BAGUIO CITY—Baguio City captivates the hearts of the people with its nine-degree cold weather, highly hospitable people, diversity-filled residence which also champions tradition and culture.
It is not surprising that some Bicolanos opt to remain and establish companies in the Philippine summer capital.
Ramil Buquid Balmas, a 45-year-old and a local of Brgy. Bigaa, Legazpi City, is among those Bicolanos who decided to settle in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Despite the fact that he has limitations because he is a person with disability, he refuses to give up. He made the decision to move to Baguio for work 24 years ago.
“1999 nagtrabaho ako dito sa Baguio… at simula [noon] hindi na ako umalis,” Balmas said in an interview with Bicol.PH.
The narrative continues when he met the woman who would become the mother of his two daughters.
After managing a ‘pasalubong’ firm for more than six years, Balmas now owns it.
His store which sells homemade pasalubong including strawberry jam, ube jam, lengua de gata, peanut brittle, and other items, is situated in La Trinidad, Benguet.
“Wag mahiyang pumunta dito dahil maganda dito. May strawberry na tayo at peak season na, mura dito ang mga pasalubong,” Balmas explained.
This proves that there are authentic ‘oragon’ Bicolano bloods. He never quits or gives up, no matter where the weather takes him. | Aaron John Baluis
