Christmas chill comes early in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines  – There’s a nip in the air and yes, it’s beginning to feel like Christmas.

With the temperature dropping to its lowest this month at 12.4 degrees, Baguio residents were roused from sleep with a biting chill yesterday.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)-Baguio chief weatherman Salvador Olinares said the northeast monsoon has started, causing the sudden drop in temperature.

Olinares said it is expected to get colder because of a high-pressure area in the vicinity of Luzon.

The prospect of a chillier Baguio has excited tourism stakeholders who complained of minimal tourist arrivals after typhoon “Pepeng” destroyed major routes leading to the city, prompting cancellations of hotel reservations and convention bookings.

The Baguio Conventions and Visitors Bureau has pegged the losses in tourism at around P20 million daily, primarily because of the cancellation of the four-day 21st Advertising Congress (AdCon) in November. 

Anthony de Leon said Baguio will lose half a billion in revenues from the transfer of the AdCon to Subic. 

Mike del Rosario, a leading hotelier and businessman, said the coming of the cold season in Baguio offers a brighter prospect for tourism and business.

“Christmas is the best time to be in Baguio,” De Leon said.

Two weather disturbances in the Philippine area of responsibility earlier this month led to the drop in the temperature here.

The interaction of two typhoons that affected Luzon triggered the northeasterly wind flow from the countries in the North Pole, which are now experiencing winter.

On Oct. 6, Pagasa recorded a temperature low of 14 degrees. A day earlier, it was 15.6 and warmest that day at 16.8. It has continuously dropped one notch since Oct. 4 when Pagasa recorded 17.8 degrees.

Government weathermen predict the chill here and in the rest of highland Benguet will continue until March next year, which can boost the influx of tourists wanting to experience the city’s natural air-conditioning.