguio parks, it provides facilities for sporting activities such as biking, skating and basketball, as well as picnics and concerts.

Baguio - Mountain Provinces Museum This museum is located within the Baguio Tourism Complex along Gov. Pack Road. It has on display a variety of artifacts and relics showcases the cultural heritage, customs and traditions of the Cordillerans.

SLU (Saint Louis University, Baguio City) Museum Located within the premise of the school, it showcases the different culture heritages of the Cordilleras. Artifacts and relics including an ancient coffin can be seen on display.

Ifugao Woodcarvers Village Located along Asin Road, about 5 kilometers from the city, is an Ifugao wood carving village, which produces and sells hand-carved curio items. Some of the most intricate carving and unusual indoor and outdoor furniture is hand-made here at reasonable prices.

Asin Hot Springs These hot springs are located 16 kilometers northwest of Baguio. Several private resorts took advantage of the natural springs in the area and constructed swimming pools for all visitors, as well as cottages for lodging.

Mt. Sto. Tomas and Mt. Kabuyao The highest peak is 7,500 feet high and commands a majestic view of the city. These mountains can be reached by foot or by vehicle. Hikers should be in good physical condition or have a substantial support system.

Lourdes Grotto This is a religious shrine housing the image of the Lady of Lourdes. About 252 steps lead to this shrine where pilgrims brave the steep climb to offer sacrifices, devotion and prayers.

Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral, better known as Baguio Cathedral One of the familiar landmarks in Baguio, the structure with its twin spires and one hundred steps sits on top of a hill in the heart of the city, offering church goers and visitors a chance to get a bird's eye view of the entire commercial hub. A popular wedding venue which can yield spectacular photographs due to the magnificent backdrops.

Bell Church This cluster of temples is located on the border of Baguio City and Trinidad Valley. It features oriental architecture, pagodas roof, ornate gateway, dragon ornaments and Buddha-guarded windows. The Bell Temple priest practices a mixture of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity.

Baguio Grand Mosque The biggest mosque in the city, located at Campo Filipino. It also houses an Islamic Studies center madrasah. Visits or field trips by non-Muslims may be arranged.

Baguio City Market Located within the central business district, this is where local products and goods from nearby towns and provinces are sold. Some of the market is on a hillside, suggesting good walking shoes are appropriate.

Dominican Heritage Hill Formerly owned by the Dominicans as a retreat house, now in the name of Baguio City where spiritual, environmental and educational activities are conducted. The heritage Hill ruins is the main attraction where one can have a 360 degrees view of the city.

Iglesia Ni Cristo - Magsaysay Locale Considered to be the highest elevated INC chapel in the world above ground.

Education

Baguio is a university town with 141,088 students out of the 301,926 population count done on the year 2007.^[2] It is the center of education in the entire North Luzon. There are eight major institutions of higher education in Baguio City.

U.P. Baguio Oblation

University of the Philippines Baguio (U.P. Baguio) - the national university of the Philippines, U.P. System's flag-bearer in Northern Luzon, internationally known for its excellent record in ethnic and multidisciplinary research and Cordillera Studies

Philippine Military Academy - the national training school for future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Saint Louis University, Baguio City - established in 1911 by the CICM missionaries whose aim is to educate the locals through Christian Education. Since then, it has become the largest and one of the top performing universities in the country. SLU is among the elite 15 Philippine universities recognized among top 201+ universities in Asia.^[12]

University of Baguio - founded by Dr. Fernando G. Bautista and Mrs. Rosa C. Bautista in 1948.^[13]

University of the Cordilleras - formerly Baguio Colleges Foundation, established on June 19, 1946.

Baguio Central University - formerly Lyceum of Baguio. First opened in 1945.

Pines City Colleges - formerly Pines City Doctors' Hospital School of Nursing and Pines City Educational Center. First opened as a Nursing school in 1969. The oldest school of Nursing in Baguio City (since the closing of the Baguio General Hospital School of Nursing).

Easter College - formerly Easter School. It is one of the oldest schools in the Cordilleras. The school was established by the Protestant Episcopalian missionary Rt. Rev. Charles Henry Brent in 1906.^[14]

Other higher educational institutions

• STI College, Baguio
• Data Center, Baguio
• Remnant International College
• Baguio College of Technology
• National University - Baguio
• AMA Computer College
• Baguio School of Business and Technology
• Philippine Public Safety College
• Philippine Women's University
• Meridian Paramedical & Tech Inst
• NIIT Baguio
• Women's Vocational Institute
• San Pablo Major Seminary
• Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary is the flagship Southern Baptist ministerial training center established in 1954, offering undergraduate, graduate and post graduate degree programs.
• Asia Pacific Theological Seminary founded in 1964 in Manila and transferred to the Baguio area in 1986, is the foremost seminary for the Asia-Pacific region of the Assembles of God.
• Lutheran Theological Seminary was established in 1955 in Manila with the Rev. Lorenz Nieting as head. The campus was moved to Baguio in 1961 offering a five-year divinity degree program leading to ordination to Lutheran diaconate on the third year and the priesthood.
• Al-Maarif Educational Center, www.almaarifeducationalcenter.weebly.com

