Baguio City or the "City of Pines" was appointed as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, owing to its high altitude which causes cool climate. It has become a famous get-away for many, especially during the summer season, to escape the notoriously hot weather in the Metro.

When you hear the city's name, destinations like Camp John Hay or Mines View Park are probably the first to enter your mind. Writing a review about these is deemed unnecessary, knowing that there are most likely more than a million on the internet. It wouldn't even be hard to find someone, a neighbor or a relative, who has been there and would willingly feed you with information on what there is to expect. However, they may not be able to tell you about many other spots worth visiting that haven't been tainted by an influx of tourists.

Among many places in Baguio that deserve an actual visit, one of which you should go to is the Tam-Awan Village. Sitting on the outskirts of the city, you wouldn't expect to find a place so rich with culture and art behind merely a simple entrance.

This side of Baguio shows us that there's more to the city than what we thought. More than the exquisite flowers and low temperature, the city has a fascinating account of culture and arts. On-site, you will be welcomed by their staff, dressed in tribal outfits. They'll offer to tour you around, so they may share better the beauty of each hut and the beliefs that native Ifugao and Kalinga tribal communities shared.

There are currently nine authentic huts in Tam-Awan Village of which seven are from Ifugao and two from Kalinga Province. All of the huts were reconstructed using their original materials, just reroofed with new cogon roofs. The model village includes a hut named Luccong, one of the country's three remaining binayon huts which served as a dwelling place for rich Kalingas a generation ago. If your goal is to immerse yourself in the village setting, it might interest you that some of the huts are available for lodging!

Aside from exploring the Cordillera village setting, you'll enjoy everything else there is to do.

1. Go hiking

On your way to the top, you'll pass through narrow trails, trellised pathways, a wishing Koi pond and a bamboo bridge. It's a long and complicated way up, so it would be better to grab a brochure with the village's map at the entrance to help you on your way.The course might seem unending, but the panoramic sight from down below and the beauties nature has to offer are all fantastic. The village is not named "Garden in the Sky" for no reason— there are even indigenous flora and fauna. Make sure you have the energy to go all the way up, though. If your timing is perfect, you might even catch a stunning sunset over the West Philippine Sea in one of their view decks.

2. Eat

The Tam-Awan Cafe offers delicacies with native ingredients and serves them in an aesthetic presentation. Even the walls are coated with exceptional art by local artists. Their menu includes special house burgers, sandwiches, pasta, lunch meals, salads, and whatnot. Their juices come from freshly-squeezed fruits, too! Regrettably, we just had our stomachs filled before visiting so we didn't get the chance to taste their incredible cuisine.

3. Get your portrait sketched

In less than 15 minutes, you can have the village's resident artists to make you a quick sketch. Not one, but five artists are seated in front of you to sketch your portrait for a reasonable price. As one who could barely draw anything without following tutorials, I was in awe of how easy it seemed when watching them. Not to mention that they finish such beautiful portraits incredibly fast.

Prices:

Solo w/o color: P100

Solo w/ color: P150

Couple w/o color: P300

Couple w/ color: P350

4. Learn about arts

Beyond just appreciating it, there's no better way to embrace the indigenous craftsmanship than to learn about it. Aside from having your portrait sketched, you may also discover how to sketch one yourself and perhaps explore a hidden talent! If this doesn't interest you, classes such as solar drawing, watercolor, wood carving, bamboo craft, dream catcher making, and more others are available, too. You won't learn all of these by searching the Internet, so better grab the opportunity.

One of the huts turned art gallery (Look at all those dream catchers behind me!)

5. Purchase an artwork

It's part of every Filipino's travel journey to buy pasalubong for friends and relatives at home. Aside from keychains and strawberries that are sold all over Baguio, you might consider buying a different memento from Tam-Awan's crafts shop. Exquisite artworks from the village's excellent artists themselves are up for sale. They also offer native woodwork, delicacies, authentic Ifugao hand-made products, and many more.

Prices

Entrance Fee:

Php50 – Adults

Php30 – Senior citizens and students

Php20 – Children

Prices for lodging, venue reservation, workshops, and food from the cafe are on Tam-Awan Village's official website.

More Tips

1. Get a tour guide. It's better to get around with someone who knows the place better than you do. You wouldn't want to miss a detail.

2. It's better to visit the place on a sunny day. Otherwise, the trail could get slippery and muddy on a rainy day. The sunset looks better on a clear day, too.

3. Wear hiking shoes or rubber shoes. Nobody goes hiking while wearing high heels. Don't go unprepared!

4. Students, bring your IDs. You'll have to present your ID to buy the Php30 entrance ticket for students.