April 4-7 Sagada's Beyond It's More Fun in the Philippines!

April 4-7 Sagada's Beyond It's More Fun in the Philippines!

April 4-7 , 2012 for only P3,300.00 inclusive of transportation, 3 days/2nights accommodation, and tour packages with tour guides and tourism fees and surprises!

ITINERARY

April 4 Wednesday @ 10:00pm Assembly of joiners: Philippine Rabbit, Sta. Cruz, Manila beside the Old Odeon Theatre
If 29 in number: chartered bus
Other buses may be considered...

FIRST DAY
7:00am Baguio Breakfast
8:00am Dangwa
12:00am Lunch in Sagada, Mountain Province
1:00pm Tourists’ Registration, St. Joseph’s Resthouse
2:00pm Sumag-ing Cave, Hanging Coffins, Burial Caves
7:00pm Souvenir Shopping/EAT OUT, Dinner/Free Time

SECOND DAY
7:00am Breakfast
8:00-12:00n Bomod-ok Falls, Sagada Terraces, A Walk Over Rice Paddies
12:00-3:00pm Lake Danum & Group Lunch
3:00-6:00pm Sagada Pottery Shop, St. Mary The Virgin Compound, Echo Valley, Calvary
7:00pm Souvenir Shopping/ EAT OUT, Dinner/Free Time

THIRD DAY
7:00am Mass/Breakfast
8:00-12:00am Bontoc Museum, Banaue Rice Terraces
9:00pm Manila

Details of Itinerary are subject to changes. PAYMENTS: deposit full payments before April 2012 and is non-refundable.

LANDBANK ACCOUNT NAME:Ramos, Roderick B.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1987126236
DEPOSIT SLIP will serve as your official receipt.
Deadline: March 10

April 4-7 Sagada's Beyond It's More Fun in the Philippines!

Hurry, tourists flock and guesthouses get occupied so fast! Reserve as early as now (non-refundable).

• The travel is open to all. Bring friends and your family! Text complete name, institution, gender and age @ 09187318010 and confirm attendance.
• Warm up and flex your muscles or exercise before the event. Join in good health.
• For Sagada cold weather during night time, wear a thick jacket/sweater, gloves, a bonnet or a cap for the head plus socks, neck protection.
• Bring your sunglass, sunblock, moisturizer, cap/umbrella, medicines; baon for 3 days and 2 nights; & extra money for food, souvenirs, etc.
• Bring water at all times.
• Bring a self-help book or a bag of periodicals/books or a box for Bomabanga National High School.
• Going to Sagada (12 hours) transforms you into a backpacker.
• Fee of 3,300 pesos is inclusive of room reservation fee, transportation, accommodation, tour packages & guide fees, tourism fees, museum fee, pottery shop w/ demo fee, day-tour van/jeep)
• Take care of your personal belongings. The tour coordinators will not be responsible for losses from Manila to Sagada, vice-versa.
ASSEMBLY
• Be at the bus station of the Philippine Rabbit @ 10pm beside the Old Odeon Theatre
• Departure is 11pm. Get enough sleep each day...

ACCOMMODATION
• Joiners’ rooms are economy rooms, either good for two or four with common bath. (Other room rates for upgrade/night: private rooms with hot/cold bath, good for 3, 1,700; 2, 1,200; 4, 2,200; cottages with hot/cold bath, good for 3, 1,700; 4, 2000; 8, 3500)
• Beddings are provided. There is an extra cost for an extra blanket.
• Bring your toiletries.
• Water in Sagada is ice cold but tolerable during shower.
• Water is scarce when there is a big number of tourists in the municipality.
• Hot water/water heater is available in the resthouse (St. Joseph’s Resthouse).
• Battery charging is allowed.

