Baguio City

Baguio City is a 1st class highly urbanized city in northern Luzon known as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. Situated on the southwestern point of the Cordillera Mountains, Baguio was originally a part of Benguet before it became an independent chartered city. Due to the city's climate, the President of the Philippines used to administer the country from Baguio during summer.

Baguio City occupies about 57 square kilometers of mountainous land about 1,524 meters (almost 5000 feet) above sea level. Due to its high altitude and moist tropical landscape, the area used to be covered by mossy plants. The name Baguio is said to be derived from the Ibaloi word, bagiw (lit. “moss”).Although the weather in Baguio still follows the typical Philippine seasons: dry (summer) from October to May; and wet from June to September, the combination of the geography and flora makes Baguio eight degrees cooler in any month compared to areas in the Philippine lowlands. Thus, the average temperature ranges from 15 to 26˚C, and drops to 8˚C from December to early February.The lowest temperature recorded was 6.27˚C, on 18 January 1961.

However, this climate has disadvantages during the afternoon and the rainy season. Baguio can get very foggy and damp and it is known to have the heaviest volume of rainfall in the country. (4.77 meters in July 1927). The heavy rains usually limit the number of airplane flights to one during the morning and cause a large number of landslides in some areas.


Baguio remains the Summer Capital of the Philippines and a favorite haven of local tourists, balikbayans (expatriates), and foreign tourists. Baguio is also dubbed "Convention City" as it has several edifices erected for the purpose of hosting conventions and conferences.

Panagbenga, the Baguio Flower Festival, began in 1994 and is celebrated every last weekend of February when all of the flowers are at full bloom. The streets are often filled with a parade of floats, bands, street dancers and guests. Various competitions, exhibits and flea markets provide a variety of activities for visitors and residents.

The annual Philippine Military Academy Homecoming is also held every second week of February. It is graced by parades, programs and exclusive balls in honor of the PMA cadets and alumni.

Baguio also experiences an influx of visitors during Holy Week, which usually signals the summer vacation in the Philippines. Business firms and civic organizations see this period as an opportune time to hold activities and events.

The Baguio Foundation Day, held every first day of September, celebrates the establishment of Baguio as a chartered city and the Summer Capital of the Philippines on 1 September 1909. Cultural presentations, activities, parades, exhibitions, and other activities highlight this event. The Baguio Arts Festival was first organized in 1989 by the Baguio Arts Guild to promote the province as a venue for art and artists. The Art Fest is a celebration filled with exhibitions by visual, performing, and ethnic artists in such mediums as photography, film, video, sculpture, drama, music, poetry reading, modern dance,and folk dance.

The Fil-Am Golf Tournament begins in the middle of November and ends in early December, attended by hundreds of golfers. The playoff, held at Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club, is a widely covered event in the sporting world.

Silahis ng Pasko features Christmas activities geared for children, including carol competitions, a Share-a-Toy event, and sports competitions.

The climate of Baguio is conducive to the production of highland vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, cabbage and the popular Baguio beans. The products from the various provinces in the Cordillera area are sold in bulk in the La Trinidad Valley and then retailed at the Baguio central market. Agricultural produce are also brought to provinces south of Baguio and Metro Manila. The Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad produces strawberries sold in Baguio City, as well as in Manila and other provinces. Visitors to the farm can pick strawberries together with the farmers. Baguio also produces preserved sweets, including strawberry jam, as well as fresh and dried flowers, including the “everlasting” flowers. Baguio is also widely known for the native wood carvings, some of them several feet high, and woven products popular even abroad as souvenir items. One of the most popular wood figurines sold in Baguio is the “barrel man.” The “walis tambo” or “soft broom” is also a popular product.