Tag Archives: sagada
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unusual
Hanging Coffins of Sagada
Last time, I also used this photo for photo challenge themed Wonder. Unusual indeed.
Spotted in Sagada
Finally, we made it to Sagada. The same group that was stranded in Baguio last year due to a typhoon, has decided to conquer the mountain paradise once again, only this time there were additions to the gang. Fortunately, the Gods were with them this time, blessing them with a fair weather, enough for a whole weekend of muscle-stretching and gastronomic-satisfying activities.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Breakfast
Mix of Filipino and American breakfast at Masferre, Sagada.
Coffee
Pancakes and fruits
Tapsilog
Weekly Photo Challenge: Wonder
Rice Terraces of Sagada
Hanging Coffins of Sagada
I will always be amazed by how the Cordillerans created rice fields out of the mountains and how they buried their ancestors by hanging coffins up in the mountains.
I’ve included the Sagada Rice Terraces because I haven’t been to Ifugao yet, where the Banaue Rice Terraces are, which is one of the 7 Wonders of the World (Middle Ages). (I really am in love with the Cordilleran culture!)
Just yesterday, November 11, 2011, Palawan Undergound River has been included in the Provisional New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Palawan Underground River
I Keep Comin’ Back to Sagada
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Not the best photo of Sagada but I assure you people who’ve never been there, there’s so much in that place, well at least if you’re into nature tripping.
This one was taken in Bokong Falls (Small Falls), one of the popular hiking destinations of tourists going up there. Since the temperature in Sagada is lower than that of Baguio City, the water in the falls is definitely colder.
Get High
When I learned that there is a tropical storm coming to the Philippines, my initial reaction was to move the trip the next weekend or when the weather is already 100% good (I still have two long weekends coming). But then Karen never had any second thought. As much as I wanted to be sure of a safe and hassle-free vacation, I didn’t want to spoil the semi-planned trip to Sagada and I was thinking it would be her birthday that coming Sunday.
I frequented DOST PAG-ASA’s website and followed them on Twitter just to be updated with the weather. This, I think, is the right thing to do but is very wrong as well. Kuya Kim’s very specific tweets only added up to my paranoia. You can’t blame me, all my planned out of town vacays in the past were rained.
We set the date long before but we didn’t really talk about it for fear that it might not be pursued again. We set it on the last weekend of October so we could finally witness the burning season in Sagada but because we were so darn excited and we wanted to make sure that we’ll make it to Sagada this time, we moved the date earlier. And good heavens, there was this tropical storm.
Despite all the warning from the weather bureau and from friends as well, Friday night, I was going up and down the stairs, packing my things up. It was already past 11 p.m. and Karen all the way from work was already on her way to Victory Liner Pasay. Shame on me for being the cause of delay.
We left Pasay at 12:30 a.m. and reached Baguio at 6:30 am. I was hoping there’d be a 7 a.m. trip to Sagada so we won’t have to waste our time waiting, you know we planned to stay there for just one day. The 6:30 trip just left according to the dispatcher, when we arrived at Dangwa Terminal. The next trip according to him is 8:30. We saw from the white board that the next trip is 7:30 but he insisted that there is no 7:30 trip so we bought tickets, went up to the bus and left Karen’s jacket to reserve our seat. We had breakfast at the adjacent Good Taste Restaurant.
Thinking we had plenty of time, we stayed for a while and went to buy toiletries. When we went back, our bus had already left. It was only 7:40. We knew it. It was a miscommunication. We had to be transferred to the next trip, which was in another hour.
I was so giddy when the another grueling 6 hour trip to the mountains started. For the first two hours I was wide awake and I thought I would be for the whole trip but good thing nah. I could use my energy later.
Benguet Rice Terraces
Day 1
We reached the mountain paradise Sagada at around 2:30 p.m. Dropped by Ganduyan Inn to get Karen’s jacket where they jokingly told us to stay there but we decided to look for some other inn. Our feet brought us down to Olahbinan Inn. The place seemed empty and we were greeted by a man putting varnish on a wooden bed in a separate room still under construction. We went inside and were greeted by a younger (and good looking) man. He showed us the room and then we decided to stay there since the place has wi-fi.
After freshening up, we didn’t waste any time and started enjoying Sagada by eating the first food we saw- fishballs. Sen knows how much I wanted to eat streetfood in Sagada. For some reasons, in my past visits, I had no chance to do so.
Then we saw a pamphlet of a Saturday buffet at Log Cabin. I told Karen we go there because it is a nice place. I’ve never really been there, I only used to pass by it during the Youth Alliance Philippines seminar in Sagada. The outside was no longer as beautiful as it used to. The logs mirrored how much fog and rains they’ve endured. We had coffee at the Dap-Ay and took a bunch of photos inside and outside the cafe.