TOUR
• Wake up early, greet & say your beautiful mornings to all and eat heavy breakfast @ 7am. 7:45am tour assembly is in front of the Municipality Hall. @ 8am, all in the van/jeep and tour begins.
• Wear non-white and jeans are a no in doing spelunking (caving) in the Sumag-ing Cave (Thursday) or walking over rice paddies to Bomod-ok Falls (Friday). Be in simplest attire at all times and shorts, sandals or slippers are okay.
• All ages are admitted including kids of 4 and can go down the cave or aim also for Bomod-ok Falls for four (4) hours each.
• No step-ins down the cave. The group will be going down barefoot or barefooted. There will be pool swimming, spelunking, rapeling, etc.
• Friday walk to Bomod-ok Falls: bring food for your merienda and lunch and your swimsuit.
• Little fasting is a yes-yes! But eat fruits, bread, drink water or juice or raw vegetables with some sauce, avoid cola.
Others
• Sagada is very people-friendly. Understand dwellers’ accent.
• Listen to tourist guides and guides are accommodating. If you have inquiries, ask them.
• You may give a personal tip and be informed that a group tip is already part of your travel fees. If asking for a personal guide, provide also a personal tip. Two (2) guides for a group of 10.
• Text @ 09187318010 if you have inquiries or decide to eat and be somewhere in the municipality on top of caves
• Don’t forget to try lemon pie or blue berry pie w/ brewed coffee, or be @ the Lemon Pie House or Yoghurt House. Be & eat out also anywhere: Alfredo’s, Log Cabin, Cusina Igorota, Sagada Guest House, Olahbinan, Igorot Inn, Sudimay, and other small eateries.
• Establishments close @ 9pm except for St. Theodore Hospital with a pharmacy.
• Saturday is market day. Buy a lot near the Municipality Hall.
• See Sagada online-resources for other tips for an EXCITING, RELAXING & PLEASURABLE TRIP to the HIGHLANDS of MOUNTAIN PROVINCE.

• Opinions are welcome before, during and after Sagada trip!
• Exploring Sagada is team-building and one learning experience to share, discover and enjoy good life in Cordillera.

SAGADA October Surprise w/ Outreach 2011

SAGADA October Surprise w/ Outreach 2011

October 28-31, 2011 P3,300.00 inclusive of transportation, 3 days/2nights accommodation, and tour packages with tour guides and tourism fees and surprises!

ITINERARY

October 28 @ 10:00pm Assembly of joiners: Philippine Rabbit, Sta. Cruz, Manila beside the Old Odeon Theatre

FIRST DAY
7:00am Baguio Breakfast
8:00am Dangwa
12:00am Lunch in Sagada, Mountain Province
1:00pm Tourists’ Registration, St. Joseph’s Resthouse
2:00pm Sumag-ing Cave, Hanging Coffins, Burial Caves
7:00pm Souvenir Shopping/EAT OUT, Dinner/Free Time

SECOND DAY
7:00am Breakfast
8:00-12:00n Bomod-ok Falls, Sagada Terraces, A Walk Over Rice Paddies
12:00-3:00pm Lake Danum & Group Lunch
3:00-6:00pm Sagada Pottery Shop, St. Mary The Virgin Compound, Echo Valley, Calvary
7:00pm Souvenir Shopping/ EAT OUT, Dinner/Free Time

THIRD DAY
7:00am Mass/Breakfast
8:00-12:00am Bontoc Museum, Banaue Rice Terraces
9:00pm Manila

Details of Itinerary are subject to changes. PAYMENTS: deposit full payments before October 15, 2011 and is non-refundable.

LANDBANK ACCOUNT NAME:Ramos, Roderick B.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1987126236
DEPOSIT SLIP will serve as your official receipt.

SAGADA October Surprise w/ Outreach 2011

October 28-31, 2011 P3,300.00 inclusive of transportation, 3 days/2nights

Hurry, tourists flock and guesthouses get occuppied so fast! Reserve as early as now (non-refundable).


• The travel is open to all. Bring friends and your family! Text complete name, institution, gender and age @ 09187318010 and confirm attendance.
• Warm up and flex your muscles or exercise before the event. Join in good health.
• For Sagada cold weather during night time, wear a thick jacket/sweater, gloves, a bonnet or a cap for the head plus socks, neck protection.
• Bring your sunglass, sunblock, moisturizer, cap/umbrella, medicines; baon for 3 days and 2 nights; & extra money for food, souvenirs, etc.
• Bring water at all times.
• Bring a self-help book or a bag of periodicals/books or a box for Bomabanga National High School.
• Going to Sagada (12 hours) transforms you into a backpacker.
• Fee of 3,300 pesos is inclusive of room reservation fee, transportation, accommodation, tour packages & guide fees, tourism fees, museum fee, pottery shop w/ demo fee, day-tour van/jeep)
• Take care of your personal belongings. The tour coordinators will not be responsible for losses from Manila to Sagada, vice-versa.
ASSEMBLY
• Be at the bus station of the Philippine Rabbit @ 10pm beside the Old Odeon Theatre
• Departure is 11pm. Get enough sleep each day...

