Soaring to Sagada: Banaue-Bontoc-Sagada Trip

The uphill climbs, the winding roads, the exhilarating rides and the long hours on the road appeared like clinchers of this out-of-the-blue trip but the sceneries that welcomed us at the top resonated like a new civilization waiting to be embraced by every weary traveler. This is another tale of a travel under a shoestring budget.

Early morning, we were welcomed by the cold weather of Banaue. The smiles of excitement won't give you a hint that we just completed bundles of reports including students' grades the day before our flight to Manila. 

 I could sort this trip as a spur-of-the-moment journey of a group of colleagues who wanted to get out of their common shell. Since it was a group trip, we managed to get an affordable four days and three nights Tour Package which included a transport van for the entire duration of the tour and homey accommodations at Sagada and Baguio City. Thanks Kuya Vic of Victor Ticyado Van Rentals and Package Tours.  

Arriving from Cebu, we headed to SM Mall of Asia where we were picked up for our departure for Sagada at 10:00 PM. Making a couple of stopovers to stretch and freshen up, we reached Banaue, Ifugao around 8:00 AM which was just perfect time for breakfast at one of the hostels at the foot of Banaue Rice Terraces. Immediately after breakfast, we set our crazy feet to the viewpoint of Banaue Rice Terraces.  

The Banaue Rice Terraces in Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines still leaves your mind in awe imagining how the Ifugao tribe engineered these layers or rice fields thousands of year ago. 

Tribal Fight. At the view deck of Banaue Rice Terraces, you will see "lolo" who is wearing the traditional Ifugao costume. He's always up for some photo op and he can always act it out.

 Around 12 noon of the same day, we reached Bontoc which is the capital town of Mountain Province. We stopped by Bontoc Museum where unique collections of Igorot crafts and historical items are kept. The museum also  displays pictures of tribal headhunting expeditions and remains including jaw bones which were used as handles of their gongs, drums and other musical instruments. These bones are believed to improve the sound of the instrument. After our museum visit, I wanted to indulge with their local food. I felt like trying Pinikpikan, a dish popular in the region which is prepared by beating a live chicken with a stick prior to cooking but it wasn’t available so I tried Etag. Also known as the Igorot smoked meat, Etag is prepared by rigorously rubbing salt to the meat before curing it under the heat of the sun. Etag is also a staple ingredient which adds flavor to the Pinikpikan. 

The Bontoc Museum in Bontoc, Mountain Province is a replica of the traditional house of the people in the region. 

  

From Bomtoc to Sagada, we passed by this village. I forgot the name of this place so please comment below if you know.  

 We arrived in Sagada late in the afternoon already but that didn’t stop us from pushing through with our itinerary. There’s so much to do in Sagada that resting in your hotel won’t be a nice idea for a two-day trip. The group was up at an exhilarating caving adventure at Sumaguing Cave which, for me, one of the bests so far in the country. The entire Cave Connection Adventure lasted for almost three hours not because of the level of difficulty as you do spelunking, climbing and trekking but because of the magnificent stone formations housed in the cave that one can’t just proceed without taking photos. In case you would like to experience such kind of adventure, make sure to drop by at the tourism office to pay for the dues like environmental fee, entrance fee and guide fee before proceeding to the cave.

 

At the entrance of Sumaguing Cave. This cave has a very big opening so it's not so much of a problem for those who are claustrophobic depending on the degree of the phobia though. The way going down to the cave is slippery so wearing proper gear is a must.   

The locals give names to various rock formations inside the cave. There is an area inside that they call "PORN" for some reason. The rock formation in this picture is one of those formations located in the area.   

We were suppose to spend our night at Lake Danum for we were hoping to camp and experience the sunset of the place but time did not allow us anymore as it was already dark when we got out from the cave. Instead of camping at Lake Danum, we strolled around the area where our hostel was and we found a cozy place  at the Yogurt House. The ambiance of the place fits with the Sagada atmosphere and they serve really great yogurt.    

