Begnas: A Ritual for Good Harvest

Happy and contented with finally being able to see up close the Panag-apoy, witnessing another festival is, what I would like to think of as, a bonus.

Walking to town from Ex-Mayor Killip’s house, which we rented for our stay, we saw these men in traditional Igorot clothes.

Former Sagada Mayor Tom Killip invited us to watch their ritual for a good harvest if we have time before heading down. Of course, we have time, we will make time.

Deeply rooted in culture and tradition, the Kankanaey community of Sagada celebrate a Rice Thanksgiving ritual that follows the cultural calendar of the Igorot. The dates of the Begnas are usually decided by the tribal leaders via age-old omen and signs and, therefore, have no fixed dates.

It is generally held to mark the different agricultural cycle—pre- planting or land preparation, planting and harvest—and apparently happens three times a year, loosely in March, June and November.

We were advised to be there early so not to disturb their celebration. Being early has its advantages.

From our vantage point, we were able to watch the celebration up close without being in the way.

Arriving in traditional clothes, men and women from different barangays gather in the hosting dap-ay.

It starts with a group of men in a single file going off to the rice fields to sacrifice a pig on sacred ground the community calls patpatayan.

Meanwhile, the men left in the dap-ay started to perform their traditional dances, not to entertain us (but perhaps themselves) but that we were. After a half an hour perhaps, they came back, still in single file, to the dap-ay with the pig divided into pieces. The ceremony ends with everyone participating in the dance and the pieces distributed to each community.

I am honored to have seen this tradition and was well worth setting our trip back for a few hours.

I leave you with more photos of the celebration:

Posted on March 26, 2016March 26, 2016 by Jenn 5

Panag-apoy: A Sagada Ritual

In Sagada like the rest of the country, All Saint’s Day is the day they gather together and remember the departed.

But while it is common to light a candle or two, the indigenous community of Sagada, instead burn wood from old pine, locally known as “saeng”.

The Panag-apoy, as the Kankanays call this ritual, was an event I had wanted to witness since I learned of it many, many years ago. Not for lack of trying but victorious, I never was until two years ago. The threat of rains, I thought, would once again thwart the gathering as it did in my previous attempts.

But lo and behold, the sun came out on that 1st day of November and finally allowed this curious spectator a glimpse of this unusual ritual.

A ritual that’s been practiced since the 1900s and is not purely indigenous. It is a combination of Anglican rites, influenced by the teachings of American missionaries, and the Igorot culture.

It starts with a liturgical service at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

Followed by the blessing of the saeng and the tombs. And as the priest moves around, one by one the saeng gets lighted and laid by the tomb.

By day’s end, the Sagada cemetery behind St. Mary glows in the dark. And truth be told, it is a surreal sight to behold.

Like me, many go to witness, document or to just experience this amazing tradition unique to the northern Kankanays.

Posted on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016 by Jenn 3

Picnic In the Woods

We found our spot, laid out the mats, set up the portable table and chairs,

brought out the wine and some snacks, enjoying the open sky, the lovely weather and the great view.

It was a day spent with good friends, can’t ask for a more relaxing time.

We chatted, we slept, we ate (again), and we drank –

a perfect follow through from that wonderful morning trek.

The woods on the way to the grounds.

The Kiltepan viewpoint boasts of great sunrises and most would make their way there before daybreak – a must too, actually.

But before sundown, you’ll get a perfect view of the terraces sans the clouds and the place to yourself. A great picnic ground for those who refuses to be stressed about getting up at 4AM and prefer to unwind before dinner. 🙂

Posted on October 17, 2011December 4, 2011 by Jenn 8

Bomod-ok Trek: Ten Things Before

Credits: All materials used from JSprague’s Digi in Deep Lesson kit.

A visit to Sagada is not complete without doing one or two of its more popular activities –

trek to Bomod-ok falls, explore Sumaging cave or

traverse to Lumiang. If you are a thrill-seeker, than you MUST do all three and more. If, however, you’re not as daring,

I would still recommend venturing out to the falls, if only for the scenery.

