Trip organizer Roderick and 15 young professional teachers, with 2 mothers and a father, from different schools distributed TJIC's Growing in Courage- Stories for Young Readers to Sagada kids as they met them in Ambasing and on their way to Mount Ampacao for 3-hour mountain trekking with guide Greg and free heavy lunch courtesy of a celebration's host/tour guide/hometown leader Egbert Dailay beside the next day's mountaineers' national summit camp place – Lake Danum last May 17(Sunday). They proceeded to a pottery shop listening and witnessing potter Tessie's handwork – a manual demo. The shop was built by American missionary Stapleton's son, Archie, who speaks Kankana-ey fluently and only exhibits products on invitation. Ice pellets and a heavy rain shower split the groups into two after pie afternoon snack break (lemon, blueberry & eig pies) with brewed coffee and lemon tea at the Lemon Pie House with comedienne Candy Nadal. A small group aimed for Calvary and Echo Valley by passing SMS, padi's cottage and a cemetery.
Prior to this and on a Saturday, they had Sagada's best offer for tourists and that's Sumag-ing cave spelunking with rappelling activities for four hours with Dave, Tiny plus two more Igorot guides. Lum-iang Cave, a burial cave, amazed each and now an entrance to the newest Cave Connection (priced @ 400 pesos for a group of 4). Mother and daughter from Dasmarinas,Cavite explored only the cave's belly and went back with shaky legs and knees due to rain showers and ice-cold water. Participantes, also, were surprised to see kids inside the biggest cave of Sagada.
2 Obaya days – sacred holiday – did not stop participants to see the biggest falls, Bomod-ok Falls, but insisted on delaying bus transport to Baguio and waited for Monday when everyone can make noise, see farmers in the field, and avoid village punishment for touring around Fidelisan and Aguid for beautiful terraces and long walk on rice paddies. Fidelisan kids, also, served as recipients to TJIC's generosity through Director Reysa Alenzuela with its book copies of Growing in Courage- Stories for Young Readers.
Participants who stayed for 2 nights at St. Joseph's Resthouse were: Bicolana lass call center pretty agent Shermyn, Roderick's favorite joiner Kristine with parents (King Joseph & Aurora), elem teachers Lea, Jam & Andeng, picture addict-model wannabe Ana, sweethearts Fe & Ronald, youthful Mark & Rachel, mother-daughter tandem Mommy Bonny & Mary, Charito Solis look-a-like Cecil, labelled by joiners Igorota Grace, Ms. China Abby and wife material Aileen Aha came from Diliman Preparatory School, Infant Jesus Academy Antipolo, La Salle Greenhills, St. Jude Catholic School, Philippine Normal University. They were not able to visit and missed one best museum in the northern which is the Bontoc Museum with a library, souvenir shop and an outdoor park/museum. The trip ended with a treat at Goodtaste Restaurant, Baguio for some Chinese cuisine @ 8:30 in the evening and hugs, kisses, well-wishing who are now Bff bestfriends forever.
Newsworthy: Sagada National High School, through Genevieve Gewan Daoas, continuously receives books through this activity while a scholarship fund is created from joiners' registration fees for an alumni group of librarians.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Quick Travel Tips: What to Do, What to Bring!
1. Travel light!
2. See a map thru Eric..
3. Warm up and flex your muscles with basic exercise postures.
4. Be there (Phil. Rabbit, Sta. Cruz/alternative bus) BEFORE 10pm.
5. Bring water at all times.
6. For the cold weather, wear a thick jacket/sweater, gloves, a bonnet or a cap for the head plus socks, neck protection.
7. Water in Sagada is ice cold but tolerable during shower.
8. Hot water is available in the Resthouse for 50 pesos per timba; 2 pesos per glass. Charging is at no cost!
9. Take care of your personal belongings: camera, phone, etc.
10. Jeans are a no in doing spelunking in the Sumag-ing Cave or walking over rice paddies to Bomod-ok Falls. Appropriate shorts are puwede! There will be pool swimming. More than 50 year old participants and children can go down the cave or aim also for Bomod-ok Falls for 4 hours each!
11. No step-ins down the cave. We are going down barefoot or barefooted!
12. Sunday travel to Bomod-ok Falls: bring food for your merienda-lunch. Swimming can be done also.
13. Little fasting is a yes-yes! But eat fruits, bread, drink water or juice or go vegetarian! Never drink cola starting from the bus station.
14. Sagada is 0-crime!
15. Bring 3-in-one drinks, bread or ready-to-cook bihon, canton, etcetera for less expensive snack.
16. Inform us if you decide to eat or go somewhere: Masferre Inn, Alfredo’s, Log Cabin, Cuisina Igorota, Sudimay, Yoghurt House, etc.
17. Listen to your tourist guides and tourist guides are accommodating. If you have inquiries, ask each of them. I give a group tip to guides.
18. Don’t forget to try lemon pie with brewed coffee at the Cooperative Store inside the Mission Compound before the St. Mary’s The Virgin Church.
19. Optional: Bring a self-help book to be donated to Sagada students!
20. See Sagada on-line resources for other tips for an exciting, relaxing and pleasurable trip to Northern Philippines!
21. Opinions are welcome before, during and after Sagada trip!
22. Worry not about travelling to Sagada because your trip organizer coordinate with people from Baguio, Sagada, Mountain Province, Bus station.
