"One of the few stories behind the name of Mayoyao is that it came from the combination of the two names of the earliest settlers namely Mayaw and Jawjaw thus the name MAJAWJAW"
-Leandro Elahe
-my pagnapagna-
GOING TO MAYOYAO FROM
BAGUIO
From Baguio
City, we decided to take Ohayami Bus bound for Banaue and get down at Solano,
Nueva Vizcaya with 280 pesos fare not knowing that it will go down to Marcos
Highway and go all the way to Rosales, Pangasinan.
9:00 pm (March 14, 2013) Departs from Baguio
City
3:00 am (March 15, 2013) Arrives at Solano,
Nueva Vizcaya
Arrived at
Solano, very early in the morning, we went to eat at a 24 hour popular Fast Food
Chain and after which we went to sleep just to pass time at the concrete
waiting bench of a gas station where a lone mini-bus bound for Mayoyao was
parked. We waited there until the mini-bus was ready to depart.
8:36 am (March 15, 2013) Departs from Solano,
Nueva, Vizcaya
10:10 am
Arrives at Lagawe, Ifugao
11:37 am
Departs from Lagawe, Ifugao
12:33 pm
Arrives at Banaue, Ifugao town proper
12:52 pm
Departs from Banaue, Ifugao
1:39 pm
Passes by Batad Junction (road leading to Saddle point)
2:30 pm Stop
over for Snacks at Talboc, Mayoyao, Ifugao
2:44 pm
Departs at Talboc, Mayoyao, Ifugao
3:39 pm
Arrives at Mayoyao, Ifugao Town proper
We went down
from the mini bus and looked for a place to stay. We finally found one. We
stayed at an A-type, 4-bedroom Residential house, with a television set at the
living room and a balcony at the second floor overlooking some parts of the
Rice Terraces. There were no tourists that day so we had the whole house to
ourselves (250 pesos per head, per day).
OUR GUIDE
Leandro Elahe, or
“Lo’pfot” as called by his town mates, can be seen most of the time holding a
plastic bag of “moma” (a set of betel nut chewed and spitted out- which may
contain in the set a nga-nga leaves, apog or ash from a shell of a mollusk and
the betel nut which stains the mouth and lips red). He manages together with his
wife a Tourism Shop selling some souvenir items from T-shirts to key chains. He
is also the care-taker of the house where we checked in.
 |
| "Leandro" our guide |
THE TOUR
March 16, 2013
From the Tourist shop, with “Lo’pfot” as our guide we walked along the road and passed by a top of a hill where it was used as
American Garrison now called “Bato” coined from English word “Plateau”. Then we went off-road to the terraces.
 |
| Walking along the terraces |
-THE TERRACES
One of the characteristics of Mayoyao Cluster of terraces is
that its traditional huts are scattered. They were constructed at a distance from the other
huts. Farmers place their houses (traditional huts) near their workplace which
is the terraces.
Stone walled, sometimes using big boulders and rocks, these
terraces are filled with water all year round to avoid the hardening of the
soil and cracking of the stone walls. At the same time these water filled
terraces are also used for growing fish such as “tilapia”. Come harvest time they
will be getting rice as well as fish.
Protruding stone are placed as ladders to clean the walls or
steps to go up and down from layers of layers of rice terraces.
 |
| The Rice Terraces |
-THE TRADITIONAL HUTS
One of the striking features of these huts is its pronounced
pyramidal shape roofing with no windows just an opening acting as a door where
a retractable ladder is placed. Roofing materials were previously made up of
cogon grass but now made up of galvanized iron corrugated sheets, though some
few thatched roof remains. Why the change in roofing material? It is because these
cogon grasses are now expensive, they have to get it from far municipalities and
usually does not last long compared to that of corrugated g.i. sheets.
These are classified as a prefab house, generally built
before without using nails. It is pure fittings using interlocking connections
and rattan as ropes. As time passes and modernization sets in, some of the features and plan of these huts are evolving.
The huts parts are divided into three layers:
1st layer is a space below the hut itself where
the main four post stands (the posts are usually made up of stronger wood such
as molave). In here other chores are done such as washing clothes etc. These areas
are usually stone tiled flooring and usually elevated slightly from the surrounding
stone tiled yard. These stone tilings also helps in the drying of rice
harvest when dried under the sun.
2nd layer is the main area for general living; at
times it is here where the cooking area is placed at a corner. The wing parts
(the one cantilevered from the four posts) were made into sleeping areas.
3rd layer is the uppermost area usually for
storage such as rice.
.JPG) |
| the roofing material used to be of cogon grass but now corr. g.i. sheets are widely used |
BURIAL HUT
At times a
smaller hut is made for the final resting place of exhumed bones of a family
member. Some of the noticeable feature are a closed
door and with no ladder.
 |
| a "Burial Hut" |
“APFO’OR”
A burial tomb made
primarily of stones just like an igloo with a lone small opening just right for
a deceased to pass through. It also has a ledge at the front side near the opening.
Our guide said
it is about 200 years old and only 7 of these are existing in Mayoyao.
The one we saw was
almost hidden with overgrowth of some bushes and grass. It is kept that way
because of the belief that if it were cleaned it is encouraging/waiting for
another burial.
These burial
tombs were said to be afforded by only the people with vast land for farming or
the rich people and also those with lots of pigs.
