Baguio Shopping Guide

Shopping Guide


If the attractions in Baguio are a bit of a letdown, fortunately there is much to fill your shopping bags with. You won't be leaving empty-handed as the city has lots to offer with its strawberries, woven or knitted crafts, silver jewelry, flowers, vegetables, jams and jellies.

A trip to Baguio is not complete without sampling the sweet strawberries, long been recognised as the city's claim-to-fame. Stalls at the city market throb with the rich redness of mounds and mounds of strawberries especially during weekendswhen prices do soar as sellers smell the tourists dollar. If you want them cheaper head on out to the Strawberry Fields along Km 6 in La Trinidad, 15 minutes away from the Bell Church. From December to the summer months of May and June, the rows are filled with red succulent fruits ready for the picking. Stalls selling all sorts of souvenirs and local crafts dot the dirt road beside the fields.

Back to the city market, all of Baguio's specialties are housed in this confusing maze of stalls. Along with strawberries, the inner sections sell local treats like peanut brittle, a chockfull of nuts doused in hardened heavy syrup; jams made of taro; and chocolate-coated corn flakes. In the vegetables section, you'll find affordably-priced cauliflower, broccoli, string beans, and carrots to name a few. In another narrow alley, the scent of roses fill the air as you reach the cut flower area where roses are dirt cheap (around US50 cents) by the dozen. And if you follow the unmistakable whiff of coffee beans, your nose will lead you to the stalls selling dark and rich mountain-grown varieties that are not as expensive as those sold in popular coffee shops. On the outer nodes of the market, you will chance upon handicrafts, knitwear, silver jewelry, and the most recent addition to Baguio's local commodity, vintage clothing and shoes.

If you want better selections of each of the products above, it helps to know where the good shops are! For silver crafts, the Ibay's Silver Shop near the local campus of the University of the Philippines is a must-visit. The outlet along Session Road is not as extensive as this main shop. If it's fine woven bags, tapestries, clothes and antiques you're after, Narda's Antiques and Woodcrafts at Session Road Extension is your best bet as the owner herself is highly-acclaimed in the export trade. Lastly, for fresh hot-off-the-oven cookies, taro jams, peanut brittle and other baked goodies, the Good Shepherd Convent located in Mines View Park is a popular stop before heading back to Manila. The jams hit the racks straight from the kitchens, lids still half-open to let it 'breathe', guarding against spoilage. Regular patrons let the bottles air out until they are cooled and ready for the fridge.

Souvenirs

The shopping opotions in Baguio are endless. You only need to know where to look

Silver


- Ifugao blacksmiths and Baguio craftsmen are renowned for their interesting collection of silver jewelry. The St. Louis University Silver Shop, just a few paces away from Baguio Cathedral, allows visitors to watch young silver craftsmen at work. Visitors can also purchase the pieces they want. Wright Park also festures row upon row of stalls selling silver accessories. For best buys, Ibay's Silver Shop and Phil. Treasure are recommended.

Hand-Woven Fabrics

- The tribesman of Bontoc, Igorot, Ifugao and Kalinga weave beautiful cotton fabrics with elegant ethnic motifs called lepanto. You can find such fabrics at the City Market. If you'd like to see the actual weaving process, visit the Easter Weaving School down Easter Road where threads are magically transformed into bags, blankets and blouses.

Sweets and Preserves

- If it's strawberry jam you want, proceed to the Good Shepherd Convent. The nuns of Good Shepherd
raise funds for their various charities (including unwed mothers and their babies) by cooking up some of the most delicious tasting fruit preserves this side of earth. Try the nun's strawberry and ube jams, cashew and peanut brittle, and coco jam. During peak seasons, visit the convent in the morning as there's bound to be a long line for the jams.

Flowers and Vegetables

- The Baguio City Market is a sanctuary for the most colorful of floral blooms. It's also where you can find the freshest produce straight from the farms of La Trinidad and Benguet - from sweet strawberries and giant red tomatoes to bright green lettuce and lively mushrooms. Baguio City Market also features handicrafts of all kinds from baskets to backpacks.

Baguio Shopping

SM Mall


Shoe mart - short SM - a huge mall with plenty of restaurants and shops for all needs can be seen from Burnham park and many other places in town - SM mall is on the highest hill near the center - above all - even above the Cathedral St. Mary. Many terraces on each leve
give you a splendid panoramic view of all Baguio.

Many restaurants and all kinds of stores to meet your needs for handicraft, electronic, high tech and house hold. Like in so many Philippine malls - Computers and electronic devices / equipment are on 3rd floor. Even if you have nothing to shop for - the panoramic view from its many terraces is well worth a visit. Banco de Oro has a branch inside the SM mall open until later in evening - the only one in town i know so far ! IN addition you find several money changer to change foreign currency inside SM.

Session road is one of the main roads to dine out or go shopping besides the SM mall. Most places however close between 21:00 and 22:00 hrs - only a few places - such as Pizza Volante with its delicious Pizze are open 24/7. On the other side of Session road you find Don Enrico, near Unicom - my preferred computer shop for computer accessories in Baguio City since years.

Walking down on Session road from SM mall the first road to the left is the bus terminal with busses to Manila / Angeles City ( Dau bus terminal ) and air con busses to La Union.


Baguio Public Market

It always seems to be a must for visitors from the lowland areas to visit the Baguio Public Market before leaving the city. The market is located right at the lower end of Session Road and behind the Maharlika Center. It is here where they buy different souvenirs typical of Baguio. There are numerous other products and handicrafts sold at the Baguio public market which are brought in from other nearby provinces.

A wide variety of items are available such as fresh vegetables, strawberry jam, peanut brittle, dried tobacco, an assortment of fresh flowers, meat, Baguio sausages, fish, poultry, fruits, clothes and clothing material. You will also find native products and handicraft such as baskets, brooms, bags, brass, blankets & sweaters, woodcarving, and locally made jewelry. Fresh and sweet strawberries from nearby La Trinidad are sold at the market but these are available only on certain months of the year. From the province of Pangasinan, "bucayo" (coconut candy) and "bagoong" (salted fish or shrimp) may also be purchased.

At the upper part of the market are "carinderias" or small food stores serving delicious and inexpensive native as well as a few Chinese or western-style menu. Different native food choices are available and these include favorite dishes from the Ilocos and Tagalog regions, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bicol, and others. These carinderias are patronized by most of the market vendors, people who work in the market, and the local residents.

The Maharlika shopping complex is also an integral part of the public market and at its basement is a food court popular among students, office and retail workers in the downtown area, and low-budgetted tourists from the nearby lowlands. It operates just like any other food court in big shopping malls in Metro Manila. At its upper floors are small retail outlets selling clothing, shoes, grocery items, wood and metal carvings, and antiques. Many visitors from foreign countries shop at the Maharlika shopping complex for silver craft, shell products, wood carvings, and other kinds of native handicraft.