There are some firsts in your life that are worth remembering. My first trip to Baguio City was when I was 8 or 9 years old. I was with my dad during that time. I can still remember getting excited when my father told me that he will be attending a conference in Baguio City and that he will be accompanying him to the trip, as some sort of a reward for being a consistent honor pupil during that time.

The trip was tiresome for a young man at my age. Imagine taking a 24-hour trip boat ride from Tagbilaran City to Manila, then from Manila, taking an 8-hour land trip going to Baguio City. If I remembered right, my father and I took William Lines going to Manila, and Philippine Rabbit going to Baguio City.

For me back then (and even until now), Baguio City is a wonderland. The place holds some kind of wonder. In school, our class discussed the city as the only place in the Philippines where the temperature ranges from 8 degrees to 16 degrees celsius compared to the normal 28-33 degrees celsius in most part of the country.

As we arrived in Baguio City, I smelled the freshness of the pine trees surrounding the area. And indeed the area is cool! Since my father's conference is yet to start the next day after we arrived in the city, we took every opportunity to tour the place. Here are some of the places we had visited:

• Botanical Gardens
  It is also called the Igorot village, which used to feature native huts typical of Cordillera architecture. This village captures the ethnic spirit and cultural legacy of the Igorot dweller. The garden is also a site of cultural presentations and other tribal meetings.

• Burnham Park
  It is the oldest of all Baguio parks. One can unwind from the tension of the day-to-day bustle by biking, skating or simply reflecting on the day's experiences amid a soothing backdrop of colorful flowers. It is wooded and is great place to have picnics and concerts. There are tennis and basketball courts, a football field, athletic oval and an orchidarium.

• Camp John Hay
  It is still the extraordinary beautiful base, which the American forces turned over last July 1, 1991 to the Philippine government. It is now open to the public. Its excellent cottages, golf courses, bowling lanes, dining places and natural ambience are all preserved and maintained.

• Mines View Park
  Appropriately named for its breathtaking views of mountain ranges and Baguio's "mineral bowl" where gold, silver and other ores were once quarried. There are now numerous souvenir shops around the park offering such items as woodcarvings, woven cloth, ashtrays, shell products and other curio items.

• Wright Park
  It is sometimes mistakenly called "Ride Park" by some who identify this pine tree park reserve for its kiddy 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.

• Kennon Road
  Kennon Road is the shortest and the most scenic highway linking Baguio and the lowlands. This was named after Col. Lyman W. Kennon who was its final builder. The industrious Cordilleras and foreign workers assisted him. The road was substantially finished in 1903.

• The Mansion House
  The imposing and majestic Baguio Mansion House has housed a long list of Filipino presidents and American governor-generals. It has an elegantly structured building and guesthouse. Its gate is patterned after that of London's Buckingham Palace.

• The Philippine Military Academy
  The Philippine Military Academy is the Philippine's premier military institution. True to its mission to "instruct, train, and develop the cadets so that they shall possess the character, the broad and basic military skills, and the education essential to the pursuit of a progressive military career", the PMA, as it is more popularly known, has honed the best military officers in our country today. It has complete training and educational facilities to mold the future officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

• Baguio Cathedral
  One of the familiar landmarks in Baguio. The structure with its twin spires and one hundred steps sits on top of a small hill in the heart of the city, offering churchgoers and visitors a chance to get a bird's eye view of the entire commercial hub. It was opened to the public last November 25, 1990 during the Christ the King celebration.

• 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. One is also regarded with a beautiful panoramic view of the city.

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