One story says
that one of the burial tombs was made for an unmarried rich old woman who was
challenged for people told her that “when you die, you will be just eaten by
dogs as you don’t have sons and daughters”.
 |
| plants have grown hiding the "Apfo'or" |
“PON-AMANGAN”
These were viewpoints placed strategically overlooking the
terraces. It is here where sitting blocks made of rocks were placed.
 |
| "pon-amangan" or viewing point |
“CHONGLA” PLANT
These plants has a reddish leaves and resembles a San
Francisco plant, can be seen planted at the sides of the terraces in singles. When
the elders or Mumbakis chant at rituals, these were the leaves they use.
 |
| a plant called "chongla" |
“LUMOGIG” STONE
Located along a creek at barangays Balangbang and Buninan,
this big rock balances itself and leans on a smaller rock atop of island bedrock.
Enchanting, it is said that as long as it stands at present position Mayoyao
will live in peace and harmony.
 |
| "lumogig" rock |
After visiting the lumogig rock we headed back to the road
and rode a tricycle back to town proper and to our quarters to eat Tinolang
manok we ordered earlier that morning from the guide. It was around 1pm when we arrived at our quarters.
In the afternoon at 2:30 was our second part of the tour:
- going to the other side at the War Memorial on
top Mount Negchojon. A tiring hike uphill is worth the hike when you reach the
viewing shed at the top as you can see the whole downtown Mayoyao, its
terraces and its watershed forest on a high mountains (one of the main/biggest
watershed for Magat Dam).
 |
| The Battle of Mayoyao War memorial Marker |
The War Memorial Marker states:
(Filipino translated to English)
The Battle of Mayoyao
It is here where the Battle between the Japanese forces and
the combined forces of USAFIP-NL which includes the 1st Battallion 14 Infantry;
3rd Battallion and some elements of the 11th infantry, 25
July 1945 until 7 August 1945, when Mayoyao was recovered from the hands of its
conqueror. The battle ended, 9 August 1945. This is the last battle before the
surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in Kiangan, Ifugao, 2 September, 1945.
 |
| a hut at the War Memorial Park |
GOING BACK
Early morning
around some few minutes after six, we woke up and went outside at their plaza area to have a coffee (from a vending machine which I don’t like the taste
as it is too sweet), drunk some water and got back to prepare our things to
leave. At around 8 o’clock our meal was served which we ordered the night
before, fried eggs and some hotdogs.
Everything’s
double checked, keys, belongings not left behind. We locked the door and went
to settle our account at the Tourism Shop where “Lop'fot” and his family were staying.
After settling our account “Lop’fot” together with the son of a councilor which
we had some couple of beers last night, accompanied us while waiting for the
mini bus to arrive.
9:18 am (March
17, 2013) Departs from Mayoyao, Ifugao
10:13
am Stop over at Talite, Aguinaldo, Ifugao
10:24 am Departs
from Talite, Aguinaldo, Ifugao
11:46 am Passes at Alfonso Lista (Potia),
Ifugao
12:35 pm Passes
at Oscariz, Ramon, Isabela
12:40 pm
Arrives at Santiago City, Isabela (Centralized Bus Terminal)
From the
Santiago City Centralized Bus Terminal (along 4 lanes road), we decided to get
the Bus bound for Dagupan city and get down at Villasis, Pangasinan (200 pesos
fare) to get on to another bus going to
La Union.
1:03 pm Departs
from Santiago City, Isabela
2:52 pm Passes
by Solano, Nueva Vizcaya
3:29 pm Passes
by Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya
4:07 pm Stop
over at Mother Loly’s Fastfood and Restaurant at Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya
4:21 pm Departs
from Mother Loly’s Fastfood and Restaurant at Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya
6:16 pm Passes
by San Jose City, Nueva Ecija
7:05 pm Passes
by Umingan, Pangasinan
7:34 pm Passes
by Balungao, Pangasinan
7:50 pm Passes
by Carmen, Rosales, Pangasinan
8:02 pm Got
down at Villasis, Pangasinan
After another 3 hours ride on an air-conditioned bus, we finally
arrived in my Hometown La Union and eventually at Home Sweet Home.
-end of pagnapagana-
Subject : MAYOYAO RICE TERRACES
Location : Municipality of Mayoyao
Province of Ifugao
A)-From Manila, Take a bus going to Santiago City, Nueva Vizcaya. In Santiago City Centralized Bus Terminal at 4 lanes, take a mini bus ride going to Mayoyao via Aguinaldo, Ifugao. Bus Schedule are around 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 3:00 pm (Schedule also depends upon the availability of Passengers. Usually they don't travel when there is only few passengers, so the next travel time is scheduled).
B)- From Manila, Take a bus going to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. Stop at Petron Gas Station near ChowKing located at J.P. Rizal avenue corner Luna street. A Lone mini bus bound for Mayoyao via Banaue, Ifugao is parked here and departs at around 8:30 am (Depends upon the availability of passengers).
C)- From Baguio City, take KMS or Ohayami Bus Lines going to Banaue. You may directly go to Banaue and wait for the coming of the mini bus bound for Mayoyao (but chances are it maybe full of passengers) or stop at Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and take the lone 8:30 am mini bus (which is the same one you will wait and passes at Banaue at around1pm).
Going back to Santiago City from Mayoyao:
Mini Bus Schedule: (Schedules may vary from time to time depending upon availability of passengers)
Weekdays (Mondays to saturdays)
-8am
-9am
-11am
-3pm
Sundays or Weekends
-8:30 am
-11am
-1pm
Note : these were as of year 2013
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