How Baguio Artists can help save the image of Baguio City

In the recent years there have been a lot of changes in the city of Baguio, most of the city parks and forested areas have been removed and most of the open spaces have been converted into private spaces reducing the number of tourist spots people can visit.

A lot of tourists are saying that Baguio city is no longer what it used to be, it has slowly become a bustling city without any clear direction.

Areas like John Hay and Burnham Park is slowly being converted into private areas and people are being charged before they can enter areas that were once free for public use.

Because of this there has been a steady decline in the number of tourists coming in and out of Baguio, the number of people visiting the city during the Panagbenga has also declined due to the inability of the city government to provide efficient services and interesting events to make sure that the visitors will deem it worthy to visit the city.

Because of this the role of the Baguio artists has increased, if there is one thing that can save Baguio tourism that is the creativity and originality of Baguio artists.

 People are always looking for new information, the next best thing and Baguio has yet to learn how it will provide this to the people.

Understanding the Baguio Art community and what it has to offer?

If there is one thing that will separate Baguio from other provinces in the country, it is the level of artistry that the place can offer.

Baguio inspires a lot of people to take an interest in writing, poetry, painting and other ways to express them because of the inviting atmosphere.

It is easy to get inspired in a city that has pine trees and fog in the afternoon.  

The people of Baguio live in one of the most romantic cities in the Philippines.

When we speak of the Baguio art community we mean to say the street artists and the trained artists in the city of Baguio.

This will also include the theater performers and the dance performers who continue to make Baguio interesting.

Baguio does not have the natural resources that other places can offer; we do not have vast oceans and beaches that people can visit.

We cannot compete with other provinces when it comes to natural resources, but what we can promote is the level of creativity that the Cordilleran culture can offer.

Poetry Scene in Baguio:

Unknown to many people here in Baguio, a group of writers and poetry slam artists are  active in providing shows that feature poetry slam artists' performance for relevant issues here in the city of Baguio.

One of the frequent supporters of these kinds of events is Mt. Cloud Book Shop owned and managed by Padmapani L. Perez.

Poetry slam artists like Jennifer Carino, Rey Gelo Aurelio, Dumay Solingay, Jessica Faye Marino, Pryce E. Quintos and many others frequent the area.

Almost every month a poetry slam competition is being held in Mt. Cloud Bookshop. Students and people from all walks of life are invited to listen to the poets deliver their lines.

The topic will change every now and then, on several occasions there has been a focus on HIV awareness.

Poetry slam artists of Baguio have taken the time to create poetry pieces that provide information and expression of what HIV is.

The idea is to spread awareness to reduce the stigma and to remove the prejudice against HIV patients with the help of poetry and stage performance. 2nd Scarlet Letters from Baguio is one example of how poetry can be used to spread awareness.

It is a a poetry slam for HIV-awareness co-organized by the AIDS Society of the Philippines and the Baguio Writers Group, co-sponsored by CHILD and Hill Station.

In order for art to be useful in society, it has to be able to bridge the gap between imagination and reality, it has to be useful, and it has to be able to move people to act.

There have been times wherein the poetry slam contest focused on inspiring people to love nature and plant trees.

It is with the belief that there are many ways to spread information; poetry is one way to move the people into action.

Poetry slam artists are just one sector of the Baguio artists moving to help Baguio better, a small group that is not yet given ample attention by the local government.

It is with the hopes that by featuring the works of various Baguio artists' groups we can help Baguio get recognized for the talent that it has to offer to the world.

More contributions of Baguio artists are waiting to be discovered, each of this groups will be tackled extensively in the coming weeks.

Mt. Cloud bookshop where the informative poetry sessions are being held is located at Casa Vallejo Plaza, DPS Compound Access Road, Baguio City in 2600 (074) 424 4437

…to be continued.

                                                                                                                              

Baguio artists Community Update: The Art of Joyful living

Baguio Artists Community Update:

Baguio is said to be the melting pot of ideas of the North, and Baguio artists alongside with international artists who visit the place yearly help make this statement convincing. However the local government has yet to notice the impact that Baguio artists provide.

