Sagada Take 2

They say an experience is lovelier the second time around. Agreed.

My second Sagada experience was through a 3-day leadership training by the Youth Alliance Philippines up there in the mountains. We went there not as delegates but as marshals to aid the trainers. Our thesis adviser, Ma'am D, required asked me and my thesis partners to go with them since they could really use some help.

We were 7 in the group, my thesis partner Visha, Jen, Ate Einj, Ate Roma, Ma'am Dazzie and a teacher from Sagada. We could've joined in the first seminar held in Ifugao few weeks back but then J and I had an exam that coincided with the date of the trip.

Going to Sagada this time was more exciting for me because you see, the first time I went there, terrible things happened –we didn't really had the chance to explore the place because of the typhoon and we were even stranded for a day. I knew for sure that my second trip would be awesome, even if we weren't really there as tourists.

Day 1

We took the 6 a.m. trip of Lizardo Trans (located at the terminal at the back of Centermall Baguio). I was seated by the window next to the teacher from Sagada (I'm really bad at remembering names). The weather is fair so I was able to enjoy the scenery along the way which I didn't have the chance to see last time (because I was seated in the middle part). Plus we have a tour guide, Ma'am Dazzie who shares interesting stuff about the things we passed by. She had been to the place several times before.

We arrived in Sagada at around 1 p.m. We went to the venue of the seminar right away where we were introduced to the students we'll be working with and school administrators and were oriented about what we're going to do. We had lunch at the school canteen and then later started with the seminar.

After the first leg of the training, later that afternoon, we (except the teacher) went to the school principal's house where we would stay for the duration of the seminar. The house, a typical Sagada house (exterior is covered with galvanized iron so the pine woods in the interior wouldn't be damaged by moist), is located somewhere at the upper parts of Poblacion. It's big and beautiful and fully furnished. We're so lucky to be staying at a real house (with hot and cold shower on the bathrooms) and to have a wonderful foster family! :D They let us stay in one big room, I think it was the principal's daughters' room. 

We had a sumptuous dinner over intellectual discussion about various topics. Upon serving of the meals: veggie salad, grilled fish and fried chicken, we all ate like construction workers. Well, the food is really good, aside from the fact that we are famished.

Day 2

The next day, we went for an early morning walk to the church and to Echo Valley where we just had to do a reenactment of that scene from Meteor Shower (San Cai shouting Da Ming Zse's name) and of course that pancit canton commercial. :D It was market day in Poblacion so we were able to buy some stuff. We bought a banana cake from the cooperative store, which we instantly ate. It was muy delicioso! We would've preferred to roam around some more but we had to move on with the seminar, this time with more student representatives from other high schools in town.

I immensely enjoyed all the activities that day, especially the part where the delegates shared their drawings the lesser popular but beautiful spots in Sagada. There really is so much to be explored in this town.

Later that day, Ma'am Dazzie had to leave for Baguio and we were left in the care of Ate Einj who took over as head of the seminar team.

In the afternoon, when we were done for the day, we went home to freshen up and then went down and roamed around Poblacion. It was there where I urged them that we go to Yoghurt House. Finally, I got a taste of that infamous yogurt! Indeed it is a place one shouldn't miss when in Sagada. The yogurt is so yummy! Although Jen and I weren't able to consume ours. They give huge servings, one order is enough for two people. We just took our yogurt out. I asked them to try the pies at Lemon Pie House but after walking few meters, we grew impatient and decided to return home for dinner.

Diner time is something that we really look forward to. Our foster parent's kasambahays cook really really good food we didn't bother to eat out (aside from the fact that we don't have much money to spare). Take note the veggies we eat are from their own backyard. Fresh veggies really taste differently. At one meal, we were served with a stir-fry something. It was delicious and nobody remembered to ask what the vegetable was. We only realized it was bell pepper when we're almost done eating!

Day 3

The third day was the last day of the training, thus the most heartbreaking moment where we had to say goodbye to the participants. I really had fun during the seminar and regretted not making it to the Ifugao trip.

Day 4

The next morning, we were still sleeping when the principal knocked in and told us that the tour guide is already waiting for us. This was our last day and we were rewarded by Ma'am Dazzie with a tour just before we leave.

We immediately prepared, had a quick breakfast and then headed off to meet the guide. Our tour guide is the brother of the teacher we were with in YAP. We had no idea if the tour's free, nobody informed us about the arrangement. Ma'am Dazzie just informed us we'll be toured around the place before we go home.

I wanted to go to the Big Falls but then we were told it will be a long travel and a half day won't be enough, so we just had to settle with caving since the three had never been to Sumaguing before.

Unlike my first trip to Sagada, this time, we just walked to Sumaguing. I imagined it to be near since it was just a 15-20 minute ride but I was wrong. Good thing our long walk was not boring because from time to time, our guide shares interesting facts about Sagada and the things we passed by such as the reason behind their tradition of hanging their dead in the mountains. According to him, burying the dead under the Earth will only give the dead a burden. “They shouldn't carry the Earth, let the earth carry them,” he says. At one point, he asked, “Do you want to see Sagada's golf course?” We were so eager to go nearer the cliff just to be greeted by a vast farmland. :D It was a nice background for picture taking though.

I didn't want to enter the cave anymore but I had no choice since I was the only one among us who've been there. Being the “strongest link”, I was on the tail. It was almost the same experience as my first except that we're only four in the group and that this time, I was no longer afraid to cross that deep hole. (insert banana_ninja icon) It was still early when we went out so we decided to see one more spot. If we couldn't go to Bomod-ok, we asked to be accompanies to a more accessible water adventure. We walked our way to Small Falls and along the way, we passed by the Lemon Pie House. We bought two boxes and ate while walking.

Now this is the real adventure part. From Sumaguing we returned to Poblacion and then walked further, passed by the houses, and then down to the fields, where there is no single sign of waterfalls. J fell on an irrigation. Good thing she's tall, enough for her feet to reach the ground while she held on to the edge of the dike preventing her to fall. Aside from few scratches, Jen wasn't seriously injured. I swear we already wanted to go back as we can't see/hear any trace of waterfalls in the fields. I was wondering where this falls could be hiding behind the seemingly miles and miles of fields at sight.

When finally, we heard water rustling somewhere in the nearby mountains, signaling the end of our hike. Upon seeing water coming down from the mountains, all the weariness melted away. Small Falls is relatively small compared to the usual falls you see when you pass by the Cordillera mountains. The water coming from the mountains travels down at approximately 15 feet and then gathers into a round pool at the bottom. You really don't expect to see such work of nature in the mountains before the vast rice fields. Locals and some tourists were swimming and playing by the pool but we were warned that the pool is deep. I saw a bottle of coke floating in a shallow part. Apparently, they were letting it be cooled before drinking.

It was noon and soaking in the water only means refreshing. I suited myself in the shallow parts and enjoyed the sun as I couldn't swim. After less than an hour, we had to go back to catch the last trip to Baguio.

On our way back, we took the alternate trail, up to the mountains and then down to the concrete road to Poblacion. We were lucky to get hitched by a police patrol car otherwise we wouldn't make it to the 1 p.m. trip. We had another option of taking a bus going to Bontoc where there are more bus trips to Baguio, luckily, we got seats at Lizardo Trans. We were seated uncomfortably but we still managed to sleep off most of the trip down to the city. 

Pagod. But I can say I have enjoyed Sagada more this time. The scenery. The long and winding road. The towering pine trees. The thick fog. The tranquility. The peacefulness. The freshest air. The people. The warm acceptance. The unique culture. The adventures. The food, oh the food! Everything else that only the place nearest the sky could offer.