Konted's Make My Day 2: Session Road

Session Road

Session Road, which goes downward or upward depending on one's direction, is Baguio City's busiest street. It is the focal point of Baguio's Central Business District. It is the heart and soul of the City. On both sides of Session Road are cafes and restaurants, commercial banks, drugstores, convenience stores and other business establishments.

Star Cafe, established in 1940 and considered as Baguio's oldest restaurant, still serves the same delicious Chinese dishes. Session Cafe and Dainty Restaurant, which rivaled then the popularity of Star Cafe, had closed shop many years back. 456 is still there and continues to serve hot mami noodles but is now occupying a smaller space. Pines Theater, Plaza Theater and Session cinema are no longer in business.

Sprouting like the proverbial mushrooms are fast food chains like McDonald's, ChowKing, Jollibee, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kenny Rogers, Mang Inasal, ChicBoy, Pizza Hut, Don Henrico's, Shakey's and Yellow Cab. Tourists, travelers or transients, plain students and local residents patronize these food outlets.

As Session Road is the center point and the connecting road to other places in the City, there is heavy traffic especially during rush hour. Like in Metro Manila, Baguio City has been implementing a color-coding scheme to reduce traffic within the vicinity of Session Road and other key areas. The alternative is to drive through the side streets.

Session Road is historical. It was named Session Road as the road leads to the Baden Powell Hall where the sessions of the powerful Philippine Commission were held in the 1900s. I had the chance to stay at Baden Powell Hall during my scouting days.

While it is true that what one now sees at Session Road is what he sees in Metro Manila, there is still a big difference. When one walks up or down Session Road, he breathes fresh, clean, cool mountain air as fog momentarily covers the area. And he gets to meet friendly and hospitable Baguio residents. He feels he is in a far away place, in a distant land. And as a young lad was asking his father while they were strolling down Session Road: " Papa, kailan ba tayo babalik ng Pilipinas? "

- Konted

Lower Session Road where it meets Magsaysay Avenue.

The intersection of Lower Session Road and Magsaysay Avenue. You turn left at Session Road, you turn right at Abanao Street and you go straight ahead to Burnham Park.

Maharlika Livelihood Complex at Lower Session Road used to be Marbay Shopping Center. Silver jewelry can be bought here. This was where Gov. Imee Marcos used to shop in the 80s.

Session Road near Malcolm Square

Pines Theater is no longer in business. Its present real estate value is about P 105 million.

Baguio City Public Market is located at the lower end of Session Road and across Malcolm Square.

Jams and brittles at the Baguio City Public Market

The Old Plaza theater owned by the Dela Rosa family has ceased business operations.

A scion of the Dela Rosa family was a classmate in high school. When the whole class traveled to Baguio for a vacation, we watched blockbuster movies for two consecutive nights. Free entrance, of course.

Sunshine Lunch at Malcolm Square near the Lower end of Session Road. Sunshine Lunch was established in the 50s and is a favorite among local residents as well as tourists. It is said to be closing down for good at the end of April, 2013. One day in the 70s, I was with friends Digos Reyes and Renz Salomon when we made a spur-of the-moment decision to motor to Baguio City. We arrived at 9pm, had our late dinner of Bird's Nest, Chop Suey, Camaron Rebosado and Lumpiang Shanghai at Sunshine Lunch. After downing 4 bottles of San Miguel Beer each, we made our return trip to Manila. Trip lang kumain sa Sunshine Lunch.

Upper Session Road.that leads to the bus terminals at Governor Pack.

Upper Session Road near the Baguio Cathedral

As there is now a high volume of vehicles in Baguio City, the color coding scheme is enforced in the city proper.

The controversial SM shopping mall at Luneta Hill which is part of Upper Session Road

View of the western part of Baguio City from SM Baguio

SM Supermarket draws the crowd.

Delicious burgers and burritos at the Army Navy resto along Session Road.

There are at least three outlets of the popular Mang Inasal in Baguio City: One is at Abanao Street, another one at Upper Session Road and the third one is at the ground floor of SM Baguio.