If doing such a thing is stepping out of your comfort zone, here are some tips on how to prepare for it and what not to miss while at it. You’ll never know what might spark after this experience. One has to start somewhere, I certainly did and trekking these terraces started my love for the outdoors more than a decade ago.

1. Take a heavy breakfast

Lots of carb. You’ll need the energy – for sure!

2. Bring lots of water

You’ll want to hydrate even if you don’t feel the heat. Walking 3-4 hours even on cool weather will definitely make you sweat.

3. Wear swimwear underneath

I’m a sissy. I could never brave the icy water. The refreshingly blue pool however entices many and you might be one of them. Be prepared.

4. Wear good footwear

Nothing ruins a good trek more than the wrong footwear. Make sure you use a comfortable pair of walking shoes preferably with good traction. I discourage using Crocs, as much as I find them comfortable – it is not made for trekking. A good pair of rubber shoes is fine.

5. Use a light jacket

Unless it’s sometime between Nov-Feb when the weather is coldest, a light rain jacket should suffice to protect you from the wind and keep you dry when it rains. A thick jacket will be too hot once you start to perspire.

6. Book a guide

Very important. Even if it is the nth time to trek the path, one is still obliged to register at the Sagada Tourist Center near the town hall and book a guide for the group. This is to make sure that everyone is accounted for after every activity.

7. Exhibit proper decorum

Talk to the village folks, don’t just snap away. Give way to uphill trekkers and those carrying heavy stuff. Also, don’t let the faster trekkers intimidate you, let them go first.

8. Take lots of photos

You’ll be walking along the terraces with the mountains on the background, you’ll kick yourself for leaving that camera behind. There are pretty sites after pretty sites so don’t forget the camera.

9. Bring snacks along

I prefer trail mixes to chips – they’re healthier. I combine mixed nuts and dried fruits (I like raisins, cranberries and some dried mangoes cut into bite-sized pieces). This will get you by until lunch.

10. Prep the body

Prior to the trek, walk more either around your neighborhood or on a treadmill. This way, your body will not take too much of a beating after a wonderful adventure.

Posted on October 16, 2011December 4, 2011 by Jenn 1

The Way to Bomod-ok

This looks like an ordinary rice plantation, zoom out a bit and it’s no longer so ordinary.

Zoom out further and you will see why I love trekking to Bomod-ok falls, sometimes called the “big falls”.

The falls can be blah at times – I say this when it’s the dry season and it does not really live up to its name. Yet, whatever greets you at the end is beside the point… it’s the journey that I enjoy so much. It starts at the basketball court of Banga-an village passing through several other villages.

The last village, Fedelisan, is where you will have to register and pay a fee of Php 10 to pave and maintain the trail.

I like hanging out a bit at the village, the people are friendly and the kids adorable.

The different trails along the way.

Having walked this trail so many times, I was amazed at how easy it is to navigate through the rice paddies today.

Just another playground for the village kids — running around the “unpaved” path.

I remember having to balance myself as I make my way through the wet rocks that was once the trail. So methinks Php10 is not asking for a lot with the obvious improvements. But I digress…

Pass the village is a spectacular view of the Fedelisan terraces – one of my favorite sites, truth to tell.

From here to the falls, you will ooh and aah from the different landscapes along the way except for an eyesore I spotted on this recent trip –

gold mining, I was told.

A couple daring kids running around on their birthday suits having loads of fun.

Once you reach the falls, what will greet you will be tons of people and kids who made the falls their playground.

The falls this time, albeit not the strongest I’ve seen, is a pretty sight.

Swimming is allowed if you dare dip into the freezing water.

Walking through the sceneries makes the 3-4 hour trek (depending on your fitness level) a breeze.

Even this is forgiving once you reach the top.

We always like ending the trek through a village called Aguid because its terraces are just so awesome. From Fedelisan village, take the right trail to get to Aguid.

Less of the cemented walkway and more of the dramatic twists and turns of the rice paddies. Awesome… but I said that already.