ACCOMMODATION


• Joiners’ rooms are economy rooms, either good for two or four with common bath. (Other room rates for upgrade/night: private rooms with hot/cold bath, good for 3, 1,700; 2, 1,200; 4, 2,200; cottages with hot/cold bath, good for 3, 1,700; 4, 2000; 8, 3500)
• Beddings are provided. There is an extra cost for an extra blanket.
• Bring your toiletries.
• Water in Sagada is ice cold but tolerable during shower.
• Water is scarce when there is a big number of tourists in the municipality.
• Hot water is available in the resthouse (St. Joseph’s Resthouse).
• Battery charging is allowed.

TOUR


• Wake up early, greet & say your beautiful mornings to all and eat heavy breakfast @ 7am. 7:45am tour assembly is in front of the Municipality Hall. @ 8am, all in the van/jeep and tour begins.
• Wear non-white and jeans are a no in doing spelunking (caving) in the Sumag-ing Cave (Thursday) or walking over rice paddies to Bomod-ok Falls (Friday). Be in simplest attire at all times and shorts, sandals or slippers are okay.
• All ages are admitted including kids of 4 and can go down the cave or aim also for Bomod-ok Falls for four (4) hours each.
• No step-ins down the cave. The group will be going down barefoot or barefooted. There will be pool swimming, spelunking, rapeling, etc.
• Friday walk to Bomod-ok Falls: bring food for your merienda and lunch and your swimsuit.
• Little fasting is a yes-yes! But eat fruits, bread, drink water or juice or raw vegetables with some sauce, avoid cola.
Others
• Sagada is very people-friendly. Understand dwellers’ accent.
• Listen to tourist guides and guides are accommodating. If you have inquiries, ask them.
• You may give a personal tip and be informed that a group tip is already part of your travel fees. If asking for a personal guide, provide also a personal tip. Two (2) guides for a group of 10.
• Text @ 09187318010 if you have inquiries or decide to eat and be somewhere in the municipality on top of caves
• Don’t forget to try lemon pie or blue berry pie w/ brewed coffee, or be @ the Lemon Pie House or Yoghurt House. Be & eat out also anywhere: Alfredo’s, Log Cabin, Cusina Igorota, Sagada Guest House, Olahbinan, Igorot Inn, Sudimay, and other small eateries.
• Establishments close @ 9pm except for St. Theodore Hospital with a pharmacy.
• Saturday is market day. Buy a lot near the Municipality Hall.
• See Sagada online-resources for other tips for an EXCITING, RELAXING & PLEASURABLE TRIP to the HIGHLANDS of MOUNTAIN PROVINCE.

• Opinions are welcome before, during and after Sagada trip!
• Exploring Sagada is team-building and one learning experience to share, discover and enjoy good life in Cordillera.

SAGADA Summer 2011

April 20-23, 2011 P3,050.00 inclusive of transportation, 3 days/2nights accommodation, and tour packages with tour guides and tourism fees and surprises!


ITINERARY


April 20 2011 7:00pm Assembly of joiners: Cable Tours, in front Trinity U of Asia, Rodriguez St., Q.C.

FIRST DAY
8:00am Breakfast in Bontoc, Mountain Province
9:00am Bontoc Museum
10:00am Lunch in Sagada, Mountain Province
1:00pm Tourists’ Registration, St. Joseph’s Resthouse
2:00pm Sumag-ing Cave, Hanging Coffins, Burial Caves
7:00pm Souvenir Shopping/EAT OUT, Dinner/Free Time

SECOND DAY
7:00am Breakfast
8:00-12:00n Bomod-ok Falls, Sagada Terraces, A Walk Over Rice Paddies
12:00-3:00pm Lake Danum & Group Lunch
3:00-6:00pm Sagada Pottery Shop, St. Mary The Virgin Compound, Echo Valley, Calvary
7:00pm Souvenir Shopping/ EAT OUT, Dinner/Free Time

THIRD DAY
7:00am Mass/Breakfast
8:00-12:00am Travel to Baguio
3:00pm Travel to Manila
9:00pm Manila

Details of Itinerary are subject to changes. PAYMENTS: There is a need to deposit 1,500.00 pesos as partial payment for bus seat/room reservation and is non-refundable before April:

LANDBANK ACCOUNT NAME:Ramos, Roderick B.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1987126236
DEPOSIT SLIP will serve as your official receipt.