 

Dinner at Sagada Yogurt House

Camote Fries at Sagada Yogurt House

Our second day in Sagada was full-packed. We started the day with sunrise viewing at Kiltepan Peak. I wanted to have a remake of the scene by Angelica Panganiban and JM de Guzman in the movie “This Thing Called Tadhana” but all I could manage to do was a selfie and spare me the details of that. J Nevertheless, the view at Kiltepan Peak makes you feel that you are at Cloud 9. 

 

Sunrise at Kiltepan Peak

Sea of Clouds at Kiltepan Peak

After Kiltepan Peak, we dropped by  at Rock Inn and Orange Farm for orange picking. Sagada orange is pretty expensive for me so instead of picking more oranges to bring , I took advantage of the unlimited oranges that you can eat while in the farm which comes with the entrance fee.

Orange picking at Saga Rock Inn and Orange Farm

Continuing the series of exciting activities for the day, we headed to our next destination immediately after breakfast. Our service van brought us to the jump off to Bomod-ok Falls. It took us almost two hours or more of trek going to Bomod-ok falls but despite the long hike wasn’t boring at all as you pass by fascinating views and local villages which gives you views of both natural landscapes and local cultures.   

After our trek to Bomod-ok Falls, I tried rock climbing at the Echo Valley while my travel companions were still with our guide at the Hanging Coffins. I wasn’t successful at reaching the top though. Since it was November 1, it was a perfect timing to watch the Panag-apoy after at the Anglican Cemetery.

 

Rock Climbing at Echo Valley 

The Hanging Coffins at Sagada. Local tribes used to hang the coffins of their departed loved ones. According to our local guide, some tribes are still practicing this until now. I asked our guide why there were chairs hanged and he said that these chairs were the ones used during the wake because some tribes usually have the dead corpse sit.   

It has always been a challenge for the people in Sagada to light candles in memory of their lost loved ones. The windy weather in this highland town would just blow the candles off. Instead of lighting candles, they burn woods to commemorate their loved ones who passed away.

We ended the day with a good rest by strolling at nearby places as we had to leave early the following day for Baguio City where another set of experience awaits.

Before leaving our hostel in Sagada

The Highest Point of the Philippines Highway System. We stopped by the landmark on our way to Baguio City. 

BPI Opens Biggest Yet Search for Kids of OFWs on its 160th Year

After the successful search for outstanding Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the Bank of Philippine Islands opens biggest yet search for kids of OFWs. Here's the press release from Brand Speak Asia's Media Relations Department as forwarded by Marist Nagera.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) calls on children of Overseas Filipinos (OF) to join the country’s biggest yet search for Expat Pinoy Children, the 2011 Search for the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children. This year, BPI brings a bigger and wider search for exemplary OF children as it celebrates its 160th anniversary celebration.

Now on its 5th year, the Search for Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy children will award students with exceptional achievements in academic and non-academic fields for the Ibang Klaseng Talino, Ibang Klaseng Community Leader, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur, and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete categories.

“BPI’s annual search for outstanding Expat Pinoy children reflects our continued thrust to support and help the country build a stronger nation through the empowerment of our country’s modern day heroes, our overseas Filipino workers, ,” says Teresita B. Tan, Executive Vice President and Group Head of Overseas Banking and Channel Services Group of BPI.

First introduced in 2007, BPI’s Search for the Ten Outstanding Expat Pinoy Children empowers the youth and their OFW parents by recognizing their significant contributions in the country as model families and modern day heroes of today’s generation.

