Forest bathing in John Hay to boost Baguio tourism

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY  – Local and tourism officials launched last week forest bathing in eco trails here inside Camp John Hay to boost t Baguio’s ecotourism industry with the expected influx of nature lovers wanting to enjoy the city’s cool weather year-round.

            Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said with forest bathing, residents and tourists should be aware of the rich culture and history of the city considering that it was in Baguio city where World War II started with the bombing of the Camp John Hay (CJH) gates on December 8, 1941 by the Japanese warplanes and it was also in the city where World War II ended when Japanese Imperial Army head Gen. Tomoyoki Yamashita, the so-called Tiger of Malaya, signed his surrender documents inside the Ambassador’s Residence located inside the former American rest and recreation center.

            “We are elated over the resounding support our creative arts festival has been receiving from local, national and international artists that is why we will continue to work out the appropriate innovations to sustain the development of the festival in the coming years,” Domogan stressed.

            Experts described forest bathing as a practice of spending time in forested areas for the purpose of enhancing health, wellness and happiness aside from the specific intention of individuals connecting with the natural world and gaining benefit and energy from it.

            According to them, bathing in the energy of trees, leaves, sky and earth will reap specific benefits such as reduced blood pressure, increased ability to focus, reduced stress, improved mood, accelerated recovery from surgery and illness, increased energy level and improved sleep.

            Among the steps in forest bathing include putting phones, cameras and other destructive items in a bag away from one’s body, setting aside goals and moving slowly, pausing intermittently to observe details with all senses, locating a comfortable place to sit, listen and watch, observing how nature responds to stillness and if one will have companions, agreeing to remain silent until after the walk when they can share their observations.

            Forest bathing was one of the activities lined up by organizers of the 2018 ENTAcool Baguio Creative Arts Festival that will run from November 11-18, 2018.

            The ENTAcool creative arts festival is part of the programs, projects and activities to inspire and motivate stakeholders to fully support the designation of Baguio city as the first city in the country and the fifth city in Southeast Asia to be named into the elite list of the Creative Cities Network.

            The several kilometers of eco-trails within Camp John Hay can be walked through within a 2-hour period depending on the pace of the hikers.

            Individuals interested to participate in forest bathing activities have been requested to touch the trees and the leaves, walk barefooted for them to feel the earth, touch the water in the springs among others for them to be fully satisfied on the energy that will be brought by nature.