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Sagada
(Rewritten April 13, 2008)
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Saturday is market Day
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Stunning views from Kiltepan Tower
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Early morning in the rice terraces,
just behind St. Joseph's.
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View from St. Jo's restaurant. |
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View from St. Jo's restaurant balcony. |
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Burial cave
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Lovely walk beyond the burial cave. |
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View of Eastern Sagada valley from Mt.
Ampocao
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North view from Mt. Ampocao |
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Pitcher plants at Mt. Ampocao |
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Children at a Sagada Wedding |
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Pottery workshop |
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The Big waterfall (Bomod-ok) |
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George Guesthouse |
Bontoc to Sagada
Regular
jeepneys to Sagada leave from a side street just off the main road in
Bontoc. Anyone you asked could tell you where. Tricycles are handy when
luggage is involved and cheap too. The first jeep leaves at 8.30 am,
then on a regular basis after that until 5.00 pm. It leaves when it is
full. The trip takes 45 minutes. If you are very lucky you may find the
front seat unoccupied (indicated by no bag or jacket on the seat). Leave
a bag of some kind if you want to wait elsewhere, as this will reserve
the two best seats for enjoying the fabulous views between Bontoc and
Sagada. In the back section, of course, you have lots of company and
sleeping children, but the views are obscured by small windows and
fellow passengers. The other alternative is the roof. This is a popular
and sometimes necessary mode of transport and I would guess the best way
to get the full impact of the terrain and its beauty. Beware the hot dry
weather! You will most definitely eat a lot of dust on the way up the
hill if you sit on the roof in summer. Parts of the road are still a
very rough ride, I would say inaccessible, for standard saloon cars.
Arriving in Sagada
The first
thing that struck me on my very first entry into Sagada was how pretty
it is – the abundance of flowers, pleasant architecture, lots of trees,
dramatic limestone outcrops and beautiful views down the valley. It
stands at 1500 meters above sea level, so enjoys a climate influenced by
altitude and freshness. The indigenous pines that blanket the
surrounding mountains provide a dramatic backdrop for this unique
community.
Sagada is a prosperous town comprised of mostly farming families and
others associated with agriculture. There are no tricycles here, which
is a silent blessing. The quality of education that has been available
here has been high, especially with the older generation. Intelligence
displays itself as a community trait and the peacefulness and stability
of the community is obvious at once. Very good English is widely spoken
as the second language, rather than Tagalog. The Episcopalian church was
the first to arrive here and be accepted, which has resulted in a unique
spiritual partnership between the traditional ritual observances and the
Christian. If you are a Christian I am sure you would enjoy the services
at St Mary the Virgin
Church, in the centre of
town. The bells are a beautiful reminder of its presence.
There are many things to do in and around Sagada. If you are like John
and I we love the peace and quiet of the place, its beauty and
freshness, the friendliness of the people and the ease with which one
can move around. We know that one thing you can do here is rest, read
and sleep. You can also walk, trek, go caving, camping, eating etc. One
thing you will not find here is a jumping nightlife, unless you bring it
with you.
Accommodation
If you
would like to stay in the centre of town you have many choices.
My first choice would be the (only) room above the Log Cabin
restaurant. It is the most comfortable room in town, with its own
bathroom (very nice), cozy décor and its own private balcony with a
lovely view down the valley. This would be a lovely place for two, or
more. P1,000 per night. Booking is essential. The kitchen downstairs
makes great coffee, but meals must be ordered ahead. The restaurant
downstairs has a fireplace and serves dinner. Evening meals can be
served in your room or on the balcony. For reservations, call Dave
Gulian 0920 520 0463.
Alfredos Inn
and Restaurant changed hands over 12 months ago. It is situated
on one corner of the central plaza. Normal room rates are p350 per
double (or single) and p700 for the larger family sized room which
John and I always stayed in. All share the same bathroom, toilet
within, which can be extremely difficult when there are many guests.
