THE LOURDES GROTTO

The Lourdes Grotto is another Catholic shrine and place of meditation in Baguio. It is
located on a high hill in the western part of the city where you will find the image of the
Lady of Lourdes. It is a favorite pilgrimage site during Holy Week most especially during
Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Access to the top of the grotto could be made by climbing
the 252 steps or by driving a light vehicle through a winding, narrow and steep asphaltpaved road. Devotees who go up to the grotto to pray usually light up a candle at an altar
below the image. There are also vendors at the shrine who are willing to light up a candle
for you and say a prayer for whatever personal intentions you might have.
As it is in many other similar shrines, the grotto was constructed to commemorate the
numerous visions of the Virgin Mary by a 14-year old French girl named Bernadette
Soubirous. This happened in 1858 from February 11 to July 16 in the town of Lourdes
which is in southwestern France. The visions were declared authentic by the Pope in 1862
and this also led to the authorization of the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes.

CAMP JOHN HAY

Camp John Hay used to be the rest and recreational facility for employees of the military
and Department of Defense of the United States. This 690-hectare property was turned
over to the Philippine government in July 1, 1991 and was initially administered by the
Philippine Tourism Authority and then turned over to the Bases Conversion Development.
The facility, which was named after U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's secretary of war,
was used by the Japanese as a concentration camp for American and British soldiers
during the war. Its name was changed to Club John Hay after it was turned over to the
Philippine government, however, it has since been called Camp John Hay once again. For
the first time in its history the facility was open to the public in 1991 and converted into a
recreational complex. It used to be off-limits to Filipinos, except for the privileged few who
could get entry passes from its former American administrators.
Prior to its turnover to the Philippine government, there were 290 fully-furnished rooms in
the different cottages, duplexes, apartments, and lodges which are distributed in different
locations around the complex. It even had a "Honeymoon Cottage" which was rented out
to newlyweds who come up to Baguio for their honeymoon. Some of these billeting units
were equipped with color television sets, refrigerators, and cooking facilities. Each unit has
a fireplace to keep you warm during the months of December, January and February when
the weather in Baguio is quite chilly and cold.

THE MANSION
The Mansion is located on the eastern part of the city along the Leonard Wood Road and
right across from Wright Park. It was built in 1908 for U.S. governor-generals and was
destroyed in 1945 during the battle for the liberation of the Philippines.
The Philippine government later rebuilt and improved the structure in 1947 and since then
it has been used by various Philippine presidents whenever they come up to Baguio for
their official visits and engagements. The Mansion served as the seat of the Second Session
of Economic Commission of Asia and the Far East in 1947. It has also been the site of first
meeting of the South East Asia Union which was popularly known as the Baguio
Conference of 1950 which was conceived and convened by President Elpidio Quirino.
The elaborate main gate of the Mansion is said to be a replica of that at Buckingham
Palace in London. Vehicles entering the compound pass through a great circular driveway
and it is usually open only when the Mansion is used for an official function or activity.
With its beautiful gardens and a well-manicured lawn, it is a favorite site for sightseeing
and picture taking.

BAGUIO CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL

The rose-colored Baguio Catholic Cathedral, located on top of a hill in the heart of the city,
is one of the more familiar and most visited landmarks of Baguio. This beautiful structure
has twin spires and is one of the most photographed buildings in the city. From Session
Road it is accessible by pedestrians who ascend a long concrete stairway of more than a
hundred steps. Visitors and churchgoers who would rather avoid the difficult climb drive
vehicles through an access road which passes behind the nearby post office building.
The construction of the cathedral by phases was begun on a hill which was originally
referred to as "Kampo" by the native Ibalois. It was later called Mount Mary by a Belgian
Catholic Mission headed by Fr. Carlu, CICM, who was then the parish priest. The
cathedral was finally consecrated in 1936 and dedicated to Our Lady of Atonement. During
World War II it became an evacuation center and withstood the Japanese carpet bombing
of the city in 1945, thereby saving thousands of lives.

The Baguio Cathedral is the biggest catholic church in Baguio and is the center of religious
activities such as during the Holy Week when thousands of devotees from Metro Manila
and the provinces come up to the city. During Sundays and other special holidays of the
catholic church, you will find vendors along the stairway and also at the church's open
patio selling flowers, balloons, newspapers, sweepstake tickets, candles, rosary beads, and
other religious articles. Visitors desiring to visit Baguio on a tour should avoid coming up to
the city during this religious week. Not only is the city crowded with people, it is difficult to
find rooms in hotels and inns and the prices of native handicraft, souvenirs, vegetables,
flowers, food, and other commodities & services are rather expensive. Its view deck at the
cathedral is a favorite among visitors since it provides a panoramic view of the downtown
commercial area, Burnham park, city hall, and Camp Allen.

PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is the premier military institution of the country
and is the training ground for future officers of the Armed Forces of the Phillippines. It's
mission is: "To instruct, train, and develop the cadets so that they will possess the
character, the broad and basic military skills, and the education essential to the pursuit of a
progressive military career."
In 1950, the Academy was transferred from its old site at Teacher's Camp to a sprawling
373-hectare compound in Loakan which is ten kilometers south of downtown Baguio City.
Here it found its permanent home in a fort named after the young hero of the battle of
Tirad Pass, Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar.
The Academy site was developed into an ideal military training institution with facilities
and infrastructure required of a growing military institution. It's rigid and unique 4-year
curriculum has been designed to fit the specific needs of the major branches of service of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Just like military academies in the United States,
female cadets have also been accepted by PMA since 1993.

THE BELL CHURCH

The Bell Church is located north of the downtown area of Baguio along the road leading to
the town of La Trinidad, Benguet. Within its compound are intricately designed arches and
buildings adorned with flags, bells and dragons. It has a pagoda, and beautifully
landscapped gardens. There are some artifacts about Buddhism that you will find at the
Bell Church as well as some literature about the history of China.
It is during the Spring Festival or what is more commonly known in the West as the
Chinese New Year that local and foreign Chinese tourists flock to the Bell Church. Like all
Chinese festivals, the date of the new year is determined by the lunar/solar calendar rather
than the Gregorian calendar. The observance of the holiday falls on a different date each
year and it usually varies from late January to the middle of February. This Chinese public
holiday is usually observed for 3 days although the festival traditionally starts with the new
moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day
of the new year is called the Lantern Festival which is celebrated at night with lantern
displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.