BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao came here ostensibly because he wanted to engage in several weeks of high altitude training for his fight against Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 at Cowboys Stadium. But after only a few minutes in this busy, but pleasant mountain town 1,500 meters above sea level, you realize that perhaps the main reason he is here for the second time to make camp is that it affords him a rare chance to relax.
Compared with sprawling, teeming and oppressively hot Manila, a six-hour drive south of here, Baguio is a laid back haven. This hilly town at the gateway to the Cordillera Mountains is covered with sweet-smelling pine trees. The weather is ideal. In the daytime it is slightly warm and never oppressive. At night a faint chill fills the air. The locals are friendly and polite and noticeably non-intrusive.
One gets a good idea of why Pacquiao is here by visiting Cooyeesan Plaza, a
