BANAUE and BATAD, IFUGAO
(This trip was part of my 4-day BANAUE-SAGADA tour)
Dec. 17-21, 2015
This is the reason why Banaue is in my bucketlist.
Ifugao was formerly a part of the old Mountain Province. It was created as an independent province on June 18,1966 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4695, otherwise known as the Division Law of Mountain Province. Under this law, Mountain Province was divided into four (4) provinces namely: Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao and Mountain Province.
The name is derived from the word IPUGO. Pugo means hill while the prefix I means from. The Spaniards changed "Ipugo" to "Ipugaw" and was finally changed by the Americans to Ifugao. The Ifugaos are one of the different tribes that inhabited the old Mountain Province. Their culture and tradition, being unique and striking, have made them subject of many studies by foreign scholars. For the Ifugaos, custom is the basis of all laws. But these customs would mean nothing if these were not supported by ancestry knowledge. Among the Ifugaos, extensive pedigrees exist. They are the graphic representation that puts in evidence one of the most basic principles of the Ifugao culture. We can not but do what our ancestors told us.(Lambretch CICM 1964). |
Itinerary:
Day 0
1900 Off to Ohayami bus terminal 2100 Dinner at a nearby carinderia 2300 Departure of Bus to Banaue Day 1 0600 Arrival at Banaue 0700 Check in at Uyami's Green View Lodge 0800 Looked for a joined tour to Banaue, breakfast 0900 Assembly time at Halfway lodge 1000 Reached Batad, trekking at the rice terraces 1200 Tappiya waterfalls 1300 Trek back to Batad 1430 Late lunch 1600 Back to Banaue, freshen up, rest 1730 Explored the town, looked for cheap jacket 2000 Dinner 2200 Lights off Day 2 0800 Morning walk, breakfast 1000 Departure going to Sagada |
The view of the town from Halfway lodge.
Landmark:Well, I was able to see this in the town. I was actually navigating and finding the museum in a rainy afternoon after the tour in Batad, but unfortunately, I was not successful.
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Food:Tried the cheeseburger and pineapple shake of Greenview. The other meal is called sisiglog.
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Accommodation:For 250 php, I got this very simple and plain room. No TV, wifi, and private CR. Well, what do you expect, that's only 250php per night. Still, a decent place to rest.
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What to do in Banaue???
Of course, the first in the list is to see the rice terraces. To get there, it's either you wait for your bus or van to pass by the view deck or hire a tricycle from the town of Banaue. I think all the passenger vehicles are stopping over here whether you are going back to Banaue/Manila or if you will be going to Sagada.
Aside from visiting the viewdeck of Banaue rice terraces, it is also a must to experience the rice terraces in Batad. I did not expect that I will be able to step and walk on the rices terraces as we go to our destination which was the Tappiya waterfalls.
TIP: Before you start trekking, you must rent a stick, I called it a walking/support stick. This is very helpful in walking along the terraces. Make sure that you also have enough water and extra food.
TIP: Before you start trekking, you must rent a stick, I called it a walking/support stick. This is very helpful in walking along the terraces. Make sure that you also have enough water and extra food.
Saw some locals in Batad. I did not miss the chance of posing with them and capture that moment.
Things to remember:1. If you want to see the area full of riceplants, visit Banaue during summer time.
2. SInce we went there last December, there were no plants planted on the terraces. However, the cold weather made our travel a little comfortable. 3. There is a public jeep in Banaue that goes to Batad every morning only. 4. If you want a joined tour, do not hesitate to ask the receptionist of your lodge. 5. The lodge also offers van transportation going to Sagada. 6. The viewdeck of Banaue rice terraces is just one tricycle away from the town. Moreover, all the vans and buses going to Sagada will pass by the viewing deck of Banaue, so you will still have a chance to take pictures there. 7. You can also stay overnight in Batad, but there is no signal there. 8. As you reached Batad and before you leave for trekking, order your food already so when you come back, you will not wait long anymore.
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Expenses:Day 0
Transpo to Ohayami- 230php Bus fare- 500 php Dinner- 62php Pay cr- 10php Day 1 Breakfast- 110php Batad tour fee per head- 600php stick rental- 10php Registration fee in Batad- 50php Pay cr- 10php T-shirt souvenir- 150php Lunch and charging fee- 200php Souvenir- 140php 2nd hand jacket- 120php Dinner- 95php Dessert- 150php Day 2 Room accommodation- 250php Van to Sagada- 300php TOTAL: 2,987 php |