It was said once that the originality and creativity of the Baguio artists would be able to save the tourism industry of the city.

The art community has spread and a new generation of Baguio artists has risen, the local media is not able to give ample focus on this event but it does not mean to say that they are not worth noticing.

A lot of people are still unaware of the latest news about what is happening in the circle of Baguio artists and this article will serve as a guide for people who want to understand the art community of Baguio deeper.

A group of travelers has come to Baguio; this group is composed of artists coming from Japan, Turkey, Belgium and various parts of the Philippines.

The group has travelled around the Cordillera region to share the Mikusano Mitakara or what they call as the message of “The Three Joyful Treasures of Living”.

They first started their journey together with Baguio artists Rey Angelo Aurelio, Dumay Solinggay and Hector Kawig at the University of Baguio.

On the 24^th of November they proceeded to the Ifugao State University in Lamut, Ifugao and stayed there for 3 days to share the art of joyful living to university students and anyone who was willing to listen.

Shigemi Iida, is considered to be the leader of the group, he comes from Sua, a town found in the mountainous regions of Nagano, Japan, about 6 to 7 hours northeast of Tokyo. He has travelled around the world to share this precious knowledge for ordinary people, along with the aim of rediscovering ancient traditions of the communities that he has visited.

Shigemi Iida has trained several Bangui artists including Del Devendra the art of healing through the hands. This art of healing is called “ Tanagokoro” which literally means “ heart palm”. They believe that our hand is rooted from the chest, where the heart is found. In order to be able to heal and share energy with one another there is a need to touch each other through massage.

Apart from the healing methods that they have shared with Baguio artists, they have also included several poetry concepts that will greatly benefit the poetry slam artists of Baguio.

This group of travelers who have visited Baguio believe that “Poetry is God, according to Iida Sun as noted by Dumay Solinggay ( Florenda Pedro), “ A poet can make words dance, thus he acts through words.”

Baguio artists and international traveling artists from various parts of the world were able to bond for 21 days and share their knowledge and culture with one another. During the 21 days they were also able to perform a prayer ritual at the Igorot Park for the Yolanda victims.

They have invited people to light a candle and send positive wishes for the people who have been affected by the super typhoon.

The Art of Joyful living contains how to live a life of passion without the need for negativity. It encourages people to say thanks and feel gratitude even for the simple things in life.  It is living in the present moment and focusing on a giving and open environment.

It discourages negative words; it focuses on teaching people to free their minds of worry.

The lesson that these travelers have left behind will be passed on by Baguio artists to the community of Baguio. 

An inspired oriental way of living has been passed on; the energy of life as they call it or Chi is the focus of this learning.

After 21 days of learning with the traveling artists, our very own Baguio art community is set to spread this positive energy in various activities and events all over the city of Baguio and beyond.

The three treasures of joyful living, the MikusanoMitakara, are tense, Mashinai and Chinomichi. They are essential knowledge that exists almost in all ancient traditions in the world. “This world is a crazy world. But I have a crazy hope.

We all have crazy hopes”, Iida-son feels that if thirty percent of the world’s population knows about MikusanoMitakara and would recover their ancient traditions, a change will occur in our consumerist global society.

They had their last culminating activity at John Hay Bell-Amphitheater; they provided free healing massage and performed together with Baguio artists a moving theatrical piece. 

People from different walks of life were able to take part in this activity and will take the inspiring lessons anywhere they will go.

The traveling artists are set to come back next year for an even more extensive sharing and learning process with the Baguio community.

HIV cases in Baguio CIty:

I am like most Filipinos, I have a limited understanding of what HIV is and I often mistake it for AIDS. 

I have my own set of prejudice about people who have it and was only able to remove it with the help of informative talks like the rainbow talks of Metropolitan Community Church in Baguio.

The Philippine media has not been that helpful in spreading the actual facts about what HIV is.
 Instead they have made a spectacle out of it, certain individuals who have had HIV before were successfully alienated by the media..

I grew up watching HIV infected individuals on TV being ridiculed and until now the Philippine media has not been that helpful in shedding light as to the real plight of people suffering from HIV.

