Some places stay with you forever not because of what you saw, but because of what you felt. There are places you visit that are beautiful, exciting, or even breathtaking. But then, there are places that stay in your heart-not just for the scenery, but for the memories that live there. For me, that place is Baguio.

I was just a kid when we visited, but I remember it like it was yesterday. It wasn’t about the tourist spots or the cool breeze, though those things made it special too. What made Baguio unforgettable was this simple truth “we were complete”

Our whole family was there even my father, who wasn’t always around or smiling the way he did on that trip. But in Baguio, something changed. For a few precious days, everything felt light. We were laughing, eating together, and just enjoying each other’s company. There were no worries, no arguments, no problems. Just “us” a complete family, and for once, completely happy.

I remember the long drive up, the cold air brushing against our cheeks as we rolled down the windows to feel it. I remember seeing pine trees for the first time, and feeling like we had entered a different world. The scent of the air was fresh and calming, unlike anything I had known growing up.

We went to Burnham Park, rented bikes and laughed as we raced each other around. We tried strawberry taho from a vendor on the sidewalk sweet, warm, and unforgettable. We walked through the markets, looking at colorful woven clothes, keychains, and jars of ube jam. I think we bought more souvenirs than we needed, but it didn’t matter. We were together.

At night, the cold crept in and we shared one big blanket, telling stories, laughing at jokes that probably weren’t even that funny. But everything felt so real, so right, in that moment. I didn’t know it then, but I would look back at that trip for the rest of my life and think, That was happiness.

I’ve been to other places since Baguio bigger cities, farther destinations, more glamorous trips. But none of them compare to that one simple family vacation. Because the truth is, it’s not always the place that makes the memory it’s the people you share it with.

And in Baguio, we were complete. We were happy. And that’s why it will always be the most memorable place I’ve ever been. Even now, when life gets hard or things feel heavy, I close my eyes and think of that trip. I see my father smiling, hear my siblings laughing, and feel that same Baguio breeze on my skin. And for a second, I feel whole again.