Mt. Province Travel Information

Location
Bounded on the north by Kalinga-Apayao, on the south by Benguet and Ifugao, on the east by Isabela and on the west by Ilocos Sur and Abra.

Brief History
Upon approval of Republic Act 4695 in June 1966, the old Mountain Provinces, the fourth largest in the country, was divided into four provinces: Mountain Province, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao and Benguet. Making up the new Mountain Province are ten municipalities: Bontoc, Besao, Bauko, Sagada, Sabangan, Barlig, Tadian, Natonin and Paracelis.

For its mountainous terrain, Spanish administrators dubbed the old Mt. Province as "La Montanosa", then composed of political and militray commandancias covering parts of the present Ifugao, Benguet, Apayao and Amburayan towns for its mountainus terrain.

The rugged mountain peaks created a built-in protection for the tribal population against Spanish colonial intrusions which came in the form of expeditions as early as 1663.

The environment worked against many colonial explorers' dreams of gold and conquest, but favorer the maintenance of a unique way of life that persists to this day.

Unknown to many, Filipino revolutionaries led by Emilio Aguinaldo, in one of history's most dramatic and breathtaking escapes, crossed the Grand Cordillera through the Mt. Province in December 1899. The first Filipino president was then being pursued by American occupying forces bent on crushing the first Philippine Republic.

After learning on December 2, 1899 of the death of the young General Gregio del Pilar while defending the Tirad (Tila) Pass, Aguinaldo and his party who were in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, proceeded to Sagada and Bontoc to flee from the 300 pursuing American troops, historian William Henry Scott narrated in his History on the Cordillera (1975).

They reached Banawe, Ifuago, by mid-December, and tried to join the forces of Generals Tinio and Villamor in Abra in January, 1900 through Lubuagan, Kalinga, where Aguinaldo pitched camp and sent orders and political manifestos to the Philippine revolutionaries in the lowlands.

The country's first President was almost captured at Talubin, a village near Bontoc; he slept at the foot of Mt. Polis on Christmas of 1899, and celebrated his 31st birthday on January 24, 1900 in Lubuagan, Kalinga.

While crossing the Chico River in Kalinga, the Filipino forces were fired at by the American soldiers who were only some 200 yards from the river banks.

The thick forest cover, the rugged mountain terrain, and the support of the tribal people folk, contributed to the intrepid party's march into Palanan, Isabela, on September 6, 1900, "to the accpmpaniment of band music and the roaring welcome of the local people," Scott said.

Climate
Mt. Province is very wet during the Philippine rainy season, which is from June to October. Dry season begins from November to May.

Topography
Mt. Province lies in the heart of the Grand Cordillera, known to be the Philippines' biggest and highest chain of mountains, located some 170 kilometers north of Baguio City.

Towering peaks and sharp ridges are features of the central and western landscape part of the province, while gradually sloping and rolling foothills mark its eastern towns.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Mount Data. Just accross the boundary of Benguet and Mountain Province is Mount Data, the fount of big rivers in Northern Luzon, namely the Agno, Chico and Abra Rivers. Its plateau is dominated by oak forests while its base is crowned with pine trees. Nestled at its base is the Mount Data Lodge, a mountain resort managed and operated by the Islander Properties. Mt. Data is about 100 kilometers from Baguio City. It can be negotiated by car in four hours.

Matangkib Cave. A cave with coffins, about 10 minutes walk from Poblacion. To get there, one must follow the road to Bontoc after Sagada Weaving and then follow a trail down to the right side of the road.

Sugong Cave. Another cave with hanging coffins about 15 minutes walk from Poblacion. To get there, one must take the road to Ambasing and pass through a small wooden gate leading to a trail down to the left side of the road.

Burial Caves of Lumiang. An ancient burial ground full of coffins pilied one on top of the other. The people of Sagada in the olden times buried their dead in caves and other designated burial grounds. The practice is carried today with non-christian Igorots.

Marcos Cave. A breathtaking view of rock formations inside the cave. One needs a guide to explore this beautiful cave. Crystals are embedded on the rocks and one wonders if it ever was once under the sea.

Lake Danum. About 30 to 40 minutes walk from Poblacion, and about five kilometers from town. Ideal place for picnicking and blackberry-picking in summer-time. Beautiful sunsets at 5:00 in the afternoon.