Unknown to others there is an increasing number of HIV cases in Baguio City,  according to local health officials  the number of HIV patients are increasing.
Dr. Ma Lorena Santos, the chairwoman of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center HIV and AIDS core team, there are now 72 HIV cases that have been recorded since 2006 until May of 2013.

The youngest HIV infected individual is age 19 while the oldest is at 56 years old. 
There are 51 males and 21 females, 40 are homosexuals, 3 are bisexuals, 8 are heterosexuals. 

Five patients are from Manila  while 28 are residing in Baguio City, some are from Abra, Pampanga, Isabela and other parts of Benguet.  Most of the patients are professionals according to her.

Why is the number increasing?

According to the HIV awareness talk I have attended HIV cases continue to increase in the Philippines because of the prejudice and ridicule coming from the people.

HIV is a taboo topic for many and because of this people are not required and encouraged to get tested.

 Getting tested early can mean the early stoppage of the HIV virus. 

The government is providing free HIV tests but there is no full blown campaign that is being done by the government in order to encourage people to participate.

People are afraid to get tested because they are afraid of what others have to say. 

They hide and they have no information about what is going on, it is not being talked about in the workplace, there are no seminars for it. 

The Philippines is in denial that HIV exists which makes it even harder to face it.
For how can you spread awareness if an issue is not even accepted.

HIV cases exists, no matter how people deny it and no matter how taboo it is, there is a need to talk about it in order to spread the awareness of what can be done about it.

In European countries HIV and AIDS has already been classified and is being dealt with accordingly.

The discrimination part is what is making the virus spread. some will often state that HIV is a disease that gay people spread but that is not the truth.

 Both straight males and straight females have been recorded as carriers of HIV and according to an HIV expert most of the HIV cases recorded all over the world--women are leading.

While it is true that homosexual are at a much higher risk, we have to avoid labeling the HIV as a gay or homosexual disease. it will only worsen the situation. The government and private sectors have to promote the idea that doing an HIV test is not something that a person has to be shy about.

It is not something that should cause people to gossip, it is one way of reducing the chances of spreading the virus while at the same time helping the person infected get an immediate health booster once the virus is detected.

How to get tested in Baguio City for HIV:

A lot of people do not know but there is a free HIV tests being offered by the Baguio Health Center in New Lucban, room 102. 

What to do?

Ask for HIV testing, if the personnel will charge you explain to them that you have received information that the HIV testing is free. 

An interview will then be conducted in the basement area, in the serology area. A student will take 5cc blood and you have to wait for the result for 5 working days. Get the result in the serology room after. 

What are the myths regarding HIV?

 While I was in Thailand there is this circulating story about  how an HIV positive patient placed her blood in some of the canned goods in order to spread HIV out of revenge.

 I being ignorant of the facts believed it at first but thanks to the enlightening  seminar conducted by the Metropolitan Community Church in Baguio I was spared of this ignorance.

HIV virus is very weak, it is not able to thrive in food and water for a very long time, there is a 0.0% chance that you will get HIV by eating food or drinking fluids so you can definitely cross that out on the list.

You cannot get HIV just by breathing the same air as someone who is HIV positive. 

Believe me I have  met people who openly admitted that they are HIV positive and I am not infected. 

I have no worries about hugging them or making them my friends because it is plainly ignorant to do such a thing.

HIV cannot spread by simply seating on a toilet seat or holding a doorknob because if this was true then almost everyone in the world should have been infected by now. 
It cannot be spread by drinking in a fountain, or by sharing eaten utensils.

It cannot be spread using exercise equipment at the gym. It can only be spread through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid and mother's milk. 

It is also a myth that you will not get infected with HIV by using new drugs, while antiretroviral drugs has certainly extended the lives of infected individuals it does not guarantee that it will help everyone.

This drugs are highly expensive and can also have side effects. 

Another existing myth is that a person will get HIV if they are bit by mosquitoes, HIV can only spread from human to human blood contact.

HIV  virus cannot live for long periods of time making it almost impossible to spread because of mosquitoes.

