Ifugao

Hungduan Tramline

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Ate Weng Sicat, the local DOT Officer,  showed this one of a kind zipline-like ride in Hungduan.

Hungduan Tramline

Hungduan Tramline

It is operated by an engine that push and pulls the ride and could carry a weight of 200kg from one mountain side to the other.

Engine that controls the tramline

Engine that controls the tramline

Tramline Wire

Tramline Wire

Excitedly, I asked Ate Weng if I could ride, then I got this look telling me that I could not ride the tramline. She then explained that the tramline is NOT FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE, but to help the locals to transport palay and

Hungduan Climbathon 2011: A Volunteer’s Perspective

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The Hungduan Climbathon is a 21-km mountain running race traversing the historical Mt Napulauan in Ifugao Province, starting from Bokiawan Information Center, will pass through the world-famous rice terraces, ascend to the peak, and descend to the finish line at the Municipal Ground, Poblacion Hungduan. At a maximum elevation of 2642 meters asl, this race is officially classified as a SKYRACE, a mountain trail running race at high altitude.

Only one thing came to my mind. I must go there!

Unfortunately, I was undertrained and had to undergo a minor operation that made competing our of the options. Thus, as a photography enthusiast and a member of the Philippines Skyrunning Association (PSA), I volunteered to document the event! 🙂

Hungduan Rice Terraces

Hungduan Rice Terraces

Hungduan Rice Terraces

Hungduan is one of those places where I have second thoughts of sharing to people. It’s wonderful Rice Terraces and kind people makes me want to bring everyone there, yet I have to stop and rethink because if too many people go there, the amount of garbage and clashing of mountain culture and city culture may destroy the place. So why am I sharing this to you? It’s because I trust the local Department of

Photo Wednesday: The Travelling Merchants

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We were going around the tiangge of the Tungoh Ad Hungduan Festival one of the participants of the Hungduan Climbathon 2011 were talking to some of the merchants. Surprisingly, they were not speaking in Ifugao dialect but in Bisaya dialect. I frequent Mindanao and I could identify if one is trying hard Bisaya or not, and I am sure they were not trying hard.

(Lower Left) Kuya JR; (Upper Center) Kuya Janjan

(Lower Left) Kuya JR; (Upper Center) Kuya Janjan

Kuya JR arranging some of his merchandise

Kuya JR arranging some of his merchandise

I approached and asked them where they were from. Surprisingly (again!), they told me that they were from Tondo, Manila. It turned out they were travelling merchants. By selling different products, they travelled from Cotabato, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Samar, Iloilo, Bicol Region and many more provinces before they arrived in Ifugao. They were selling cloth, undergarments, knives, boots, hats, childrens clothes and many more when I saw them.

Another participant talked to them in Ilonggo. They also knew how to speak comfortably in the Ilonggo dialect! They also spoke in Ifugao dialect when one a customer came by and asked for