Camp John Hay: An Eco-Tourism Haven in Baguio

Baguio is famous for a lot of things and one thing that keeps people coming back here, especially during summertime is its cool climate. Situated in the Cordillera mountains, temperature could go down below 10 Celsius with 6.3 Celsius being recorded as the lowest temperature ever recorded in history back in 1961. But what makes Baguio more appealing to tourists is because of its natural wonders such as the Pine Trees. Baguio is also known as the City of Pines.

Thousands or millions of Pine Trees cover the Cordillera mountain region. They said it was more abundant back in the '70s. However, due to urbanization, lesser pine trees could be seen on the ground. Now, one has to visit the far high altitude places in Baguio to be able to see such trees and bask in nature's delight.

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CAMP JOHN HAY

For this reason, it was a mission to truly experience the "City of Pines" during my travel here. And the more accessible spot for us to achieve this was the CAMP JOHN HAY.

More than just a tourist attraction, Camp John Hay also played its role in Filipino history as a refuge and retreat camp for American Soldiers back in 1900. After its turned over to the Philippine Government in 1991, it was developed into an eco-tourism haven filled with a state-of-the-art Manor, a Forest lodge, a massive golf course while still preserving its historical structures like the Bell House. The place also takes pride in its panoramic scenery of mountain ranges and pines trees, hiking trails, and treetop activities.

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On our drive to Camp John Hay, the crisp cold air was already crawling into my skin. Despite still not getting used to the cold weather, excitement overwhelmed me at the thought of seeing some pine trees. There were two entrances to Camp John Hay. One was going to the Manor and Lodge, the other one which was in Scout Hill Drive lead us to Camp John Hay Historical Core.

Arriving at the place, a feeling of awe came to me. A sense of being in another country. The tall pine trees surrounding made it even more foreign to me. The scenery was beautiful and relaxing. The air was clean and the cold breeze made it hard for me to explore without my jacket on. We waited for a little for the entrance reception to be opened. The entrance fee was less than $2. There were a few posters on the windows including a map which we should have taken note of but instead, we just relied on instinct or feeling and let our feet lead us to the unique spots inside.

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CEMETERY OF NEGATIVISM

Just along the road, the first thing that captured our attention was the Cemetery of Negativism or also called "The Lost Cemetery". Just by the name itself, it's not a cemetery of dead bodies but it's filled with tombstones each named after a negative trait we have. A symbolic site for burying our negative thoughts, emotions, and attitude. This was built in the 1980s by the US Commanding General John Hightower.

We followed a narrow path that lead to the graves amid a beautifully scenic slope. The graves were not far from each other and so the walk was short but relatively enjoyable. The play of words on each grave was creative. It even mentioned how and when one negativity died. We had a good laugh reading some of the graves and pointed to each other which negative trait we have.

It was brilliant for John Hightower to build this symbolic site. A unique spot with funny tombstones that makes you reflect on life. The experience was an eye-opener and reminds us to not take life seriously, have fun and be more positive.

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TOTEM POLE

Just beside the Cemetery was the Totem Pole made of 10 carved heads of important leaders during the American and Japanese occupation. Some of these people were Admiral George Dewey, Emilio Aguinaldo, and Douglas McArthur.

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BELL AMPHITHEATER

Working further up the main road, we stumbled at the Bell Amphitheater. It is the extension of the Bell House. It was designed by General Graham Bell himself and finished construction in 1913. This amphitheater is measured 300 feet in diameter and has a capacity of 1,500. The place is now rented out for events such as weddings.

From afar, it was so beautiful to look at. The morning sun rays passing through the trees made the place charming. It was surrounded by plants and flowers. It was a huge garden. We were drawn to view the whole place from below and so we walked the few steps leading to the covered stage. The scenery was even more captivating when seen from below.

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BELL HOUSE

Our last stop was the Bell House. One of the main remnants of Camp John Hay's historical past. What used to be Graham Bell's residence - now turned museum - is everybody's time travel portal to the 1900s. A glimpse not just into how Americans lived in the Philippines during the occupation but also their take in the architecture and interior design.

The house which is more than 100 years old is still standing strong and invigorates a classic charm even just from its exterior looks. Compelled by what it might hold inside, we stepped into its wide porch. Most of the structure was made of hardwood - floor, trusses, and walls. Two wooden, carved statues of an Igorot man and woman from the Cordillera tribes greeted us at the main entrance.

The walls were filled with old photographs of Camp John Hay and other places in Baguio that dated 100 years old. Wallpapers were a thing in the past. Almost all the furniture was made of wood. Two chimneys can be found inside, one in the living room and another in the dining area. Chandeliers were also present. The bedroom was also true to its past - two separate beds with boring plain headboards.

Honestly, there was a little heaviness in the energy inside the house so we didn't stay long and headed to the porch at the side. It was a breath of fresh air seeing the massive pine trees surrounding the house. A spot rendered us a picturesque view of clouds hovering over the beautiful mountain ranges of Cordillera and so we took our time to appreciate nature's beauty at that moment.

A miniature model of Camp John Hay was nestled at a corner. After a few seconds, it made me realize that we were far from checking out all its tourist spots. However, we couldn't stay long to explore the Hiking Trail, the Butterfly Sanctuary, and the Treetop Adventure but we did end up visiting the Secret Garden which was just behind the Bell House.

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SECRET GARDEN

What I thought was just a 3-minute walk turned out to be a 10-minute hike through a descending slope. But walking along the narrow trail under the shade of tall pine trees was amazing and relaxing. But the expectation of soon seeing a beautiful garden was too high. The path ended in a small gazebo. Yes, there were flora everywhere but not like the one in the Amphitheater. It would have been nice though that the gazebo would offer a cliff overlooking the mountains (probably in the past it did) but the trees were already covering the view too.

After a few minutes, we went back and headed to where we parked. We bid goodbye to the place with a smile. Camp John Hay is just a perfect place to explore especially for those who love a little bit of history and nature. It is yet a mission to be accomplished hiking on its forest trails. Perhaps next time.