Practicing safe sex and getting tested early is still the best method of preventing HIV infection from spreading.

In observance of the World AID's Day a poetry slam is being conducted in Baguio in cooperation with AIDS Society of the Phiippines, Mt. Cloud Bookshop and Baguio Writer's Group. 

Places you probably do not know exist in Baguio City

In the past people had no huge shopping malls that provide everything they could possibly need within several hours.


 Nowadays shopping malls are everywhere especially SM shopping malls, while it is without a doubt that malls make shopping easier...it also reduces the chances of other creative business to thrive.



I am a huge believer of passion and creativity when starting a business. While shopping malls can reduce the time needed to shop...it does not necessarily create the atmosphere of  fine dining  or what I term as "Inspired Dining"...

Restaurants should have contain an interesting beginning, it must contain imaginative works from the menu until the interior design...malls cannot produce amazing works of art and cuisines because they are mostly renting out a space just for commercial purposes

Yes, we should all focus on how we can profit, but how I wish we could all be just like Ratatouille the animated rat who was passionate about cooking...I wish we could all focus on the quality and love of the food and service...and the money will just be secondary..

Shopping mall owners do not understand this, in a shopping  mall environment everything is fast paced.

Malls hardly ever feature restaurants that you can praise for hours and hours...

Malls have a standard structure, an exact number of tiles that they can place, the lighting fixtures are  designed to minimize the space..everything is created to maximize profits and because of that there is very little chance that you can take wonderful pictures while dining--you will just sit there, dine and then go out of the restaurant without retaining a sense of wonder and amazement.

The  innovative chances of a place is lost, while everything might look colorful inside shopping malls, it does not necessarily mean it has a good history or story to provide.

The fast food mentality is also pervasive, people who go to shopping malls  have very little chances of reflecting and exploring the place, after eating there is very little to do.

 Malls are merely for consumption and purchase but it is not the place to get inspired.

For this reason I have decided to go on a month long task of experiencing every unique restaurant in the city of Baguio.


 Restaurants that have been created by people who once dreamed of owning what they have now.
Restaurants that might not necessarily have a huge following... but have their own special recipes.
Restaurants that continue to strive despite the fact that most of the customers are lined up inside shopping malls.

Restaurants should be filled with the vision of the owner, it should start with a simple dream and it must contain an interesting story that customers can take with them after eating.

 Here are some of the best restaurants and shops that I have visited in Baguio...

I am urging everyone to Rediscover the city of Baguio and what it has to offer, SM shopping malls are everywhere...Jollibee is everywhere, McDonalds is everywhere...Starbucks is starting to pop up anywhere...can we give other entrepreneurs a fighting chance in the economy...can we support people who have a vision... can we distribute our buying power...can we explore new places and help them especially here in the city of Baguio.

1. Ahmad's Cafe- 3rd Floor, Abanao Square

This is just a small vegetarian cafe, probably owned by an Indian Muslim family.
Most of the people eating in here are Muslims, you are sure to see women wearing shawls and Middle Eastern looking children playing in the area.

Positive Aspects: Affordable food
 You will be able to order chicken, shawarma, lamb curry and other interesting Middle Eastern Cuisine and Indian food.
I love their 35 pesos Hot tea with milk, it tastes like Chowking Nai Cha only cheaper and with less sugar.

I also love the Chicken Shawarma, it contains crunchy bits inside.

You won't probably get too much assistance from the waitress, because this is a self-service cafe but this is the perfect place for a rainy afternoon in Baguio.


This is one of the best places to sit down, drink coffee or tea and just read a book while waiting for someone.

Stay away from the crowded environment of SM and just enjoy a delightful afternoon watching the rain splatter on the window.

How about the cleanliness of the place?

 The kitchen is clean and my food was served neatly which is usually good sign.

The place is filled with interesting dishes that I have yet to discover like the  Tandori, Hummus,  Plain Paratha, Sweeet Chapati, Pakora Eggplant, Chili Eggplant as well as Onion Rings.


Negative: If you are  fond of  eating pork, this is not the place for you, and bad news for smokers there is no smoking area.


