You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it’s all right. — Maya Angelou
We all have that one place that knows our secrets, our heartbreaks, and our wildest dreams. For me, that place is Baguio City.
Our relationship hasn’t always been easy. For a long time, I viewed these winding roads as a cage—too small, too limited, and too quiet for the person I wanted to become. I even ran away for three years, convinced that distance would erase the sting of a failed relationship and finally “expand my horizons.” But after ten weeks of backpacking through the grand cathedrals and bustling plazas of Europe, a quiet truth settled in my chest: There truly is no place like home.
Here is why, despite the occasional “love-hate” tug-of-war, I will always choose to stay in the City of Pines.
1. A Climate for the Soul
The moment you ascend the zigzag roads and that first crisp breeze hits your face, you know you’ve arrived. While the rest of the country swelters, Baguio offers a cool, misty embrace. It’s more than just the temperature; it’s the scent of pine and damp earth that acts as a natural sedative for a restless mind. It is incomparable, distinct, and utterly comforting.
2. A Gastronomic Sanctuary
Baguio is essentially one giant food hub. As a self-confessed foodie, I find endless joy in the city’s culinary landscape. Whether it’s the nostalgic comfort of 50s Diner, the famous strawberry shortcake at Vizco’s, or the soulful atmosphere of Arcas Yard and Canto, the food here mirrors the weather: it’s soothing. Every new café that opens is an invitation to explore a new flavor without ever leaving my comfort zone.
3. The Heart of the Highlands: The People
Baguio has evolved into a melting pot, yet it has never lost its warmth. We boast the most honest taxi drivers in the Philippines, but the real treasure lies in the community. My growth is tethered to the friends and family I’ve made here. Even those who have moved on to different chapters remain part of the city’s geography for me—every corner holds a memory we created together.
“I love the reassuring feeling that I will be fine, whatever the circumstances, because I am in Baguio. Because I am home.”
At the end of the day, Baguio gives me something no European sunset ever could: space to just be. It is the city that watched me break, watched me leave, and now, watches me thrive.
No Juan Is An Island 
Leave a comment