The name Baguio conjures, for both the international and domestic traveler, a highland retreat in the Grand Cordillera in Northern Luzon, with pine trees, crisp cold breezes and low verdant knolls and hillocks.

Through the numerous decades Baguio has morphed from what was once a grassy marshland into one of the cleanest and greenest, most highly urbanized cities in the country. It has made its mark as a premiere tourist destination in the Northern part of the Philippines with its cool climate, foggy hills, panoramic views and lovely flowers.

Being the ideal convergence zone of neighboring highland places, Baguio is the melting pot of different peoples and cultures and has boosted its ability to provide a center for education for its neighbors. Its rich culture and countless resources have lured numerous investments and business opportunities to the city.

Quick facts

Mayor: BENJAMIN MAGALONG

Vice Mayor: FAUSTINO OLOWAN

POPULATION:366,358 (As of 2020)

GEOGRAPHY: Baguio is a landlocked city located 250 kilometers north of Manila, in the heart of the province of Benguet. It has a land area of 57.5 km². It is known as the gateway to the Cordillera of the mountain provinces of Northern Philippines. It is accessible from the lowlands via three national roads: Quirino Highway better known as the Naguilian Road (north), Kennon Road (south), and Marcos Highway (west). It is also accessible through the Halsema Highway especially those from Benguet and Mt. Province. Baguio can also be reached by air through Loakan Airport located south of the city.

BARANGAYS: 129

LANGUAGE: Ilocano is the predominant dialect in the city. The national language, Filipino, is of course spoken by almost everyone. English is widely spoken and understood. It is the medium of instruction in all public and private schools. Most newspaper and magazines are printed in this language and the English-speaking traveler would not encounter any communication problems.

RELIGION. Religiosity is a basic socio-cultural characteristic that makes the Filipino character distinct and unique as manifested likewise by Baguio residents. Over the years, the number of religious sects in the City has been increasing. The three most dominant are Roman Catholics to which 80.4 percent of the population belong, followed by the Episcopalian Church with 5.8 percent and the Iglesia ni Cristo with 3.5 percent membership. The remaining 10.3 percent distributed among other religious sects.

CLIMATE: The city enjoys a cool temperate climate typically 19.3 degrees centigrade. Temperature dips to as low as 10 degrees in the cold months of December, January and February. This is due to its elevation of 1,500 meters above mean sea level and its pine clad topography. Dry season is from November to April and wet season for the rest of the months.