Conclusion: This place is good for an afternoon snack, or if you just want to explore some Indian Food.
It probably won't be the best place to go for a family dinner due to the fact that the seats are limited.

But this will do very well for 3-4 individuals who just want to have coffee and taste something different.

Aside from that you get to see and feel the Muslim culture in Baguio...


 I sat down and saw a glimpse of what a muslim family is...
It's really interesting how their women live...I was able to eat well and look at a different perspective.

One you will not be able to experience if you are just hanging out in one place.

Cleanliness: B+
Taste of Food: B+
Service:B-
Overall rating: B+


Located at:
 3rd Floor, Abanao Corner Zandueta Street, Baguio City 


2. JJu Gu Mi Korean Canteen-- near Starwood hotel, Ground Floor ( Kisad Road)

If you want to experience Korean food while on a budget, this is the place for you. 


There are of course better Korean restaurants out there like Hodori restaurant  located in Mabini,  but if you only have 300-500 pesos as budget then this place will do.

Most of the time Korean students are the only clients, the prices of the food will start at 100-250 and this will usually be enough for 3 individuals.

Just like any other Korean restaurant you will be given unlimited Kimchi and any available appetizer that they have like this Onion leeks infused with Chili.

I especially love their Samgyupsul and the Onion leaves appetizer, it feels so refreshing in the mouth and the vinegar has a sweet interesting taste.

You can also order some Korean Ice Cream  worth 35 pesos and up if you feel like it.

The only downside is that they do not offer their own blended  coffee.
They only have a 10 peso coffee  from the vending machine.


The ambiance is also good, you will have a better understanding of the Korean students in Baguio if you come here often. 


You might have to endure chatty and noisy Korean customers, but that is also one way of adjusting with our Korean visitors.

I highly recommend the beef samgyupsul instead of the pork samgyupsal. It's tastier especially with the wombok and chili paste.



They also serve Korean Ice cream, which could be a bit more expensive than Cornetto or Magnum, the price range is usually at 45-70 pesos.
The ice cream tastes good but it will not be able to beat Cornetto and Magnum.

Cleanliness: B+
Taste of Food: A-
Service:C
Overall rating: B+


Located near Starwood Hotel: Kisad Road, Baguio City

3. Solibao Restaurant, Heritage Mansion Hotel-- 5 minutes walk from Baguio City Hall

If you want to impress your foreigner friend or visitor, you need to bring them here at Solibao in the Heritage Mansion hotel.

There are 3 existing Solibao restaurant branches, 1 in Session road and 1 near Burnham Park however, this is the best branch.
 The third branch has a better way of serving their food, they offer a wider variety of dishes compared with the two branches.

They also offer a better ambiance, the staff at Session Road Solibao might offer a better service compared with Heritage Mansion Solibao  brach but you have to consider that the chef at this  branch cooks better and knows how to do a better food presentation when compared with the others.


One of the best dishes that they offer or the best seller is the Kare-Kare with Bagnet, they also offer an array of fruit juices and good-tasting ice tea.


The only downside when it comes to the beverage is that most of the time they lack fruits for their fruit juices. I was not impressed with their version of Green Mango fruit shake.

  However if you are looking for a delicious cake, this is the perfect p lace.

This branch offers sumptuous chocolate and blueberry cheesecake ( 57-85 pesos a piece).

The cakes won`t necessarily taste better than what Veniz grill has to offer, but it is still one of the best cakes I have tasted in Baguio. In fact it tastes better than the cakes that I tasted in Thailand. 

The ambiance is mellow, it is perfect for dates, family dinners and business transactions.

 Solibao also has a good parking spot for clients.

You can stay and have a meeting for a very long time, the staff will not mind, they are in fact very accommodating.

The only downside is that you cannot smoke in the area, owners should probably  hire an interior designer to maximize the space but all in all the meals are satisfying. In tagalog `sakto sa panlasang Pinoy``...hindi tinipid ang ingredients...

Solibao at the Heritage Mansion hotel offers a dramatic feel...

They have also infused some Cordilleran designs and they also offer beer at night starting at 6pm, acoustic singers are also available during that time.
Customers can jam with the singers if they like.

