Maligcong Hexalogy (Bontoc, Mountain Province) - Part 2 of 2

DAY 2: February 23, 2020 (Sunday)

After a hearty early morning breakfast at Suzette's Maligcong Homestay, we headed off towards our first mountain for the day, Mount Filig.

Early morning breakfast

Since the start of the trail was very far from the homestay, to maximize time, we decided to rent a private jeepney that would take us to Sitio Fang-Oraw, which is the jump-off point, wherein we would be trudging the Maligcong Rice Terraces.

Trekking the Maligcong Rice Terraces

A very beautiful forested trail welcomed us as we started assaulting the mountain, and when we reached level ground, which is a campsite, we took a break before summiting Mount Filig at 1695 MASL.

Beautiful forested trail

Campsite

Summit of Mount Filig

After conquering this mountain, we continued walking along the trail towards Mount Amfomotngor.

Forested trail

Before reaching the summit of Mount Amfotmotngor, we passed by a great viewdeck along the trail.

Viewdeck

The summit of Mount Amfomotngor, the highest in Maligcong at 1775 MASL, was thickly forested since we were the first non-local mountaineering group to have summited the said mountain. What a historic achievement for a group of chill hikers!

Conquering Maligcong's highest, Mount Amfomotngor

With two more mountains to go, we headed off by backtrailing towards Mount Angtungfaw at 1660 MASL, then traversing towards Mount Kupapey, all of which were forested trails.

Summit of Mount Angtungfaw

Summit of Mount Kupapey

The summit of Mount Kupapey showcases a grand view of the Maligcong Rice Terraces. Hikers mostly visit this area in the early morning to catch the beautiful sunrise.

After reaching our last mountain, we then descended towards the other side of the Maligcong Rice Terraces, returning back to our homestay.

Trekking back via the Maligcong Rice Terraces

As you can see, based on the picture above, since we trekked this area on a February, the rice terraces ain't green yet since it is still on the preparation stages. The months of April to July would be a good time to see green rice terraces, and the harvesting starts at around August to September. Harvesting only occurs once a year.

Arriving at our homestay at around noontime, we just had lunch, enjoyed our "hard-earned" free time, and ate dinner. 

Apart from the six mountains we successfully hiked in this blog, other hikeable mountains in this barangay are Mount Matuon, Mount Locutan, and Mount Patoc.

By the way, our guide was Terrence Kawaren, who appeared in GMA NEWS TV's "Biyahe ni Drew" aired last February 7, 2020, and yes, the entire crew booked in this homestay too. 

Terrence Kawaren appearance in "Biyahe ni Drew"

"Biyahe ni Drew" homestay of choice

DAY 3: February 24, 2020 (Monday)

On our last day in this beautiful place, we ate breakfast, checked out, and departed from our accommodation via public jeepney towards Bontoc town proper at 8:00AM. Jeepney schedule from Maligcong-Bontoc are 6:30AM, 8:00AM, 9:00AM, 2:00PM, and 4:00PM.

Again, after several trips in Maligcong, staying in the same homestay, hats off to Mrs. Suzette Bencio-Chees and her family for their superb customer service, hospitality, great food, and FREE "Timplang Suzette" brewed coffee! 

The contact number of Suzette's Maligcong Homestay is 0915-5463557. Their Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/SuzetteMaligcongHomestay/.

Posing with the homestay owner, Mrs. Suzette Bencio-Chees 

When we arrived in Bontoc town proper, we walked along the Halsema Highway, then turned left after the Shell gas station, and rode a Sagada-bound public vehicle at Walter Clapp Centrum area. 

Since our CODA Lines tourist bus in Sagada would still depart at 2:00PM, we just roamed around the town of Sagada, ate lunch, and bought pasalubong. Travel time from Sagada to Cubao takes around 11-12 hours.

Travelling back several times toward this wonderful underrated place is just plain crystal clear evidence that Maligcong is definitely a must-see for any outdoor enthusiast out there. 

Marvelous Maligcong it is......Explore Pinas!

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Maligcong Hexalogy (Bontoc, Mountain Province) - Part 1 of 2

Maligcong Hexalogy (Bontoc, Mountain Province) - Part 1 of 2

The Mountain Province is a landlocked province of the Philippines, which is a part of the Cordillera Administrative Region. The said province was named as such due to the fact that it is located in the Cordillera Central mountain range found in the upper portions of the Luzon island, and the capital of which is Bontoc.

Location of Bontoc, Mountain Provnce

With ten municipalities under its administration, and given its name, this province boasts a plethora of hiking trails, rice terraces, mummy caves, and hanging coffins, perfect for outdoor adventurists.

Well, without batting an eyelash, the most popular town, frequented by travelers, is got to be Sagada, which has been accommodating around 180,000 tourist arrivals every year.

Anyway, we now shift our focus, not in the town of Bontoc, but in a quaint barangay under its umbrella called Maligcong, which is slowly gaining interest in the outdoor community.

