Beyond those travelled hills of the north
lies my home all laden with pine
amid the soft and silken touch of morning mist
I lay my prayers unforseen
St. James High School, Besao Alumni
St. Alfred School, Tamboan, Besao
Sagada National High School (Bomabanga)
Antadao National High School
Suyo National High School (Ankileng)
Bangaan National High School
R.A. NO. 8269 AN ACT CONVERTING THE ANTADAO HIGH SCHOOL ANNEX IN BARANGAY ANTADAO, MUNICIPALITY OF SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE, INTO AN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE ANTADAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR (H.B. 1467) [3-03-97]
R.A. No. 8868 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAGADA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR (H. No. 1723) [August 22, 2000]
R.A. No. 8869 AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF BESAO, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE TO BE KNOWN AS THE BESAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR (H. No. 1722) [August 22, 2000]
Tamboan
.
.
.
.
Legislations on Culture in the Philippines
Title: Presidential Decree No. 260
Signatory: President Ferdinand E. Marcos
Date signed: Aug. 1, 1973
Description:
Declaring the Sta. Ana. Site Museum in Manila, the Roman Catholic churches of Paoay and Bacarra in Ilocos Norte; the San Agustin Church and Liturgical Objects therein in Intramuros, Manila; Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City; the Petroglyphs of Alab, Bontoc; the Stone Agricultural Calendars of Dap-ay Guiday in Besao, Bontoc; the Mummy Caves Kabayan, Benguet and of Sagada and Alab, Bontoc; the Ifugao Rice Terraces of Banaue as National Cultural Treasures, and the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan; Tirad Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, the Miagao Church in Miagao, Iloilo; the Site of the Battle of Mactan on Mactan Island, Cebu; the San Sebastian Church in Quiapo, Manila and the Church and Convent of Santo Niņo in Cebu City as National Shrines, Monuments and/or Landmarks defining the implementing agencies and providing funds thereof
Things To Do and See
Historical Rizal Memorial Plaza, Bontoc - The Rizal Memorial Plaza is located right at the heart of the capital town. A concrete statue of our national hero stands towering the whole plaza. It serves as park, meeting venue for programs and other mass gatherings.
Cultural
Bontoc Village Museum, Bontoc- A museum founded by Sister Basil and is now run by the ICM missionaries. It features various artifacts and other indigenous items dating centuries back. The museum is located within the Catholic Sister's Convent and St. Vincent's Elem. School Compound at Poblacion, Bontoc.
Sagada Weaving House (Sagada), Sabangan Loom Weaving (Sabangan), Samoki Weaving House (Samoki, Bontoc)- Various woven materials like knapsacks, bags, purses, etc. are being made at the Sagada Weaving House. Sabangan Loom Weaving features placemats, napkins, table runners, and bags while the Samoki Weaving Industry is distinct from that of Sagada Weaving and Sabangan Loom Weaving by way of how the woven materials are made. Samoki's tapis, G-strings, belts and blankets are made by backstrap weaving.
Traditional Ato, Dap-ay- Dap-ay or Atos serve as sleeping quarters for elder folks and male teenagers. These serve as venue for traditional rites and village cultural traditions are decided in a parliamentary manner. Governance still evolve in these institutions. These are usually built with cogon grass as roofing and stones as walls. A fireplace is built at the center where a wooden pole stands opposite the fireplace where heads of animals being sacrificed are hanged.
Natural
Agricultural Stone Calendar (Gueday, Besao)- These are two huge rocks situated side by side leaving a crevice at the middle where the rays of the sun exactly goes into the crevice. This occurs once a year and celebrated in a Begnas every September 30 signifying the start of sowing palay seeds in preparation for the planting season.
Alab Petrogyph (Alab, Bontoc)- A huge rock with bows and arrows and human beings etched on its surface. The etchings of human beings are believed to have been those warriors buried in the Ganga cave at the foot of the mountain where the rock stands.
Sunken Valley (Paracelis) and Pagan God Footprints Palikut Aso (Bontoc)- A large stone with footprints believed to be the footprints of Lumauig, the pagan god of the Igorots. A stone resembling that of a sleeping dog is also found around the area.
Maligcong Road, Bontoc - The viewing point along the mountain trail with pine forests, patches of vegetable gardens, deep ravines, zigzag road and a cool refreshing breeze wafting from the Chico along the Bontoc- Mainit Road (Pagturao Mountain) and Maligcong Road, both overlooking the town proper and her adjoining barangays. Such panoramic view provides an inspiring experience to the viewer as he enjoys the soft breeze and the rich greenery of the surrounding's refreshing breeze.
Makilo Sphinx (Makilo, Paracelis)- A contemporary of the Egyptian Sphinx located at Barangay Makilo.
Enchanted Eels (Cagubatan, Tadian)- These are the enchanted eels at the Cagubatan Lake.
