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| Entrance to the Dinawis at Mercato |
Every year from November to December, when holiday cheer blankets Baguio along with its foggy weather, the city holds Ibagiw Festival, a cultural celebration that started when Baguio was designated as a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art in 2017. In Baguio, the cold, concluding months of the year highlight not only the holiday spirit, but also the city's creative identity.
This was my second time joining other media friends in the immersive Ibagiw Festival. We spent the days mainly for a food and art crawl, where we visit restaurants and cafes with limited-time art installations by its featured local artists. There were also art exhibits, workshops, and craft markets scattered around the city during the festival run.
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| Azalea Hotels and Residences Baguio |
For this year's fest, we stayed for a couple of nights at the alpine-themed Azalea Hotels and Residences Baguio, where holiday nights turn the property into a festive hub of lights and creativity.
Along with the vibrant decors and Christmas installations, one of the highlights of "Pasko sa Azalea" (Christmas in Azalea) is their evening bazaar called Dinawis at Mercato. When night falls, the hotel's front garden and playground, located just beside the entrance driveway, transforms into a shopping, dining and entertainment haven that is open both for all hotel guests and walk-ins.
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| Pasko sa Azalea |
"Dinawis" means grill (or grilling, or grilled) in Kankanaey, one of the spoken languages in the Cordillera region. Traditionally, dinawis is food served during special gatherings and get-together occasions in Benguet, and is shared while socializing with other villagers or while watching cultural dances and rituals.
Street foods, starred by the season's staple puto bumbong and bibingka, Baguio's pasalubong goodies, refreshing booze and juice drinks, cheap deals on handicrafts, ukay clothes and accessories, and live acoustic jam and free-for-all karaoke entertainment. These things make Azalea a perfect spot to spend some quality time with the family and friends, all while relishing the city's cool, highland climate.
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| Puto bumbong and bibingka stall |
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| Beers and liquors |
Azalea's annual mercato is not like any other. Each food and thrift stall was put up and being managed by their own employees, providing additional income to the people behind every great stay in Azalea.
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| One of the food stalls at Dinawis at Mercato |
The hotel's front yard is also dotted with glowing artworks-stained-glass pieces by Marge DC Gomez, whose works adorn Azalea's grounds for how many holiday seasons already. Her creations feature colorful impressions of Christmas symbols such as the Three Wise Men, the Star of Bethlehem, singing angels, sheep and shepherds, garlands and holiday presents.
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| Stained glass artworks displayed at the garden |
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| Christmas-themed stained glass artworks |
These illuminated glass panels stand in harmony with the bazaar booths. Some of it extends to the driveway, fringing the hotel entrance and adding to the facade's festive glow.
Through this kind of collaboration, Azalea provides a wider platform for local artists like Marge, where they can exhibit their craft and show the world why Baguio City is a cradle of artistry.
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| Marge DC Gomez, local Baguio artist |
Visit Dinawis at Mercato 2025 which runs on these dates from 4:00 PM-9:00 PM:
- FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS: December 5-6, 12-13
- DAILY: December 19-31
Azalea Hotel is located at No. 7 Leonard Wood Loop, Baguio City, near Teacher's Camp and just a few minutes away from Burnham Park, Session Road and SM City Baguio.
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| Christmas installations at Azalea Residences Baguio |
All photos that appear in this blog post is captured by Marboy Sayno of The Beauty of the Philippines.
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