Beautiful Philippines: A Handbook of General InformationPhilippine Islands. Commission of Independence
History
Beautiful Philippines: A Handbook of General Information
Philippine Islands. Commission of Independence
Philippines -- Description and travel; Philippines -- Economic conditions
The Benguet road is the most traveled route. It leaves the lowlands
at Dagupan and now ascends, now crosses and recrosses the gorge of
the Bued River, coiling back on itself in the famous Zig-zag, where
the inspirations of Baguio's natural wonders begin. Cooler and cooler
grows the air, behind drops all the lowland vegetation, to make room
for sturdy trees of the temperate zone. Wave on wave the trees roll
up the mountains that stand on each other's shoulders below, around
and above the small tableland on which Baguio edges away from the
sheer precipice at the head of the gorge.
For some years a summer capital to which the Government transferred
its work and personnel during the hot months, it is a chartered city,
but the all-year residents are few, though many of the well-to-do of
Manila have summer homes there. It has two hotels and several cottages
for visitors.
No one may know the Philippines adequately without visiting this, the
temperate beauty spot of the Archipelago. Pure forest-scented air,
cooled by lofty peaks and a city that is well laid out representing
what is best in the Islands' civic progress are the outstanding
"strands in the fabric of Baguio's attractions." Here is a fairyland
of green--gardens, beautiful walks, and easily accessible peaks
commanding exquisite vistas of valleys and neighboring mountain tops.
[Camp John Hay]
Camp John Hay, the military hospital post, is the main show place,
among its beauties being the open air amphitheater that General Bell
built with mountaineer labor, terraced as their wonderful rice terraces
are, and gay with flowers.
Other places to see are the Mansion House, the official summer
residence of the Governor-General; Bishop Brent's School for American
children and the School for mountain girls; the Constabulary School;
the rest houses of the different religious Orders; Mirador, the
Observatory, and Mt. Santo Tomas, whence a glorious view may be had
over the whole majestic panorama of mountains and valleys to the
lowlands and to the China Sea. On horseback or afoot, in Baguio and
its immediate environs, just enjoying the air, the roses, the pungent
pines, the tree ferns, the fields of Benguet lilies, every day is a
delight. But beyond lie more regions that beckon.
[Trinidad Valley]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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