Whenever an avid outdoor enthusiast comes across the word "Mountain Province", the first thing that would definitely pop in mind, without batting an eyelash, would be the mystical nature-driven town of Sagada, situated on the western side, racking up an average of 140,000 visitors every year.
Proudly showcasing features such as hanging coffins containing mummified remains of local ancestors, historical sites, and tribal celebrations, truly makes Sagada uniquely a part of the Mountain Province.
Unknown to a lot of common tourists though, lurks a quaint laid-back town, situated 34km before Sagada, which is the nature-gifted Municipality of Bauko, an upcoming outdoor destination brought about by the local mountaineering community's interest on its tourism potential.
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| Location of Bauko in Mountain Province |
Located 408 km from Manila via the Ilocos Sur route, which according to several travelers, is much safer, but longer, expect to see views of the Lingayen Gulf and the South China Sea as you ply along the extreme western side of La Union towards Ilocos Sur.
TIP: To maximize trip enjoyment, it would be best to depart Manila in the evening.
Crossing the Amburayan Bridge from Sudipen, La Union, the ONE Ilocos Sur Welcome Arch, inaugurated during the celebration of the Ilocos Sur Kannawidan Festival 2023, then comes into the picture, as you enter Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.
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| ONE Ilocos Sur Welcome Arch |
As you continuously pass by along the MacArthur Highway, turn right when you see the signage "Welcome to Bitalag Tagudin Ilocos Sur", going to the Tagudin-Cervantes-Sabangan Road.
While on the road, we ate breakfast at the Mountain View Mamihan & Restaurant, located at Bessang Pass, Malaya in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.
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| Restaurant Signage |
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| Breakfast Time! |
Next stop was the Bessang Pass Natural Monument Park/Landmark, still located along the road.
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| Bessang Pass Natural Monument Park/Landmark |
The 1,395 members of the "United States Armed Forces in the Philippines, Northern Luzon" (USAFIP-NL) were recognized with the dedication of the "Battle of Bessang Pass" monument in 1954. They perished in 1945 while Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita oversaw the historic and successful battle against the Japanese Imperial Forces.
After 43km, we dropped by at the Bauko Municipal Hall, situated along the Mabaay-Guinzadan-Abatan Road, to observe the 17th Begnas di Bauko Festival activities. This is a cultural festival binding the iBaukos to show gratitude to "Kabunyan" for all the blessings bestowed to us. Anyway, we enjoyed the salted buttered corn being sold outside.
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| Bauko Municipal Hall |
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| Locals Enjoying the Games |
We arrived at Kitkat's Restaurant after 11km, still along the Tagudin-Cervantes-Sabangan Road, to take our lunch. Their specialties are their Ilocano-inspired Tinuno dishes.
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| Facade of Kitkat's Restaurant |
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| Lunchtime! |
After our vehicle endured a grueling 9km along the Bagnen-Sabangan Road, we finally touched down at our accommodation, the Hiker's Nook Homestay, located at Barangay Bagnen Oriente in Bauko. Contact persons are Freddie Dameg (FB: Iederf B. Dameg) and Sigrid Liis Dameg, and their contact number is 0907-0307702.
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| Hiker's Nook Homestay |
TIP: Make sure your vehicle can be able to withstand very steep cemented roads.
One great feature of the accommodation's location is its very close proximity to the jump-off point of Mount Polis. It takes around more than 600 steps to reach the summit. Very very beeeaauuuutiful 360-degree view at the peak!
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| Mount Polis Jump-off Point |
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| Trail towards the summit of Mount Polis |
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| Sagada seen from a distance along the trail |
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| Resting Hut |
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| Summit of Mount Polis at 1847 MASL |
Capping off the first day was a heartful home-cooked dinner at the homestay.
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| Dinnertime at the Homestay |
On our final day, after a sumptuous homestay breakfast, we then traveled towards Bagnen Proper in order to check out the Saint Gregory the Great Stone Church, which stands more than a century old, and was the first structure set up by the Anglican missionaries who arrived in the area.
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| Breakfast at the Homestay |
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| Saint Gregory the Great Stone Church |
Arriving at the famous Bagnen Rice Terraces along the Abatan-Bagnen Road at around 6:30AM was a majestic site to behold as clearly evidenced by the succeeding photos.
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| Entering the Bagnen Rice Terraces |
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| Trudging the Bagnen Rice Terraces |
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| Marveling the Bagnen Sunrise |
After checking-out from our homestay, coming from the Halsema Highway, we visited the various farms located along the so-called Sadsadan Farm to Market Road at Barangay Sadsadan in Bauko. Their fresh farm-picked produce were very cheap!
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| Carrot-picking |
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| Potato-picking |
For a sidetrip, while traveling back to Manila via the Halsema Highway, right across the Calasipan Elementary School in Buguias, Benguet, there is a house selling miniature vehicle models inspired by the iconic trucks and buses that ply the trading routes in Cordillera, all of which were made by Marion Codeo.
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| Mini Vehicles by Marion Codeo |
The Municipality of Bauko in the Mountain Province may not be as popular in the eyes of a common tourist, as compared to the likes of Sagada and Bontoc, but it sure packs a worthy punch as one experiences the hidden uniqueness of its magnificence as you "find yourself" in the Cordilleras.
Explore Pinas!
