summer vacation

Lenten season is almost on its final days but summer in the Philippines has just begun. Tourism activities are again on the upswing in all tourists destinations around the country. Beaches and other places that offer relaxation and respite from the hot summer temperature would definitely brims with vacationers. Up north, tourists were already trekking to Baguio City, the summer capital of the Philippines. Also known as the city of pines, local and foreign tourists visit the mountain resort for its cool climate and pine tree covered tourists spots built, designed and some of them were named after renowned American expatriates who colonized the Philippines hundred years ago. Since the start of February 2008, foreign tourists have already surpassed the expected tourists' arrivals of 200,000, majority of them are Koreans and the rest are from the different nationalities. While on the other hand, big number of local tourists visits Baguio City to escape extreme heat in the lowlands. Every year the city government of Baguio picks lucky summer visitors and they are given red carpet accommodations and free tour around the city for four days. This year's lucky foreign visitors are four females from the Netherlands, who were picked randomly upon their arrival in the city. The lucky visitors from the local were also picked randomly and the same red carpet treatment was given to the four local tourists who are first time Baguio visitors.