meditations on the mountain

Lowlanders don't understand how massive a mountain is. We think we do, but actually we think that it's "just" a mountain. Highlanders KNOW that they are surrounded by the biggest objects on the planet. By accepting the fact that human beings are miniscule compared to the Supreme Being's other creations, they open themselves up to the vastness and majesty of the world. Therefore, they feel no need to change nature. They just blend in.

Sunrise at Kiltepan.

My favorite rice terraces at Ab-ab.

feeling masferré

Eduardo Masferré was a Filipino photographer who died in 1995. His book, People Of The Philippine Cordillera-- Photographs 1934-1956, serves as an important record of the lifestyle of the tribes of the Cordillera region in the mid-20th century. A true son of Sagada, he was able to go where outsiders weren't welcome, and his beautifully stark black and white prints show us a world created and populated by the true Filipino-- the indigenous people who carved out a living from these mountains, untouched by Western influences.

This is my little tribute. Of course, I'm not worthy to even wipe the dirt off Masferré's sandals, but sometimes, when the subject matter is exceptionally gorgeous, my photos turn out alright.

ode to joy

As I'm sorting through my pictures of our drive through the Mountain Province, I can hear Beethoven's "Ode To Joy" playing in the background.

12 June 2011. Feast your eyes, friends.

up close and personal

Even though our objective was really Sagada, I have to say that I like Banaue. Rather, I like the people of Banaue. They're such characters.

Here's Kuya Jun, who was our constant companion for three days. He took care of us, and by that I mean that he made sure we were comfortable and happy the whole time we were with him.

Jun Pitpitunge and his chariot. A proud Ifugao man surveys his kingdom.

long and winding road

Sorry for jumping around like this, but I still have some photos that I want to post from our Cordillera trip in June. To my one and only reader, please don't be confused. These pictures are from BEFORE Legazpi/ Misibis. To continue the story...

Did I happen to mention that we had freakishly pleasant weather the whole time we were in the Cordilleras?

After breakfast at People's Restaurant, our driver and guide Kuya Jun drove us through what seemed like an endless, bone-jarring journey following a half-paved one-lane road that led to our first must-see rice terraces. The views were utterly breathtaking. Little did we know that this was just a teaser of the even longer, and even more picturesque, drive up and down entire mountains (Not some puny little hills, OK? Mountains!) to Sagada later that day.

freedom at 1100 meters asl

There are two routes to Sagada. Because I had never seen the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces, we decided to go via Banaue instead of Baguio, and apparently, it is the shorter way. Our Florida Bus left Manila promptly at 10:45PM on 11 June 2011, Saturday. Ticket price was PHP500 per person one-way. Although our bus wasn't a sleeper, it had a toilet. That was good enough for me.

There were three or four rest stops. I was conscious for only the first one. The rest of the trip I conked out. When I finally opened my eyes, it was a little after 8AM on Sunday morning and we were in the mountains.

First, some breakfast.