This nationwide Search is open to college students not more than 21 years old, with no failing grade and with a parent holding a current work contract abroad. To join, applicants must submit an essay titled “What is the strongest characteristic that you have which you think is unique to an OF Son/Daughter that you believe is beneficial to change the community around you?” or alternatively “Ano sa palagay mo ang natatangi mong katangian bilang anak ng isang Overseas Filipino Worker na makatutulong sa pagpapaunlad ng iyong pamayanan?” in either English or Filipino with at least 1,500 to maximum of 2,000 words. The applicants are judged by a screening committee based on their academic excellence, community contribution, and other non-academic talents or skills such as sports, music, or arts. Seven (7) students will be awarded with the Ibang Klaseng Talino award and three (3) students will be given the Ibang Klaseng Community Leader, Ibang Klaseng Entrepreneur, and Ibang Klaseng Artist/Athlete awards. Application period is until August 15, 2011.

Promo details and application forms are available at http://www.bpiexpressonline.com/.

BPInoy Opens Nomination for Biggest Yet Search for Outstanding Pinoys Abroad

Do you know an exceptional overseas Pinoy? The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) now opens the nomination for outstanding overseas Filipinos (OFs) for the 6th BPInoy Awards, an annual recognition for Pinoy achievers in the global platform and the biggest one yet to happen in its history as BPI celebrates its 160^th year this 2011.

This year’s awardees will be joining the roster of past BPInoy Awardees such as White House executive chef Ms. Cristeta Pasia-Comerford, BBC news presenter Rico Hizon, internationally-acclaimed fashion designers Monique Lhuillier and Josie Natori, and world acclaimed Lea Salonga and International signing sensation Charice Pempengco.

“We commend the Filipinos who take risks in a far away country wearing his distinct nationalism as his pride and honor. In turn, they become global achievers and continue to bring pride to the country with their achievements. Through the BPInoy Awards, we recognize these Filipinos, our country’s pride and modern heroes that today’s youth can also look up to,” says Teresita Tan, BPI EVP and Group Head of Overseas Banking and Channel Services Group.

Individuals of Filipino heritage, regardless of current citizenship, and of good moral character, may be nominated for their outstanding achievements as long as they have lived and or worked overseas. All nominees will be evaluated by the BPInoy Awards Steering Committee based on criteria that include top-of-mind awareness and societal impact of achievements, among others.  Two awardees will be chosen for the Arts and Media or Sports Category and Business or Science and Technology Category.

Nominations may be made by any Filipino individual or organization based locally or internationally, by sending a short article about the nominee, specifically on his/her accomplishments that have brought honor and pride to the country which answers the questions:

·         Why does the nominee deserve recognition as a BPInoy Awardee?

·         How have the nominee’s efforts made a difference for the betterment of the Overseas Filipino community abroad?

·         Is there anything else that makes the nominee exceptional or unique?

Entries must be submitted on or before May15, 2011 to bpinoyawards@bpi.com.ph addressed to Ms. Athena G. Balleza, Marketing Department, Overseas Segment Division, BPI.

For more information about the BPInoy Awards, log on to www.bpiexpressonline.com

From the sides of the world to the Pinoy Expats/OFWs Blog Awards 2010

It’s been more than a month already since I scribbled a post for this blog. It’s not that I had nothing to write about or I had no time to do it. Shaking off a topic to write is such an understatement as my euphoric wits and spirits normally make sense of anything and everything in between – even the things not worth thinking about. The truth of the matter is, my psyche was too preoccupied with a bundle of things worth writing and again, I failed to put first things first. I did not fail to think but I failed to do.

Recently, I had thoughts of writing about my recent experiences in my new job as I went in contact with our client’s customers. They were really overwhelming that I thought I should not mind writing about it anymore for they would only cause misery in my mind. But before that, I wanted to write about the glorious and gentle victory of Manny Pacquiao in his recent bout with Margarito but I thought it’s been the talk of the town and my additional comments would only be a cliché.

The boycotting of the Philippine government to this year’s Nobel Peace Prize Award in Norway as a gesture of support to the Chinese government also caught my attention. However, I wanted to spare myself from the issue although I would not deny that I was dismayed for such decision of the Aquino administration. Whatever their reason is, the mean would never justify the end and vice versa.