This halo-halo is different as it has macaroni in it — interesting just because it isn’t as sweet owing to the tasteless pasta.

At the end of the trail is a halo-halo stand. Gotta have some of those to complete your whole Bomod-ok experience.

We capped our morning adventure with a delectable lunch at Yoghurt House.

A cozy café in town that serves more than just superb yoghurt. See why I love it so much here.

Posted on October 8, 2011October 11, 2011 by Jenn 12

Sagada: Echo Valley, Hanging Coffins et al

When we passed this sign, my heart skipped a beat because in just another hour or so, I will be re-acquainted with my favorite town. The town I want to retire in, I always say.

When I need to de-stress, Sagada comes to mind. Or when I find myself without a place to go on a long weekend, Sagada comes to the rescue. But truth be told, I don’t really need a reason to go to Sagada… for more than a decade now, I find myself there just because I miss the smell of pine, the food or the bucolic serenity (as shown here, here and here).

I lost my heart to Sagada some 17 years ago. Although less rustic than it was then while more and more tourists are seen each year, Sagada remains to be a top choice and a go-to to recharge.

And St. Joseph Inn still is a favorite lodging place. We like the cabins but the rooms are perfectly fine too.

It has become some sort of tradition, if I may call it that, to hangout – finishing a few bottles of wine or beer at the comfort of our cabin.

St. Jo is at the center of town and just a stone’s away from St. Mary’s Episcopal Church,

a charming little church with beautiful stained glass windows built by the Anglicans.

On certain times of the day, the light coming in from these windows makes for a dramatic interior.

Because it takes only a short walk to Echo Valley from St. Jo, we like visiting it as soon as we arrive.

Passed the church is a path that leads to the cemetery

and further along is a dramatic hillside trail to Echo Valley –

attributable to the weather-beaten limestone formations scattered around the forest.

One can hear a very distinct echo at a certain point on the hill hence the name.

At one point, one can see from a distance, coffins hanging from the limestone walls.

A trail will lead to it up close. It is a good warm-up hike to prepare for a longer and more scenic one the next day.

A comforting dinner at Masferré Inn and Restaurant is always a fitting cap to a full day. Named after the owner Monette’s father-in-law, the late Eduardo Masferré – widely regarded as the Philippines’ father of photography. Half Spanish, half Kankanay, he spent much of his life toiling the farm and photographing the Cordilleras, documenting the now vanishing culture of the ethnic groups of the Ifugao region.

Some of his works are displayed in the dining area. The Masferré Gallery down the road from St. Theodore’s houses more of his works.

“The description is not the described; I can describe the mountain, but the description is not the mountain, and if you are caught up in the description, as most people are, then you will never see the mountain.”

Jiddu Krishnamurti

Useful Info:

St. Joseph Inn

Contact: Julia Abad

Mobile: (63) 928-951-7156

Posted on September 27, 2011December 4, 2011 by Jenn 16

A Museum of Art and Nature

A short ride from the Baguio City center along Km 6, Asin Road stands a modern white building that is BenCab’s Museum. A 4-hectare project of the National Artist for Visual Arts, Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, more popularly known as BenCab.

The Master of contemporary Philippine Arts traces his beginnings in Mabini where he painted and ran an art gallery with his elder brother Salvador Cabrera. He then moved to London, gotten married to a British writer and eventually established for himself a name of international recognition. When his marriage ended, he relocated to Baguio in 1988 and along with other artists formed the Baguio Arts Guild. BenCab being a tenacious admirer and collector of Cordillera Arts also formed his own group of artists when he established the Tam-awan Village, an art center that promotes Cordillera traditions.

So it is to no surprise that aside from the BenCab Gallery, which presents a range of his works of different periods, sizes and styles,

the museum also houses a Cordillera Gallery displaying a collection of tribal artifacts and indigenous crafts of the northern Luzon highlanders.

It also showcases artworks by contemporary Filipino artists – Cesar Legaspi, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Fernando Zobel, Arturo Luz, Ed Borlongan to name a few. A collection he accumulated through the years.

