Native House

• How to get there
• How to go back
• Notes

“Gusto niyo po bang puntahan yung native house sa may Awa?” Kuya Elpidio asked as we boarded our motorcycle from our adventure at Balentimol Falls. I was hesitant to say yes. I’ve seen a lot of native houses in Ifugao and I was quite sure that this one would be a little unique from the others, but I was afraid that the little uniqueness would not be enough for me to enjoy the place.

Figures flashed on my mind. Figures of time and money. I’ve already spent days and money in Hungduan, I think I could still burn a little time to visit the native house. Besides, I’ve already travelled a lot of kilometers to get to where I am, if I add one or more kilometers to the distance that would still be a lot. Status quo. Hesitantly, I said yes to Kuya Elpidio. Then off we go.

We passed again another rough road with a scenic route. Stopping once in a while for taking pictures of the landscape. “Ito po yung Kinga Rice Terraces.” Kuya Elpidio said at one of our stops. Another check on the list of rice terraces on the Hungduan Brochure.

The road became concrete and birds were flying off the road as we passed by. “Just like in the movies.” I thought to myself.

There was a concrete building on the left side of the road when our motorcycle stopped. “Dito na po tayo.”

I could see the native house a little down from the building and it was, as I was afraid of, just a little unique from the other native houses I’ve seen. I took a picture of it and was supposed to invite Kuya Elpidio to go back when I saw a man smiling at us from below the house. I waved. He waved back then gestured his hand telling us to go down and approach him and the native house.

We got down and exchange pleasantries with him. He was Kuya Alberto.