Mallig River (Paracelis)- Cuts across the valley similar to that of the Nile River.
Mabalotbot Oil Lake (Mabalotbot, Paracelis)- A beauteous wonder with its shimmering waters very much evident during starry nights. The shimmering effect is caused by patches of oil which is believed to be coming out from the lake itself.
HOT SPRINGS:
Barlig (Mornang, Lingoy Hot Spring) Mainit, Bontoc Poblacion and Bekigan, Sadanga
The warm, sulfuric water that flows from these hot springs is a wondrous relaxant and is medicinal in nature. Villagers believed that after a hard days work, a dip in the hot spring is sufficient to ease muscle pains due to fatigue.
CAVES/HANGING COFFINS:
Matangkib Cave, Sagada Sugong Cave, Sagada Lumiyang Cave, Sagada Sumaguing Cave, Sagada Ganga Cave, Alab-Bontoc Angoten Cave, Sadanga Liang Burial Cave, Besao
Caves have hanging coffins and century old burial sites. Mostly are located in the municipality of Sagada which is 19 kilometers west of Bontoc.
LAKES/WATERFALLS:
Banao Lake, Besao Bokong Lake, Sagada Latang Lake, Sagada Gawaan Lake, Tadian Aguid and Fidelisan Water Spots, Sagada Inodey Falls Bumod-ok Waterfalls, Sagada
Danum, Bokong, Latang and Gawaan Lakes located at Sagada and Tadian provide a refreshing feeling as they are located amidst pine trees. Aguid and Fidelisan water spots dot the plateaus and valleys providing appropriate picnic area.
The Twin Inodey Falls cascading from Mt. Data Plateau drains into the Abit River basin. These waterfalls create rainbows that arc the pools of water.
MOUNTAINS:
Mount Amuyao, Barlig Mount Clitoris, Tadian Mount Calawitan, Sabangan Mount Mogao, Tadian Mount Ampacao, Sagada Besao Sunset (Besao) - A spectacular view of the sunset with its warm glowing rays.
Man-Made Rice Terraces
Bagnen Rice Terraces, Bauko Besao Rice Terraces, Besao Bucas Rice Terraces, Besao Maligcong Rice Terraces, Bontoc Bayyo Rice Terraces, Bontoc Poblacion Rice Terraces, Bontoc Sadanga Rice Terraces, Bontoc Kiltepan Rice Terraces, Sagada Suyo Rice Terraces, Sagada Focong Rice Terraces, Sadanga Natonin Rice Terraces, Natonin Barlig Rice Terraces, Barlig Balugan Rice Terraces, Sagada Bangaan Rice Terraces, Sagada
These rice terraces are a breathtaking welcome view as one enters the villages. They are built with stone rip rap distinct from that of the famed Banaue Rice Terraces. They are like stairways to the sky with its greenery and golden hue.
Pottery / Ceramics / Industry:
Samoki Pottery Industry, Bontoc & Bila Pottery Industry, Bauko - Indigenous items like bowls, jars, charcoal stoves are made out from the clay that abound in the village. These items are molded by the bare hands of the villagers after which they are charred and fortified with glaze rendering them long-lasting. The "lenga" (glaze) is obtained from the sap of pine trees.
Pat-Patayan - Sacred and century old trees and village where rituals and ceremonies are conducted.
Festivals
BEGNAS, March - April, Western Municipalities of Mountain Province. The mist-shrouded municipalities take advantage of the summer months to hold weddings and other celebrations which also highlight the traditional songs, dances and games of the Cordilleras' ethnic tribes.
SACNIT, March (Movable), Bontoc, Sadanga - The harvest festival shows how sugarcane is milled the traditional way.
TENGAO, July (movable) - The Tengao Celebration theme pays tribute to the hardy souls of the North, with the distinctive canao dance ritual as centerpiece. Nose flute music permeates the air as you sip on the tangy local rice wine, tapuy; and feast on the best farm produce of the North.
While garbed in a native poncho, experience the stirring spirit of a tengao (the sacred rest day of the Ifugaos), and leave with lasting memories of a tribal mystiquely Filipino.
FAGFAGTO, August (movable), Chomno, Bontoc - This is a ritual enacted annually by the Bontocs in Mountain Province. It is connected with the annual planting and harvesting of camote crop.Fagfagto is a mock battle where stones and rocks are hurled at each other by two opposing groups. The ritual is celebrated by the Bontocs because they believe that the warrior who sustains plenty of wounds as a result of rock hurling will reap plenty of camotes in the next harvest and that the bigger the wounds or bumps on the head, the bigger the camote crop will be.
Last updated: February 2009
The Sagada Webring
Sagada Travel and Learn
Sagada Blog
sagada.org
Other Links
School on the net
besao.org
bontoc.org