Manaoag-Baguio-Benguet 2-Day Getaway

Did you know that Dagupan Bus Liner has no Ticket booth? When I arrived at their bus terminal in Cubao, I did not see any cubicle where I can buy tickets or make any reservation. I asked the lady in front of the public toilet (the one whom you pay for the 3-pesos pee/wiwi fee) and she told me that there is really no ticket booth. Yeah, you will pay directly to the bus conductor during your trip. I just learned this last week when my friends and I went to Manaoag Church in Pangasinan and rode a Dagupan Bus Liner to get there.

Or is it? Maybe that was just a one time scenario on that particular day. Or just in Cubao Terminal? Hmm, I am not sure. Please correct me if I am wrong. Haha!

Anyways, I will be posting only the important information about our Manaoag-Baguio-Benguet trip. Less pictures (only one or two), and more texts. This is more of how-did-we-get-there and how-much-did-we-spent blog. Just take lots of pictures when you have this trip by yourself. :)

I read a lot of blogs before this trip. Of course I needed to know which is the best Bus Liner that we should ride. And the winner - obviously since it was my introductory line in this blog - the Dagupan Bus Liner. It stops very near the church. I wouldn't say directly in front of Manaoag church but just near it. Very very near if I may say.

Trip Schedule - See Dagupan Bus facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dagupan-bus-co-inc/updated-schedule-of-trips-fare-guide-1/711852412216939

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dagupan-bus-co-inc/updated-schedule-of-trips-fare-guide-2/708810645854449

In Cubao terminal, the queue of people going to Manaoag is much shorter compared to other destinations. Make sure you are falling in line with the correct destination ok? It wouldn't hurt to ask.

We were able to rode the bus at around 12mn and the bus departed at around 12:20AM.

Cubao to Manoaog bus fare costs Php315. It is almost a 4 - 4.5 hours bus ride. Bus stops are in Dau Pampanga and Siesta Tarlac. At around 4AM, we were already in Manaoag Church.

Since the first mass starts at 5AM (when we arrived, I could hear people praying the Rosary from inside the church), we ate breakfast first at the food stalls in front of the church. We ate "Lugaw with egg" (Lugaw in english is porridge or rice congee) for 15 pesos.

Hello Raf! :)

After eating, we went to buy some Manaoag Souvenirs - Our Lady of Manaoag items. Do not be shy to haggle for the prices. I was able to save 100 pesos because of my haggling-skill.

There was no choir during the first mass so it ended in like 30 minutes. The Priest blessed all the religious items after the mass. After that we went at the back of the church. Apparently, you are allowed to touch Our Lady of Manaoag Veil. Yes. This is one religious tradition that you can do in Manaoag. We catholics are fond of these traditions. Just like how Black Nazarene devotee want to touch His image during His feast.

Good thing there were few people that time. We just waited for 10-15 minutes for our turn. After that, we headed to light a candle in the church's Candle Lighting Station.

That's not us. It was the people before us. Funny I forgot to take a picture of us during our turn. I was busy praying I guess.

By 6:30 AM, we were falling in line at the Van Terminal bound to Baguio City. You will easily see this outside the church, near the food stalls. It isn't a big terminal. It is just like a vacant lot with vans that have Baguio or Dagupan signs. Plus, there are barkers so you will definitely locate this terminal easily.

By 7 AM, we were already on our way to Baguio. Yey!

The Van took the Kennon Road route. Actually, you can also ride a Victory Liner bus from Manaoag to Baguio but it will take the La Union route.

Van Fare is Php 90. I was sleeping the whole 1 hour and 30 minutes travel time. Drop off point is at the front gate of Burnham Park.

I booked our hotel in agoda.com, just like what I did in my Singapore trip. We should have chosen a transient house but my friend wanted to stay in a hotel. She is one of those people who has a philosophy of "it's not everyday that we get to go to Baguio (or anywhere else), so why not spend a little more for the accommodation". Same thing when we went to Singapore. She said that the accommodation should look good in pictures. Well, fair enough. Our booking has a free breakfast included.

Since we were early for our check-in, we just left our baggage at the hotel's front desk. Then we went off to explore Baguio City proper.

Disclaimer!!!!