Sagada Holy Week Joiners’ Trip Guidelines


HOLY WEEK: April 20-23, 2011 3 days and 2 Nights

Hurry, tourists flock and guesthouses get occuppied so fast! With your bus seat reservation, a room is reserved already. Reserve as early as now (non-refundable).


• The travel is open to all. Bring friends and your family! Text complete name, institution, gender and age @ 09187318010 and confirm attendance.
• Warm up and flex your muscles or exercise before the event. Join in good health.
• For Sagada cold weather during night time, wear a thick jacket/sweater, gloves, a bonnet or a cap for the head plus socks, neck protection.
• Bring your sunglass, sunblock, moisturizer, cap/umbrella, medicines; baon for 3 days and 2 nights; & extra money for food, souvenirs, etc.
• Bring water at all times.
• Bring a self-help book or a bag of periodicals/books or a box for Bomabanga National High School.
• Going to Sagada (12 hours) transforms you into a backpacker.
• Fee of 3,050 pesos is inclusive of room reservation fee, transportation, accommodation, tour packages & guide fees, tourism fees, museum fee, pottery shop w/ demo fee, day-tour van/jeep)
• Take care of your personal belongings. The tour coordinators will not be responsible for losses from Manila to Sagada, vice-versa.
ASSEMBLY
• Be at the bus station of the Cable Tours, in front of Trinity University of Asia (college campus), Rodriguez St., Q.C. @ 7pm for the assembly . Come earlier since traffic is heavy beginning 4pm.
• Departure is 8pm. Get enough sleep each day...

ACCOMMODATION


• Joiners’ rooms are economy rooms, either good for two or four with common bath. (Other room rates for upgrade/night: private rooms with hot/cold bath, good for 3, 1,700; 2, 1,200; 4, 2,200; cottages with hot/cold bath, good for 3, 1,700; 4, 2000; 8, 3500)
• Beddings are provided. There is an extra cost for an extra blanket.
• Bring your toiletries.
• Water in Sagada is ice cold but tolerable during shower.
• Water is scarce when there is a big number of tourists in the municipality.
• Hot water is available in the resthouse (St. Joseph’s Resthouse).
• Battery charging is allowed.

TOUR


• Wake up early, greet & say your beautiful mornings to all and eat heavy breakfast @ 7am. 7:45am tour assembly is in front of the Municipality Hall. @ 8am, all in the van/jeep and tour begins.
• Wear non-white and jeans are a no in doing spelunking (caving) in the Sumag-ing Cave (Thursday) or walking over rice paddies to Bomod-ok Falls (Friday). Be in simplest attire at all times and shorts, sandals or slippers are okay.
• All ages are admitted including kids of 4 and can go down the cave or aim also for Bomod-ok Falls for four (4) hours each.
• No step-ins down the cave. The group will be going down barefoot or barefooted. There will be pool swimming, spelunking, rapeling, etc.
• Friday walk to Bomod-ok Falls: bring food for your merienda and lunch and your swimsuit.
• Little fasting is a yes-yes! But eat fruits, bread, drink water or juice or raw vegetables with some sauce, avoid cola.
Others
• Sagada is very people-friendly. Understand dwellers’ accent.
• Listen to tourist guides and guides are accommodating. If you have inquiries, ask them.
• You may give a personal tip and be informed that a group tip is already part of your travel fees. If asking for a personal guide, provide also a personal tip. Two (2) guides for a group of 10.
• Text @ 09187318010 if you have inquiries or decide to eat and be somewhere in the municipality on top of caves
• Don’t forget to try lemon pie or blue berry pie w/ brewed coffee, or be @ the Lemon Pie House or Yoghurt House. Be & eat out also anywhere: Alfredo’s, Log Cabin, Cusina Igorota, Sagada Guest House, Olahbinan, Igorot Inn, Sudimay, and other small eateries.
• Establishments close @ 9pm except for St. Theodore Hospital with a pharmacy.
• Saturday is market day. Buy a lot near the Municipality Hall.
• See Sagada online-resources for other tips for an EXCITING, RELAXING & PLEASURABLE TRIP to the HIGHLANDS of MOUNTAIN PROVINCE.

• Opinions are welcome before, during and after Sagada trip!
• Exploring Sagada is team-building and one learning experience to share, discover and enjoy good life in Cordillera.

