BAGUIO CITY, PHILIPPINES



Baguio City, nestled in the Cordillera mountains of Northern Luzon, is home to over 366,000 residents (2020 census) and serves as a major educational, cultural, and economic center in the region. Known for its cool climate and highland charm, Baguio also faces persistent urban challenges, including congestion, informal settlements, and growing waste management demands.

Beyond tourism and education, Baguio has earned a unique reputation as the ukay-ukay capital of the Philippines. With roots tracing back to surplus donated clothing via humanitarian aid following WWII and subsequent calamities, the city’s thriving secondhand clothing trade is a major part of its local economy, supporting small vendors, attracting bargain hunters, and influencing fashion trends nationwide. This dynamic thrift economy highlights both the city’s entrepreneurial spirit and its entanglement in global patterns of textile waste and reuse.