Philippine Cities ②｜What Kind of City Is Baguio?

Hello, this is Awork Academy.

Last time, we introduced Cebu, the Philippines' largest resort destination.
This time, we'll introduce Baguio, a commercial and educational hub located in the northern part of Luzon Island, sitting in a highland area at an altitude of about 1,500m.

<A Relatively Cool Climate Is Its Charm>

Baguio is located about 250km northwest of Manila.
It's a highland city at an altitude of roughly 1,500m, with an average annual temperature of about 19.3°C.

Among the Philippines, which is generally thought of as hot year-round, it's one of the few areas with a temperate climate.

Around the city, you'll even spot "winter items" that are rare in the Philippines, such as knit hats, scarves, and down jackets.

The Philippines has a history of once being under American rule, and before World War II, government offices would relocate to Baguio during the summer, which is why it was called the "Summer Capital."

Even today, when Manila gets at its hottest, business is sometimes conducted in Baguio instead.

<A Leading Educational City in the Philippines>

Baguio is also known as one of the Philippines' leading educational cities.

Many educational institutions are concentrated here, including the University of the Philippines, a military academy, and the University of Baguio.

It's also a popular language study abroad destination for university students from Korea and Japan, and a city where a large portion of the population consists of students.

In addition, it's the city where "Spartan-style classes," a characteristic feature of studying English in the Philippines, were first introduced.

What Is the Spartan-Style Class?

The Spartan style refers to a learning style that lets you study intensively from morning until night.

The learning environment is well set up, and since entertainment facilities are relatively few, it's an environment where it's easy to focus on studying.

It's also known as an area with relatively good public safety within the Philippines.

<Transportation Is a Bit Inconvenient>

As you can tell from a map, since it's located in a mountainous area, transportation convenience is not very high.

There is no railway, and the airport is not operated for passenger use.

It's common to access the city from Manila and other areas by long-distance bus.

Getting around within the city mainly involves:

• Jeepneys

• Taxis

which are used for transportation.

Tricycles, which are commonly seen in other regions, don't operate much in Baguio.

< Recommended Tourist Spots in Baguio >

It also has appeal as a tourist destination, and the main spots are as follows.

• Baguio Museum

• Tam-awan Village

• Baguio Botanical Garden

• Baguio Cathedral

• Mines View Park

• SM Mall (a large shopping mall)

It has an appeal unique to a city where nature and culture blend together.

< Panagbenga Flower Festival >

This is a large-scale flower festival held every February.

The main roads are closed off, and many tourists visit from both within and outside the Philippines.

During this period, accommodation costs tend to rise and crowds increase, so it's important to be mindful of the timing of your visit.

Conclusion

This time, we introduced Baguio, an educational city in the Philippines.

For those seeking a cool climate and an environment where you can focus on studying, Baguio is a highly recommended study destination.

On Awork Academy's official website, we clearly summarize information about working holidays and language study abroad by country.

If you have any questions, please feel free to consult us at any time.