Baguio Summer Capital

The country's summer capital, Baguio City is situated 1,500 meters above sea level and is one of the few places in the Philippines with a cool climate. It's always eight degrees cooler in Baguio than in lowlands.Baguio was developed during the early 1900s by American colonial officials who sought for a cool mountain retreat away from the heat of Manila. One little known fact is that the original city plan was modelled by architech Daniel Burnham after that Washington D.C. Its name derives from bagyiw, an Ibaloi word for a moss that grew in the mountains' damp, swampy areas.Burnham Park at the center of the city has pine trees, flower gardens and a mammade lagoon. The famous City market offers a bewildering array of fresh fruits ad vegetables, notably strawberries. Other specialities are fruit preserves and peanut brittle. Maharlika Center specialize in various arts and crafts along with antiques. Baguio Cathedral and Lourdes Grotto are the City's chief religious landmarks. The Mansion House is the summer residence of the President of the Philippines, with its gates patterned after those of Burckingham Palace. Camp John Hay is former US military facility that's now an upmarket vacation resort.Mines View Park and Dominican Hill are the city's best known view points, while Wright Park offers pony rides. Adjacent Baguio Botanical Park has souvenir stalls and upland replica houses. An entire set of houses were found along Asin Road, while weaves and silverwork are sold at Easter Weaving School and St. Louis School silver shop.