When Filipinos think of Kennon Road of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s they have an image of the popular and treacherous twists and turns. In the 90’s it was synonymous with disasters – landslides and mudslides. Very few dared to ply this route on rainy days especially in the monsoon days. Then it was closed to traffic for renovation. Buses carrying passengers were forced to take the longer but wider and relatively much safer Marcos Highway. To this day, all buses coming from Manila pass through Marcos Highway.For smaller private vehicles and minivans, Kennon is still a popular choice as it can shave off as much as thirty minutes from the travel time compared to Marcos Highway. And the scenery is just as breathtaking. This time the richness of the mountains is much closer for inspection. Waterfalls are much more common and more prominent. At one time a small gush of water from the mountainside disappeared under the sidewalk and resurfaced on the other side of the road.
But the one thing most noticeable to us is how much bluer the sky is above Kennon Road compared to Marcos Highway. The mountains are much greener and on clear days the contrast is so sharp that it would look like a Windows XP wallpaper. With air that clean and clear, it is most definitely safe to take a deep breath and enjoy its crisp coolness.
While the famous headstone of former president Marcos (after whom the road was named) is slowly falling apart back in Marcos Highway. The presence of the ever popular Lions Head in Kennon is as prominent as ever. For those going up to Baguio in a private vehicle, it is a must to stop and take pictures, browse among the small shops located on the roadside and enjoy the scenery.
After the Lion’s Head which is a project of the International Lions Club, the road gets more noticeably steeper and the “zig” of the road meets its “zag”. For those who suffer from motion sickness, taking Kennon Road is not advised and it is quite a challenge for inexperienced drivers and must take necessary precaution.
Although most of Kennon Road has been successfully renovated and smoothed out. There are still parts where the road would get rocky and at one point is reduced to a single lane where a sign says “STOP. Proceed when Clear”. Another tip for motorists is that just like in Manila, the city observes a traffic coding system and is strictly enforced. Tourists and visitors can obtain a special exemption pass at the nearest PNP (Philippine National Police) station.
When buildings become more frequent and there are more frequent forking of the road. One could feel that the city is just behind the next hill. Just like Marcos Highway, motorists will be greeted by the white buildings of Baguio General Hospital.
Let the fun times begin.
