The North Luzon’s Paradise: a Travel Guide to Ifugao’s Treasured Haven

Best Group Ever Visiting the Banaue Rice Terraces, one of Asia’s finest, has been one of my dream travel destinations. That’s why when one of my courses in UP Diliman offered this trip, I didn’t hesitate to take the opportunity.  Who could ever refuse this? I am no judger, but I’m definitely judging those people who decided not to go. Anyway, the trip was set for approximately 2 ½ days. We departed Friday night and left the place Sunday...

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Celebrating Rice

Not every Filipino knows this but April is actually the Panagyaman Rice Festival Month.             Panagyaman is an Ilocano term that means thanksgiving, commonly referring to a good harvest that deserves to be celebrated.The Festival is a gesture of "pasasalamat" (Thanksgiving) to the thousands of farmers who work the soil to grow rice and other basic agricultural crops that provide nourishment...

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The Truth About the Ifugao Rice

When we, city-dwellers, come to the marketplace, we look for the best but affordable rice. Undoubtedly, Ifugao rice is one of the rarer and better variants. What we do not know, however, is that it is much more expensive than what its city price tag usually says. We were ourselves pounding rice grains when a local farmer comes to tell us this. She says that in the city, (or to speak more specifically, in the retail level), Ifugao rice is sold at...

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The Road to Batad

A Photo Journey by Annicalou C. Tanaquin View from the Restaurant Terraces from the First Stop Terraces which haven't been planted in yet The fog covering the mountains View from where we stayed Residential area in the middle of the terraces Planted rice Sir Rae's hut Landslide on the face of the mountain Waterfalls View from down below A grave in the middle of the rice terrace...

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