In the morning customers can enjoy the breakfast meals, they serve beef tapa, longganisa served with a choice of tea, coffee, jam and bread.
They also have their own version of pancakes. I especially recommend the Spanish Chocolate, it is the genuine thing.

 I also highly recommend the Tilapia with mango dish.
It is simply divine and exquisite.


Cleanliness: B+
Taste of Food: A+
Service:B+
Overall rating: A-

SOLIBAO RESTAURANT @ HERITAGE MANSION HOTEL
Kisad Road, Abanao Extension, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Operating Hours: 6.00am to 10.00pm
Telephone Number: +(63 74) 448-3815 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/solibao
Website:  http://solibao.com/

4. Green Pepper Restaurant- Ketchup Community- Mines,View Pacdal

A lot of tourists are  not able to check this amazing location because it is a bit far from the Central Business district.
 But I assure you it is one of the most interesting place here in Baguio City. It is a combination of restaurants that offer unique recipes including Thai-inspired dishes.

I especially love Green Pepper because of the chocolate cake, while there are some bakers who can probably create a better tasting chocolate cake...this cake will still get an A+.

I have tried so many chocolate cakes and this one gets my seal of approval..

Green pepper has 3 amazing chefs who strive to create healthy food, they offer Cordilleran Bacon...most of the food  they serve contain very little amount of salt.

 If you want to have a low calorie meal and still include meat in your diet this is the restaurant for you.

Prices of the meal will usually start at 150-350, a bit expensive but worth it.

You can also explore other nearby shops after Green Pepper. You are going to love the bamboo inspired designs.

If you still want to experience the old Baguio feel...go here.

Cleanliness: B
Taste of Food: B+
Service:B

Overall rating: B

Address:

Romulo Drive, Barangay Lualhati (Near Wright Park), 2600 Baguio City

5. Illy Likha ( Hayahay sa Assumption) Assumption Road--located  near Assumption Medical Center

There is still no exact name for this location and it is still under construction. However, in order to sustain the construction of this unique and organic inspired restaurant they are already offering snacks for customers.

 This Vegetarian restaurant is the official hang-out place of Baguio Artists especially the ones from  the Vocas Group. 

If you want to get the chance to meet and gree Kidlat Tahimik, Kawayan De Guia, Carlo Villafuerte,  Bumbo Villanueva, William Magtibay, Rene Aquitania, Kabunyan and the Mighty Bhutens and other writers, painters and singers in Baguio this is the place to go.

You can also meet some of the most talented wood carvers, artists and tree planters on this site like Santos Bayucca and Jayson Domling ( usually in the afternoon or if there is a special occasion)

This location is still hidden from a lot of people because most of the area is still not finished, but guests will be delighted to see this one of a kind structure here in Baguio. It is the Part II of the Oh My Gulay restaurant.

Illy Lika ( temporary name) I predict will be 4x much better than Oh My Gulay because it has a wider open space and the location is easier to access especially for University of Baguio students.

 It also contains more interesting artworks and involves a lot of creative work and inspiration from different people all over the world. 

There is more collaborative work involved and although you have to pay more to get to sample some of their snacks and drinks it is usually worth it because I can guarantee you that the ingredients are fresh.

Right now other parts of the place have yet to be constructed, it will still undergo a lot of changes in the coming months which is why I will not grade this yet.

It is just worth featuring. I hope you can come and visit this one of a kind restaurant here in Baguio. 

This Vegetarian restaurant has witnessed so many interesting stories here in Baguio...and contains an amazing energy. 

There is no rating for this restaurant yet, it is still under construction.

6. Cucinino Pasta- Porta Vaga, Mall

This is the perfect snack shop for anyone who wants  to experience fine dining on a budget. 

The concept that the owners have created enables people to appreciate different kinds of sauces and pasta without necessarily going to an expensive restaurant.

I admire the couple who started this concept, they were college sweet hearts who eventually decided to start a business together. Whenever I visit this small snack shop located at Portavaga I cannot help but feel positive.

