Tag: Baguio

Everlasting Flowers

Philippines
Everlasting from Baguio, Photo by PH Morton

Everlasting from Baguio, Photo by PH Morton

Everlasting garland, photo by PH Morton

Everlasting garland, photo by PH Morton

Everlasting Flowers

As soon as my mother saw the Everlasting leis when we were in Baguio, she had to buy a few of the garlands.  She said Baguio is Everlasting.  You have not really been to Baguio if you do not bring home the garland 🙂 or something like that.

I have forgotten about the Everlasting and its connection to Baguio City.  But I remember it now and also recall a song, an Ilocano (language of Northen Luzon, Philippines) song… which advised that the Everlasting flowers come from Baguio.

These flowers are dried from strawflowers of the daisy family (asteraceae),  If dried properly, the flowers keep their shape and colour for a long, long time (or until dusts overpower them), thus, given the name of Everlasting.

These garlands are used to decorate religious icons in the Philippines.  Everlasting is just too itchy to use as leis  to hang round a person’s neck.

Going Igorot in Mountain Province

Holidays & Travels Philippines

Philippines
Travel

Lady Igorotas, Photo by PH Morton

Lady Igorotas, Photo by PH Morton

Going Igorot in Mountain Province

We went to Baguio City last month.  It was a busy, hectic time.  We tried to put as much activities in just a couple of days.  One such activity was going to Burnham Park.

After sailing the big pond in the park, we went to investigate a corner of the park, where we spied people taking pictures wearing the very becoming traditional Igorot costume.  Igorots are from the tribes living in the Mountain Province of Cordillera.

The Igorot men traditionally wear long strip of handwoven loin cloth which is called wanes.  They also sport tattoos as symbol of bravery.

While the women wear a wrap-around skirt called lufid, originally women went topless but during more modern times a poncho like tops are worn.  The women get to wear lots of handmade jewelries made from curved woods, beads and semi-precious stones.

We did have fun posing, though it was quite an expensive experience.  You can take photos but it will cost you.  The management, actually the woman minding the costumes, 🙂 will check your camera for the number of photos taken wearing their costumes and you had to pay for each of the pictures.

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This pretty girl was wearing the Igorot costume.  We met her and her father when we went to Mines View Park.  She was so cute that we asked her father if we could take her photo.  The father was quite happy for the picture taking.  So sweet.

Mountain Maid and Ifugao Coffee

Food Blog & Review Philippines
Coffee from the Good Shepherd - Baguio, photo by JMorton

Coffee from the Good Shepherd – Baguio, photo by JMorton 

Mountain Maid and Ifugao Coffee

We have  run out of Taylors of Harrogate Rich Italian coffee and I thought the world as I know it was over. 🙂  Luckily I remembered that I have got a few bags of coffee from Baguio, Philippines.

I thought I should try it.

I am glad I did.  I was very pleasantly surprised.  It tasted terrific, full-bodied and rich.  It has the right scale of bitterness.

Just perfect for a cold afternoon break time here in London.

We got the coffee from the Good Shepherd convent, which is just below Mines View in Baguio.

Aside from gorgeous Mountain Maid and Ifugao coffees, the convent/centre brew their own civet coffee, unfortunately for Peter, they had just run out of the coffee.

He was so aggrieved like you won’t believe.  He was so very, very sad that he did not get to drink coffee from beans which have been swallowed and pooped by musang (civet).  What is the world coming to?!!! 🙂

Anyway, the coffees above  are comparable to the best coffees available anywhere in the world.  I should know this as I am a self-confessed coffee aficionado.

I hope the Good Shepherd convent are exporting them or is thinking of doing so.