Aside from promoting art, a major part of its mission is to preserve, protect, and conserve its natural surroundings. And how?

The museum commands a breathtaking view of the adjacent organic garden, its surrounding mountains and the South China Sea on the horizon. Other sections of the estate features large ponds for ducks and a thatched-roof gazebo erected on a center island.

Café Sabel, serving cordillera coffee, tea and some food, is on the ground floor and overlooks all these. Truly a remarkable man’s gift to a community he joined more than a decade ago.

A museum that is worth a visit opens its doors from Tuesday to Sunday, 9am-6pm. Admission fee is P100 per head.

Posted on August 10, 2010August 10, 2010 by Jenn 10

WS# 2: Pine Cones

ws-2-pine-cones

Never fails to remind me of the mountains that I love so much. Took this shot at Lemon Pie House in Sagada 2 weeks ago, the pine cones aptly displayed on the window casement. Simple yet artistic eh?

Credits: JSprague frame

Posted on January 11, 2009January 18, 2009 by Jenn 10

A New Year Away from it All

Wish you stayed away from the noise and smoke of Manila during the New Year? You did? I did. The clean, crisp air, cold weather, beautiful pine trees, delicious yoghurt of Sagada was enough to convince my friends to meet me in Baguio after their climb. Their climb was a 3-day hike up the summit of Mt. Ugo, which I (sadly) couldn’t join because my family has this annual vacation that’s usually planned around the Christmas break. This year we decided on Ubud in Bali so that’s interesting enough for me not to be too envious, right? But after seeing their photos, I’m now officially envious. ANYWAY, when I heard of their plans, I suggested New Years in Sagada.

And so, on the evening of the 30th, straight from the airport, I went home only to change backpacks and off I was to Baguio. We took the 6 o’clock bus the next morning and arrived in Sagada by noon in time for lunch at my favorite Yoghurt House. This cozy hole in a wall is one reason why I never tire of Sagada. This was where I fell in love with anything with yoghurt. Not always available but if they have it, their Yoghurt with Bananas, Strawberry preserves and Granola is a definite “must try”! But even without the preserve (which is more often than not), it still comes highly recommended.

yoghurthouse

New Year’s eve dinner may not be as much of a hit as lunch was but the ambience made up for it. Nothing like having dinner at a cozy log cabin complete with a fireplace, with food all you can eat, and very hospitable hosts and staffs. It’s like being a part of one, big, happy inner circle. New Year’s eve buffet dinner at the Log Cabin (always prepared by Chef Philip Aklay – a French guy who had made Sagada his home) had become a tradition to the Sagada regulars. The food sounded better than it tasted, unfortunately. Too experimental for me. The salad and the chicken were hits though. My friend actually preferred this year’s dinner to last year’s. So there you go… perhaps it gets better through the years. Or perhaps I was expecting too much. I’ve always had great meals at the Log Cabin so this blah experience was a surprise and a bit of a disappointment.

nymenu

nydinner1

Note that the disappointment was from the New Year’s Eve dinner. We went back for an a la cart dinner prepared by the owner Dave (never got his last name) and everything was superb. You shouldn’t leave Sagada without having tried their Pork Tenderloin.

logcabin1

With all the walking my friends did at Mt. Ugo (3 DAYS!!!), the last thing they wanted to do was walk. So I willingly and happily contented myself to stay in town, continue pigging out and finish the book I started (which I actually did). But whaddyaknow! We bumped into a friend at Yoghurt House who brought his 4×4. He invited us to Besao. Never been there so trying not to sound too eager… I said YES! And so we went to Besao, originally to find the world-renowned stone calendar but it was still a long way off so we scrapped the idea and just took a look at St. Benedict’s Church. A charming little church that looks very similar to St. Mary’s of Sagada. Besao is the darling town after Sagada, which they say has beautiful sunsets. We couldn’t stay to validate the claim as we had dinner reservations that night (at the Log Cabin).