Sagada: PAARL Travel Advisory

• The travel is open to all. Bring friends and your family! Text complete name, institution, gender and age @ 09187318010 and confirm attendance.
• Warm up and flex your muscles or exercise before the event. Join in good health.
• For Sagada cold weather during night time, wear a thick jacket/sweater, gloves, a bonnet or a cap for the head plus socks, neck protection.
• Bring your sunglass, sunblock, moisturizer, cap/umbrella, medicines; baon for 3 days and 2 nights; & extra money for food, souvenirs, etc.
• Bring water at all times.
• Bring a self-help book or a bag of periodicals/books or a box for the outreach program of the Association.
• Going to Sagada (12 hours) transforms you into a backpacker.
• Fee of 3,200 pesos is inclusive of transportation, accommodation, tour packages & guide fees, tourism fee, museum fee, pottery shop w/ demo fee, day-tour van/jeep)
• Take care of your personal belongings. The tour coordinators will not be responsible for losses from Manila to Sagada, vice-versa.

ASSEMBLY
• Be at the bus station of the Cable Tours, in front of Trinity University of Asia (college campus), Rodriguez St., Q.C. @ 7pm (Dec. 26. Come earlier since traffic is heavy beginning 4pm.
• Departure is 8pm. Get enough sleep each day...

ACCOMMODATION
• Beddings are provided. There is an extra cost for an extra blanket.
• Bring your toiletries.
• Water in Sagada is ice cold but tolerable during shower.
• Water is scarce when there is a big number of tourists in the municipality.
• Hot water is available in the resthouse (St. Joseph’s Resthouse).
• Battery charging is allowed.

TOUR
• Wake up early, greet & say your beautiful mornings to all and eat breakfast @ 7am (Masferre Inn). 7:45am tour assembly is in front of the Municipality Hall. @ 8am, all in the van/jeep and tour begins.
• Wear non-white and jeans are a no in doing spelunking (caving) in the Sumag-ing Cave (Friday) or walking over rice paddies to Bomod-ok Falls (Saturday). Be in simplest attire at all times and shorts are okay.
• All ages are admitted including kids of 4 and can go down the cave or aim also for Bomod-ok Falls for four (4) hours each.
• No step-ins down the cave. The group will be going down barefoot or barefooted. There will be pool swimming
• Saturday walk to Bomod-ok Falls: bring food for your merienda and lunch and your swimsuit.
• Little fasting is a yes-yes! But eat fruits, bread, drink water or juice or raw vegetables with some sauce, avoid cola.

Others
• Sagada is very people-friendly. Understand dwellers’ accent.
• Listen to tourist guides and guides are accommodating. If you have inquiries, ask them.
• You may give a personal tip and be informed that a group tip is already part of your travel fees. If asking for a personal guide, provide also a personal tip. Two (2) guides for a group of 10.
• Text @ 09187318010 if you have inquiries or decide to eat and be somewhere in the municipality on top of caves
• Don’t forget to try lemon pie or blue berry pie w/ brewed coffee, or be @ the Lemon Pie House or Yoghurt House. Be & eat out also anywhere: Alfredo’s, Log Cabin, Cusina Igorota, Sagada Guest House, Olahbinan, Igorot Inn, Sudimay, and other small eateries.
• Establishments close @ 9pm except for St. Joseph Cafe and St. Theodore Hospital with a pharmacy.
• Saturday is market day. Buy a lot near the Municipality Hall.
• See Sagada online-resources for other tips for an EXCITING, RELAXING & PLEASURABLE TRIP to the HIGHLANDS of MOUNTAIN PROVINCE.

• Opinions are welcome before, during and after Sagada trip!
• Exploring Sagada is team-building and one learning experience to share, discover and enjoy good life in Cordillera.

KNOWING AND LOVING SAGADA-MENSAPIT (TRAVEL STORY)

KNOWING AND LOVING SAGADA-MENSAPIT (TRAVEL STORY)

"Beyond those traveled hills of the north Lies my home, all laden with pines... "
Sagada mornings make you high. Little did we expect that we would be greeted immensely by skies on our first day. Heavens' gates are open with a fine spray, falling in fog, flakes on skin. With its wintry breeze, cool and temperate climate, one is stimulated to kneel down, gets thick but fresh air - right to the faces - a treat, free of charge.

