Memorable Batad experience

IHAVE been travelling around some parts of the Cordilleras since last week. I am fortunate that I was given this opportunity to go to many places in the Cordilleras and rediscover the beauty of this region I call home, the region where I was born and raised, the region I identify with as a people and culture.

The seven days that I have been travelling. I have been to some of these places in the Cordilleras that are frequented by tourists, foreign and domestic alike, and some places that are not known to many. This week, I write about my latest experience in Banaue, Ifugao.

I spent two days in Banaue, not really for a holiday, but for work. From the last time I visited Banaue back in 2012, there were noticeable changes. There are more restaurants and hotels now than from last time.

I stayed at the Spring Village Inn, owned by the family of a college batchmate, Atty. Reginald Buduhan. It is a good alternative to the exorbitantly expensive Banaue Hotel. It is not 3-star hotel or whatever, but it is affordable, cozy and clean. I strongly recommend this place should you ever visit Banaue.

I also had the chance to visit Batad rice terraces for the first. A 30-45-minute ride to the drop-off point or saddle, where you start your 15-20-minute trek to the Batad viewdeck. Upon reaching the view deck, you get to have a full view of the magnificent Batad rice terraces, forming an amphitheatre, sloping gently to the bottom of the mountain.

From the view deck, we had to walk for about 1 and a half hours going up to the highest part of the rice terraces, and when we reached the edge, there is steep descent to where Tappia Falls is located. There were just too many steps going down that my legs were already trem- bling.

Tappia Falls is so picturesque and has a mystical sense. I totally forgot about my trembling legs. The water current is quite strong that time because of the rains from the previous days, but we still enjoyed the short dip. After a bit, we climb back up the same way we went down, except that we crossed the rice terraces this time, cutting our walking time by at least 30 minutes.

The view deck, near the Batad Elementary School, has several sari-sari stores and eateries where one can relax and dine while viewing the rice terraces, or where one can rest from a long trek up the mountain.

As I look for something to buy, primarily something to quench my thirst from the hike, I find the prices of the products sold there to be quite on the expensive side. I was being naughty and teased the lady manning one of the stores, “maid discount” (vernacular when asking for a dis- count) as I was surprised that the fresh coconut fruit is sold for P80.

She remarked that I should go to Bagabag (Nueva Vizcaya) and carry the buko myself. She then enumerated a litany of reasons why it is that expensive, including paying for the transporting of these and paying for people to carry these fresh buko to the view deck.

If those were included in the computation of the cost, the selling price of that fresh buko would really be that high. The same principle was also applied to other products like a 1.75L soda, which is usually sold in my neighborhood’s stores at P50 is sold at P130. I also believe that the same pricing principle was used by the small stores located in various spots in the rice terraces, where tourists can stop and rest.

I really understand it. I understand why the prices of the products there were that expensive. I am a business and economics teacher for crying out loud. I was so willing to buy an P80 fresh buko, when the normal price is around P30-P40 in Baguio. I was that thirsty, and I was willing to buy for 5 other companions, too.

But I found the storekeeper’s remark unappealing after I teased her asking for a discount. I got disappointed. Was it because I was Filipino? Was it because I speak the more popular vernacular? Was it because I had a dark complexion? If it were any other tourist, say a playful or witty foreigner, would tease her, would she have made that remark? I guess she would not.

Some have already established residences at the view deck area and constructed houses that are concrete, that when I took a picture of the rice terraces, a few of the iron reinforcements of an unfinished building’s pillars became photobombers. I think that is the price of progress, and proof of it is usually having permanent concrete structures. I assume they own the lot, and they have the liberty to build whatever structure on their lots. But they have to think again, what they are selling is the view, and it would not be that saleable if there are things that block the view or make the view less appealing.

I made it a point that wherever I go, I do not leave any garbage behind. It is just sad that along the way, I saw plastic water bottles and labels, empty bag of chips, etc., thrown even in the rice terraces. I am saddened that people who come visit this beautiful place would leave it a little less beautiful than how it was when they came.

Visitors should be advised by the tourism office and reminded by the tour guides regarding this. I remember when I climbed Mt. Pulag, there was a short orientation instructing climbers on what to do and not to do. One of which is how to dispose of your garbage properly. I was kind of expecting that as well when I went to register to the tourism office and paid the corresponding fees.

I commend our tour guide, Manong Kenneth. I observed that before we left the shed near the Tappia Falls, he glanced back to see if there were garbage we left behind.

My visit to Banaue was both great and sad. The experience of visiting Batad and Tappia for the first time, challenging myself, and surviving it was great. However, there were people and circumstances that could have made my latest visit to Banaue better.

I love Banaue and I won’t let some people or circumstances change that. Banaue is still good, great actually, despite these. It is still worth visiting if you haven’t been there.