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"It is not only the beautiful view
but also the knowledge and experience we gain from it.
So get down from the viewpoint and be intimate with it"
-pagnapagna
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-my pagnapagna-
(March 6, 2016 a Sunday)
After having a coffee at a cafeteria in downtown Bontoc,
we started walking (4:47 am) along the Samoki bridge (the one going to Banaue)
with dogs barking at a distance and with almost no street lighting.
we started walking (4:47 am) along the Samoki bridge (the one going to Banaue)
with dogs barking at a distance and with almost no street lighting.
At the other side of the bridge, we went to inquire at a store
and found out that we will be walking for some three hours to get to Bay-yo.
It was still dark as we kept walking along the road.
For most of the times there were complete darkness,
we used our lights from our cellphones.
and found out that we will be walking for some three hours to get to Bay-yo.
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| The view of downtown Bontoc as we looked back from where we came from while we walked early in the dark morning |
It was still dark as we kept walking along the road.
For most of the times there were complete darkness,
we used our lights from our cellphones.
After a long walk, still dark, soon there were two joggers who passed us by.
Somehow that made us feel safe walking on that road.
Somehow that made us feel safe walking on that road.
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| at dawn with two joggers passed by. Can you see them? This photo was brightened (edited). |
We kept on walking as slowly the light of dawn was becoming bright.
We passed by the two joggers who had stopped and were resting at one
of the roadside parks made by DPWH (Department of Public Highways).
We passed by the two joggers who had stopped and were resting at one
of the roadside parks made by DPWH (Department of Public Highways).
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| At a roadside park |
We kept on walking and passed by the Talubin National High School
and eventually we were at Barangay Talubin proper.
and eventually we were at Barangay Talubin proper.
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| At a road sign in Barangay Talubin, Bontoc |
At the intersection, we turned right going to Banaue as the one to the left was to Barlig.
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| Signboard at Talubin junction |
I smiled as we came across a man walking and he asked
"apay papanan yu kadi?" (where are you going?).
"apay papanan yu kadi?" (where are you going?).
I replied and asked,
"Ediay Bay-yo manong. Adayu pay ba?" (To Bay-yo sir, Is it still far?).
"Ediay Bay-yo manong. Adayu pay ba?" (To Bay-yo sir, Is it still far?).
"Mga 6 kilometers pay" (About 6 kilometers more), he replied.
Now, that's something to look forward too.
Now, that's something to look forward too.
Along the way, we had to do a mandatory stop as we saw a roadside waterfall.
Although small, it was something to behold as I have the love for nature's waterfalls.
Although small, it was something to behold as I have the love for nature's waterfalls.
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| Roadside waterfall |
Walking farther, we went to buy some refreshment at a store just after the Ab-ab bridge.
The store owner seemed surprised as he was smiling when
he had known that we walked from Bontoc town proper going towards Bay-yo.
The store owner seemed surprised as he was smiling when
he had known that we walked from Bontoc town proper going towards Bay-yo.
After around four hours of walking from Bontoc town proper,
we finally arrived at the roadside viewpoint (9 o'clock).
we finally arrived at the roadside viewpoint (9 o'clock).
The viewing deck is made of concrete and circular in plan
with roof overlooking the Barangay of Bay-yo proper and the Bay-yo Rice Terraces.
with roof overlooking the Barangay of Bay-yo proper and the Bay-yo Rice Terraces.
It has a pay comfort room nearby.
The signboard says:
BAYYO RICE TERRACES
Bontoc, Mountain Province
This is a part of the "Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras"
as inscribed by UNESCO which showcases the engineering feat
and ingenuity of the Igorots depicted here
as master planners and astute agriculturists.
as inscribed by UNESCO which showcases the engineering feat
and ingenuity of the Igorots depicted here
as master planners and astute agriculturists.
Gawis ay Mountain Province
There were already some tourists at the viewpoint,
enjoying and having their selfie with the distant rice terraces as their background.
enjoying and having their selfie with the distant rice terraces as their background.
After some few minutes, we went down from the viewpoint
and walked along the secondary road going towards the residential area.
and walked along the secondary road going towards the residential area.
As a protocol in going to a village,
we have to let someone such as their barangay official know our presence
and our intent visiting their village.
In this case, we can't find their Barangay Hall,
instead we came across to what I believe to be a Daycare center.
we have to let someone such as their barangay official know our presence
and our intent visiting their village.
In this case, we can't find their Barangay Hall,
instead we came across to what I believe to be a Daycare center.
There were children working on their drawings inside the daycare center
as we talked with what I believed to be their teacher.
as we talked with what I believed to be their teacher.
The teacher gave us the go signal and assured us as she said,
"Apan kayo lang ediay, no question" (just go there, no question).
"Apan kayo lang ediay, no question" (just go there, no question).
We thanked her and went on to the labyrinth of trails inside the tight residential area.