With all the happenings in the world, what was very frustrating was the fact that there were lots of children who became victims of the transgressions of the adults. The recent celebration on the awareness of violence against children which hopefully opened the eyes of every waking man was a great reminder. I hope that we did not just change our profile pictures for the sake of doing it but we would also live with the essence of doing it. With that, all I hope is we could hand this world out to the next generations for them to enjoy and not to suffer. That one day, birth would still be a joy of humanity and not a pain that every newborn would have to endure.

In the brighter side of the world, beyond those happenings, I was so glad that I was invited to judge this year’s entries for the Pinoy Expats/OFWs Blog Awards wherein I had to rate each blog and pick my top ten from the nominees under the Supporters Category. This category is intended for Philippines-based bloggers who have affinity with Overseas Filipino Workers. Some of them have family members working abroad and so you know how heartwarming their stories are. As former Overseas Filipino Worker, I experienced the difficulty of working and living abroad and as I read the blog of these people who have loved ones working in the other country, I realized that there’s always another side of the story. The pain that they have been going through thinking of the sacrifices of their loved ones abroad has never been easy. With our attention directed to those Filipinos working abroad, we failed to see the even sacrifices of their loved ones left here.

It’s never been easy to rank those blogs as I had to toggle my mind from one school of thought to another. Although it placed some pressure in my part, I also had a great time reading and learning from the posts of the nominees. Eight of my top ten picks made it and some of them were adjudged as the best blog in different regions. Indeed, a very good book can be published out of the heartwarming stories I read which never failed to inspire. The winners were announced last night at the Teatrino Promenade in San Juan City, Manila.

My salute to the organizers, nominees and all the other people who did their part for such endeavor. Although I was not able to attend the awarding ceremony and rub elbows with the dedicated people behind PEBA 2010, I know the event was a huge success. Congratulations everyone!

 The full result can be found here. 

Diaz: Cebuanos could hardly speak English and Tagalog

"When you think about a Cebuana can hardly speak English and, of course, Tagalog so maybe she should answer in Bisaya." That was the comment of former Miss Universe Gloria Diaz which stirred negative reactions from most of the Cebuanos and even prompted some Cebuano lawmakers to draft a resolution condemning such banter from the former beauty queen and declaring her as persona non grata or an unwelcome person in Cebu. Such remark was given by Diaz when asked about her comments on having an interpreter for Filipina beauty queens joining in international beauty tilts. This was after the major major answer of the Philippine representative to Miss Universe 2010 Maria Venus Raj who landed fourth runner-up in the competition.

Instead of apologizing, Diaz went on defending herself against the rants on her belittling statement against the Cebuanos' ability to speak English. She said that such interview has been edited and that some statements were omitted and that she was only misunderstood. 

Looking at how Diaz reacted on a Cebu Solon's demand for public apology, it could be said that Diaz even gave another accusation that Cebuanos are not only incapable of speaking English or Tagalog but in understanding the language as well. In my own point of view, Diaz was not misunderstood. Her statement was very clear and it's unquestionable that she ignited the undying issue of racism in the Philippines where some ethno-linguistic groups are being stereotyped as low-class individuals especially in their ability to speak another language like English. What is being misunderstood in the statement "A Cebuana could hardly speak English and Tagalog"? Yes, it might not be her intention to discriminate the Cebuanas' ability to speak English and Tagalog but the statement itself is a clear form of discrimination. 

If a public figure like Gloria Diaz, a supposed to be advocate of beauty for unity, could arrogantly pose such ugly statement against ethnic groups in the Philippines and would even deny simple gesture of apology to the anguish Cebuanos, then how can we expect a greater scale of national peace and reconciliation? We all need to understand our cultural differences as a country and that involves understanding the different linguistic features of our spoken dialects. Not because there are Cebuanas who could hardly speak English or speak English with a very distinct variation, then Cebuanas would be stereotyped as incapable of speaking good English.  Diaz has just polarized an issue which we supposed to work on for convergent perceptions towards national progress and unity.