Location of Barangay Maligcong, Bontoc (lagalog.com)

Maligcong is the Kankana-ey term that means “surrounded by rice paddies”, as the village sits in the middle of rice terraces, hailed as among the most beautiful in the entire Cordillera Region. 

Since I have been here several times already, for this blog, I chose my February 22-23, 2020 trip together with my friends from the Larga-Bistas Mountaineering Group, as we successfully trekked six mountains in two days, one of which was the tallest peak in Maligcong.

DAY 0: February 21, 2020 (Friday)

Our Sagada-bound CODA Lines tourist bus departed in the evening. The terminal of CODA Lines is located at HM Transport Inc. Monte de Piedad, Corner Maryland, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Yes, HM Transport and CODA Lines share the same bus terminal. In addition, all trips going to Sagada passes through the Mountain Province, which explains why our bus' signage indicates SAGADA. Advanced ticket reservation purchase is highly recommended since Sagada is a very popular tourist destination. 

CODA Lines at HM Transport bus terminal

DAY 1: February 22, 2020 (Saturday)

Travelling for around ten hours, we alighted our bus at the end of the Chico Karayan Bridge, which is the Bontoc town proper.

Arrival at Bontoc town proper

We then ate at our "official" breakfast joint, the TLS Canteen, which is located just beside the green directional signage as seen in the photo above.

TLS Canteen

Breakfast time

After being recharged by a hearty breakfast, we trudged the Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road going towards the jeepney terminal, situated on the street on the left side of the Bontoc Provincial Plaza. 

To maximize on time, we decided on a special jeepney ride that would take us to Maligcong at once, rather than wait for the public jeepneys to start their engines at 8:00AM, which is the earliest trip from Bontoc to Maligcong. For added information, the next public jeepney trip schedules are 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. Travel time would take around 30 minutes.

Departing Bontoc to Maligcong

We arrived at our "official" Maligcong accomodation, Suzette's Maligcong Homestay, which we highly recommend due to their high quality of service, as we unloaded our stuff in our respective room assignments, freshened up a bit, and went off immediately towards our first hiking destination, the very popular Mount Fato.   

Actually, before proceeding to Mount Fato, we first trekked towards the so-called Lonely Tree, passing by cemented and rough trails, as well as rice terraces.

Mount Fato Jump-off point along Maligcong Road

Forested trail

Rice terraces trail

Lonely Tree

Mount Fato as seen from the Lonely Tree area

The trail towards Mount Fato is mostly forested, with some parts of the trail on the edge of the mountain.

Trekking on the edge

The summit area of Mount Fato at 1438 MASL provides loads of views of Barangay Maligcong, which are great for picture taking. The said mountain is also called Mount Parutan.

Summit area of Mount Fato

Summit area of Mount Fato

Actual summit of Mount Fato is on top of this huge rock

After conquering Mount Fato and eating trail snacks (yup..for some hikers...this can be lunch!), we went straight to our next mountain, which is Mount Mogao.

Forested trail

Mount Mogao as seen along the trail

The summit area of Mount Mogao at 1565 MASL provides a good view of Barangay Guinaang. Actually, this mountain is really a part of Guinaang rather than Maligcong.

Summit of Mount Mogao

Summit of Mount Mogao

Returning back to Suzette's Maligcong Homestay, we quickly freshened up, rested a bit, then ate one heck of a dinner at 13 degrees to cap the first day....brrrrrr!

Dinner at 13 degrees

Part 2:

Maligcong Hexalogy (Bontoc, Mountain Province) - Part 2 of 2

Hungduan (Ifugao) - Part 2 of 2

DAY 2: August 26, 2018 (Sunday)

After a hearty breakfast at Giovanni's Place, we headed off to our first destination by trekking the Hapao Rice Terraces for our final day in this marvelous town of Hungduan, the Bogyah Hot Springs.

Breakfast time before a long hike

Trekking the Hapao Rice Terraces

Before entering the Bogyah Hot Springs area, you have to register first in their logbook, but with NO FEES. After a long trek on the rice terraces, it certainly felt good to dip in the healthy sulfuric hot springs in order to relax tired and aching muscles. We then ate lunch here after refreshing ourselves.

Nearing the Bogyah Hot Springs

Enjoying the Bogyah Hot Springs

Mountain Rice to complement our lunch

We departed the Bogyah Hot Springs area, traversing the Hapao Rice Terraces anew, as we went back to our accommodation venue at Giovanni's Place.

Traversing the Hapao Rice Terraces

Returning to Giovanni's Place after an arduous trek, some of us still decided to hike Mount Hagonghong, situated in Bambang, Hungduan, and this means trekking the Hapao Rice Terraces from our accommodation going to the main road.

Great views along the trail towards Mount Hagonghong

Summit of Mount Hagonghong

Capping off our entire Hungduan stay, we then checked out, and before bidding farewell to Giovanni's Place, some of my friends and I posed next to our selected overnight room, a modern version of an Ifugao Hut, my first time to sleep on such a structure...priceless!

For bookings on Giovanni's Place, contact Gloria Antonio at 0915-4156585.

