They say an experience is sweeter the second time around. I must agree.

My second Sagada experience was through a three-day leadership training by the Youth Alliance Philippines up there in there in the mountains. We went there not as delegates but as marshalls. Our thesis adviser Miss Dazzie asked required us to go since they could really use some help.

We were six in the group, Jen, Visha, Ate Einj, Ma’am Daz and a teacher from Sagada. We could’ve joined the first seminar somewhere in Ifugao I think but then Jen and I had an exam so we made sure we would go to the next one which is in Sagada.

I find going to Sagada the second time around really exciting. You see the first time I went there, we were stranded and I haven’t experience Sagada to the fullest!

We took the 6 a.m. trip of Lizardo Trans at the terminal at the back of Centermall Baguio. I was seated by the window with the teacher (I’m bad at remembering names). The weather is fair so I was able to enjoy the sceneries along the way which I didn’t have the chance to see last time. Plus we have a tour guide, Ma’am Dazzie who shares interesting stuff about the things we passed by.

Day 1

We arrived in Sagada at around 1 p.m. We went right away to the venue for the seminar where we were introduced to the students and school administrators and were oriented about what we’re gonna do. We had lunch at the school canteen and then later started with the seminar.

After the first leg of the training later that afternoon, we (except the teacher who’s from Sagada) went to the school principal’s house where we would stay for the duration of the seminar. It is a typical Sagada house located somewhere in the higher part of Poblacion. It is covered with galvanized iron (so the woods wouldn’t be damaged by moist) and fine pine woods on the inside.

They let us stay in one big room, I think it was the owner’s daughters’ room. They have a big and beautiful fully furnished house, complete with hot and cold shower.

We had a sumptuous dinner over intellectual discussion about various topics. With the meals served: veggie salad, grilled fish and fried chicken, we all ate like construction workers. Aside from the fact that we are famished, the foods are really good.

Day 2

The next day, we walked into the early misty morning to the church and to Echo Valley where we had the lucky-me-pancit-canton-and-san-cai-dao-ming-zse-moment. It was market day in Poblacion so we were able to buy some stuff for ourselves and some pasalubong. We ate a yummy banana cake from the cooperative store. We would’ve preferred to roam around some more but we had to moved on with the seminar, now with more student representatives from other high schools in town.

I immensely enjoyed all the activities that day, especially the part where the delegates shared their drawings the lesser popular but beautiful spots in Sagada.

Later that day, Ma’am Dazzie had to leave for Baguio and we were left in the care of Ate Einj who took over as head of the seminar team.

In the afternoon when we were done for the day, we went home to freshen up and then went down and roamed around Poblacion. It was there where I urged them that we go to Yoghurt House. Finally, I got a taste of their yogurt! Indeed it is a place one shouldn’t miss when in Sagada. The yogurt is so yummy! Although Jen and I weren’t able to consume our servings. They give huge servings, one order is enough for two people. We just took our yogurt out. I asked them to try the Lemon Pie Snack house but after walking few meters, we grew impatient and decided to return home for dinner.

Dining time is something that we really look forward to. Our foster parents’ kasambahays cook really really good food we didn’t bother to eat out (aside from the fact that we have not much money). Take note the veggies we eat are from their own backyard garden. Fresh veggies really taste differently. At one meal, we were served with a stir-fry something. We only realized it was bell pepper when we’re almost done eating!

Day 3

The third day was the last day of the training, thus the most heartbreaking moment where we had to say goodbye to the participants.

Day 4

The next morning, we were still sleeping when the principal knocked in and told us that the tour guide is already waiting for us. This was our last day and we were rewarded by Miss Dazzie with a tour just before we leave.

We immediately prepared ourselves, had a quick breakfast and then off to meet the guide. Our tour guide is the brother of the teacher we were with in YAP. We had no idea if the tour’s free, nobody informed us about the arrangement. Ma’am Dazzie just told us we’ll be toured around the place before we go home.

I wanted to go to the Big Falls but then we were told it will be a long travel and a half day won’t be enough, so we just had to settle with caving since the three had never been to Sumaguing before.

Unlike my first trip to Sagada, this time, we just walked to Sumaguing. I imagined it to be near since it was just a 15-20 minute ride but I was wrong. Good thing our long walk was not boring because from time to time, our guide shares interesting facts about Sagada and the things we passed by such as the reason behind their tradition of hanging their dead in the mountains. According to them, he says, burying the dead under the land will only give the dead burdens. “They shouldn’t carry the Earth, let the earth carry them,” he said. At one point, he asked, “Do you want to see Sagada’s golf course?” We were so eager to go nearer the cliff just to be greeted by a vast farmland. It was a nice background for picture taking though.

I didn’t want to enter the cave anymore but I had no choice since I was the only one among us who’ve been there. Being the “strongest link”, I was on the tail. It was almost the same experience as to my first except that we’re only four in the group and that this time, I was no longer afraid to cross that deep hole. Wiii! It was still early when we went out so we decided to conquer one more spot in the place. If we couldn’t go to Bomod-ok, maybe we could go to some nearer place for water adventure. We walked our way to Small Falls and along the way, we passed by the Lemon Pie House. We bought two boxes and ate while walking.