BenCab. Baguio Influential Artist # 1.
BenCab is a famous National Artist that retired in Baguio. During his elementary days, he made a few centavos doing his classmates’ drawing assignments. In high school, he drew portraits of James Dean and Elvis Presley and sold them to schoolmates for 10 pesos. Decades down the way at the peak of his career, his most expensive paintings sold for about a million dollars each. "Paint it and it will come."
More creatives..
Heritage Mansion. Old grand mansion in Baguio.
A grand Baguio heritage structure that survived WWII and the 1990 earthquake. Rebuilt into a hotel. Elegant. Colonial. Snobbishly extravagant. Oh, you can live there for a while. Longer with a platinum card. Maitre D: "How do you like your steak, sir? Rare or medium well?" You : "Expensive."
More walks..
Tea House. Baguio party kitchen.
Having a party? Baguio folks go straight to Teahouse. Why cook when you can buy it cheap and ready to go. No hassle. Better go there early during weekends and holidays. Long line. Get a number and wait.
More eats...
The Chinese mestizos of Baguio.
Ever wondered why some Igorots and Cordillerans looked Chinese? Limahong? Ha! That was just an urban (rural?) legend. Here is an interesting story about a barangay in Benguet that tries to explain this mystery.