Contact numbers of the guides are: Jimm Bumanghat at 0905-6911918 or Arlene Akiate at 0915-4393059.

Our room, a modern Ifugao Hut

   

Returning to Banaue, Ifugao, we ate our dinner at Uyami's Green View Lodge & Restaurant, and bought pasalubong in the Poblacion area, before leaving Banaue via a Cubao-bound CODA Lines tourist bus, which came from Sagada. Waiting area was near the Municipal Tourism Center.

Uyami's Green View Lodge & Restaurant

Underrated as it may seem on a general tourist's eye, either due to lack of promotion or the absence of word-of-mouth, visiting the municipality of Hungduan definitely provides a worthwhile experience for the active outdoor enthusiast.

Explore Pinas!

Part 1:

Hungduan (Ifugao) - Part 1 of 2

Hungduan (Ifugao) - Part 1 of 2

Ifugao is a landlocked province of the Philippines, which is a part of the Cordillera Administrative Region located up north in the Luzon island of the Philippines.

With eleven municipalities tucked under its belt, it carries with it a truckload of tourism potential especially for outdoor enthusiasts, which has yet to be discovered, since, as most tourists could attest, only the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces, the so-called "Eighth Wonder of the World", is the only place-to-be in this underrated province.

Let us now take a closer look at one of Ifugao's hidden treasures, located on the northwestern edge of the province, the municipality of Hungduan, which we visited way back August 25-26, 2018.

Location of Hungduan in the province of Ifugao

DAY 0: August 24, 2018 (Friday)

Our Sagada-bound CODA Lines tourist bus departed in the evening. The terminal of CODA Lines is located at HM Transport Inc. Monte de Piedad, Corner Maryland, Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Yes, HM Transport and CODA Lines share the same bus terminal. In addition, all trips going to Sagada passes through the Ifugao province, which explains why our bus' signage indicates SAGADA. Advanced ticket reservation purchase is highly recommended since Sagada is a very popular tourist destination. 

CODA Lines at HM Transport bus terminal

Actually, there is another bus company, which goes straight to Sagada too, the Ohayami Trans, which is situated at Cor. Fajardo St., Lacson Ave, Sampaloc, Manila.

DAY 1: August 25, 2018 (Saturday)

After travelling for around eight hours, we alighted our bus at the Municipal Tourism Center in Banaue, Ifugao.

Municipal Tourism Center

Before proceeding for Hungduan, we booked first a rented vehicle before taking our breakfast at the People's Lodge & Restaurant located at the Banaue Poblacion Terminal, Banaue-Mayoyao-Potia-Isabela Road, a few walks from the Tourism Center.

People's Lodge & Restaurant

We visited first the Hungduan Tourist Information Center for registration before proceeding towards some tourist destinations.

By the way, the name of the town was derived from the root word “Hungdu” which means to proceed/pass/go/traverse through. “Hungduan” means a place where people pass/traverse on their way to another place. 

Hungduan Tourist Information Center

Stopping by at the Hungduan Rice Terraces Viewdeck area provides the tourist with a bird's eye view on why the said rice terraces was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 19th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Berlin, Germany in 1995.

Enjoying the view of the Hungduan Rice Terraces

Our next target destination was the 26.5 meter Balentimol Falls, located in Barangay Abatan.

Jump-off point towards the Balentimol Falls

Take note that the jump-off point for a trek towards Mount Napulawan is the same starting point going to the Balentimol Falls. The trail towards the falls can be trekked by starters.

Trail towards the Balentimol Falls

Balentimol Falls

Next stop was viewing from afar the Nabongyawan Rice Terraces along the Tinoc-Hungduan-Banaue Road. This cluster of terraces expands widely following the Dakkitan River.

Nabongyawan Rice Terraces

We then proceeded near the Hungduan Municipal Hall where the General Artemio Ricarte Burial Site is located. 

On July 31, 1945, General Artemio Ricarte, the Father of the Philippine Army, died in Mount Napulawan. His remains were extracted and transferred in a cave in Hungduan. 

General Ricarte Burial Site

A few trudges after eating our packed lunch at the Hungduan Municipal basketball court area, we arrived at the Heritage Eco-Village.   

Heritage Eco-Village

Each barangay of Hungduan created one native house in the Heritage Eco-Village. The best time to visit this place would be on the third week of April where they hold their Tungoh Ad Hungduan Festival. At this juncture, the native houses will be filled with people dancing, carving, drinking and doing what natives do. 

Our last destination for this day was the Native House located at Sitio Awa, owned by Kuya Alberto (5th from the left).

Sitio Awa Native House

According to the owner, he built this house to somehow preserve their culture, building how they traditionally built it. He also spends some nights sleeping and cooking inside this native house. 

Since our accommodation venue, Giovanni’s Place, was right smacked in the middle of the Hapao Rice Terraces, we had no choice but to trek the rice terraces carrying our stuff. This place boasts of standard rooms and a native hut.

Trekking the Hapao Rice Terraces

Standard Rooms at Giovanni's Place

Part 2:

Hungduan (Ifugao) - Part 2 of 2