Posted by Josiah on May 4, 2012
Heritage Village
On my first time in Hungduan, Ifugao the place that I really enjoyed going was the Heritage Village. It was lively and there were a lot to see in terms of how life in Hungduan really is. At that time it was their Tungoh Ad Hungduan, an annual activity on the third week of April and I think that is the best time to visit Hungduan.
In the Heritage Village before I met two travelling merchants who went around the Philippines buying and selling.
The travelling merchants
There were also craftsmen who made wood carving and baskets. One of the most memorable craftsmen last year was the guy who was carving trophies for their Rice Terraces Marathon.
Each native house depicts each barangay of the municipality and if you look closer you’ll notice that each house is unique from each other. » Read more…
Posted by Josiah on May 4, 2012
I first saw the beauty of Hapao Rice Terraces last year when our jeepney stopped at its viewpoint. Immediately, it became one of my most favorite rice terraces in the Cordillera or what others might say, love at first sight.
Hapao Rice Terraces
Seeing it was really awesome but taking a good picture of it requires analytical skills as the cables of the Agricultural Tramline is somehow blocking the way. But I did not mind as the benefit of tramline to the local people outweighs my picture.
Agricultural Tramline
I’ll let you in on a little secret. From the viewpoint of Hapao Rice Terraces go down about 300 meters down the road until you pass by a colorful house (I wish the owner does not repaint). You’ll see a gap between the houses where you can see Nungulunan Rice Terraces. » Read more…
Posted by Josiah on May 4, 2012
The first time I heard about Sagada Coffee I was joking that a mother ordered her son to buy coffee and the son ended up going up to Sagada, Mountain Province just to buy coffee. Late last month, looks like the joke was on me.
When my mother learned that I was going to Hungduan, Ifugao for my travel project she ordered me to buy coffee. Specifically, Sagada Coffee.
Nungulunan Rice Terraces in Hungduan, Ifugao
I woke up at 4:45AM, packed my stuff and left my lodging in the middle of Hapao Rice Terraces in Hungduan, Ifugao to catch the 1 hour jeepney ride to Banaue.
Rode a jeep from Banaue to Bontoc, Mountain Province for 2 hours topload style where I met travellers – Jeano, Jermaine and Angel – who were also toploading.
(Clockwise from top left) Jermain, Angel and Jeanno
When they asked me how many days was I staying and what were the spots I was going to in Sagada, I can only give them one answer “Ummm… Uwi na ako bukas. Inutusan lang kasi ako ng nanay ko bumili ng kape.” » Read more…
Posted by Josiah on May 3, 2012
At Hapao Rice Terraces early in the morning
I had just finished my dinner at the lodging in the middle of Hapao Rice Terraces when I saw 4 flashlights coming down from the entrance of the lodge. One was Ate Veron, the lady I met at the road in Hapao who told me directions on how to reach my lodging and 3 others who I have never met. Turns out they were travellers too and they were also from Mindanao. 
We had the usual get-to-know-you and how-did-you-get-here type of conversation. They told me that they were not planning to visit Hungduan but due to a series of unfortunate events they were fortunate to have arrived in Hapao Rice Terraces.
They cooked, ate their dinner and we talked about going to Bogyah Hot Spring early in the morning as the locals told us that it is best to go there around 6 to 7 AM. We planned to start walking around 5:30 AM as the walk to the hot spring would take around 30 minutes from the lodging.
Early the next day, we asked one of the lodging staff, Kuya Dondon, to guide us to the hot springs. A guide is highly encouraged bordering to required as you may get lost going through the rice terraces. It’s like a maze with rice fields representing the walls and the pilapil as your only choice of path.
Start of the walk to Bogyah Hot Spring
The sun was not up on the sky but it has given us light to walk through the terraces without flashlights. The cool morning breeze made it conducive for a morning walk. » Read more…
Posted by Josiah on May 2, 2012
Going to Hungduan, Ifugao
To get to Hungduan, Ifugao you must get to Banaue. If you do not know how to get to Banaue, then you can find out here.
When you get to Banaue you can go to Hundguan via
via Public Jeepney
Jeepney to Hapao
Once you reach Banaue, there are jeepneys going to Hapao or Poblacion of Hungduan, Ifugao.
The jeepneys can be located at the front of the Ohayami Bus Station in Banaue.
Time of availability of Jeepneys: 12:30PM to 5PM (last trip). Sorry, no morning jeeps to Hungduan.
If you’re going to Hapao the fare would be 30 Pesos/person with a travel time of 1 hour to 1 hour 30 mins. If you go down here you can view the Hapao Rice Terraces which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Cultural Landscape category. You can also dip on Bogyah Hot Spring or on the cold waters of Hapao River. If you want to stay there for a night or 2, there are available lodgings in the middle of the rice terraces.
If you’re going to the Poblacion of Hungduan the fare would be 50 Pesos/person with a travel time of 1 hour 30 mins to 2 hours. You can visit the Hungduan Weaving Livelihood Center or the Heritage Village. There are also lodgings in the Poblacion so you can stay more than a day.
It is highly advised that travellers should request the jeepneys to stop by the Tourist Assistance Center of Hungduan to register.
By the way, you can topload at the jeepneys.
Toploading to Hungduan, Ifugao
Via Hired Tricycles » Read more…
A travel blog by Josiah Sicad that aims to make Filipinos Travel Responsibly and observe the unique culture of the Philippines. 
