Our previous day in Baguio was kinda stressful because of our struggle in finding a cab and Grab car, so we decided to just explore some places in the morning by walking. We went to Te Quiero Tapas Bar & Restaurant at 6:30 a.m for our free breakfast buffet which was already included in our room accommodation in Microtel Inn. After our breakfast, we walked from our hotel to the market. It was fun discovering places and burning some calories at the same time.
Breakfast @ Te Quiero
We followed the signs to know where the market was
We passed by the Igorot Stairs and were impressed by the giant statues. There are restaurants in the area like Pamana Restaurant, Barrio Fiesta and Tsokolateria. As much as I would like to try the hot chocolate and some food there, we had to go right away because we have an appointment after lunch.
SM Baguio
We also passed by Casa Vallejo and North Haven Spa. We walked until we reached SM Baguio and walked again until we reached the market at Session Road. There were Ukay-Ukay finds, but the clothes and footwear were kinda expensive that’s why we haven’t bought anything there except for my daughter’s brand new pair of slippers. (Too bad, Microtel Inn Baguio doesn’t include free pair of slippers in the room.) As usual, we didn’t find a cab AGAIN so it was a wise decision to walk back to the hotel from the market.
I finally saw North Haven Spa in Casa Vallejo but it has a creepy feeling that will make you have second thoughts of going there. Honestly, I wasn’t impressed with the exterior, but I haven’t tried the service yet so I can’t judge it yet based from what I see from the outside.
We walked from the Igorot Stairs to the Session Road
While waiting at the Microtel entrance
When we got back to the hotel, we rested for a while and had our lunch (sandwich and water for me since I am on a diet). We were picked up by Ms. Jonie Flores, marketing consultant of JIC English Academy Baguio before 1pm and we had a tour of JIC Baguio located at 73 Nacia Apts, Upper West Kennon Road Camp 7, Baguio City. It’s interesting to know that finally, there is an English academy in Baguio that offers accomodations to students who are enrolled in their courses. Just to share, I am a licensed teacher here in the Philippines (currently teaching English to Grade 8 students) and also a certified TESOL teacher (I got my certification online via LTTC-The London Teacher Training College). Before I got hired in DepEd, I planned to study onsite in Thailand, but I need to consider the tuition fee and other expenses, so I looked for a school here in the Philippines and the only city offering TESOL in 2009 was Cebu. I opted to enroll online instead and tried my luck in Deped Antipolo. I didn’t know about JIC Baguio; otherwise, I would have enrolled there. I will have another blog post about JIC Baguio– watch out for that!)
With Mr. Takashi Mitsumoto, part of the JIC Baguio Marketing Team in their famous wall.
The IB/IELTS Center
After the JIC Baguio Tour and meeting some of the managers, head teachers and some foreign students, I had the chance to meet the President, Mr. Leo Im in one of his restaurants, the Baguio Red Station in 12 Legarda Road. Beside it is a bakery that he owns, Le Vain Bakery.
We also visited the main branch in Outlook Drive and I was not surprised why many people go there and why they have positive reviews. The Korean bakery is pleasant to the customers’ eyes not only with the cute interior design, but because of the variety of breads and pastries that they offer. (I will have a separate post about Le Vain Bakery to showcase the breads and pastries that they offer). We were able to taste some of their cakes and they were all DIVINE. My diet was ruined, but it was a temptation that I won’t regret for the rest of my life, hahaha!
The sweet temptations @ Le Vain Bakery
With Ms. Jonie Flores (Marketing Head of JIC English Academy) and Mr. Leo Im (President of JIC Baguio and owner of Le Vain Bakery)
i had the chance to strike a pose with the Korean manager in Le Vain Bakery
After that, we headed to Samgyeop Pocha and a dinner was arranged for us at 7pm.
While waiting because it was too early, we went to Café Lusso in Gen. Luna Road cor. Assumption Road, one of the popular cafes in Baguio City. I won’t let the day pass of course without having coffee there, but unfortunately there was no hot Café Mocha that time so I just had the cold one.
Cafe Lusso
Because my hubby was not feeling well and was having LBM at that time and bad timing that we couldn’t get a cab, we were not able to go back to Samgyeop Pocha for dinner. After waiting for almost an hour, we finally got a cab back to Microtel. I transferred the payment for the bus tickets online to Iwantseats.com for a hassle-free trip (I didn’t know that it will be a total disaster!) We slept early to recharge our bodies because we booked for a whole day Baguio tour the next morning.
NOTE: I promise to feature the food in Baguio Red Station, Samgyeop Pocha and Café Lusso the next time I visit Baguio City. I might be able to feature the rooms in their dorm in JIC Baguio. Thank you so much to JIC English Academy for making this post possible.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this site. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. Actually your creative writing skills has encouraged me to get my own website now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.