A looooooooong overdue post.
I believe this was November 2013, the DYNASLOPE Community Team (Jun & I) and the SENSLOPE Team (Benjie + Sey + Mico) went for the nth time to the Benguet Province to conduct an early warning system protocol consultation with the LGUs of the four municipalities where our sensors are deployed (Bokod, Buguias, La Trinidad, and Benguet).
It was also during this time that the Adivay Festival 2013 was held in La Trinidad. This is an annual event organized by the Benguet Provincial Government that features each municipality's unique/"endemic" product. Imagine my JOY and GIDDINESS when I saw the booths of the municipalities and their items! NGANGA to the nth level! Ang saya saya ko! I felt like binigay sakin lahat nung balat ng isang lechon de leche! Ganung feeling!
Aside from the booths, I was also overjoyed to feel and taste the culture of Benguet Province. These are different people in terms of food (high vegetable consumption), clothing (they need thick clothing for the cold climate) religion (some are still Animists), ritual (Kanyaw), of course their language (Kakanaey, Ibaloi, Ilokano), facial and body features (alam mo agad na tiga-highlands siya kasi iba talaga hitsura nila; they have big noses; somewhat chinky eyes; their lips are full and wide; they have short legs; big hands and feet; wide body structure; their complexion ranges from fair to reddish dark--> these are some of my common observations from the locals, the ones who claim they are pure Igorot. Yung iba kasi nahaluan na ng bisaya or japanese origin). Basta in general they are largely different from the lowlanders. And it was such a treat to be with them, to be welcomed by their warm hospitality and delicious food and coffee (yes, COFFEE!!! May nakita ako sa UP Town Center na Highlands Coffee yung tindahan. And I thought to myself, omigosh, nalunod ako sa kape nung nasa Benguet ako), their STRAWBERRIES!, the vegetables, and flowers.
Wow, I can go on forever depicting Benguet Province and its beautiful scenery but I believe one should visit the place to fully take in what the place has to offer. It can offer SO SO MUCH, it just has to be properly marketed and advertised to the public.
This photo is within the Adivay Festival grounds. Look at the colorful canopy that provides shade from the blinding rays of the sun.
Just look at those beautiful plants!!! Look at the beautiful cabbage! the root crops! Wow. All grown here in Benguet. Look at the locally made slippers top ;)
These are the booths of each municipality. They have a diorama in front of their booth that is unique to their place. Like the Municipality of Bokod. They have with them the Ambuklao Hydroelectric Plant. Buguias has this big carrot atop their Nipa's roof. Buguias is known to be the Salad Bowl of Benguet. This is where most of our vegetables come from--- terraces and terraces of vegetables abound in Buguias.
I love flowers. I took this photo inside the La Trinidad Flower Shop. Look at all those beautiful and fresh flowers!!!
I took a photo of the events lined up for the Adivay Festival 2013. How diverse and unique and fun!
These are random photos taken in Baguio and Benguet. In Wright Park, 50's Diner, The Mansion, and the ukay-ukays in Benguet.
If you guys are looking for a great place to explore this summer but do not want to go to the beach, I suggest you explore the mountains of Benguet and Mountain Province. Definitely one of the most magnificent and fun places to be in now that it's really hot in Manila. :)
If you need some tips how to go there and where to book and what places to be in, email me at edz.mendoza@gmail.com. I know I could just have posted them here, but I want to provide you guys a more personal advice, depending on your time and budget. :)
