TUBA SWIMMING POOLS: SINOT RESORT

Located at about 1350 meters above sea level, Baguio city is no way near any body of water except the artificial lakes and ponds constructed. Surrounding this small city are the nearby city of La Trinidad and the province of Tuba. La Trinidad is the seat of gardens and amazing trekking fields and caves. Tuba on the other hand, offers different swimming pool resorts from opposite sides.

The adult pool from 4 ft to 8 ft

Sinot Resort in Asin road is known as the original swimming pool in the mountains. Next to it is the Asin hot spring, where I catch tadpoles years ago when I was younger. Sinot resort is just beside the Hedcor Electric Plant, now condemned and abandoned. The hot spring and the river is just around the resort where you can see divers swimming for tilapia. The water is green (due to algae) and deep and you can see fish swimming in it.

Four chambers of hot tubs under the shade

The gentle sloping ground is good for wider parking space in Sinot. Surrounded with trees, the ground is covered with leaves. The two original pools (for kiddies: 3 feet and adults: 4 to 8ft) are still functional. These two are at the higher grounds of the resort. Water here is colder than the other smaller pools on the lower ground.

The shallower kiddie pool on the lower ground

Innovations added rooms (basically for the sauna and bath) and more cottages on the lower ground. The hot tubs have been transferred to the lower area. Four smaller tubs lined with concreted boulders are situated next to each other. Adults usually just stay and submerged their bodies in these hot tubs.

Fishing for tilapia in the Asin river

Cottages at 100 Php

Another shallower kiddie pool is on the lower ground along with the foot pool. The kiddie pool is somehow warm but not as hot as the hot tubs. The foot pool, however, is also hot.

Common grill stations

Grill areas and lavatories are also available as communal and individualized depending on the cottage you choose.

Outdoor showers with refreshing cold water

HOW TO REACH SINOT RESORT

Abandoned Asin Plant 2 Hydro Electric Plant 

If you are riding a private vehicle, check on he road diverting from the Naguilian Highway at the Cooyesan- Recolletos area. Taking a taxi might charge you around 750covering the drive back to town. For bigger groups, you can always take the public utility jeepneys stationed in the city market just below the police station. Asin jeepney station is among Tublay and Nangalisan jeepney lines. You should not get farther from Mucho Pan Bakery.

Bathtub and Sauna building

FEES IN THE RESORT

Entrance fee for adults is 100 Php, kiddies up to 8 years old pay half. Cottage fee is 200. Other additional amenities like the bathtub and the sauna range from 100 Php.

DO’S AND DON’T’S

Higher and lower ground stairs

 There are many visible rules boards located in the resort. The NO ALCOHOL rule is posted in the entrance. They also do not allow food and drinks in the pool. Visitors with pets can bring their pets in, unlike other resorts, as long as pets stay just in the cottage area, they are not allowed in the pools. Sinot is not very strict with swimming attires.

Hot tub and Sauna building lobby

PARKS OF BAGUIO CITY: MALCOLM SQUARE

Just like the Igorot Park, Malcolm Square is a paved park right at the heart of the city. Once a paid parking lot, it was renovated to a city park with a stage, and again renovated to this paved park. This is a space at the foot of Session road where pedestrians can walk freely without any cars passing. 



Although there is no shade in this park, there are still a number of people sitting on the benches and concrete chairs. This is a good place to wait for friends or have meet ups.









How to reach the park?

As it is in the foot of Session road, there wouldn't be any public utility jeepney passing or unloading to the park. This spot is best reached while walking after one reaches downtown .




Establishments near the park?

Maharlika Livelihood Center is across the park. The immediate establishments near this place are banks - BPI Family and Security Bank, U-need Grocery, Tiongsan Bazaar and other small establishments on the block. DBP bank is also right across Session road.

Malcolm Square is one of the parks you can visit in Baguio city.

BAGUIO FLOWER FESTIVAL: STREET DANCE

February 24th marks the Street Dance Competition - one of the big events of Panagbenga Festival here in Baguio city. There were three divisions for this event - elementary division, high school division, and the open division.

This 2018, Baguio expected to have 1.2M visitors to watch the street dance. The route would start at the top of Session Road, Baguio's main thoroughfare, down to Maharlika Livelihood Center, then turn left to Harrison Road, and end up in Athletic Bowl. Upon reaching the oval, participants are going to perform and be judged.

 The guest speaker for this year's competition is Ilocos Norte's Governor Imee Marcos who spoke in Ilocano inspiring all spectators with a motivational speech.

There were 8 schools participating in the elementary division:

1. Aguinaldo Elementary School
2. Apolinario Mabini Elementary School
3. Tuba Elementary School
4. Dominican Mirador Elementary School
5. Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School
6. Josefa Carino Elementary School
7. Jose P. Laurel Elementary School
8. Baguio Central School

These schools showcased their talents in a 7-minute span which already included the time setting up. The judging was strict in this matter that for every performance, the time spent was announced.  Manuel L Quezon Elementary School was the second runner up and recieved 150,000 Php. The first runner-up went to Apolinario Mabini Elementary school recieving 200,000 Php. The champion for the elementary division this 2018 is Baguio Central School taking home 250,000 Php.

Five schools competed in the High School division where the University of the Cordilleras Senior High School was proclaimed the champion. The other participating schools were:

1. Remnant International School
2. Pines City National High School
3. Baguio City National High School
4. St Louis University Laboratory High School

There were 14 participants in the open division where St. Louis University took home the crown. Some of the other participants were:

• Gardeners' Tribe
• Umili Ay Kalalaychan Cultural Group
• Tribu Rambak
• E Kalinga Performing Group
• Caba National High School
• Tribu Bugkalot
• Chenmo Cultural Performing Group

BAGUIO FLOWER FESTIVAL: FLOWER FLAMINGOS IN SM

SM Baguio is also participating in Panagbenga 2018. Not only in the float competition but also has showcased humongous flamingos made of beautiful Lilies of the Incas or many know it as Peruvian Liles.