Sagada, a municipality of the Mountain Province, is a well-kept paradise of the Kankana-ey language group. Lavishly productive are the lands blessed with growing pine trees, plentiful fruits, and leafy vegetables. Stone paths, waterfalls, etc. -based decors of the terraces - mountains surrounding and cliffs walling villages are breathtakingly awesome.

While served with mountain tea and cinnamon, terraced ricefields are seen by the window, a main feature of the town.

"My thanks to thee, my love dressed in green; My paradise unforseen..."
Sagada allows you to feel "welcome among the friendly people here," a visiting Australian professor once commented. It is a small town offering an exceptional experience. Here, people are sociable. Ancient traditions and religious obligations have metamorphosed them into active and fascinating community to discover about.

Sagada, "a must stop" designation for tourists is home to more than 10,000 competently industrious, convincingly peace loving and confidently intelligent Sagadans.

"In you, I will give; my life, I will live; With you, I will share; all my life, without care."
Its natives speak so well of the place. This little but pleasant town is vehemently endeared in the heart of every born Sagadian. One may dwell far from it but soon he realizes an umbilical cord pulling him back to lay his "face before thy shrine." He will desire and love to embrace it back inevitably.

Numerous houses including private ones await guests with affordable meals. Electricity exists! St. Joseph's Resthouse does not only have rooms for P100, but it does have also an area for conferences, a restaurant, a souvenir store, and a big garden. Other important places to stay and eat are: Masferre Inn and Restaurant (Julia's Guest House), Alfredo's Cabin (Hotel and Restaurant), Ganduyan Inn and Coffee Shoppe, Sagada Guest House, Olahbinan (Bar and Restaurant), Greenhouse, Mapiyaaw Pension, Rocky Valley Inn, Igorot Inn (Moonhouse Cafe), Ruby's Place, A-Seven House, Yoghurt House, Shamrock Cafe, Log Cabin, Bilig Cafe, Right Turn Crafts and Cafe, Sudimay Canteen, and Cuisina Igorota (CI).

One excellent barriotic cuisine one shouldn't miss is called pinikpikan. All households prepare this with etag, a salted meat, producing a distinct aroma, soothing to your nasal and tastes differently.

Spread in the outskirts are novelty shops. The very popular Sagada Weaving & Souvenir Shop introduces a variety of wooden products from coin purses, wallets, shoulders and belt bags, caps, backpacks, and blankets. Bringing additional cash for these items is necessary to avoid personal dismay.

Northern roads are crooked, narrow, and windy. Trekking in six hours from the City of Pines to Sagada for caves is exhilaratingly a sojourn. Caves are a wonder and very enchanting. It begins when one feels being pushed by air and smells some strange odor inhaled and exhaled by underground spaces. Sounds of water dripping from nowhere in the dark tickle up imaginations. Calm creatures, black winged birds fly around, undistrubed.

A spelunker, one who makes a hobby of exploring and studying caves, or a guide is indispensable for any group aiming to unleash specific inexplicable chambers beneath surfaces of Sagada, known for being on top of a huge cave the Sumaging "Latipan" Big Cave. Spelunker Egbert Dailay, a BS Tourism undergraduate, orients adventurers on what distinguishes vertical to horizontal caves; safety rules on caving from hole passing to water plunging; and, surprises all with the naming of identifiable rock formations. Other caves including burial caves are: Sugong Cave, Crystal Cave, Balangagan Cave, Madrigal and Natividad Caves, Mataug Cave, Romeo's Cave, Matangkib and Lumiang Caves. Lamps and well-trained guides can be asked from the Tourist Information Center of the Municipality Hall.

Enormously enthralling are majestic appearances of several waterfalls. Bokong and the biggest named Bomod-ok Falls are two of the most visited. The former requires only a 15-minute walk from Poblacion, while the latter, a jeepney or a 45-minute walk to Bangaan, northern barangay of Sagada. Still, a long walk follows. Thirty minutes more down to the rice paddies offering spectacular views like amazing rice terraces as you walk by mountain trails.Thunderously from a far, the water splashes, is crystal-clear and ice-cold.

Found hanging amidst great big rocks are coffins piled one after the other. Vauntedly displayedare made of chiseled woods. Though, very indigenous, many set their dead on the cliffs as a ritual being practiced up to now.

"See them! They are sacred to us," a school grader points out. "Bringing yourself up there is an act not pleasing to us. Much more to old folks in the neighborhood."

