baguio...

A mountain road in Baguio, Benguet Province.

At 5,000 feet, or about 1400m above sea level, Baguio is still known by many as the "Summer Capital" of the Philippines. (The term dates back to the days when the city was built by the American colonial powers as a recreational and administrative centre - from where they could preside over their precious tropical colony without having to work up too much of a sweat!) These days, the city is more widely known as the "City of Pines." Baguio could also be justifiably called the "City of Flowers." The cool mountain climate around the city makes the area ideal for the cultivation of vegetables and flowers - and Baguio has one of the biggest annual flower festivals in the country.