I know we had a lame iterinary. This is because the three of us lacked the energy during our trip. We were sleepy after eating lunch. Hahaha!!! Well, this did not let me down. I used to live in Baguio so it was ok with me if we weren't able to see all the tourist spots. Plus this was only a 2-day trip. :D

Day 1 Iterinaries:

1. Session Road - We just walked to get here. One of the tips I can give is to choose a hotel at the City Proper.

2. Baguio Cathedral

3. SM Baguio

4. Lunch at Gerry's Grill - the sleepy part comes right here.

5. Mines View - taxi flag down rate in Baguio is Php35. Cheaper compared here in Manila which is Php40.

6. Good Shepherd - my friend was literally sleeping in the corner while waiting for us to pay at the counter.

7. Hotel Check in - we arrived at around 4PM and then we slept till 9PM. How was that? Hahaha! Lame!

8. Dinner Luisa's Cafe in Session Road - I ordered Lechon Kawali with rice and Chopsuey for Php90.

I initially brought my friends in Good Taste Restaurant in Carino St., (Near Burnham Park) but we had the worst experience ever. This made me sad. I knew this place. I used to eat here when I was still living in Baguio. I was like boasting it to my friends. "We should try there, Everyone who goes to Baguio should eat there…" Oh well. We were like waiting for our food for almost an hour but it turned out our order was not placed. The waitress who took the order went off shift and maybe, just maybe, she failed to place our order. We wasted 1 hour there. Because we were pissed off, we left the place. I wonder if I will ever go back there again. Maybe in the other branch in Rajah Matanda St. For old time sake.

9. Night Market at Harrison Road

Day 2 Iterinaries:

1. Forevermore shooting venue - Sitio La Presa - We rented a taxi for this trip. Initially, the agreement was Php700, but it became Php850 when we asked the cab driver to bring us at the Strawberry farm after La Presa. 

2. Café by the Sky - You will definitely pass by here going to and from La Preza Venue. Before heading to Strawberry farm, we dropped by here to check the place. We did not eat here. Just photo Ops. :p

3. Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad Benguet - We did the strawberry picking activity. At first I was not very excited about it, but it was actually fun. 1 kilo for Php400. Yes, Php400 already. This is the most updated price. Started just January 9, 2015 according to the lady farmer we were talking to. There was a price hike since the holidays are over and Good Shepherd Store is already open. Apparently, they supply the fresh strawberries in Good Shepherd store, so meaning the demand went up. So they are increasing the price also. Economics 101 - Law of Demand and Supply. :p

Fruit of my Labor. How Ironic.

We rode a public jeepney back to Baguio City. The sign board was "Magsaysay". The jeepney's drop off point is at the front of Baguio City Hall, which is very near to our hotel.

4. Lunch at Caridad's Café and Bar - Good thing I knew this place. Since it was really lunch time for most people, long queues could be seen in counters and even outside the restaurants. But not here in Café Caridad. We were the only customers. Not that the food was not delicious - they have few customers because personally speaking, the place is not along the main road. It is like hidden. It is located along an alley in front of the Giligan's in Legarda St. I ordered Lechon Kawali with rice again for Php120.

5. Hotel Check Out

 

We rode a Dagupan Bus Liner again to Manila. The terminal is at the Governor's Pack Rd near SM Baguio. We left at around 4PM and was already in Manila at around 10PM. Bus Fare - Php445.

Expenses:

Accomodation:

Hotel Booking plus fee for extra person in the room - Php825 (Php2475 divided by 3)

Transportation:

Bus Fare from Cubao to Manaoag - Php315

Van Fare from Manaoag to Baguio - Php90

Taxi Fare from SM Baguio to Mines View - Php20 (Php60 divided by 3)

Jeepney Fare from Mines View to SM Baguio - Php10

Taxi Fare to La Preza and Strawberry Farm - Php284 (Php850 divided by 3)

Jeepney Fare from Strawberry farm to Baguio Proper - Php11

Taxi Fare from Hotel to Bus terminal - Php25 (Php75 divided by 3)

Bus Fare from Baguio to Manila - Php445

Food:

Lugaw @ Manaoag - Php15

Lunch @ Gerry's Grill SM Baguio - Php300

Dinner @ Luisa's Café - Php90

Lunch @ Café Caridad - Php120

Pasalubong:

Good Shepherd 2 pcs 12oz Ube Jam and 2 pcs 230g Lengua de gato - Php750

Strawberry - Php134 (Php400 divided by 3)

Total expenses: Php3434