EN ROUTE | Manila to Ifugao

Monday, July 30, 2012

20120719-IFUGAO-NEX5N-0001It was a hard fight to catch my ticket to Ifugao.

The night before, I got an invite from PHILTOA to join their Ifugao Heritage Warrior Caravan Run as part of the media group. I have a scheduled shoot somewhere in Ayala on the date of departure and I have only three hours to spare to hurry back home, pack, have dinner and leave for the rendezvous point.

It wouldn’t be as hard if the rain didn’t pour. I got stuck in Ayala as I was wrapping up my shoot.

As soon as the rain abated, I walked/ran to the MRT station in Ayala, piled through the unending queue for a ticket, went through another snaking line through the turnstiles, crushed myself inside a train to Taft Avenue, rode a train to Baclaran, rushed down and rode another one to Monumento, boarded the first jeep I saw then jumped a pedicab and finally opened our door.
It was a flurry of showering, packing and eating. I was back in the streets with a heavier backpack in a record time of thirty minutes and was greeting the staff of PHILTOA and boarding our Victory Liner Bus just in the nick of time.

Our bus rolled a few minutes after I crashed my backpack down the last seat. A few reminders and prayers later and the lights were turned off.

The next thing I knew, the morning light was streaming into the bus window; where are we? I’m really not sure but my busmates were outside taking photos of the morning vista. I cannot miss this. Still groggy from sleep, I went out and took a few snaps of my own.

A few minutes after passing the Ifugao provincial arch, we again alighted to a crisp morning in Lagawe, the provincial capital of Ifugao. The air was nippy and we can see our breath misting from the cold.

The local government of Ifugao including their very down-to-earth Governor, Eugene Balitang, welcomed us with a few talks and presentation about their province inside the Lagawe Provincial Capitol before breakfast was served.
Our stomachs full, our bus again roared into the cold morning. The rush of the past night through the dark metro seemed so far away as we swished pass blue cloud-covered mountains and endless cliffs.


Location MapIfugao Provincial Capitol
Address: Poblacion East, Lagawe, Ifugao
Telephone: (74) 382-2129

GPS Coordinates: 16.797403,121.122701
Click to view location on Google Maps




THE IFUGAO HERITAGE WARRIOR CARAVAN RUN IS A FIVE-DAY FAMILIARIZATION TOUR OF THE IFUAGO ORGANIZED BY PHILTOA.

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12 comments

  1. So jealous of you guys who went to Ifugao! I heard from Glaiza makgasama kayo sa trip? :) Pa-refer naman to PHILTOA in case they have other upcoming trips there!

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  2. Swerte mo ser! Pangarap ko yan :D

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  3. you surely had a wonderful time there..nice pixs po and full of infos..

    See The World
    Travel Euroasia
    Europe Travel Pad
    Countryside Trip

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  4. wew! sana makasali me sa mga gnyan

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  5. One of my dream destinations too. Photos are all stunning Apir!

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  6. Grabe! Buzzer beater a. Good thing you move fast. =)

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  7. i'm jealous, this province is still a dream for me

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  8. Ang saya saya! marathon din ako from Ayala MRT to Trinoma. nag pa reprint ako calling cards before the PHILTOA trip.

    one of the best PHILTOA trips I ever had!

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  9. Anny
    Ahehe naimbitahan lang, di naman ako makatanggi :P

    Kara
    Sure pag may trip ulit Kara :)

    Drew, Marjorie Gavan
    Isang bus ride lang from Manila yan :)

    Redruby
    Thanks! We did have a great time!

    Kulatipot
    Just keep blogging and eventually you will :)

    Juanderfulpinoy
    Apir!

    Tin
    Haha grabe talaga yung paghabol ko nyan

    Eric
    Salamat ulit sa pag refer sakin Eric! Hopefully makasama ulit ako sa next one :)

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  10. As usual ganda ng mga shots christian! I am planning to visit ifugao before december buti na lang well detailed blog mo ty

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  11. Traveling Morion
    Thanks! Ang sarap siguro sa December jan, malamig na malamig!

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