Ms. Gloria Diaz, I believe, was not misunderstood by the Cebuanos. In way, I would have believed her if she said that she improperly conveyed her message  of making everyone realize that each one has to speak in language he/she is comfortable with. And considering that such interview was meant to address a "gaffe" which happened in the recent Miss Universe, no one could avoid that citing Cebuanos as examples could be associated to some gaffes Cebuanos commit while speaking English which is a phony stereotype.   

Adults should also learn from kids

As adults, we need to understand that we used to live in a generation which is so different from the present generation. Children of today might not act the way we acted before and so instead of getting frustrated on how the societal landscape has changed and how the knowledge society has corrupted the minds of the younger generations, we could take some of our time contemplating on what are those things that we could learn from the new breeds. We could learn from the new generation as much as we could teach them about our own generation.  

We need to accept the fact that change is the only permanent thing in this world and that we need to go with the flow in order to keep ourselves in tune. We could not turn our children into the ideal kind of individuals our society used to have or is having but we need to make them realize that they could be better citizens and that they could create a better community. Recently, a friend of mine who is a father of two wonderful kids, mentioned that what we need to do as adults is do our best to provide a safe environment for our children while we let them explore and become independent. His words are very true and I am not wondering why he got two growing children who would hopefully help make this world a better place.

The following video from a TED Talk by child prodigy Adora Svitak has so many things to tell that I am sure many adults could learn. This video is a must-watch for parents, teachers and all adults especially those who are working with children.  

How Much Sacrifice Can We Offer?

Of all the problems that we have been facing in our country, I am still very hopeful that the Philippines will still shine upon the earth to claim once more its glory as progressive country.

The election is coming and, once more, we would exercise one of our essential rights as Filipino citizens -- our right to vote. How much are we willing to sacrifice to ensure that the Philippines would have a brighter future? How much are we willing to sacrifice for the future generation?

Like the child in the video below, let's do our share in rising our flag as we journey through the change which we have been longing for. Let the change start in ourselves. It's not a matter of you, he, she, or we. It's a matter of "I". Let's all acknowledge our responsibilities for our country because we are the hope that we have been talking about.

The Power of Media

The Mass Media has been proven to be a very powerful tool which could transform simple thoughts into different actions and reactions. The latest advertisement of Thai Life Insurance Company which has been recently aired in Thai television stations is another testimony of the tremendous impact that the Media could bring.

The advertisement features young children singing the infamous "Que Sera Sera". At first, you would only notice their smiles and their enthusiasm in singing but as the storyline would reveal, you would discern that they are not ordinary children for they actually suffer from disabilities. As the advertisement goes on, you would eventually notice the reason behind the children's happy faces despite their disabilities. You would see in the latter part of the advertisement how proud their parents are which is more than enough of a reason for the children to be happy. The parents look at their children full of admiration.

The message of the advertisement is so inspiring and for me, it has served beyond its purpose which is to promote life insurance among parents especially to women who are planning to give birth. More than conveying to the audience the importance of life insurance, Thai Life Insurance Company has also imparted an important lesson to the masses especially in judging people with disabilities.

Luckily, I found the advertisement uploaded at Youtube and I would like to share this to everyone.


And here's another thing.This song is very popular in Thailand now. It has been sung by people from different walks of life. Actually, I learned about this advertisement when I heard some of my second year students singing it in the classroom. I was so amazed when I heard them singing the song because I seldom hear them singing a classic English song and another they do understand what they are singing. This advertisement, indeed, did not just advertise a product for it also imparted values and lasting English phrases in the heart of every Thai learner. Actually, I just used this advertisement last week to remind my students our classroom rules.

Why We Need Leaders?

History itself has proven that leadership is inseparable to mankind. Since the inception of society before the dawn of civilization, leaders have been existing.