The restaurant downstairs is open all day. If you don’t enjoy the
hustle and bustle of poblacion (which we did), this is not for you.
The outside table provides plenty of opportunity to people watch,
especially on Saturday, market day. For reservations, contact Florence. 0921 433 6885
Sagada Guest House - is on another corner of the plaza.
Normal rates are p150 single, p300 double, share bath. P600 for 3
beds, bathroom with hot water. Rooms go up in elevation and price to
p800, p1000 and p1200, with kitchen, bathroom with hot water and one
with cable TV. These rooms can accommodate 3, 4 or 5 persons. Rooms
at the back can be noisy in the mornings with roosters, dogs and
pigs giving it their best. There is a rooftop available for viewing
the vistas. The restaurant can provide breakfast, lunch or dinner if
ordered ahead. At other times it is closed. For reservations, speak
to Manang Veron, 0919 300 2763.
.
Ganduyan Café and Inn also
faces the plaza.
St Josephs Guest House is directly uphill from the plaza.
These buildings were once part of a seminary, so a wide variety of
room types and rates are on offer, from dormitory accommodation to
private cottages, which go up to P1800 during peak seasons. Take
either one of two ways up, both by steps and a pathway from the main
road and head towards the white building at the top. If you are in a
car, take the road past Ganduyan and enter St Josephs from the back
car park, where your car can be left securely overnight. The café is
very good, as is the coffee. Note that during the months from
February to May end, they often suffer from water shortages. You may
have paid for a room with hot water, only to find that there is no
water at all for your whole stay. We have seen a few guests get
irate, especially when they still have to pay for the amenities that
they did not get.
The Green House is on the right, 50 meters down the hill past
the Municipal Hall, behind the Persimoon Café (a popular drinking
place). This is an old establishment, a homestay, inexpensive and
popular with the hippies.
Sagada Igorot Inn and Olahbinan are also in the
vicinity. Both have off street parking.
Mapiya-aw Pension – This would be my choice if I was looking
for peace and quiet. It is set off the road 100 meters uphill
through a forest and is very pretty and peaceful. You would have
passed the sign on the way into town. The Pension was purpose
built, all unpainted wood, cosy. In winter you can use either or
both of two fireplaces on request. The upstairs fireplace would be
gorgeous with friends during the winter months. Balconies are
abundant, which is always nice. Regular rates are dorm or single
p200. A double room with bath shared with one other room is p600.
Families can book both rooms for p1200. There is a lovely double
room on the top floor, but the CR is down. Meals can be prepared for
you if you order ahead and the kitchen is available for your own
meal preparations for a reasonable fee. The garden is lovely. This
would be a very peaceful place outside of peak season. The walk into
the centre of town takes 15 – 20 minutes and would keep you fit. For
reservations call Esperanza Solang – 0921 390.0560.
Travellers Inn - Further down the Municipal Hall road and
just past the Yoghurt House Restaurant is the Travellers Inn, on
your left. Rooms are p150 single, p200 double, rooms for 3 or 4 are
p300, rooms for more than 4 are p450-500. All with shared bathroom.
One single or double with hot bath is p500, bigger than double with
hot bath p600. A family room is available, with hot bath, for p1000.
A monthly rate is offered for a single at p1000, 2 beds at p1500.
The kitchen downstairs would be available for personal cooking for
these guests. There is no luxury here, but sometimes that can be
nice, especially since the price is good. Lope also has a café,
gallery and general store downstairs. If you wish to take breakfast,
lunch or dinner here, you must order ahead. Pinikpikan, the
signature dish of the Igorot, can be prepared for you by Travellers
Inn Café if given 3 hours notice. This dish is unique and will be
authentically prepared. It is a complete meal with vegetables, meat,
rice and soup. Up to 5 persons p1000. 6 to 8 persons p1500. For
Inn reservations call Lope Bosaing - +63 920 799 2960 or
aprilmay_25@yahoo.com or lopebosaing@yahoo.com.ph
.
