READ MORE: My Ifugao Diary on Hungduan
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| Magat Dam |
It
was a spur of the moment thing. My travel down south was cancelled and I have 4
days of vacation leave to spend. With an itinerary I made a few months back, I
traveled far north with my brother and his girlfriend. I was feeling
frustrated and down, and I think, seeing rice terraces would lift my spirit
up. We reached the town late in the afternoon after 16 hours of travel. We took
the long road of Santiago all the way up to Aguinaldo to reach Mayoyao.
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| Scenery at Isabela Province |
It was a boring bus ride from Santiago to Mayoyao. We rode the Mayoyao Bus Line. Good thing, the scenery was quite a view and so picture perfect. We met a couple of persons during the ride and one of them assured us that it was going to be worth it.
Mayoyao is a hidden paradise in the Cordillera mountains. It is 1500 meters above sea level and a fourth class municipality of the Ifugao province. According to history, The Battle of Mayoyao took place at Mt. Nagchajan between the Japanese Imperial soldiers and the Filipinos with the help of the American Soldiers which resulted to the surrender of Gen. Yamashita at Kiangan, Ifugao.
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| The view from the winding road of Aguinaldo, Ifugao. |
That afternoon, we met our friendly local guide, Leandro. He is working at the Municipal office and we were lucky that he doesn't work on weekends. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the key to the Municipal Museum, so we cannot go there to see the history of Mayoyao. Our travel was unplanned and I wasn't able to notify kuya Leandro in advance that we were coming, plus that fact that I didn't know his number to begin with. We agreed that we will start our sight-seeing activities tomorrow morning since it was already late in the afternoon and it usually rains during this time. It was a hot summer on May, but the rice field was luscious green because of the afternoon rain that helps the irrigation system of the municipality.
Early the following morning, we got ready to do our first hand experience of the rice terraces on one's point of view and to set foot on the paddies of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the olden days, invaders from other tribes would set fire on one house from another. Since the Ifugao houses in Mayoyao are scattered, it warns other families of intruders. When I see the houses now from afar, I can only think of a resort with the monotone roof and betel nut trees beside the houses. We spent the whole morning walking through the rice field.
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| The Rice Terraces of Mayoyao |
I
am fascinated by the Philippines' rice terraces. It is amazing how our ancestors made all these with their very
own hands. Stone wall or mud wall, still a mystery to me.
After we ate our hearty lunch, steamed rice and Chicken Adobo, cooked by kuya Leandro's wife, we went straight to Tenogtog Falls. According to him, the men of the tribe would gather on that falls after hunting and they would chop the animals and give to everyone who participated. It was an hour trek from the jump off. Along the trail, you can see the 10th highest mountain in the Philippines, Mt. Amuyao. It was an easy hike along the mossy greens and passing through a bridge on a beautiful river. Then, we drove along the viewpoints where one can find the facets of the beautiful rice terraces of Mayoyao.
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| Tenogtog Falls |
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| Ifugao houses in the middle of the rice terraces. |
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| The ruins once an arsenal during the Japanese era. |
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| Greetings from Mayaoyao!!! Love, Joyce and Eli <3 |
Getting there:
1. You may try our IT. We boarded 'Santiago' at Victory Liner Bus in East Avenue. From Santiago, we took Mayoyao Bus Line and passed by Aguinaldo all the way up to Mayoyao.
2. From Sampaloc, Manila, take the Ohayami Bus all the way to Banaue. Then, charter a jeep to Mayoyao.
3. From Solano, ride a a Mayoyao mini bus all the way to Mayoyao passing Lagawe and Banaue.
Where to stay:
We stayed at Helen's Lodge owned by Ms. Rose (+639061410715) which can be found a few steps down the street where the novelty shop of kuya Leandro at the town proper is located. It is a nice, clean, and decent place to stay for an affordable price of Php 250/pax. Inside the compound is a restored authentic Ifugao house and a variety store. You may opt to ask kuya Leandro for other place to stay. According to him, the people of Mayoyao are still apprehensive of 'homestay' arrangements especially those houses in the middle of the rice terraces.
Getting around:
A nice walk during the rice terraces trip, but you may also charter a tricycle to drive you around the viewpoints.
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