An old song pays tribute to a city in the US with a phrase so descriptive — “climb halfway to the stars” — that it’s hard not to remember the lyrics as well as the music. A perfect wedding of pretty words and lovely music.

In real life, San Francisco’s appeal — as with any other city – depends on one’s perspective or point of view. Now, where I’m standing, not in SF but in a hotel room in Baguio City, Philippines, room temperature at 25 or 26 degrees, I’m advised by the hi-tech voice of “Alexa” that she will help me with the curtains, lights, and a/c in my room at Baguio Country Club. No a/c is needed, though, and my bed is warm enough with a soft fluffy blanket to help me along the path to dreamland.

Baguio at this time of year is ideal — no traffic jams! — minus the summertime crush of people from the lowlands and, with a little imagination, the city is, indeed, halfway to a colony of clouds. It helped that last weekend, the threat of monsoon rains was enough to delay or upset the travel-by-car plans of many families in the NCR. Intermittent showers accompanied us on the last 50 or 60 minutes up the zigzag road, the two “Bridal Veil” falls obliging us with their silvery output, but it was not yet the season for sunflowers.

Each time I’m in Baguio I thank God for giving us this Baguio, this land of a different climate, not too far, not too near Manila, just distant enough to suggest a respite — “vacation” — from the news and noises of the big city. And BCC is nothing if not the jewel in the crown of the Cordilleras, and my friend Lin I. Bildner of New York knows it.

BCC will be 100 years young next year, but before that, BCC’s very own spa — Baguio’s space for a heavenly massage — has just acquired a new building, its very own.

Anthony de Leon, BCC general manager, said they’re building a dozen cottages for lease (25 years) to members only, but already 50 of them have signed up for reservations. The plan is to build these cottages around the golf course, like a ring.