Baguio City Market
In all our family trips to the City of Pines, I used to wonder why the "mommy contingent" would always head straight for the Baguio City Market! "We have to go to the palengke (market) first!"
Just a public market, it is where one can find all the best produce and products of the Cordilleras in the Philippines.
But at the same time it is probably the only Philippine market deemed a top visitor attraction, and I will tell you why this is so...
Because the Baguio City Market is:
• clean
• cool
• cheap
• complete!
And if there's anything that captures the essence of Baguio, it is the city market. Like Baguio, it is a 'melting pot' of Cordillera and lowland products. Like Baguio, it can be busy but not stressful. Like Baguio, it provides a wide variety of items and services.
So, if you need to have a shoe re-soled or have your dollars changed, if you need to buy zucchini or "sayote," romaine lettuce or "kangkong," or perhaps buy yourself a bottle of Cordillera rice wine (called tapuey, sometimes tapuy or tapey) our market has it all. Rich and poor, everyone goes to the same market. Now that's really nice, isn't it?
Located in the heart of the city, the market is at the base of Session Road on Magsaysay Avenue, near Burnham Park. Adjacent to it is the Maharlika Livelihood Center that complements the market with boutiques and other specialty shops, money changers, antique dealers, furniture stores, beauty parlors and other shops. A side entrance to Maharlika can be accessed via the city market's dry goods section.
(For visitors I recommend going there TWICE: upon arrival for your vacation supplies and non-perishable goods, and again before leaving for souvenir shopping and perishable items to bring home).
Why would a public market be considered a tourist attraction then?
Because it is market like no other in the Philippines. I did mention clean, cool, cheap and complete, didn't I?
But it's the dry goods section the locals call Marbay that tourists just love! Here you can find a wide variety of the handicrafts and souvenir items that Baguio and the Philippines are famous for. From the barrelman, to the oversized wooden spoons and rosaries, and so much more. For a list of these items, you may want to check out our Local Products.
Almost all the consumer and service needs of both residents and visitors are found here -- blankets, furniture, home decor, chicken, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, vegetables, cosmetics and toiletry items, surplus military equipment, styrofoam boxes, key duplication, foreign exchange, cut flowers -- you name it! This page only lists a few of what is available there. Visit our market -- you'll simply love it!
- Clean because it simply is. It is not dusty, wet or smelly like markets elsewhere in the Philippines.
- Cool because temperatures in Baguio are pretty low (in fact, I believe that it is the only fully 'air-conditioned' market in the Philippines). Also, because shopping there can be a whole lot of fun!
- Cheap because it is the place with the best bargains.
- Complete because there is a wide variety of items for sale that could overwhelm any visitor to Baguio.
Of course it has a wet goods section selling fresh and processed meats plus fish and seafood from the lowland provinces. It has an industrial area selling plastics, styrofoam, nets and canvas. Near it is the section where fresh roasted coffee beans are sold. The central area offers fruits and vegetables together with baskets, brooms, bags and other woven products on one side and edible goodies and blankets on the other side. In an alley behind it is the 'black market' selling imported products from shampoos to comforters. Near the Abanao Road exit is the section for flowers and plants where you can buy cut-flowers, have an arrangement made, or even outfit a bridal car!
How about fresh fish and seafood from nearby Pangasinan? And "longanisa" (sausage links) from up north in Ilocos? Large, juicy seedless Sagada oranges and of course, freshly-picked strawberries from nearby La Trinidad Valley.
Ube jam (purple yam), fresh honey from Benguet, peanut and cashew brittle, chocolate covered marsh-mallows and corn flakes, puto Calasiao from Pangasinan, "lengua de gato" (literally translated it means cat's tongue in Spanish -- but really, it's just a super buttery cookie), and of course, the popular "kulangot" (I will not translate this) which is a sticky coconut confection.
One of the most popular items is the famous Baguio "walis tambo" (brooms) with comfortable woven handles. They're so popular that, in Manila they are selling China-made copies with handles that have Baguio stickers on them!
How to Get There?
All jeepney routes start and end at the Plaza (which really refers to Burnham Park but all the depots are located closer to the market). So alight from any jeepney and walk to the Magsaysay Road entrances, or pass through the side entrance on Abanao Road, or the back entrance via Kayang Street.
I recommend riding a taxi cab instead of a jeepney, especially on your way back from the city market.
Bringing a Car?
There's paid parking available on the top floor of the Maharlika Livelihood Center, also at the basement of Abanao Square the mall right behind the market, and on an empty lot between Abanao Square and Empire Cinema. All these are acessible through Abanao Road
Others park of Session Road, SM City Baguio, Baguio Cath-edral and make their way down on foot. Others park on Otek St. or in front of City Hall and approach the market from behind.
Bought Too Much Stuff?
Don't worry, teenagers and older kids will be offering to carry your things for a fee when they see that your arms are laden with purchases -- all the way to your ride.
How much to pay them? I would say Php10.00 per bag.
Is Haggling Possible?
Yes. Haggling for a lower price is not only possible, it is expected. Prices can go down especially for volume purchases.
Prices are based on the laws of supply and demand, and the demand is greater on week-ends and peak months, so you get a better bargain on a weekday.
TIp: Haggle softly and sweetly!
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