Mount Ampucao. Accessible in two to three hours from town. Take the road to Ambasing and pass by the elementary school. Ask people for directions. One gets a view of the mountains of Abra.

Natural Swimming Pool. A waterfall, where one can get a nice bath. The pool is accessible in twenty minutes walk from town.

Kiltepan Rice Terraces. Three and a half kilometers from town proper, one gets a sweeping view of the rice terraces of Kiltepan. The site is also a favorable for camping and picnicking. One also gets an overview of the villages of Kilong and Te-tepan.

Dap-ay Guiday, Besao Stone Agriculture Calendars. Also declared as a national cultural treasure under Presidential Decree 260 are the stone agricultural calendars of Dap-ay in the municipality of Besao. Beyond the town of Sagada and 160 kilometers north of Baguio, Besao prides itself with its panoramic stone walled rice terraces and its stone agricultural calendar. Carved stones, the figures are season indicators and used to reckon the passing time even before the introduction of the modern calendar. Used by the people of olden times to organize their planting season.

Besao. Another municipality 12 kilometers from Sagada, you'll have a nice view of Tirad Pass, rice terraces and beautiful sunset from the months of November to mid-April on a clear afternoon.

Bontoc Igorot Museum (Bonton). A museum founded by Sister Basil. One must see the museum of artifacts and proto-types while in Bontoc.

Samoki Village. A village about half a kilometer away from town. Village women-folk handweave native wrap-around skirts and blankets and men make claypots.

Mainit Hot Spring. A mineral spring approximately 8 kilometers from Bontoc Poblacion. There are private jeepneys to take you there for a specific amount exclusive of the fee for guides. One can soak in the luxury of hot sulphuric springs, the water possesses medicinal and curative values.

Guinaang Village. A place where one can experience first hand Igorot life. The road to Mainit branches off to Guinaang.

Malegcong Rice Terraces. About seventeen kilometers from Bontoc proper, one gets rewarded with a nice view of the rice terraces. It is 45 minutes hike from Bontoc, famous for its stone-walled rice terraces ascending a mountain side, near the Mainit Hot Springs. While the Malegcong terraces are not as extensive as the Banaue Rice Terraces, the formation of the staircase-like stonewalled terraces are as striking and impressive.

Tucucan. A barrio of Bontoc about 7 kilometers away and 15 minutes walk from the town. One gets to experience the thrilling hanging bridges made out of vines an logs.

Barlig. A village famous for its basket weaving as a home industry. Located six kilometers from Bontoc. Botwagan Village. Boundary village of Kalinga and Mountain Province.

Sadanga. This village boasts of its sulfpur springs and rice terraces. Located at about 15 kilometers from Bontoc proper, towards the Mt. province-Kalinga-Apayao-border.

Bay-yo. A cluster of houses, Bay-yo is a village situated on the way to Bontoc-Banaue. Along the way you'll have a nice view of the village, and some rice terraces.

Bugnay Village. Located about 40 kilometers from Bontoc, private jeepneys will be willing to take tourists there for a fee. For information one can ask anyone in Bontoc for places to stay in Bugnay.

Alab, Bontoc Petroglyphs. Across the Chico river off the Halsema Mountain Highway before reaching Bontoc from Baguio is the barrio of Alab, where one can see petroglyphs carved on stone or rock boulders. The carved figures portray an interesting source of study and has been declared as a national cultural treasure pursuant to Presidential Decree 260 issued on August 1, 1973.

Cabubatan, Tadian Tame Eels. A strange phenomenon on the municipality of Tadian are the tame eels of Cagubatan. These eels which thrive in a pont that is an irrigation source for nearby rice terraces are unbelievably tame. Numerous legends have been attached by the natives to their phenomenon and they consider it taboo to eat the eels, which are considered a delicacy by gourmets.

How to Get There
The central and eastern mountain towns of Bontoc, Sagada, Besao and Bauko can be reached by bus or car through the Halsema Highway. The Dangwa Tranco or Lizardo bus in Baguio have, at least, two trips daily to the capital town of Bontoc and Sagada, Bauko and Besao. No reservations are taken, so travelers are advised to be at the bus station as early as 6:00 a.m..

From Manila, buses travel only up to Banawe, Ifugao. From there, jeeps are available for the 3 to 4-hour ride to Bontoc or Sagada.

---

Asia Travel || Philippines Hotel & Resorts