Burnham Park is at the center of Baguio City and is one of the biggest man made parks in Northern Luzon. It surrounds a lake that was constructed several decades earlier and now functions as a boating lagoon for people especially tourists. Historically, Burnham Park was once a private lot of a native family of Baguio City but due to their kindness and generosity, allowed the City to develop the area into a public park. It was an American Architect by the name of Daniel Burnham who laid plans to the development of the park. He conceptualized a square that would be filled with trees and all sorts of plants for all Baguio constituents to enjoy. Today, people from all over the Philippines come here to relax and have picnics.
What activities can you enjoy in Burnham Park?
Burnham Park is wide and lush green plants surround it. Today, the park is being rehabilitated and it’s more enjoyable to have picnics in the grass. Some tourists bring their tents and others are contented with a “banig” or a mat. Aside from eating in the open spaces and sitting in the grass, the following activities can be enjoyed in the park:
1. Boating
With a very reasonable price, renting a boat can be so enjoyable. You can row the boat by yourself or ask one of the boat guides to ride with you and row the boat. If you ask if boating is safe, well it very much is. The water isn’t very deep but could be real murky below. The boats can accommodate more than 4 people but it is advised never to rock the boat or play around while on water. Tourists who never experienced rowing boats before seem to like this experience. They claim if only they could do boating everyday, they would. They say it’s a great exercise and the beauty of Burnham Park inspires them.2. Biking
There’s a biking area at the side of the park. Here you can rent bicycles at a very cheap price and ride them for a corresponding amount of time. Most kids who do not have bikes learn to ride one in Burnham Park.
I remember learning to ride a bike here. We didn’t own a bike before but riding one in Burnham taught me how. I remember being so envious with my older cousins for they knew how to ride bicycles and even made them jump. They were so busy having fun they didn’t even teach me how to do it. Well, I was so determined, and matigas talaga ang ulo ko. They said hindi daw pwedeng matutunan mag bike sa ilang oras lang and kelangan ng sariling bike but heck, I wasn’t listening. I took a medium sized bike and without putting my feet on the pedals rode the bike down a small slope (nuon kasi pwede pang pumasok ang mga bike sa loob ng children’s park so may mga sloping areas dun) I managed to keep my balance and then in a few minutes started pedaling. Ayun nakaya ko din, after nun bumili na din kami sariling bike hehehe.
3. Jogging, Tai Chi, Biking
Early in the morning, Baguio athletes and residents jog around the park. Circling the whole Burnham Park can be so challenging for it is so wide. On an average, siguro isang beses lang kaya ng regular na tao umikot sa buong parke. Jogging here can be so fun because first, it’s clean and the air is fresh. Second, you can get more motivated to do your exercise routines for there are so many others who share the same interest.
Sometimes, there’ll be elder people doing Tai Chi exercises early in the morning. Their movements can be so interesting you’ll probably want to join them.
Circling the Burnham Park with a bike is a great way of exercising especially in the morning. The air is fresh and it feels so good.
4. Play soccer
Melvin Jones Grand Stand is a wide and open space meant to hold big events such as concerts and soccer games. Here, anybody can play football and it’s such an exiting sport to watch.
5. Roller Skating
There’s a roller skating ring in Burnham Park. Here, children and adults can ride their skates for free.
6. Ride Bump cars
One is never too old to ride bump cars. For 50 pesos for 5 minutes, one can ride a bump car and enjoy being a kid again.
7. Choose flowers from the Baguio Orchidarium to bring home
The Baguio Orchidarium is located beside the Burnham Park and the biking area. Here, you can purchase beautiful flowering plants at reasonable prices. Their orchids are great with different varieties and colors. There are so many kinds of plants, every each one of them is beautiful. Nakakabusog ng mata.
For Baguio residents siguro nakakasawa na ang Burnham Park gaya ko na sobrang tagal bago ako dumaan uli duon. Siguro ganun talaga kung palagi mo nakikita, o laging nababanggit eh kung minsan di na kasing interesting para mamasyal, pero ang totoo hindi naman talaga nakakasawa ang kagandahan ng Burnham. In fact merong laging bago na kelangan lang pansinin sa bawat pasyal sa parke. Kaya nirerekomenda ko na pag may date kayo, maganda din na dalhin sila sa Burnham, makapag uusap pa kayo dun ng mas maayos.
Nung nagrereview ako para sa boards exams, sinasadya kong pumunta sa Burnham Park para maghanap ng tahimik at preskong lugar para maka concentrate. Nauupo ako sa damuhan at nagbabasa. Ang maganda sa pagpunta sa mga lugar gaya ng Burnham para magreview ay nakakarelieve ng stress kahit paano. Ang hirap kasi pag masyadong puno ang isip at kinakabahan ang dibdib, parang hindi pumapasok ang binabasa. Kung kayo ay naghahanda para sa ating mga local board, o kahit na anung paparaing na exam, subukan din ninyong magbasa outdoor o tanggalin ang stress sa pamamagitan ng pagpasyal sa mga lugar na presko at puno ng berdeng kulay. Sabi kasi nila nakakapresko daw ng pag-iisip ang kapaligirang luntian gaya ng Burnham Park.
