Sagada, situated at the tranquil mountain top town, Northern part of Luzon. Known for travelers seeking adventures, relaxation, or just to hang out with the whole family. This place is perfect. Away from the busy street of the City, no noise, fresh air, etc. Allow me to share a little bit of my experiences here, that would make you think on visiting or jumping off the edge just to insert this in your vacation list.
Sagada is a 12 hours travel by bus, from Manila to Bontoc and an hour from Bontoc. It is quite dusky and bumpy starting from Bontoc, but it's worth it upon reaching the bus stop in our destination. The deafening sound of nature was indeed unusual to us who used to live in the city. The birds singing, the blow of the wind welcomed us as we stepped out of the bus.
Just as we start moving to look for a good and affordable hotel, I saw a man eating halo-halo on the cool day, which has been a normal temperature to them, but not for us. We chose to stay at the hotel beside the Sagada museum, the Sagada Guesthouse, and northeast of the municipal hall. It has a spacious and painted rooms with shared bathroom. We didn't waste our time, so right after keeping our staffs, we then head off to the tourism office inside the municipal hall to arrange a tour going to the known Sumaging cave.
500php is the payment for the guide. We agreed to pay 125php each since we are in a group of four. It is a 2 1/2 hour tour inside the cave. The guide will provide the gas lantern that will be used. It was drizzling when we went out of the municipal. We chose to stroll around the place to look for something to eat. We went to their Yogurt house, but unfortunately, the store was closed because their staffs are on vacation leave. The rain poured and decided to go back to the hotel to have a rest.
The following day, we woke up early for the awaited caving experience. We are already outside the municipal hall at around 8am when they government employees sang the national anthem. A few minutes, our companions arrived for they stayed at a hotel near the Sagada weaving, a few meters away from where we are staying. Then we started to walk our way to the cave. On our way, we saw a fruit tree which the guide said the sagada pears. We also saw beautifully grown pine trees with long trunks and a nice scent. Just a few metres, a green scenery of beautiful sagada rice terraces captivated my sight. And never failed to took pictures in my phone. We went on and the guide pointed out the hanging coffins which was said to have been there for a thousand years, the oldest buried is believed to be 500 years old.
When we reached the opening of the cave, the guide then lighted the gas lantern that he brought and is essential in the tour. The cave is very tricky and dark. As we went farther, it’s getting more exciting and thrilling, and we are also getting wet for we need to plunge or walk through cold water (below waistline) Sometimes, swing from a rope just to get through a small passage. When we reached the bottom of the cave, the guide told us that there is 6metre pool where we can jump in(not thinking of the bats wastes) . With no second thoughts, my friends jumped unto the inviting water and so I am! And ohhh! I forgot something! I forgot that I don’t really don’t know how to swim! No kidding! Much worst ‘cause I was wearing cargo pants which really made me so heavy that I can’t flip my legs. And almost get drowned and I can only see my friends staring at me, maybe they don’t know what to do. I was raising my hands, waving seeking their help. They are hesitant to save me because I’m taller than they are. The guide climbed up the wall and reached his hand to me. The guide stands, I think, 5’2, while I’m 5’8 In height. That’s funny right??(laugh) A taller man was helped by a not so tall man. The water was just so inviting that it ended up that way. But that was really an awesome experience(indeed!) They jumped back, but this time, I didn’t! When we head out of the cave, I just kept on laughing at myself and so as my friends. We went out the cave, half of the way, we use another way. The guide then brought us at the Lumiang burial cave. There, we saw hanging coffins stocked at the entrance of the cave, and is estimated to have 100 coffins. We again took picture for souvenir.
On our way back to the hotel, we passed by a small carenderia own by a woman, Maricel, if I could still remember her name right. a native of Cagayan de oro who married a sagadan. She chose to stay in Sagada and opened up business. Her main recipe is “pinikpikan”. Pinikpikan is a dish popular in Cordillera. It is made by beating up the main ingredients which is usually chicken (poor chickenL). But it’s worth it for the chicken, because it is a good tasting recipe.
On our way back to the hotel, we passed by a small carenderia own by a woman, Maricel, if I could still remember her name right. a native of Cagayan de oro who married a sagadan. She chose to stay in Sagada and opened up business. Her main recipe is “pinikpikan”. Pinikpikan is a dish popular in Cordillera. It is made by beating up the main ingredients which is usually chicken (poor chickenL). But it’s worth it for the chicken, because it is a good tasting recipe.
Maricel, is also very chikadora and has a high PR. We had a great time chatting with her. Then she told that she’s going to cook mushrooms for dinner and her known pinikpikan the mushroom is her another recipe. Her hubby took the black colored mushrooms that grow under the pine trees. Then we decided to go back to the hotel to have a rest and will be back for dinner.
My friend, a freelance photographer and a blogger, went back to her store ahead of me to interrogate her Maricel, about her recipes for his blogs. Then, me, I came back running. When suddenly, two big dogs was crazily chasing after me. It really frightened me, ‘cause they were so big, like a wolf, (exaggerate?) good thing the owner was there. (saved-by-the-bell?). hahahah!!
Maricel, took with her a stick. And ohhh, she don’t have an assistant yet and so she chose me to hold the wings and the legs. (She forgot that I’m a customer, but its okey though ahahahah) And then she started beating up the poor chicken and it squawk, it fight and I need to hold it tight! She told us that, It is what they call the “killing me softly”, (they should’ve sang the song while they’re beating up the almost numb chicken). After beating up the chicken, she made a fire and placed the chicken over it so its feathers will burn. She then butchered the chicken into bite size sliced. And then ready to cook.
We are her first customer to taste it that day, I was also excited to taste it, ‘cause, I helped her prepare it. She served it steaming hot on that cold night. When I started eating, It flashed back how we killed the chicken. How cruel, isn’t it?? We are talking about our activities the whole day when it drizzled. And the mushrooms were also cooked and we tasted it. When the place is getting quitter, we decided to go back to the hotel, and no more running for me this time.
Before taking a rest, I took a bath and the water was just sooo intimidating, really! Very cold like melted ice. A little scream as I poured the water over my hot body, I shivered and then done! As quick as 1,2,3. Hahahah!
In the morning, I woke up early to prepare all my staffs. We went downstairs to try their native tea leaf and breakfast from the hotel. As we checked out at the hotel, and head off to the bus stop, we saw kids eating halo-halo at that early morning, ohh! It’s normal to them anyway. While waiting for the bus to arrive, we tried their native halo-halo. They actually have their own version of it, it contains macaroni which isn’t in the usual halo-halo in Cebu (I’m a Cebuano anyway).
Another funny thing while eating, was that, the vendor told us not to throw the cup, cause they’re going to use it again, that made us laugh. But that’s not a problem. And so the bus arrived. We are going to travel again heading to our next destination.
NOTE:
***It was 2years ago when we visited the place, and that time, she told us that she is planning to develop her small carenderia and upgrade it to a restaurant, and hire assistants. And this year, that plan might have been into reality already.
That was all the experiences we had during our stay in Sagada. I hope it gave you idea of the beauty of the place, to those who haven’t been there. Plan an itinerary now and head off the place! It is indeed a place where we can unwind out of the busy street, away from noise of the busy city.