We went back to the Inn to get something and then off to Yoghurt house, one of the main reasons why we went there. Lol but true.
After filling, Karen wanted to have beer but it was already dark and I was thinking about the curfew. We headed back to the Inn, and found out some people drinking at the terrace. Some guy asked us to join them. I thought he was also a guest but I later learned that his family owns the inn.
I was too lazy to go out and socialize but another frustration urged me. I am such a lulzzzz. Oh well, I think every manginginom and nature tripper would like to go get drunk in the mountain paradise. We had some beer and joined them people outside. They were all relatives except for a friend of theirs who is a professor at St. Benilde Taft.
And what is the Iphone and wi-fi for? We started making inggit our friends. LOL It is always effective. A dose of alcohol over stories of Sagada, mountain adventures, beautiful islands, and what more is Norwayden‘s tale. Haha! [Norway is a friend who's from Sagada. Apparently, people in there know almost everyone or at least their family.]
While some guests had just arrived, Karen and I already went to bed after we dispersed. We needed to wake up early for mass the next morning. Yes because mother told me to go to mass and give special intention for my late sister’s s 18th birthday that day. They didn’t know I was up there so obliging would be the slightest favor I could do for them.
Granola yoghurt! Yum!
karen
oktoberfest
Day 2
I set my phone alarm at 5:15 a.m. but I got out of bed at 5:35. I was panicking at the CR coz I may not be able to make it on time to give my mass intention. If there is one thing I couldn’t really do faster, that’s taking a bath. If only our CR had no hot bath lol. Karen was already awake [she really planned not to take a bathe yet] and told me we would no longer make it to the first mass.
But we did. Because the mass actually started at 6:30 a.m. and we were the second ones to be at the church. I was a little bit embarrassed when the priest even mentioned about ‘visitors’ attending the mass. It was so obvious he was referring to us when he stared. [Jesus forgive me but I think the priest is cute. :p] We hardly understood the multi-lingual sermon. The people were very friendly. After the mass we had photo opportunity and then off to Masferre Country Inn and Restaurant for breakfast.
St. Mary's Church
At Masferre
We went back to the inn to change clothes and fetch our guide, lolyiz. It was already 9 a.m. but we had to cut his slumber.
We went to Echo Valley where we didn’t really maximize because my throat hurt, mebbe from the night’s drinking. I just yelled some ‘hello” which made Karen realized that was already the Echo Valley.
Next was trekking to the underground river. Brilliant me who wore short shorts and flops. Every now and then I slipped on the trail and there were blade grass along the way. In the midst of walking at the forest, Karen jokingly asked our guide where we could see the weeds lol. Good thing there was a potable water flowing from the mountain coz we never thought of bringing something to drink.
The longest hike [or so I thought coz it was already to hot] was when we hit Small Falls. Although this time we took the easier trail unlike last time when we had to walk on unending rice fields.
There was a group of young boys enjoying the cool water when we arrived. I really did not want to get wet because I was thinking we would be at the beach later that night anyway.
Echo Valley
The hanging coffins of Sagada.
I look like a tourist. [As our guide's brother told us, we're considered daughters of Sagada already since we kept coming back. Hehe. So I no longer consider myself tourist.
My right foot was injured. Photo by Karen
The small Falls. Photo by Karen
We checked out at 11:30 a.m. to catch the last trip of GL Lizardo bus to Baguio. We spared our almost one hour waiting time strolling around the Poblacion.
Leaving sagada always gives me heavy feeling. I wanted to stay some more but the next day was alloted for our surfing in La Union.
The weather was fair in Sagada but it had started to drizzle when we were in Atok, Benguet. Those who we invited to join us in La Union backed out saying it was raining hard in Baguio.
When we arrived in Baguio, the wet pavements were evident of a rain. We were disappointed and just went to rest thinking we could still pursue surfing if the weather gets any better the next day. We slept over at G-ann’s house.
We woke up to a very cold Baguio morning. After having breakfast and taking a bath. I bathed with the icy cold Baguio tap water. Karen and I went to Bayanihan to look for some goodies at Wagwagan but most stores are still closed so we went to 50′s diner to have our real and pig-out breakfast.
We boarded Genesis bus after lunch. Good thing we did coz that afternoon, the storm hit the north. I just saw from the TV how Juan pounded Northern Luzon. It was signal #4 in Cagayan, fortunately, our house is still standing. I also learned from Twitter that Sagada tourism lost 500k because of the storm. My prayers for the north. Sana’y makabangon tayo agad.
Sagada Take Two
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.
With Jen, Ate Roma and Ate Einj
