Flying and travelling in the Philippines means a fully-booked social calendar. After the colorful tribal and street dancing of festivals in Visayas and joining forces with Filipino-Chinese in welcoming the year of the water dragon, February invites travelers to the far northern territory of Baguio.

As in our previous post, the Summer Capital of the Philippines will hold its annual Panagbenga Festival, its parade of flowers that is absolutely unique in a tropical country like the Philippines. After the festival, you may wonder what other things to do in Baguio.

We recommend – strawberry picking. Strawberries in the Philippines? That will be one of the surprises. As one of the most delicate fruits, these berries must be in high altitude planted and grown in cool temperature and for Philippines, only in its northern regions can handle its very demanding requirement.

There are many things that you can take home with you when in Baguio and one of these are fresh strawberries. Technically, there is a slim chance that these fruity berries will make it to your home. It is hard not to be tempted with this juicy fruits as you traveling back to your respective towns and cities.

Drive all the way to the town of La Trinidad and visit La Trinidad. This town is already part of Benguet but it is only 10 kilometers away from the city centre of Baguio. It takes around 30 minutes and there are many public transport to take you there from jeepneys to taxis.

Strawberry Farm sells fresh and freshly picked strawberries grown by local Ibaloi farmers. There are also strawberry jams for sale. For a unique travel experience, try strawberry picking. Take a basket, crouch a little and gently harvest those round and red berries. When you are satisfied, have them weighed.

Strawberry picking is open from November to May and this is a nice activity for everyone. Great for those traveling as a family. A word of advise though especially for first-time tourists, strawberries cost a way higher than market price.

Depending on the season, strawberries can be bought at 100php/kilo from road-side stalls where as strawberry picking charges 280php/kilo. The reason for this is that you are paying for the experience itself and as amateur harvesters, there is a big chance that you will just spoil not just the ones you picked but those berries that are about to be harvested.

Hence, it is like paying a little of what they call as damage-control. Be mindful that tending these plants are one of the most arduous tasks. Still, the price is actually very reasonable given the kind of experience that money can’t literally buy.

So when you travel up north, do not miss this opportunity. Strawberries and harvesting them – one of the things you shouldn’t miss in Baguio.

photo by susancorpuz90

If Pasadena has the Rose Parade, Philippines has the Panagbenga Festival. Held every February, Baguio hosts a floral festival that is unique in this tropical country. This northern city in Luzon is dubbed as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” with its chilly climate with fresh scent from pine trees. Those in the metro find solace in Baguio when summer heat and humidity are too much to bear.

The festival’s name is a word from one of the region’s indigenous tribes which means “season of blooming”. First held in 1995, this festival was first observed to lift the spirit of the locals from the tragic earthquake that hit the city a few years before. Now, this festival aims to boost the local tourism of the city with February, a nice time to kick-off the influx of tourists to experience Baguio’s unique charm and cool temperature.

photo by susancorpuz90

For Penagbenga 2012, it will be from February 1 till March 4 – more than a week of festivities and wonderful activities. Concerts, trade fairs, bazaars, street dancing and the much-awaited  float parade are just one of the this festival’s highlights. Opening this month-long celebration is a parade with petals showered on the streets. A fluvial parade is also scheduled on February 12 while the Grand Float Parade and the Grand Street Dancing Parade will be held on February 25 and 26. Green scenery will be poured with a wide array and assorted of lively hues from flowers with the dancing beat from local instruments.

Aside from showcasing the bounties of Baguio and its neighboring towns through flowers, the Panagbenga Festival also supports other produce of the region from sweet yam to strawberries. Local customs and traditions will be appreciated by the youth and non-locals.

Kick off your summer getaway with a trip to Baguio and experience the Panagbenga Festival. To get to Baguio, there are many buses and transportation that will take you from Manila. Travel time is at least 8 hours. Another route is to fly to Laoag from Manila ( 1 hour) and then take a bus to Baguio ( at least 2 hours). In terms of facilities like lodging and dining, Baguio is a modern-day destination to cater to all types of travelers.