International Schools (elementary and secondary levels)

• Brent International School was founded the same year as the city. It was originally established as a boarding school for the sons of American families stationed in the Philippines.
• Monticello International School
• Educare International School
• Remnant International College
• Union School International
• Yeun Soo-Saint Jude International School
• Daily International School

Culture

The city is home to many immigrants from other parts of the country. A significant population of foreigners also contributed to the diversity of the city's colorful culture. The languages commonly spoken in Baguio are Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Tagalog, English, Chinese, and recently, Korean. Due to a significantly large number of Korean students coming to the city to study the English language, several establishments were founded to accommodate their needs. Posters and signages are sometimes printed with Korean translation. Several restaurants also serve different types of local and foreign cuisine.

Baguio's youth majority in the population has given it a distinct flavor different from those of other cities in the Philippines. Although Baguio City is very modern nowadays, Panagbenga Festival, the annual Flower Festival, is celebrated each February to showcase Baguio's rich cultural heritage, its appreciation of the environment, and inclination towards the arts.

The city became a haven for many Filipino artists in the 1970s-1990s. Drawn by the cool climate and low cost of living, artists such as Ben Cabrera (now a National Artist) and filmmaker Butch Perez relocated to the city. At the same time, locals such as mixed-media artist Santiago Bose and filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik were also establishing work in the city. Even today, artists like painters and sculptors from all over the country are drawn to the Baguio Arts Festival which is held annually.^[4]

Many Baguio artists used the context of cultural diversity of the Cordillera Region to establish their work. Other notable Baguio City artists include Narda Capuyan (weaving), Kawayan de Guia (painting), Kigao (sculpture), Willy Magtibay, Peter Pinder (fiber glass sculpture, painting, mixed media), Art Tibaldo (mixed media-visual arts) and Franklin Cimatu (poetry.) The active student population in Baguio has also spawned various interests in animation and digital arts, with several local artists doing work for large production and advertising agencies in the Philippines and abroad.

See also

• Daniel Burnham, the urban planner and architect responsible for the initial design of the city
• John Hay, United States Secretary of state and namesake of Camp John Hay
• Luke Edward Wright, for whom Wright Park was named
• Leonard Wood, for whom Leonard Wood Road was named
• Lyman W.V. Kennon, builder and namesake for Kennon Road
• Gov. William F. Pack, then governor of Benguet province who planned the creation of Teacher's Camp [2]
• F. B. Harrison, the most beloved American governor-general in the Philippines, for whom Harrison Road was named^[15]
• Teachers Camp^[16]
• William Cameron Forbes, American Governor-General of the Philippines who ordered Kennon Road to be built
• Irisan
• Baguio Cathedral
• Dean Conant Worcester, Member of First Philippine Commission and official urging founding of Baguio as the "Summer Capital"

References

1. ^ http://www.slu.edu.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=71
2. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.census.gov.ph/data/census2007/index.html
3. ^ http://earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/update_SOEPD/Earthquake/1990LuzonEQ_Monograph/pp001/pp001.html
4. ^ ^{a b} http://www.asiatravel.com/philippines/baguio1.html
5. ^ Basilan, Jacquelyn; Khristine Love Vicente (17 December 2008). "Baguio wakes up to coldest morn in 2008". Breaking News / Regions (Philippine Daily Inquirer). http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=178518. Retrieved 12 January 2009. 
6. ^ http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net/2003/01/07%7Ctitle
7. ^ http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2000/ra_8971_2000.html
8. ^ http://www.mb.com.ph/node/6808
9. ^ http://www.nscb.gov.ph/rucar/stat_trsm_bgo.htm
10. ^ http://www.philippines-travel-guide.com/baguio-hotels.html
11. ^ http://www.tripadvisor.com/TCDestinations-g2-cTop25-Asia.html
12. ^ http://www.baguioboard.com/saint-louis-university.php Saint Louis University, Baguio City
13. ^ http://www.ubaguio.edu University of Baguio
14. ^ http://www.eastercollege.ph/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34&Itemid=6 Easter College
15. ^ http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/seasia/phil18981916.html
16. ^ [1]

External links

• Baguio travel guide from Wikitravel
• Official website of Baguio City
• 2007 Philippine Census Information

Coordinates: 16°25′N 120°36′E / 16.417°N 120.6°E / 16.417; 120.6