It has always been said that many were called and few were chosen. From an original group of 12 in January, to nine in February to seven in the first week of March, and finally down to five persons in the last 10 minutes before the bus took off, we were the chosen few. :)
Erickson Jao
Rachel Ocampo
JE Ramos
Denise Talibsao
Steffen Uy
***March 18
Jam-packed bus Cable Tours terminal in Quezon City
The bus Cable Tours Mountain Province
We left the terminal in Manila at exactly 8:30 pm of March 18.
***March 19
Banaue Rice Terraces
By 5:40 am, while everyone is sleeping, the bus took a 15 minute stop at the world-famous banaue Rice Terraces view point. It was still dark, but I can't hide my excitement and went out to see this beautiful wonder the schools have been teaching us since elementary.
By 8:00am we had another stop and took some shots. It was so cold our mouths were smoking!
We arrived in Bontoc at 8:00 am, way ahead of our scheduled 10:00am arrival. So we walked to the jeepney terminal going to Sagada and waited for more passengers to fill up the jeep. 90% of the road from Bontoc to Sagada is now cemented.
The jeep plying the route of Sagada-Bontoc.
We arrived in Sagada at exactly 9:45 am. We had our names registered at the municipal hall then went to Rock Inn to check-in.
The registration center at the Sagada municipal hall.
At Rock Inn's Cafe Bodega, we had curried chicken, bulalo, grilled vegetables, and fresh mango juice for lunch.
Lizards are considered by Igorots as goodluck.
Orientation before starting the Cave Connection
The famous human ladder :)
We started Cave Connection at 1:55 pm. Our guide, Kuya John Magwilang, is the best guide you can find in Sagada.
Kuya John is the official tour guide of ABS CBN's Trip na Trip and is also the President of Sagada Genuine Guides Association (SAGGAs)
A very humble, knowledgeable, and punctual guide tracing his roots from the traditional rich Igorots of Sagada.
His number: +639107967073
A lot of things happened here. I made history. Around 50 tour guides helped to make it a reality. Thank you so much for assisting me and to Kuya John who managed to keep his stories flowing even in a not-so-good atmosphere. :)
For dinner, we had Sagada's best local cusine. (From SAGGAs)
Sagada just like any highland communities at the North has little known unique dishes to offer. The writer may not be an expert in this field but would try his best to identify, explain and update the topic.
“Pinikpikan”
- defined as a highland version of “Tinola” but prepared in a morbid way.
- Done through battering the wings and neck of a live chicken to create coagulation of blood in the meat.
- Well defined, however, she missed to include the “ETAG” or salt pork(right photo) often accompanied by sayote.
- an i-Sagada version of a Chinese pudding.
- Made of ground rice and covered by a sayote leaf.
- it is stuffed with pork and peanuts
“Tupig”
- Sticky rice wrapped in a finely weaved sugar cane leaf.
“Linapet”
- Made in Besao, a neighbor of Sagada
- Made of ground sticky rice with peanuts mixed with a sweet sauce.
"Patupat"
- sticky rice
Tapuy- Rice wine
***March 20
KILTEPAN PEAK
Everyone was very sleepy but we made a common effort to wake up at 5:00 am to catch the morning sunrise. As I was saying earlier, this is not the vacation for you if you want to wake up late and bum around. Well, you can but you miss the other spots.
Good morning Denise!
Very foggy. Where are you, sun?
Bomod-Ok Falls and Sagada Rice Terraces
Started the Bomod-Ok trek at 9:30 am We missed the jeep going back to the town proper so we had to rent a jeep.
Another showcase of their bayanihan:
A house was burning (refer to photo), Kuya John blew his whistle, everyone in the community from the highlands of Aguid to the lowlands of Rice terraces, fom old Lolos, to mothers, to strong middle-aged guys to little kids carrying tabo, evryone helped to extinguish the fire. Such a great display of a healthy community life.
Sadly, they have to close the Bomod-Ok trail for another week as they will do their ritual after fire to appease their Anito/God. (Bomod-ok was also closed until the day before we got there.) We are lucky. :)
On our way to Bomod-Ok. These old grand mothers are so strong.
House burning!! Kuya John whistled and everyone responded.
Locals from the hill side running to help extinguish the fire.
Beautiful smile.
Walking the Sagada Rice Terraces
Bomod-Ok Falls
Its a Saturday no-class day, so for the Sagada kids, this is an opportunity for them to earn extra income for their allowance. After plowing the rice in the early morning they run to the falls for a quick bath and wait for tourists who would want their tired feet to be massaged for only 10 pesos.
Haddeku Home-cooked Restaurant
Haddeku is arguably the best home-cooked restaurant in Sagada.
Echo Valley
With tired muscles coming from the cave connection and the bomod-ok trail. We struggled a little with this trip. Still, we enjoyed every moment of it.
Had lunch at Haddeku at 2:30 pm and ended Echo Valley tour at 4:45 pm.
The Anglican Church in Sagada