Needless to say, we are living in a very unique society where individuality is the only thing common among every people. People tend to have different attitudes, traits and characteristics due to the upbringing of the community where they live. Diversity is found in every level and every corner of the world that even the smallest of the smallest society enjoy it. Different we might be, we cannot deny the fact that this world is meant to be a world of happiness where everyone enjoys while in harmony with each other. Whether we are in Asia, Europe, South America, North America, Africa, or Australia; we are one and we should work as one. In order to do this, we need leaders who possess strong leadership attitude to guide and inspire every people in the society.

Leadership is needed in every corner of the world. Leaders are important in every organization. A world without leaders is like a ship without lighthouse. It would work yet it would be undirected and possibilities of naval accidents would be very high. In a society, a leader is equally important to the lighthouse of navigating ships. Without a leader, fight against each one’s principles and philosophies would be more rampant and misunderstanding would be more prevalent. A sound leader is needed to create a sound society and the good thing is we can all be leaders. We can all be leaders of ourselves by possessing strong leadership attitude. We can all be leaders by leading our inner self and leading others by example. We can all be leaders by taking initiative every time needed, by being proactive to every situation, by taking part in the solution and not the problem, and by taking responsibility in our actions. Everybody is meant to be leaders. Leadership is very necessary. If the jungle animals have their lion king and the colony of ants have their king and queen; how about, we, people?

What is Distributed Leadership?

Distributed leadership is a kind of leadership where every stakeholder (i.e. principal, teachers, students, parents, community) of an educational institution collaboratively work and do leadership tasks for the achievement of common and specific goal. In this form of leadership, each one's opinion towards certain matters is sought before any decision is being done. This form of leadership is democratic and delegated.

In an organization where distributed leadership is employed, it is important to view distributed leadership not only as management or a leadership technique but more than that as an attitude. It simply means considering every individual of the organization as an important source of ideas. Through this kind of leadership, respect is seen and felt in every corner of the organization. It must be understood that distributed leadership is a call for responsibility from the members of the organization. This way, important leadership tasks can be achieved while working collaboratively and examining each one’s mistake as source of ideas for development. In this kind of leadership, everybody is expected not just to become part of the solution but to the prevention itself as well.

MIRRORING THE FILIPINOS

The recent article by Chip Tsao has earned negative criticisms from Filipinos around the world. Tsao's "irresponsible journalism" is, accordingly, a blatant evidence of racial discrimination against the Filipinos.

Ever since, we all know that Filipinos are discriminated around the world but we should also know that not only Filipinos are suffering from such kind of maltreatment. There are other nationals who have experienced an even worse kind of discrimination than what the Filipinos have experienced. But why is it that most of the Filipinos tend to easily fight back those accusations? Honestly, I was late to read the article of Chip Tsao and when I read it, plenty of comments and criticisms against Chip Tsao and the Chinese community have been thrown by the Filipinos. Well, we could not blame the Filipinos because a snake once stepped would always bite.

Filipinos, as we felt bad about the negative commentaries brought by other nationals against us, haven't we realized how others felt when we subversively badmouthed and criticised others? Senator Gordon once commented that what happened in Thailand (the seizure of Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Parliament House) was due to the immaturity of Thai politics. If the senate and the house of representatives should have been criticised of being like little children in their playground fighting one another (which is very true), I am very sure that they would immediately demand for apology. That's it, we're good at pointing other people's mistakes but once our weakness is touched, we immediately demand for apology.

Many Filipinos would react when labeled as maids and country of servants but do we feel the same when we label other cultures with indecent words? We react when we hear other nationals say that the Filipino English is another variety of bad and unacceptable English but we do not even realize how we make fun of the Englishes in the world and even the local Englishes in the Philippines. It's not bad to make fun of something as long as we do not feel bad when somebody makes fun of us. Life is always give and take... and most of the times, we take what we have given. As the golden rule says, "Do unto others what you want others do unto you." so let's not feel bad if we all mean fun.