George Guest House can be found further down again, on the
right. You can’t miss it – it is the most colorful, garish building
in town. The interiors are similarly decorated, but the building is
new, so all is clean and fresh. Accommodation starts at P175 per
person per night with CR (no hot shower). One of the two rooms at
the top would be my choice, both with hot bath, of course. One has
many beds and is P200 per night each person. The double room has a
TV and is P700 for the room. The views are lovely. For reservations
call Dora – 0918 548 0406 or 0920 607 0994.
Rock Inn - The junction to Rock Inn is further along the road
to Bontoc, then about a kilometer to the guest house. You would need
your own car to stay there. I would guess the walk to Sagada would
take about 40 minutes. It is set in an orange orchard, so the fresh
juice is a must. This facility, which is relatively new, can
accommodate large groups and would be useful as a retreat or seminar
venue. A student dormitory is available. The dining room is very
beautiful architecturally, but the food may be disappointing. Tel
+63 920 909 5899.
Restaurants
St Josephs Café
is in the same compound as its namesake. Nice setting, lovely
verandah upstairs, outdoor seating. The menu on offer is extensive,
Filipino, and generally agreed to be good. Generous servings of
fresh vegetables can be expected. Coffee is excellent. Bread, sweet
and savoury, is baked by our local chef and can be bought by the
loaf. This café is open all day.
Masferres, also in the centre of town, offers an up-market
version of the usual fare. It is popular with visitors from Manila. Wine is available.
Log Cabin is another centrally located restaurant, open at
night only. Meals must be booked and ordered before two in the
afternoon. Bookings only will be accepted. The menu is broad and
offers European influenced meals, vegetables and salads, as well as
the usual ‘adobo’ choices. Wine is available. During the cold
months there is always a nice fire to sit by.
Log Cabin
Buffet
While you are in Sagada, check the time for the next buffet prepared
by our local chef. This is a meal not to be missed if you are in
town. P250 for a four course buffet prepared by a European trained
chef? Yes please! At the moment, these are on Saturday nights. You
have until Friday evening to book, or, at a push, early Saturday
morning.
Yoghurt House is a short walk down the hill and remains one
of the favourites among visitors. Yoghurt dishes are, of course, a
specialty, served with fruits, granola, pancakes, or mixed as a
salad dressing for fresh local vegetables. Pasta, salads, vegetarian
meals are all available here.
Ganduyan Inn is in the heart of town and makes one of the
best cups of coffee, in my opinion. The yoghurt, banana and honey is
divine. Bacon and eggs, bacon sandwiches, longanisa etc (breakfast
food generally) is available here. No lunches or dinners are served,
but breakfast and yoghurt is available all day.
Bilig Café is downstairs at the market, next to the Rural
Bank. This is the old Shamrock, transferred from its original
position because of the development of the market building. Basic
meals can be prepared there.
Persimoon Café and Bamboo Grill is a relatively new
business in town and seems to be popular at night. I have not tried
the food.
Cuisina Igorota is almost unknown by outsiders and serves
typical Igorot food. It is best at lunchtime. You will find it
behind St Theodores Hospital. Just go inside the hospital and ask. A
meal costs p60 and could be pork stew, bones soup, pork chop,
sinigang, adobo, chicken etc, all served with generous quantities of
local vegetables. There is no glamour here.
Co-op Canteen is just inside the mission gates and serves
fabulous lemon meringue pie, banana cake or carrot cake. The coffee
is good too, or you can have mountain tea. Meals are not served
here.
Other local eating houses are dotted in and around the old market,
serving mostly meat dishes. If you are lucky there may be a
vegetable or two. These meals are most often cheap and designed to
fill the local hard working man.