23. 500-peso room reservation fee is not refundable unless the group's travel gets blocked/stopped due to weather conditions, landslide.
24. Exploring Sagada is team-building and one learning experience to share!
25. Bring your medicines! Bring extra money for food, souvenirs, etc.
2. See a map thru Eric..
3. Warm up and flex your muscles with basic exercise postures.
4. Be there (Phil. Rabbit, Sta. Cruz/alternative bus) BEFORE 10pm.
5. Bring water at all times.
6. For the cold weather, wear a thick jacket/sweater, gloves, a bonnet or a cap for the head plus socks, neck protection.
7. Water in Sagada is ice cold but tolerable during shower.
8. Hot water is available in the Resthouse for 50 pesos per timba; 2 pesos per glass. Charging is at no cost!
9. Take care of your personal belongings: camera, phone, etc.
10. Jeans are a no in doing spelunking in the Sumag-ing Cave or walking over rice paddies to Bomod-ok Falls. Appropriate shorts are puwede! There will be pool swimming. More than 50 year old participants and children can go down the cave or aim also for Bomod-ok Falls for 4 hours each!
11. No step-ins down the cave. We are going down barefoot or barefooted!
12. Sunday travel to Bomod-ok Falls: bring food for your merienda-lunch. Swimming can be done also.
13. Little fasting is a yes-yes! But eat fruits, bread, drink water or juice or go vegetarian! Never drink cola starting from the bus station.
14. Sagada is 0-crime!
15. Bring 3-in-one drinks, bread or ready-to-cook bihon, canton, etcetera for less expensive snack.
16. Inform us if you decide to eat or go somewhere: Masferre Inn, Alfredo’s, Log Cabin, Cuisina Igorota, Sudimay, Yoghurt House, etc.
17. Listen to your tourist guides and tourist guides are accommodating. If you have inquiries, ask each of them. I give a group tip to guides.
18. Don’t forget to try lemon pie with brewed coffee at the Cooperative Store inside the Mission Compound before the St. Mary’s The Virgin Church.
19. Optional: Bring a self-help book to be donated to Sagada students!
20. See Sagada on-line resources for other tips for an exciting, relaxing and pleasurable trip to Northern Philippines!
21. Opinions are welcome before, during and after Sagada trip!
22. Worry not about travelling to Sagada because your trip organizer coordinate with people from Baguio, Sagada, Mountain Province, Bus station.
23. 500-peso room reservation fee is not refundable unless the group's travel gets blocked/stopped due to weather conditions, landslide.
24. Exploring Sagada is team-building and one learning experience to share!
25. Bring your medicines! Bring extra money for food, souvenirs, etc.
May 15-18, 2009
Travel Schedule
FIRST DAY (Friday)
9-10 pm Assembly, Philippine Rabbit, Sta. Cruz, Manila/alternative bus is okay!
10 pm Departure
SECOND DAY (Saturday)
6 am – Baguio , a walk to Dangwa Station plus breakfast
7 am - Dangwa for a Sagada bus
11 am – LUNCH at a stopover
1 pm – St. Joseph ’s Resthouse
2 pm – Sumaging Cave : a four hour spelunking activity
7 pm – Dinner Together at CI (Cuisina Igorota/Sudimay), cheapest but good
food awaits us all, brown rice is served, 85 peso per meal. St Joseph's @ 150 per meal.
8 pm Free Time
THIRD DAY (Sunday)
7 am – breakfast
8 am – from William Henry Scott Foundation Library Underground River, to Bokong Falls , to Bomod-ok Falls , exciting trekking to the tallest falls, bring bread/water, will stay until 2 pm
4 pm – Lake Danum/Echo Valley
7 pm – Dinner/Food Tripping
FOURTH DAY (Monday)
9 am – Bontoc
10 am – Bontoc Museum
12 noon - Lunch
3 pm – Departure (Baguio/Manila)
FIRST DAY (Friday)
9-10 pm Assembly, Philippine Rabbit, Sta. Cruz, Manila/alternative bus is okay!
10 pm Departure
SECOND DAY (Saturday)
6 am – Baguio , a walk to Dangwa Station plus breakfast
7 am - Dangwa for a Sagada bus
11 am – LUNCH at a stopover
1 pm – St. Joseph ’s Resthouse
2 pm – Sumaging Cave : a four hour spelunking activity
7 pm – Dinner Together at CI (Cuisina Igorota/Sudimay), cheapest but good
food awaits us all, brown rice is served, 85 peso per meal. St Joseph's @ 150 per meal.
8 pm Free Time
THIRD DAY (Sunday)
7 am – breakfast
8 am – from William Henry Scott Foundation Library Underground River, to Bokong Falls , to Bomod-ok Falls , exciting trekking to the tallest falls, bring bread/water, will stay until 2 pm
4 pm – Lake Danum/Echo Valley
7 pm – Dinner/Food Tripping
FOURTH DAY (Monday)
9 am – Bontoc
10 am – Bontoc Museum
12 noon - Lunch
3 pm – Departure (Baguio/Manila)
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