The mysterious coffins of Sagada; whether hanging or in burial caves; accessible, like those seen inside Latang caves near the Underground River, or not, like those situated in the Echo Valley; one must learn to pay respects to remains of indigenous people who believe in the so-called afterlife.The said valley can be reached through walking over the Calvary - a cemetery for the Anglicans - in the Episcopal Mission Compound where St. Mary The VirginChurch and its high school, and Trinity College are located. Few steps away from the Calvary's big cross, paving the way as entrance, are astounding age of huge rocks.

During ceremonies, the dead is serenaded, both in the native tongue, Filipino, and English as well. Literally, an aging man talks to the spirit and recalls stories involving him and the speaker. On their seats, many do chanting, well-wishers to the spirit. Voices blend so well magically enthusing and leaving non-Kanaka-ey listeners charmed by a spell. Butchered pigs and chickens are trayed for the dead and for those who arrive and express condolences. It's a communal affair not only for distant relatives but also for everyone in the community to honorably solemnize the passing out of a fellow Igorot. This holds true also when a family attends to occasions such as gobbaw (Child dedication), dekat (wedding invitation), mangmang (housewarming), etc.

By jeepney or aone-hour walk from the town proper is the beautiful mystifying Lake Danom. It is a small lake concealing like a woman in the forest of lush greens. Hidden from view. Formidable trunks of trees cover it; but surely, outside of her world, a stranger is destined to come, to conquer her.

From her, perhaps the best sight of the sun rising and setting can be acquired. On hilltops overlooking a magnificent basin of water, a goddess sits enticing! Behold! A fertile, real, lovely lake is unravelled!

Baguio is the jumping-off place to the very rare, exquisite appeal of Sagada, Cordillera's pride and gateway to the heavens. Take a bus from Dangwa terminal available only for morning trips. Do some sightseeing while on board - and be delighted with Luzon's most precious natural wonders in the Philippines.

Why Sagada? Lifted from a 2000 souvenir program: Sagada remains a unique combination of mountains and native culture. The altitude gives that coolness and feeling of well-being, not found in the lowlands; while the abundance of sturdy pine trees enhances the beauty of the environment - an in inheritance to be proud of. There also exists an intriguing blend of Christian and traditional culture and customs that add to the appeal and friendliness of the local people. They are proud of their identity and their traditions. There remains an enviable balance between man and nature, a sense of harmony and peace, difficult to find elsewhere. (8/3/01)

Sagada exploration on October 28-31, 2010

Pledge for one book and help one Sagada municipality high school with your donation. You may also join us for a once-in-a-lifetime trip with Eric joining other backpackers for Sagada exploration this October 28-31.

Fee: 3,200 inclusive of 2 breakfast meals, transportation, room reservation & accommodation w/ blankets, major & minor tour packages w/ lamp, guide tips, van, museum fee, scholarship fund and surprises!

Fun activities await backpackers and their families in Sagada – a municipality on top of caves in the northernmost . They will stay at pricely cheap rooms of St. Joseph's Resthouse. It's going to be a little more than 6-hour travel with Lizardo Bus in Dangwa (Baguio) as dropping point after a little less than 6 hours from Manila with Philippine Rabbit, Sta. Cruz as the group's assembly place. You may also send your professional journals, magazines for teachers of Sagada National High School.

Spelunking

Rappelling

Swimming

Mountain trekking

Walking over rice padies

Wine tasting

Souvenir shopping

Lemon pie/cinnamon/French bread eating with lemon and mountain tea

Pinikpikan

Family bonding with colleagues

Church visits

Reflection activities

Touring Bontoc Museum

Visits to Echo Valley, Calvary, Lake Danum, Sumag-ing Cave, Burial Cave, Bomod-ok Falls, Bok-ong Falls, Hanging Coffins

Historian Scott's tomb searching

Community outreach through book donations & scholarship fund raising

Yoghurt

Lemon pie tasting... and a lot more surprises!

Slots are open, text @ 09187318010 and click for details:

http://sagadalibrarianbackpackers.blogspot.com/

THE ROAD TO SAGADA (First of a Series)

Dennis Bryann M. Ting

You don’t need to spend a good fortune to find Shangri-la. In fact, you can explore Shangri-la on a shoestring budget.

For many people, Shangri-la represents an isolated paradise far from the modern madding crowd. In the Philippines, we have our own Shangri-la for only Php3,200 three days and two nights—Sagada.