Saturday Market
In the heart of
town, popularly known in the Philippines as
‘poblacion’ you will find the weekly market. From first light till
about 10.00am the local farmers, producers and vendors sell their
fruits and vegetables fresh from the farm. Other foods come from the
surrounding provinces. In citrus season the oranges are fabulous and
over the Christmas months good tasting strawberries are abundant.
The local honey which is sold in large bottles on a Saturday is
magnificent – runny and aromatic from the flowers. Feel free to
taste the various delicacies on offer. I have been eating the food
here for years and some of it is really nice. I especially like the
combination of freshly cooked warm sweetcorn (off the husk in
separate nodules) seasoned with fresh coconut, a little sugar and
condensed milk. A filling and satisfying breakfast. Other delicacies
include sticky rice cakes cooked in oil with sugar and threaded on
skewers, sesame balls, banana cake, boiled peanuts. Most confections
have sticky rice or camote (sweet potato) as their base. Of course
there is the compulsory arrozcaldo or pancit, found in any market
across the land. Don’t forget to have a look at the wag-wag dealers
who set up on the street leading from the market. I have bought some
of my best clothes from these second hand clothes dealers. You may
be surprised.
I know there is often a fear associated with eating food from street
stalls, but I can assure you I have never had an incident of upset
stomach from any meal eaten in Sagada, and that includes the market.
Take coffee at the outside table of Alfredos Guest House or across
in Ganduyan Inn (in my opinion, the best brewed coffee in town) and
watch the hustle and bustle of this most interesting market.
Sagada Attractions
Limestone caves
- Many people come to Sagada to visit the caves. If you plan to
do this, it can be arranged at the municipal hall, in the centre of
town. Sagada has a Guides Association based there who co-ordinate
such adventures. The prices are set and the guides work on a
rotation system that assures all of them equal work. These people
are skilled mountaineers and cavers so your life is in good hands.
You cannot go to the limestone caves without a guide.
The Burial Cave is accessible to most people and can be
visited without a guide during off-peak times. The climb down is
steep towards the end and probably difficult for the elderly or very
young children. This is a fascinating place, eerie and dramatic.
Take your camera. Please keep in mind that this place is sacred to
the locals, so leave no garbage, cigarette butts etc and do not
touch the coffins or try to open them. Respect is appropriate here.
The cave is marked on the local tourist map (available in guest
houses and souvenir shops in town). The walk down the hill is
gorgeous. Don’t hesitate to ask directions from the locals if you
are unsure of the way.
Small Falls
– Not
far from town, this attraction is a disappointment to many. However,
in hot weather if adventurous children or adults are involved,
leaping from the top of the falls is a favorite pastime.
Big Falls – take the morning jeepney to Banga-an (pronounced
Bunga –un) and ask to be let off at the big falls. The jeep leaves
from the centre of Sagada and the guides association can tell you
the times. Find out about the times for return trips too as you will
not want to be walking back to Sagada. The walk down the endless
stairs is fabulous, the scenery divine. The falls themselves, once
you reach them (1 – 1 ½ hours) are predictably thunderous and
dramatic. Swim in the freezing waters if you like that sort of
thing. The climb back to the road is not for the faint hearted.
Allow a couple of hours – if unfit, like me, add another hour.
Fabulous fruit and vegetables – Because of its cool mountain
climate Sagada is known for some of its seasonal foods:
Oranges – September to May
Blueberries – end of Summer, April to June
Wild mushrooms, 12 varieties – first 1 to 2 months of rain, May to
July
Strawberries – end of rainy season, after sun, October to December
The Saturday market is the display place for what is in season.
Also available at the market:
Local honey - Look for the square bottle where the honey is light
coloured and runny. Not always available.
Etag – the local ham or bacon, salted then smoked. Fabulous for
soups and stews.
Available generally - Arabica coffee, locally grown and
roasted, available as beans or pre-ground.
Mountain Tea, harvested from forest trees, leaves are dried whole
and sold by the bag. An aromatic brew, caffeine free, very nice
boiled with lemon grass or on its own.
