Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Sagada for Non-Athletes


Business first. I went to visit Sagada National High School again to monitor the Smart Schools Program we installed there. I was met by the teacher-in-charge, Mr. Daluyen, and everything was going smoothly. I can see that the school really value the laboratory and they are taking very good care of it. This is a quick pic inside the school compound.
Next stop was Sumaguing Cave. Oh hoho no! Not to go spelunking. I'm not yet ready for that. I just showed to Ryan and Ella our future conquest that is the Big Cave. I plan to go back to Sagada, and this is the last barrier I must break. ;p


The way down to the Cave.


Gaongen (Bangys' brother) was our tour guide/driver/joker/photographer seen here with my sister. Nope, hehe, not matchmaking at all... well.. maybe just a little.
i call this part of the Sumaguing entrance as the Enchanted Stairs. I took a pic of it the first time. Now I made sure I'm in it.
Next stop, we went to the burial caves. To get there, we had to go down down down to a cave and heck! I almost atrophied my leg muscles on the way down and up. But the view was fantastic!

This was the easy part of the hike. You'd have to pass by narrower ledges without handrails and uneven rocks to get to the destination. My partial fear of heights kicked in (given that I was also getting tired fast and couldn't trust my body nor my balance anymore) and made it difficult for me to complete the trek...


But we got there!


There must be hundreds of coffins here. Gao told us that this tradition started when the Sagadians found the need to hide the body of their deceased because nearby tribes (bontoc and Ifugao) were keen on dismantling graves and taking skulls for decorations and souvenirs. He also pointed out that the greenish-reddish moss growing there actually grew from blood that seeped out of the bodies. Macabre, I tell you.

After the coffins, we went to the Mission Compound. This is the field in front of St. Mary's, the school where both Gao and Bang graduated from. Gao had a lot of funny stories about how the students (especially those who were detained for unruly behaviour) were the ones to cement the walkway and clean the compound up to the coffins. Gao, being one of the more infamous ones in their school, had first hand experiences on this. I think he even managed to etchhis name in cement somewhere there. :P
We also visited the Episcopalian Church of Mary. I thought it was funny how Ella wasn't sure if she should make the sign of the cross or if we could enter inside, since we were Catholics. Had to explain to her that we were all Christians anyway. I was awed by the way light streams in from the windows. I also love the glass work behind the Black Christ. Solemn and beautiful.
Front view of the Church.


Then we headed off to Campo Santo, the Sagadian cemetery. It must be one heck of a sight to see it on All Soul's Day, when the natives will light up fires 9as in camp fires) instead of candles. Gao and bang's family plot has about 7 or so graves that they'd have to cut down one tree to light up their fire. Gawin ko kaya dito sa Manila yun, sa graves ni Mummy and Daddy? Hindi kaya ako sipain palabas ng Ever Memorial?

Inside the Mission Compound, we hiked down to Echo Valley as well. Eto monumental. The hike was easy, and that's saying something when a lampa and non-athlete like me says so. But, Ella and I got a load out of shouting to Mummy and Daddy. es, it was easy to let out the pain out there. We cried and Gao ended up asking why we were making senti. When we told him, we found out that he also lost his dad three years ago due to heart attack as well.


Before we went, we had a photo opportunity with this old wheel, one of the first found in the American kalesas when they came to Sagada. We had to forego a pic at the old bell though. because we were hungry.

Asked Gao to stop a while for me to take this pic. And since I asked this while driving on a narrow road, it was a little bit disconcerting, hehehe, for him.


When Gao mentioned that we were yet to see Kiltepan Tower, we forgot our hunger. Let's go, we said. And man, the view was breathtaking. It felt like, truly, being on top of the world. ;0

You could see the Sagada Rice Terraces, the other towns, the clouds... Whew.


We had lunch in Rock Farm, but later in the afternoon, we went out again to see the sunset at Lake Danum. On the way there, we took out Yoghurt from the Yoghurt House. Institusyon!


Sunset at Lake Danum.
Di ba? Niiiice....

The day is done and both kiddies are exhausted.
But a little more optimistic about the world. We neevr wanted to leave. ;p
When are you going there?

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