I have a fear that I will be looking at a dry untended terraces
just like what I've seen at the Kadchog rice terraces
near Bontoc town proper just the other day but to my delight,
Bay-yo rice terraces was a "waterworld".
The terraces was saturated. All of its paddies were filled with water.
just like what I've seen at the Kadchog rice terraces
near Bontoc town proper just the other day but to my delight,
Bay-yo rice terraces was a "waterworld".
The terraces was saturated. All of its paddies were filled with water.
Unlike most of the rice terraces where there is a continuous one level of terraces
following the contours of the sides of the mountain
that followed by another continuous upper level,
this one was of random levels of terraces as if piled one to another.
At a distance, it looked like piled slate.
following the contours of the sides of the mountain
that followed by another continuous upper level,
this one was of random levels of terraces as if piled one to another.
At a distance, it looked like piled slate.
Everybody were so busy tending the terraces.
Some of them were planting rice, most were tilling the soil using "kuliglig" (hand tractor)
and then some were cleaning the walls of the terraces.
Some of them were planting rice, most were tilling the soil using "kuliglig" (hand tractor)
and then some were cleaning the walls of the terraces.
The "kuliglig" (hand tractor) was manually carried to be used from
one terrace to another terrace.
They disassemble the main parts from one terrace
and then carried and reassemble it at another terrace.
one terrace to another terrace.
They disassemble the main parts from one terrace
and then carried and reassemble it at another terrace.
We just became observers as we don't want to disturb them.
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| At the Rice Terraces which are ready for planting |
At that time,
we observed that as the plowing and tilling of the soil were done by the men,
the women do the rice planting.
we observed that as the plowing and tilling of the soil were done by the men,
the women do the rice planting.
We also visited their chapel which was being renovated at that time.
After about an hour at the terraces and the village,
we went back to the roadside viewpoint.
we went back to the roadside viewpoint.
At the viewpoint, we had some photo shoot
with the man in his Igorot costume complete with spear
and shield who was also the comfort room attendant..
with the man in his Igorot costume complete with spear
and shield who was also the comfort room attendant..
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| Part 1 of the photo shoot was the regular "friends pose" or "with an Igorot pose" |
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| Part 2 of the photo shoot was "Action scene" He said. So action it was! |
Since we should get to the hotel on or before the check-out time at noon
and also have an ample time going to Maligcong Rice Terraces,
we decided to just wait for a chance to get a ride going back to downtown Bontoc.
and also have an ample time going to Maligcong Rice Terraces,
we decided to just wait for a chance to get a ride going back to downtown Bontoc.
As we waited,
once in a while tourist buses and vans had their stop-over at the place for selfies.
once in a while tourist buses and vans had their stop-over at the place for selfies.
A jeep with tourist (looks like balikbayans) dropped by
and we tried to hitch a ride saying that we will pay
and just sit on top but unfortunately, we were not granted.
and we tried to hitch a ride saying that we will pay
and just sit on top but unfortunately, we were not granted.
We waited some more.
We finally got a ride on a private jeep at 11:23 am.
"Ediayak lang Talubin nya" (I'll just go to Talubin) the driver said.
"Ediayak lang Talubin nya" (I'll just go to Talubin) the driver said.
Along the way, the jeep had to stop to help a stalled truck (11:30).
He lend his tools to the driver of the truck and we waited until they finished fixing it.
A good Samaritan he was.
He lend his tools to the driver of the truck and we waited until they finished fixing it.
A good Samaritan he was.
We parted ways with the jeepney at Barangay Talubin
where there was a passenger jeep waiting (11:53 noon).
We rode on that passenger jeep and arrived at Bontoc town proper at 12:25 noon.
where there was a passenger jeep waiting (11:53 noon).
We rode on that passenger jeep and arrived at Bontoc town proper at 12:25 noon.
Video clips from along the way
Although it was half an hour passed noontime,
we were able to take a bath at the hotel where we had checked-in
and checked-out with no additional fees.
we were able to take a bath at the hotel where we had checked-in
and checked-out with no additional fees.
We decided to cancel our visit to Maligcong Rice Terraces
and just roamed around town a little bit.
and just roamed around town a little bit.
At 2:04 in the afternoon we rode a passenger van going back to Abatan90
in the municipality of Buguias (Benguet) then rode another passenger van
to Baguio City and finally rode the last trip going back to
Home Sweet Home.
in the municipality of Buguias (Benguet) then rode another passenger van
to Baguio City and finally rode the last trip going back to
Home Sweet Home.
-end of pagnapagna-
To the people of Bay-yo,
the people we met along the way
and the jeepney driver with plate number ADF 460
- Many THANKS and God Bless!
the people we met along the way
and the jeepney driver with plate number ADF 460
- Many THANKS and God Bless!
Video clips taken at Barangay Bay-yo and the Rice Terraces
Subject : Bay-yo Rice Terraces
Location: Barangay of Bay-yo
Municipality of Bontoc
Province of Mountain Province
How to get there:
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