Rice and fruit wines – guava, lemon, pineapple, mulberry,
strawberry, rice, persimmon, anything really can be made into wine
here. Low alcohol content and sweet.
Walking in Sagada
Walking is one of
the great pleasures here. There are no tricycles in Sagada so just
strolling around town can be relaxing and picturesque. With only 3
roads it is difficult to get lost and friendly locals are always
happy to help if asked.
The pathways – behind the main roads are a network of pathways,
mostly cemented, that connect the houses and villages that make up
the municipality of
Sagada. To get a real sense
of the place you can follow these and discover the various dap-ay
(meeting places and sites for rituals, such as the bugnas) as well
as the ambiance of suburban life. The dogs will bark like hell
because you will be a stranger in their midst and some may look
fierce, but these animals will not attack. A dog that attacks a
human is dead meat. You cannot get lost following the paths as the
main roads are never far away. These walks are pretty, accessible
and easy.
Pathway to Datil – On the road behind St Josephs guest house
car park there is a pathway leading off to the right which will take
you through the gardens and rice fields behind the town. This is a
lovely walk. A couple of hours at most would be required for a
casual stroll, depending on how far you want to follow the path
(which eventually does run out).
Mt Ampacao – Lake Danum – Banga-an ridge walk – There are two
walks to take, one from Lake Danum to Mt Ampacao, the other from
Banga-an to Lake Danum. Each one follows the ridgeline of the
mountain range and offers some spectacular panoramic views as well
as the usual pleasures associated with walking in natural forest and
grassland. Take lunch and water, sun and rain protection and a
guide. These walks are difficult without a local guide as many paths
thread through the mountains and getting lost would be a real
possibility. Both walks are well worth taking if you are in town for
a while. I have done both, so being super fit is not required – it
just takes a little longer. The guides are surrounded by this beauty
all of the time, so do insist on taking your time, stopping for
lunch or to admire the view, otherwise your guide may race you
through it all in a couple of hours and that would be a pity. Make
sure you don’t leave ugly garbage calling cards.
Kiltepan – On your way into town you will have passed the
sign to Mapiya-ao Guest House. From that side road there is a path
on the right (that I haven’t taken) leading to the top of the hill
called Kiltepan. Locals can show you this, or ask at the guest house
further up the road if you have missed it. When you reach the top,
pass over the grassy open space, heading to your left. There you
will find a path to follow for just 20 metres or so. To your left
are little paths leading down to some rocks, where you can sit and
ooo-ahhh at the spectacular scenery and endless mountain panorama.
This is a favourite place for John and I to bring guests in Sagada.
Camera heaven.
Echo Valley.
It is best to take a guide although not necessary. Go in the morning
before it gets too hot. Give yourself a few hours to wander, look at
hanging coffins, sit by the river, get sort-of lost, walk through
the tunnel of the underground river (Take a big torch with good
batteries – the caverns are vast). There are lots of paths in echo
valley and easy to take the wrong turn. Just remember there are 3
caves – one is dry, the second is where the river enters the
underground caverns and can be entered only for a short distance,
the third is where the river flows under Sagada to the other side of
the hill. We found a way back into town by retracing our steps from
the last cave for about 50 metres, then followed a track leading up
the hill on our right. We came out behind the Caltex gas station on
the main road. You can pass through the underground river and find a
path on the other side which takes you back to town, but be prepared
to wade through quite deep water at the far end and be careful of
the very slippery rocks you have to climb to get out – it is not
easy, but we have done it. DO NOT attempt to follow the
underground river after heavy rains. Two people drowned in this cave
about four years ago, during a typhoon.
Hiking, camping, staying for a while
If you are
a person who really enjoys walking, hiking, camping etc it would not
take long to find someone to go with you. The local men and women are
instinctive mountaineers. The first step would be to have some time to
ask around or meet people. In time there would be just the right
companion willing to take you to places they know. John and I and other
members of our family have gone off into the mountains camping many
times, one roped down a waterfall, then went caving at night (not in
Sagada caves). We paid our guide …… per day, but carried our own pack.
