Short Detours

If you’re a biker and close to the next annual Shell Bike Fair series, you might want to get a chance on free motorbikes being raffled. With its cool climate known as bikers’ favorite, Baguio was the starting point of the fair series. The bikers are treated with performances by Sky Dive, Uptown Rascals, Sky Light, Imago, Go Girls, and the “pambansang banda” Parokya ni Edgar. It was also attended by Shell’s celebrity endorser Diana Meneses.   With the growing number of motorcycle riders in the Philippines, Metro Manila has 860,517 motorbike owners while up north, there are 576,573, the fair was well attended. The succeeding series are expected to fare the same. I made a short stop at the Fair at the CAP Building in Camp John Hay hoping to win in the raffle for another motorbike, but with more than a thousand bikers assembled, it’s exactly more than a thousand to one chance. But I was lucky to bring home some souvenirs, thanks to the media privileges....

This article was first published in ABS-CBN New Online   BAGUIO CITY -- “Don't forget, we still have Cafe by the Ruins Dua!” This was the message posted by the management of Cafe by the Ruins on its official Facebook page after the original branch of this well-loved Baguio restaurant was hit by fire last April 30. “If you're craving bagnet or our fan-favorite strawberry shortcake you can get that here along with other great dishes,” it reminded its customers. The loss of the original Cafe by the Ruins was quickly mourned by the Baguio community and other guests who have been regular patrons of the restaurant. “After 29 long years, it’s heartbreaking to see it go out in flames,” said managing partner Benguetaña Villanueva, who came home just three months ago from Canada to co-manage the business. Villanueva is the daughter of the late Roberto Villanueva, who named her after his birth province. The surrealist painter was among the restaur...

Hidden deep in Benguet Mountains is an outdoor Green Living Room featuring 24 beautiful landscapes inspired by the best gardens in the World. Each garden has its story to tell: the origin of life is a legend told at the Inca garden, the love story that was torn apart at the Romeo and Juliet garden, the musical garden that rhymes with the wind, and many more. The Zen garden and concentric garden are places to contemplate and meditate. The favorite of many visitors is the mirror garden where they can have creative photography of themselves. Aside from the Award winning flowers from All American Selections (AAS), other materials like rocks, twigs, sand, cement, pebbles, even strings and mirrors are artistically used to design the 24 gardens and ponds located inside a 3-hectare mountain resort called Mount Costa. The clean, crisp and fresh mountain air amidst the sound of tranquility is a glimpse of what Baguio used to be before the hustle and bustle of moder...

Benguet is home to three major ethnic groups, the Kankanaey, Ibaloy and Kalanguya. The three groups have diverse cultural practices. To showcase these cultures, the province has created a cultural village to feature the 11 municipalities. To those who are familiar with Adivay Festival, this is the trade fair area where the different municipalities showcase their town’s products. This area will now be a permanent cultural village where not only products are sold but ethnic heirlooms will be showcased. The village was launched on February 18, 2017 and was included in the Panagbenga Flower Festival calendar of events as one of the major activities and destinations. The village will be showcasing the different municipalities every weekend for 13 weeks that will culminate on May 19-21 this year. Department of Tourism Marie Venus Q. Tan was the guest of honor during the launching of the Village. It was the director who steered the province to make the...

Looking for a new gimmick and experience Baguio after-dart on weekends this cold February?  Keep yourself warm and dance the night away or just sit and enjoy the music at The Camp. The Camp is the place-to-go-to after sunset and Elevate Productions has brought you several events this Panagbenga Month. On February 17 th , Friday, shake it away with DJ Garuda at the Ampersand. Come up early on February 24, Friday, for a dance party with DJ Acer Ramos and DJ Marc Naval with McPao still at the Ampersand. After watching the Street Parade, enjoy another dance party with DJ Dimass & DJ Marx Moterola with McPao.  Or you can go upstairs and listen to Joyce Mallar and Co at the Hardin. Another Friday, another night of dancing with DJ Migs Santillan on March 3 at the Ampersand. On Saturday, lit the dance floor with Dj Knoxville and DJ Supmerman, still at the Ampersand. Or you can choose the laugh exercise in a Comedy Cartel at the Hardin. ...