The "Survivor"-inspired title is not an exaggeration. You really cannot underestimate Sagada.
Saying it is such a beautiful place is an understatement. It is a place full of life, life you thought you would only see in movies.
Sagada is 5 to 6 hours away from Baguio. Endless zigzag roads may have taken our sanity away but we were welcomed by such great weather and good food when we reached the place. The real adventure began when we trekked all the way to Bokong Falls, also known as Small Falls. Size didn't matter for the beauty of it and the rice terraces surrounding the falls was huge enough to catch our attention.
The adventure continued as we trekked for another hour to see the underground river, hanging coffins, echo valley and all the way to St. Mary the Virgin Church, where we met Kuya Alex, the one who drove the car we rented for the entire trip. Scratches, cuts, back and leg pains did not hold us back. We were exhausted yet excited to see the Sumaging cave, which was the highlight of this trip.
More anxious than ever, we dropped by Lumiang cave to see more coffins on top of each other, which you can view from the large entrance. The coffins were shaped like boats to symbolize a new journey these spirits would take. Take note, these coffins have been there for centuries. Another thing we noticed were the small gecko carvings on the coffins. The Igorots have always believed that geckos symbolize abundance, luck and transformation.The perks of having a guide.
Finally, we reached Sumaging cave. We didn't do the cave connection. I hope the next time I go to Sagada, I'd be able to do it. Anyways, the trail down to the deepest part of the cave was slippery and dark. The two guides held incandescent lamps to light our path. They even served as bridges when we had to cross from one slippery stone to another. A number of rock formations and cold, flowing water kept us in awe. Each time the guide showed us a rock formation, we would pose and give our "template smiles" for the camera. As we reached the deepest part of the cave, we were asked to choose whether to take a more adventurous path or take the safest way back. We did not intend to play safe during the trip so I bet you guessed which path we took. We crawled, swam into the cold water and crossed slippery stones. The experience was worth it. We were all smiles after hours of trekking and caving. We then walked our way up to the main entrance and rode the van back to the rest house.
We ended the night over some chips and instant noodles for the stores were closed when we came out of the cave. Some of us even stayed up until midnight for Justin's biscuit party while the others hit the sack with an empty stomach.
Sagada taught me to set aside my fears and just take the plunge. It also taught me to care more about others and not just myself. I experienced life in Sagada. I hope you could visit the place as well and maybe experience a better you.
