I only knew Sagada from the vivid tales my friends have told me and from the articles/blogs of people who went there and got fresh and authentic experiences of this mountain-top civilization. Because of these enticing stories, I myself got interested and want to experience Sagada one day. Actually I wrote Sagada Tour on my prayer notebook as one of my 2014 prayer items. By God's grace, it became an answered prayer this year.
Muntik nang hindi matuloy ang Sagada summer outing ng Dgroup ko for this month. By the way, Dgroup means Discipleship Group sa church ko sa Christ Commission Fellowship or CCF. We are six girls all set and ready for Sagada tour on March 20-22, 2015 but because of the pretty tight work schedule and tons of workload nang ibang Dgroup members, we postponed the actual departure date which was 9pm of March 19, 2015. Some of the Dgroup ladies were bit disappointed for the sudden change of trip itinerary. By God's grace, we were able to proceed with this trip pa rin and left Manila for Sagada on Friday night (March 20, 2015). The 3D and 2N Sagada Tour with Baguio side-trip became 2D-1N nalang. For me it's no big deal. Ang importante natuloy ang trip.
It was a long travel by land. Thank God the road isn't bumpy just zig-zaggy. We left at night and reach Banaue early morning. You know you're in Mt.Province already when you started to feel the air getting colder and colder. And the roads getting steeper and steeper.
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| First in our Sagada Itinerary |
Ang lamig pala dito! Good thing I wore a long-sleeved dress. Wala pa kami breakfast when the photo above was taken. I'm kinda hungry na but all-smiles pa rin for photo's sake. Hahaha! From Banaue, few more hours pa before you reach Sagada. Puro rice terraces at kabundukan ang nasilayan ng aking mga mata on our way to Sagada. Some of the mountains are not greenish in color (kalbo na kumbaga) while other still look greenish. We had a stop over at Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoint. After witnessing the breathtaking view of the Rice Terraces, kumain na kami ng breakfast.
Sa wakas narating din namin ang Sagada. Thank God for the safe and sound travel. Nadaanan pala namin yung area kung saan nahulog yung bus na sinasakyan ni Tado. Grabe, ang taas at himala nalang kung mabubuhay ka pa after mo mahulog sa bangin na yun. Nagpahinga kami ng konte sa Sagada Home Stay (our accommodation for one night) then nag lunch. Nagbihis. Then ready na ulit for Sumaguing Cave. Nakakapagod ang bumaba sa malalim na kweba. Madilim ito at maraming paniki sa itaas. You will know it's paniki dahil sa huni nito at dahil na rin sa amoy nito. May mga tumutulong tubig na parehong malamig at mainit. Yung malamig malamang some kind of mineral na tumutulo from the cave walls at yung mainit naman, baka ano na yun ng paniki. Haha! The cave is dark so tour guides used traditional gas lamp called Petromax. May ganong ilaw kami noong bata pa ako at nakatira pa sa Sibuyan Island, Romblon. Nakalakihan ko yung ganong ilawan. Kaya nung makita ko na dala ng tour guide bigla kong na miss yung previous life in the province. Simple. Tahimik. Panatag. Masaya,
Umabot din ng 2-3 oras yung cave exploration namin. Malamig yung bato at tubig sa bottom nung cave. Some of the girls in our group ay bumaba pa hanggang dun sa may tubig na part ng cave. But I stayed sa isang area na pwede ako makaupo. My leg muscles are already stretch out like a rubber band. At dahil icy-cold ang tubig, nag decide ako na wag na lumusong dahil for sure sasakit kinagabihan ang mga paa ko kasi malalamigan ito. Hingal mode ang peg ko pag akyat pabalik sa entrance ng kweba. Pero mas mabilis ang move namin pabalik/paakyat kesa yung pababa palang kami ng Sumaguing Cave. On the surface of the cave, is a wild fire na three days burning na. Malawak na ang nakain ng apoy. Kusa lang naman daw ito namamatay pag naubos na ang mga tuyong damo. Kung paano nagsimula ang apoy, hindi ito masagot ng mga locals.
After Sumaguing Cave, we went to Lumiang/Burial Cave. Sorry hindi ko na picturan hehe. Na-focus kasi ako dun sa mga wood coffins na around 400 years old na daw as per our tour guide. Humanga ako sa effort nang mga tao naglagay nung mga wood coffins at the top of the cave. Hindi kasi ito madaling akyatin at konting pagkakamali lang mahuhulog ka sa mala-bottomless pit na hukay. Madilim ito and no one knows what awaits you at the bottom of the pit. Scaryyyy...
After Burial cave, we proceed to the Hanging Coffins and Echo Valley. Dito nakapag picture ako. Hahaha! Dumaan kami sa sementeryo on our way to Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins. There lies one of the SAF's Fallen 44. Siya yung may pinaka magandang graveyard landscape.Refreshing ang area facing the Echo Valley. Since I'm tired already, hindi ko na na-keri ang bumaba pa para marating ang Hanging Coffins. Pero makikita naman ito sa view deck.
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| Tired but happy |
We checked out from the homestay around 5am for Kiltepan Sunrise viewing then proceed na sa Baguio side trip. Unfortunately, cloudy ang weather when we reached Kiltepan point. So no sunrise to watch. Nagdecide nalang ang tour guide na mag proceed sa biyahe. We stopped at the Highest Point.
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| Swaggy and Foggy |
Nag lunch kami sa Good Taste. Affordable ang food pero masarap. After lunch, nag window shopping kami sa mga Ukay-Ukay stores. Ang gaganda ng mga items pero may kamahalan. So wala kong nabili. hehe. We did some strolling at Burnham Park then sumakaya na ng van dahil gusto na namin umuwi ng Manila. Some of us have work on Monday so we need to be in Manila before 9pm. By God's grace, we made it smoothly and safely.
All in all, I can tell na nag enjoy ako sa Sagada Tour na ito. Daming pagod pero okay lang, part ng trip yun. If you'll ask if babalik ako ng Sagada? Hmmm mukhang hindi na. Pero Baguio? Oo. May gusto pa akong puntahan at bilhin. hehe.
Should you wish to see and experience Sagada and Baguio. Just contact our tour provider:
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