Baguio, Bacalao and Bittaog

When I was still living in the Philippines, Baguio, the country's summer capital, was the destination of choice of Manila folks when Holy Week came around. The city provided a welcome escape from the stifling heat of the lowlands yet also offered a challenge. During Holy Week, the traffic going to and from the place was horrendous even then. With Baguio now bursting at its seams (the current population estimate is 350,000 for a city built for 30,000, according to our writer), does it still make sense to brave the crowds for a whiff of cool air? PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo, who returned to the city after retiring from a life in California, says yes and tells us why in "Holy Week! Baguio's Still Worth Your While."

In time for Holy Week, PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno writes about bacalao, the salty fish that features prominently in the menu of  Eats Amore Foods, the Parañaque-based catering service of Jackie and Raffy Caballero (read "Bacalao With Love"). Jackie shares her Bacalao Casserole recipe with our Happy Home Cook this week.

As the world celebrates Earth Day next week, a new contributor, Merlita Usita Campanano, writes about the one bittaog tree in her hometown of Ballesteros, Cagayan that is the one constant in her life and those of other townfolks. Another story in our Hometown collection that celebrates places outside of the usual tourist trail.

And if you're in the market for a summer getaway, Read Again Manuel Hizon's compilation of "11 Great Beaches You Probably Haven't Been To."

Here are the links to stories we gathered from other publications you may want to read:

SC permanently stops SM from cutting trees in Baguio
https://abogado.com.ph/sc-permanently-stops-sm-from-cutting-trees-in-baguio/?fbclid=IwAR1PpMRUdSseNMSQzLwtaYpMa136IeuaBEOM1NFINomxAzBRIS6Npfjegu8

Wesley So Interview: 'Chess Was A Way Out'
https://www.chess.com/article/view/wesley-so-interview-chess-was-a-way-out?fbclid=IwAR0_k71iwgadoatl9dpcByj8n0ONDDT-HVZsQ0t-qWrWCO4bIG4gXKQM3_g

Pinoy Superstitious Beliefs in Construction
https://www.facebook.com/pg/MVYNBuilders/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2133815900008521

'Balete City' role-playing video game aims to promote Philippine mythology and culture
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/691224/balete-city-role-playing-video-game-aims-to-promote-philippine-mythology-and-culture/story/

For our video of the week, GMA’s Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho featured a story on Caroline Van Gils, a Belgian national who came to the Philippines last year in search of her mother.