Sagada is situated 275 kilometers north of the capital city of Manila, and 140 kilometers from the summer capital city of Baguio. With 19 barangays, Sagada has a population of more than 11,000 people. Expect this to increase during Semana Santa and the week-long Christmas break. Do your math: Multiply this figure five times, and you’d have a rough estimate of the number of annual tourist arrivals in this 5th class municipality, or so I was told.

To reach Sagada, our group of 35 backpackers (plus one guide) is directed to assemble at Jollibee Avenida fronting the Philippine Rabbit Station beside what used to be the Odeon Theater in Rizal Avenue corner Recto Avenue. Assembly time is at 10:00PM.

The Philippine Rabbit Bus Station doesn’t offer direct travel to Sagada. We have to go to Baguio. A one-way ticket from Manila to Baguio costs Php350 (Student discounts are honored as long as one can present a valid student ID).

The group left quarter to 11:00PM. True to its name, the Rabbit driver hops so we arrived in Baguio 5:00AM.

There is a Jollibee near the Baguio bus terminal. Unfortunately, it opens 6:00AM. No problem if you arrive after sunrise. Then there is SM Baguio, a stone’s throw from—in fact above— the bus terminal station. Malling hours are the same as Manila’s.

I had an early taho for breakfast—the magtataho uses strawberry arnibal—for ten pesos.

After our Mang Andok’s breakfast in Session Road, we boarded a bus to Sagada. Ticket costs Php220. The normal Baguio-Sagada road trip, with two stops (lunch and restroom breaks), is six hours; but the road to Sagada, to borrow the words of our tour guide Roderick, is full of surprises: Dusty rough roads leading to cemented highways and returning to dustier rougher roads. Nakapagpulbos ka na pagdating mo sa Sagada since Baguio-Sagada buses are not air-conditioned. Try bringing a light jacket in summer— to protect you from the cold weather or heat of the sun while walking along the rice paddies.

Lesson here: Expect the unexpected. Isama mo pa pag masiraan yung bus. Once the bus gets busted, you’d have to wait for the next bus. Till what time? Nobody knows. In our case, it is the longest two hours of the trip.

White Flower or Katinko comes in handy for biyahilo. The same goes for what we call lamig or kinabagan, all too common during cold long-day trips.

Malayo pa ba? Are we there yet? Finally, our prayers have been answered. We are in Sagada 5:00 PM.

Since we are in the middle of an election campaign, Sagada is no exception to Villar’s Tapusin ang Kahirapan posters and tarps. Surprsingly, Gibo’s Galing at Talino green ads are visible all over the place.

There are no tricycles in Sagada. The common public transport is a jeepney or a fiera-converted-to-jeepney (imagine the orange CCP shuttle), where it can accommodate around 25 passengers. Nine from one side of the long bench (that’s 18 ) plus passengers on top of the jeep.

Sitting on top of the jeep while holding the railing is a must-try experience. The view is good but it hurts. Masakit lang sa puwet lalo na kung matagtag at mahaba ang biyahe. But what the heck— the local girls on board atop those jeeps ain’t complaining!

Accommodation in Sagada is cheap and plentiful. One can get a room for Php200 per night. With hot water/shower add Php50.

Food is relatively higher than Manila. A rice meal costs Php100-Php180. But the serving is bigger than Manila’s and they use local red rice. Bottled water is a dime a dozen.

SMART has the most reliable network signal. There is a SMART tower in Sagada.

The thing that I like about Sagada is those pine trees—lots of them. This is in sharp contrast to the Pine City—Baguio—where instead of pines, galvanized rooftops cover the mountains.

Curiously, limestone mountains abound in Sagada, which remind me of the limestone karst cliffs of Guilin, China. Local guides explain this by saying the province used to be submerged millions of years ago.

One guide even showed us a cowrie when we are in Sumaguing Cave. But that’s another story.

Sagada offers a lot of adventure and backpacking activities. But if you want some peace and quiet, this place is for you, too. There is no nightlife unless you pack your bags with booze before coming.
Shangri-La, they say, is synonymous to an earthly paradise hidden from man. I do not know how long Sagada can maintain its mysticism from commercial encroachments. The “I-Survived-Sagada” shirts are giveaways that it cannot escape the inevitable. Let us just make sure that it does not become a paradise lost.