A place we have been to most is call
Buasao ( pronounced bwa-sow ), a 5 ½ hour walk for me from Banga-an
(pronounced bunga-un ), carrying everything I need for 3 days, including
shelter. The path passes through pockets of old mossy forest, crosses
streams and a river, climbs and ends on a flat patch at the centre of
which is a curious stone structure. Next to that we make our camp. Many
wonderful days and nights have been spent around the fire at Buasao.
Adventurers can set off from there on further explorations and day
hikes. Local knowledge is essential on these trips as the mountains
around Sagada have been roamed by the army from time to time and not all
people you encounter can be trusted. A strong male Igorot at your side
is a passport to safety.
Mountain Biking - This is not my thing but enthusiasts come from
all over to play in the mountains around here. If this is something you
would like to explore, call Steve (+63 919 698 8361). He is the local
expert and may be happy to have you join him on some rides.
Driving to Sagada and things around
John has a
Suzuki Vitara, fitted with Old Man Emu suspension and mud tyres. Good
ground clearance. This car takes most things on offer around Sagada,
such as:
Kiltepan – There is a road going up to Kiltepan which can be
found on the left…..kms from Sagada on the way to Bontok. There is a
concrete shelter opposite the junction. When forks appear in the road
take the one most used. If it comes to a house, it was the wrong one.
When you get to the clearing at the top, park. Walk along the path that
leads from the left corner. 20 meters to your left is a breathtaking
view. Find a rock to sit on and enjoy. Early mornings are gorgeous, as
are sunsets and the ‘golden hour’. The last, steep, uphill stretches of
the road can be slippery.
Mount
Ampacao – It
takes a gutsy car to get up here and an experienced driver, but if you
can make it is well worth the trip. The peak of Mt Ampacao
is the site of a cell phone tower, eerily lit at night, clearly visible
in Sagada. To reach the road you drive downhill toward Ambasing. Please
drive cautiously in Sagada – children playing, dogs, chickens, jeeps
could be around any bend. When you reach the Ambasing Elementary School on your right, take the
road that runs alongside it and head uphill. Keep going up, closing
gates behind you, until you reach the grassy clearing at the top. The
actual peak and tower are higher still – not accessible. Find a good
spot to park where you can see the view back towards Sagada. You may
need to walk a little around the hillside to get the full impact of the
view, in which case you should turn on the car alarm. On one of our
visits mischievous boys were playing around the car and fortunately set
off the alarm. Your other choice is to take someone who is prepared to
stay with the car, like a lad from the guest house or a guide.
Besao - (pronounced bess-ow) is a relatively small town 6 km
away over the mountains. On the way you will pass the turnoff to Lake Danum on your left. I always enjoyed these
short exploratory trips as the roads wind through lovely mountain forest
country and cultivated fields. Besao is well known for its sunsets,
though I have not been there at the right time to enjoy it. Dirt road
most of the way.
Banga-an and Aguid are two towns to drive to on the second of
three roads out of town. Once again, it is not far, but the scenery is
nice. Concrete road to Banga-an.
Suyo is downhill all the way. Take the road past the municipal
hall. Take the first left turn and follow it all the way down to Suyo.
You will pass lovely views of the rice and vegetable fields and drive
through pine forest. A walk through the fields of Suyo is a lovely thing
to do if it is not too hot.