A lot of couples would have separated after doing business together due to financial issues, but the couple who owns this shop stayed together and got married eventually.
Not only does Cucinino Pasta Baguio inspire a positive vibe, it is also highly creative.

The pasta is served with different types of sauces, it will usually include mushrooms and other interesting ingredients.

I especially love the drinks that they serve, the salad is also impressive.

It would be better to get your salad here than at KFC.  Aside from the delicious spaghetti you can also spend your time browsing the magazines the couples have provided for their clients.

This area is perfect for friends who just want to hang out and exchange some stories without getting bothered by too many people.

I seriously hope that they will be able to expand their restaurant, it contains an interesting concept.

The only thing I would like to suggest is for them to increase the volume of the pasta in order to make sure that the customer will be fulfilled at the end of the meal.

( Picture on the right: Bagnet Longanisa Spaghetti, sauteed with mushrooms, olive oil and mediterranean chili)


Each time you eat at Cucinino remember that you are helping out an inspiring couple. Let us all find a way to help small business owners like them to reach their dreams.


Cleanliness: B
Taste of Food: B+
Service:B

Overall rating: B

Cucinino Pasta Etc., is located in the 3rd floor of Porta Vaga Mall, Session Baguio City. They are open weekdays and weekends is until 1pm.

7. Hodori Restaurant- I still consider this Korean restaurant one of the best Korean restaurants in town due to the fact that the appetizer they serve look simple yet classically delicious.

 Although I have to admit they need some serious upgrade...they have only 2 waiters serving which can mean lots of time wasted for the customer.

Although this might not be the cheapest Korean restaurant around I still recommend it because of the taste of the food.

 It is often crowded so it would be best to avoid rush hours from 12 until 2pm.

The only thing I dislike about this restaurant is the expensive coffee and tea.

 You can get something better for P50 at other restaurants, they have to find a way to reduce the price.

The Omu Rice is also very tasty.

Price Range is from 150 to 800 good for 3 to 8 people.



























I highly recommend the Kani Salad, it is refreshing and very satisfying. 

Cleanliness: c+

Taste of Food: A
Service:B-

Overall rating: B-

Located at:

Mabini St, Lungsod ng Baguio



8. SumoSam ( Authentic Japanese Restaurant)

There are only a few authentic Japanese restaurants in Baguio city, one of them is located at John Hay Techno Hub, Foursquare.

It might not exactly be an affordable Japanese restaurant experience but the money that you will spend in here will not be a total waste.


If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle in the central business district of Baguio and you want to see some pine trees while dining with family and friends then this is the perfect place for you.

The food is a bit more expensive when compared with other fast foods but remember that you are being given authentic Japanese authentic ingredients which means the taste is better than common dishes.

I highly recommend the cucumber juice, aside from the fact that it is healthy it is also refreshing.


3 people can share the cucumber juice normally priced at P265, there is a bottomless iced tea for those who are fond of drinking more.




 It is priced at P99 each. I also recommend the sukiyaki.
This is one of the best sukiyaki I have tasted so far.

This is perfect for people who want to feel satisfied when eating Japanese food.
The sukiyaki of SumoSam is surprisingly better than the Sukiyaki of Chaya Restaurant ( also located in Baguio) perhaps because of the Shitake mushrooms added into it.

I also love the Japanese artworks present inside the area, the comfort rooms are also very clean..unusually clean if I may say so.

This is also perfect for couples dating and for a family of 3 to 6 who just want to experience something new.


 Expect to pay for P1,800 pesos for a meal that is good for 3 people, this will already include 3 different dishes.

Cleanliness: A+
Taste of Food: B+
Service:C
Overall rating: B-


Sumo Sam has yet to improve their customer service, their staff is not able to respond to the needs of their customers immediately.

Good thing the food tastes good and the comfort rooms are clean.

Oh and did I mention they also serve steaks too?
A bit pricy...expect to pay P1,000 above for the so called authentic Japanese steaks-- I have yet to try them..but if you are curious enough be my guest and try them for me and leave your comments here on my page.

Thanks for reading ^__^ more restaurants to review here in the City of Baguio.