The mysticism of Sagada...

I have been going to Sagada for more than twenty times since the early 1990s. To love the place is tantamount to saying i want my ash to be scattered there, if in case my priest brothers will allow my cremation.

Sagada is a Kankanay-speaking community of Cordillerans in the Mountain Province and six to seven hours from Baguio City. It is situated 5,000 feet above sea level in a small valley just a kilometer from the watershed of the Cordillera Central of northern Luzon.

Lying just north of the main typhoon belt, it rarely suffers gale interruptions of its mild, even climate of low humidity and no frost, moderate to heavy precipitation during afternoon of a nine-month rainy season, and temperature ranging from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Sagada, the Sumaging Latipan Lomyang-Crystal cave system ranked fifth as the longest cave in the Philippines with Saint Paul topping the list. The Sagada cave system is 4,000 meters long while Saint Paul is 15,000 meters. It is also known as the deepest cave in the Philippines with a vertical range of 163 meters.

Historian William Henry Scott (whom i had the privilege to meet in Sagada in the early 90s when he was still alive)said that when a person dies, his soul does not die but becomes a spirit (anito) that then lives in the village, especially in the caves or rocky places where its former body is entombed. This spirit, he said, has the power to inflict injury, sickness or death upon the living, generally the dead person’s own descendants.Nature spirits, meanwhile, Scott said, inhabit stones, water courses and trees, and are generally beneficial or neutral, doing misfortune only to those who do physical violence to their dwelling place.

                    Other stunning destinations are Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls, Danom Lake and Weaving Shops. Trekking the nearby mountains is an ultimate experience although must be done with local guides. There are simple trails for short hikes which are leading to some picturesque summits, and can be easily done in one day, or longer for those who may want to camp out.

Nearly two decades of travelling to Sagada has given me loads of pictures to share. Thanks to facebook i am sharing a part of me to other Sagada travellers. 

Getting to Sagada by Bus

Sagada is best accessed through Baguio City, passing through La Trinidad in Benguet, to get to the highest mountain highway system in the Philippines, Halsema Road until one reaches Mountain Province, where Sagada is located.

There are hourly bus trips leaving Baguio from 6:00 a.m. with the last one leaving at 1:00 p.m. everyday.

The non-airconditioned bus trip costs about Php 250 per person (2008 rates) and it takes about 5-6 hours to get to Sagada, with two short stops for meals and personal necessities.

The bus terminal in Baguio is at the old Dangwa station. To get there one gets off at Center Mall on Magsaysay Road. Pass through the middle road to dividing both wings of the mall to reach the terminal behind it. Head for the terminal on the left side farthest from the entrance.

Sagada may also be accessed from Manila via Banaue in Ifugao province, home of the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces, passing through the eastern side of Luzon island in the Philippines, but getting there via the City of Pines is the most popular way.

Helpful Tips When Traveling to Sagada by Bus

• Buy your tickets early, especially during peak travel months of December to May. Be at the terminal at least 30 minutes prior to departure.

• Your baggage may be stowed above your seat or by your feet, wihile other luggage may be checked into the cargo compartment of the bus.

• If you find that the seats are too cramped, or that you are bringing too much luggage (as we were on our last trip in December 2008, each bringing a laptop, a packpack and camera bag), know that it is possible to buy an extra seat just for the luggage or for you to be able to stretch out and be more comfortable during the trip.

• There is a restaurant beside the terminal, so if you arrive early or if you are unable to get a seat on the next trip because the bus is full, it may be good to take breakfast or lunch before you go.

• There will be a first stop after traveling for about one hour or so in a highway restaurant where one may eat and go to the restroom. There's also a convenience store where one may buy some snacks.

• Make sure to bring or buy some snacks. The trip, although one will feast on beautiful views of the majestic mountains of the Cordillera region in the Philippines, can be pretty boring after a while, as it's "just" one beautiful scenery after another.

• After another two hours. the bus will stop once again so folks can go to the restroom.

• One good thing about riding an non-aircon bus is that you can take beautiful photos of the wonderful view of vegetable and rice terraces of Benguet and Mountain Province on Halsema, so keep your camera handy. 
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• Upon reaching Sagada, one gets off at the same waiting shed where one will wait to get on the bus back to Baguio. There is no terminal or depot where one can buy a return ticket, so just know that the return trips follow the same schedule. Just go wait for the bus by the shed when you are ready to leave.