Things to buy in
Sagada
An artist who
lives in Baguio has designed and prints a really good
range of ‘Sagada’ T-shirts, mostly in black on white. Ganduyan
Souvenirs stocks the complete range in all sizes. This shop also
commissions work from Kalinga - beaded bags and purses – very nice –
also, the fantastic headgear of the head-hunter, made by an old man
who has always made these ritual symbols of the warrior’s success –
expensive, large, but extraordinary! Traditional basketry has
always been a favourite of mine and I have found Ganduyan to be the
best suppliers. Their weavers copy the traditional designs and
their work is very fine. The basket weavers, however, are getting
old and the baskets are becoming scarce. Prices in this shop are
fixed.
Sagada Weavers
is famous for its sturdy locally woven cloth which is made into
backpacks, overnight bags, smaller bags and purses, wallets – all
kinds of things. A local industry worth supporting. Many other shops
now sell locally woven cloth and bags, backpack, wallets etc
Masferre’s ‘A
Tribute to the Philippine Cordillera’
is a book of black
and white photos taken by Masferre (a resident of this town) during
the late 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. The images are beautiful and have
captured the people of this region in a way that is no longer
available to the photographer. Have a look at the book – a wonderful
souvenir of this unique region. Masferre’s Restaurant displays many
of his pictures on the walls. There are many souvenir shops in
Sagada and probably many treasures to find. Don’t forget to bargain
for the best price.
Pottery -
There are locals and foreigners who produce fine pottery from the
local clay. It is OK to visit their workshop which is about 1.3km
from the centre of town on the road to Besao. It is on the right and
a little obscured. Lovely views on this walk. Even if no one is
there it is OK to look around.....(Its nice to know that there are
still places like this.) Please, please do not touch the work
Curfew -
Sagada has
observed a 9.00pm curfew for many years. This is a farming
community and most people are up before dawn to go to the fields, so
closing down at 9.00pm makes a lot of sense. The stores close, the
restaurants stop serving food and the streets become quiet. The
curfew is also a way of controlling public drunkenness – a problem
in many other towns. People can do whatever they like within the
walls of their homes and most restaurants will remain open until you
leave and not pressure you to do so. There is no problem about being
out after 9.00 or past midnight. It is just very quiet. "Curfew" can
conjure up all sorts of images and often tourists are troubled by
it. There is nothing to worry about in this paradise
Important Dates
Keep these
dates in mind when planning your trip to Sagada. These are good times to
stay away, as any 4 day public holiday or vacation in the Philippines is met with mass exodus from
Manila. This
means guest houses are full, restaurants are full, the caves are full,
the roads are choked etc etc.
New Year, Easter, All Saints day, Labor Day – stay away. School and
university holidays can present problems, but students most often choose
the cheapest options.
The town fiesta occurs on the first weekend of February, plus the
Thursday and Friday before. People from all of the surrounding villages
and towns come to trade, to buy and to enjoy this opportunity to mix and
mingle. Vendors descend in their hundreds. The Fiesta usually opens with
a cultural presentation, which always involves gonging and dancing.
Games are played, plus the fabulous tug-o-war between men of different
villages. Women usually get a chance in the open category. For those who
enjoy the culture of the fiesta in the Philippines and don’t mind the
crowds, this can be an interesting time in Sagada.
Leaving Sagada
(You wont want to) You will have no problems getting out of town.
Jeepneys leave regularly for Bontoc, where you can take other transport
on to Banaue – Manila. Last jeep leaves at 1.00 PM. Buses
leave from Sagada that can take you to Baguio as well, though the road is long (6 or 7
hours) and can be very rough - but with fantastic views!. The buses
leave regularly from 5.00 AM till 1.00 PM. If you have the time, spend
a few days in
Tinglayan (via Bontoc).
Other information.
| Cell Phone |
Smart and Globe |
| Internet Cafe/access |
Yes - DSL- Fast
internet is available everywhere. |
| Electricity
|
24 hours |
| Banks or money changers |
The Rural Bank of
Sagada will Change US$ but the rate will not be good. Best to do it in Bontoc or
elsewhere.
No ATMs
in Bontoc. |
<<Page 3 of 6: Bontoc
Page 5 of 6: Tinglayan >>
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