Mt. Osdung, Benguet: The Trail and the Top Load

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A lonely pine tree at the peak of Mount Osdung in Kibungan, Benguet

Mount Osdung is a mountain situated in the ranges of Cordillera in Kibungan, Benguet. It is said to be the 16^th highest mountain in the Philippines. “Osdung” or “usdung” is a Kankanaey term (also Ilocano) which similarly means “to stoop” or as in bend your body to look downwards, as when you are on top of a summit or cliff. In Tagalog it means “tumingin sa ibaba (ng bundok) ”. Mount Osdung day hike is one of the easiest mountain climb you can actually do when you are in the highlands of the Cordillera Region.

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Baguio Country Club Featuring the Christmas Village

Snowman inside the Christmas Village of Baguio Country Club, Baguio City.

The Christmas Village inside Baguio Country Club, a golf course and resort adjacent to Camp John Hay, is an annual theme park created for tourists who are longing to experience Christmas like never before. The Christmas Village features dwarf houses, kids’ playground and a stage where acts are shown. Baguio is colder in December and experiencing the cold weather in this theme park, plus the feel of its “snow show” is a must.

Planning a Day Hike to Mount Osdung

Wonderful views of Cordillera Mountains en route to Mt. Osdung for a day hike.

Mount Osdung, having the 16^th highest peak in the entire Philippines, is an easy day hike for mountaineers. It lies in the municipality of Kibungan, Benguet and is situated about 3 hours from Baguio City. The jump-off point is at Collideng Junction in Buguias, Benguet (marker is the yellow Trader’s Café) and from there an hour of walk trail is expected along the way to the peak of Mt. Osdung. It may be one of the easiest climb but the view from the mountain is awesome. Road trails going to Sagada, cabbage farms, mountain walls and other peaks can be viewed 360 degrees.

Roxas Boulevard and Manila Bay at Night

Roxas Boulevard near Manila Bay at night.

Roxas Boulevard is one of the main key streets to the overlooking view of Manila Bay sunset in the city of Manila (but there is this Seaside Boulevard across the SM Mall of Asia which is a far better place to view the sunset). It looks perfect on postcards, particularly the orangey sunset of the bay. But once you get in touch to this boulevard you will notice a horde of informal settlers who really don’t have homes to stay, vendors scattered around selling candies and cigarettes maybe and children who look like they don’t have parents at all. Roxas Boulevard and Manila Bay should have been a romantic place for lovers who speculate the beauty of the setting sun, but that should have been long story ago. I don’t think it is still like that today.

Cebu Suggested Itineraries & List of Expenses

Cebu tourist spots included in my own Cebu itinerary for the trip

Here are some of my suggested itineraries if you want to have a Cebu trip for the first time. Our own itinerary is a bit tiresome because it requires lots of walking so you may also want to consider hiring a cab for the whole tour. But if you are like us who are on a tight budget, our itinerary will work for you!

Our three days and two nights Cebu itinerary which includes Camotes island trip:

How to Go to Cebu Taoist Temple and Restaurants

Cebu map with keypoints like Cebu Taoist Temple area and others.

Unlike the other touristy places in Cebu like the Magellan’s Cross and Basilica, the Taoist Temple of Cebu is a bit farther than them. To go to to Cebu Taoist Temple from the Magellan’s Cross area (Legaspi Street): 

Cebu Otap and Pasalubong Unltd

From upper left (clockwise direction), Cebu pasalubong otap, barquillos, peanut browas, galletas, mini mamon and Cebu turrones.

Aside from the fishy madness you can take home from the ultimate dried fish market of Taboan, you can also head to Shamrock near the Cebu Cathedral where you can buy Cebu pasalubong such as otap, turrones, galletas and mamon.

A Cebu Fishy Story in Taboan Market

Pooh of Banana Split (ABS-CBN) negotiating with the vendor of danggit in Taboan Market, Cebu.

If you smell something fishy in Cebu, it couldn’t be probably about the corrupt officials and their unfinished projects, but you might just be near the vicinity of the ultimate dried fish market known as the Taboan Market. The Taboan Market in the City of Cebu should be one of your top destinations for pasalubong as a variety of dried fish—from danggit to pusit to fish bones—are all sold here.

Famous Cebu Lechon at CnT Lechon

One of the best tasting Cebu lechon is inside this restaurant. (CnT Lechon, Cebu)

It cannot be Cebu without the famous lechon, like Baguio linked to “pinikpikan” or Sagada traced to “etag”. If you are familiar with all the strange words I quoted then probably you already tasted what used to be the ultimate local food with its corresponding town. I do not know what Cebu lechon makes it different from the other lechon served in the other parts of the country, and so I went to Cebu City for its undying popularity of Cebu lechon—at CnT Lechon Restaurant.

Cebu’s Authentic! Puso and Larsian BBQ

“Alam mo, Larsian BBQ ako.”

“Bakit?”

“Kasi ikaw naman ang PUSO ko.”

Puso, chorizo and chicken inasal all delightfully bought in Larsian sa Fuente. (Fuente, Cebu)

BOOM. When people say “puso” and you are in Cebu, they do not certainly mean the heart. Puso in Cebu is an authentic Cebuano style cooked rice, wrapped and weaved in grass leaves similar to what Ilocanos and Pangasinense cook as “patopat”, a kakanin. The only difference, “puso” is rice without the flavors (and that cooking style will make the big difference), “patopat” is malagkit (sticky) rice dipped in “tagapulot” or brown sugar. And if you plan to try the heartiest cooked rice, it’s a must to bond it with Larsian barbeque, another Cebu authentic food. Drooling to taste these Cebu dishes? Puso and Larsian style BBQs are a must-try!

Baguio Lantern Parade by Saint Louis University (SLU)

Brightly lit lanterns star the annual parade of crafts made by Saint Louis University faculty and students. (Session Road, Baguio City)

If you enjoy watching the street dance parade and the flower float parade during Panagbenga Festival in Baguio which usually happens on the last weekend of February and you insist to see more of Baguio culture, arts and festivities, then make sure to enlist either December 1 or the first Saturday of December so you witness another parade. The Baguio Lantern Parade (or SLU Lantern Parade) is an annual fiesta featuring the handwork of students of Saint Louis University (SLU) via the showcase of specially crafted lanterns. It’s a whole day booth show, lantern carnival, dance series and a spectacle of fireworks.

Tasting Cebu Sutukil Style: AA BBQ Restaurant

The undeniably cheesy baked scallops of this Cebu Sutukil style restaurant, AA BBQ.

When you say Cebu Sutukil style, you mean lining up to the seafood and meat section of the restaurant, pick your favorite uncooked fish or chicken or liempo, then tell the kitchen crew how to cook it (or tell them to cook it until its good). That means all the served food are fresh, as you are the ones who chose it before they were cooked. I hungered of experiencing this one-of-a-kind Cebu style, and thus we went to try it at The Original AA BBQ restaurant located just across the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City.