churches1

besaolandscape1

On our way back we passed by Lake Danum to take photos of the normally calm lake. When the water is still, the reflection of the sky vividly captured in still water makes a really good photograph. But it was not so that day. The water was rippling from very strong winds.

lakedanum1

I swear, those were one of the coldest days I’ve ever experienced in Sagada, aggravated by strong winds. It was so cold that I had to buy knitted gloves to keep my hands from freezing. We were walking around in fleece, windbreakers, bonnets and gloves at high noon! Really! Between the 4 of us (and a little help from others), we downed 2 bottles of wine and a bottle of Limoncello in 3 days. Hick! 😉

spirits1

I must say, we started the year well. Bumped into old friends, made new ones as well. Revisited old favorites, and discovered new ones. Hope yours was good too!

Getting there:

To Sagada via Baguio:

At the Dangwa station, take Lizardo Transit Bus. First trip normally leaves by 6:30am; last trip at 1:00pm

lizarde1

Going back (Sagada – Baguio):

First bus arrives at the bus stop (there’s only one) at 5:30 – 6:00 am and leaves as soon as it is full. Sits are first come first serve and since this bus originates from Besao, there may not have a lot left. Bus arrives every hour thereafter, so if you miss this one, you can take the next one.

Travel time: 6-7 hours

Bus Fare: P 220 (one-way)

To Sagada via Banaue:

Auto Bus or Florida Bus Line has daily trips to Banaue, leaves Manila approximately around 10pm.

Travel time: 8-9 hours

Contact Details:

Auto Bus

Espana cornor Catalina,

Sampaloc, Manila

Phone: 735-8096

Bus fare: P 460

Florida Bus Line

Sampaloc, Manila

Phones: 743-3809 / 731-5358 / 493-3667

Bus fare: P 450

In Banaue, take a short tricycle ride from the bus stop to the town proper where you can find (Immanuel Bus Liners) buses to Bontoc.

Travel Time: 1-1/2 hours

Bus fare: P 100

In Bontoc, get on jeepneys to Sagada from the Municipal Hall. The bus stops very near the Hall so you won’t have to walk far.

Travel time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Jeepney fare: P 35

Sagada to Banaue:

Do everything in reverse.

Manila – Bontoc – Sagada Route

Another option is to take Cable Tours which ends in Bontoc, saves having to transfer buses in Banaue however, their buses are limited (I heard) and you may end up losing a day (if the bus conks out or something).

Travel time: 12 hours

Contact details:

Cable Tours

E Rodriguez QC, near Trinity College

Phone: 074-602-1068

Cell: 0918-521-6790

0921-448-8814

Bus fare: P 600

Credits: frames by Joyful Heart Designs, from the Plain Jane Kit

Posted on January 10, 2009July 18, 2010 by Jenn 6

Hello 2009!

How did you spend the extra-long break? I spent it up in the mountains… two, in fact. After Christmas, my family and I flew to Denpasar and spent 5 relaxing days in a wonderful resort in Ubud, Bali. As soon as I landed in Manila, I was on my way to Baguio to spend a quiet New Year in Sagada with good friends. Both locations I return again and again for their food, so I indulged in good eating this season (as always). 😉 Overindulgence aside, I also found time to finally make a dent on the pile of books on my shelf, waiting to be read.

Despite the gloomy forecast, I can’t wait to get started. I’ve already got a growing list of plans for the year. Four exciting places I want to explore within the 1st half of the year. Learn one sport (starting this month) and master it (in a year or two, I hope). Know Photoshop inside out. Take more photos… and the list goes on. But before all these, it’s back to the gym tomorrow to shed off those extra pounds! 😛

Seriously though, I am thankful and grateful to the almighty God for a wonderful 2008. Hope the blessing continues with the same grace and faithfulness He has bestowed through the years.

A blessed New Year to all! More on Bali and Sagada in the next few days.

Posted on January 4, 2009July 12, 2010 by Jenn 0

my adventure odyssey

travel tales, gustatory delights and beyond