It has been early photo shoot sessions for all those visiting the mall or shopping although having your smiling face with the birds is somehow impossible not unless you would be okay taking a pose with their feet.

View from afar would be better but its not going to keep a clear face anymore.  With the problem of taking shots, still a lot of people made happy poses with the flamingos.

BAGUIO FLOWER FESTIVAL: GRAND FLOAT PARADE

The Grand Float Parade for Panagbenga 2018 was again another blast. With a lot of eager participants from two divisions and also those who are non-competing participants, the event was another success.

 Marching bands from Philippine Military Academy and St. Louis University opened the parade with great performances. The bands were followed by the participants of the non competing float division.  The theme of Baguio Country Club (a hall of famer) was the Greek mythology. The float was full of gods and goddesses like Aphrodite playing the harp. Those who modeled as gods and goddesses are models of FHM. The lead float was themed "Clash of the Titans" where you can see a big scorpion.

 Next was the float of SM Baguio. Using the Cordillera concept, this float is a participant in the non-competing category. With models in their native attire on the float, the float also follows a group of natives performing the canao.

Another non-competing float was from NLEX with humongous pineapples and a big parrot  with the rainbow background. The concept was tropical country. Also those signing autographs and joining selfies are the NLEX baseketball players.

 Floats that followed next were those participants for the big float category. 

• MC Master Siomai Hut Inc. float has a set of siomai on top. 

• Another is the float of the Department of Agriculture having a theme of "Big Corn" using 25 species of flowers. The float showcased so many gigantic corns made of flowers. 

• M Lhullier has the concept of the Years of the Dog and Rooster together. On the float are the models and some celebrities. 

• Porta Vaga's entry has the concept taken from the Bible: "From a tiny seed it has grown into a big tree." Their float has a big seed with sprout.

• Jolibee mascots starred their float. They danced jofully. The float has a big Jolibee to celebrate their 40 years of bringing joy to the world. 

• Sitel Phils Corp. has a Cordilleran concept. Their performers also danced actively before the float. Kambal Pandesal float joined the big float division with the concept of small retail stores in the Cordilleras. 

• ABS-CBN float is filled with so many celebrities and the theme is Love.
• Also participated is the Coop Taloy Norte.
• Efficascent Oil float reminisced the kings and queens of the Philippines before (datus and lakambinis)

 The small float division was started with the Maybank float. The concept is "The Tree" Their concept last year was also the tiger but it has grown now. They were the champion in the small float division last year.

• Lubao International Balloon Festival Inc. has the concept of a hot air balloon. This year's Lubao Festival (the biggest hot air balloon festival in Southeast Asia) will be held on March 23- 25 in Pampanga.

• Metro Pacific Water /Saleng Garden  also participated in the small float division.

• Coca Cola also had their float in the concept "Taste the feeling of happiness." The Filipinos love of culture and diversity.

• Universal Robina Corporation had the float's concept of the Lion Head in Kennon Road.
• Float for Igorot man has the concept is to promote the Igorot Man.

• Palawan Padala also joined the competition with a parrot mascot. They highlighted the culture from the south.
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 Also participating are the winners in the street dance the previous day. From the Elementary division are Baguio Central School the champion; Apolinario Mabini Elemetary School - the first runner up, and Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School - the second runner up. In the High School division - University of the Cordilleras Senior High school was the champion. For the open division, champion is Saint Louis University.

Congratulations once again Baguio City!

PARKS IN BAGUIO CITY: MELVIN JONES

The soccer field of the city right at the heart. The Melvin Jones is a park and a soccer field in one where most big concerts and most of the big gatherings held. Although the grass has not grown that much in the area due to the ground being stumped at and walked on, the place is still preserved as the wide open area of Baguio city.

Two big stages are across the two opposite sides of the field. And two park Restaurants are on its opposite ends.

Floats from the parade are usually parked in the Melvin Jones for spectators to gather more pictures, however, lately, the Athletic Bowl is more often used when crowds of people perform events because the latter has benches for people to rest on.

How to reach the park?

Melvin Jones is along the Harrison Road but route for the entrance is in Lake Drive.

Establishments near the Park?

Along Harrison Road are a few establishments such as Tiongsan Harrison department store, and banks - BPI, BDO, Summit bank and Landbank, also found is the Philippine Red Cross and the Patriotic School. On the opposite lane is the Burnham Lake.

Melvin Jones is just one of the scenic parks of Baguio city.

Elementary students in Melvin Jones practice for the street dance

BAGUIO FLOWER FESTIVAL: BONSAI CUP

  

For bonsai lovers, the Bonsai Cup is the chance for them to showcase their passion. Bonsai Cup is an exhibition held at the Rose Garden this Festival season in Baguio city. A silent exhibit but elegant and still wonderful for those who appreciates nature.

Growing bonsai (actually stunting the growth of the bonsai) is a hobby which needs skills in art and appreciation and tons of patience. The best thing is pruning the branches into a shape of a dwarf tree where one can clip the tree into one’s imagination.

Tables have been placed in the right side of the Rose Garden slopes for the event. Different bonsai trees with their elegant-looking pots are on exhibit. All look like small trees literally with other additions to the plant like rocks or ceramic figures. Small trunks made to look like worn out and old, eaves made to be smaller than normal - the attributes of dwarf trees.

For those who appreciate growing these small trees, the Bonsai Cup is a good medium to learn more about how bonsai should be grown and directed. The art is simple but exquisite. Those who would also like to venture on this hobby can take this chance to learn before buying their own masterpiece.