To describe how much I don’t want to visit the Northern Regions of the Country, in almost (but not quite) 3 decades of my life, I have only been to Baguio once, that was last December 2008. And to think that we’ve been to Manaog, Pangasinan more than 10 times already (Baguio is just about an hour away from that place). The change in perception came when my bestest friend and I went to Sagada last December 26-30, 2008.
The idea was brought up by a college friend when we saw each other in September last year. It was unfortunate, however, that he wasn’t able to join us in this trip. We left Manila on the eve of December 26 and arrived the following day a little before lunch time. We stayed at Mapiya-Aw Pensione House (a very cozy place) from December 27 to 29.
It took us more or less 14 hours to go from Manila to Sagada (via Banawe). On our way home, we took the Baguio route which took us 12 hours – 6 hours from Sagada to Baguio another 6 hours from Baguio to Pasay). It was a trip well worth the long hours of sitting inside a jam-packed bus.
There were a lot of words to describe Sagada – all of them positive. It was a perfect place to commune with one’s self, with nature and with God. I went there with full expectations that I will finally have the much longed for silence and rest to sort out my thoughts. I went there to have a “meeting” with God in the silence of my heart. And true enough, all expectations were met. The solitude of the place provided the avenue to think and reflect on things that happened – all of them in the past – not to forget but to serve as guide in my journey to the future. In the silence my heart, I once again found God where he embraced me with the beauty of his wonderful creation.
I will go back to that wonderful place... promise. :)
Stop over at Bontoc
Sagada main street and plaza
Sagada Mapiya-aw Pensione
Sagada Sumaguing Cave
Sagada Plaza and Echo Valley
Sagada Orange Farm and the people we met :)