DiscoverLagawe
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Top 10 Reasons to Visit Lagawe
Reason 01
A Sneak Peak into Lagawe
- In one of the itineraries of the holidays to Lagawe, the first thing that meets your eyes is the mist-kiss ridges of Andiwan River, where the water smoothly flows through terraced lands that have been practised over centuries by the Ifugao people.
- When you walk down to the end of the valley you will see the quaint stone walks, which weave in and out between the coloured houses, each having carvings of the ancestral spirits, with respect to which the inhabitants still guard.
- The smell of pine freshness which wafts over the surrounding forests is an indication of the clean air quality that most of the urban tourists tend to forget since nature in fact plays a significant role in defining a vacation experience.
- Early morning walk to the Lagawe Viewpoint will give you a panoramic view of rolling hills and this will make you feel that you are at the tip of the earth itself.
- The town plaza is lit up in the evenings with cosy lanterns, which create a feeling of warmth and stability of the immediate community.
- Lastly, the faint murmur of the next door Boliwong Public Spring and River creates a situation where you can reflect calmly and remember that each of the moments in this journey is an opportunity to reacquaint yourself with the world at a more relaxed pace.
- Capital: Lagawe is the capital of Ifugao province, Cordillera Administrative Region
- International airport: Clark or Baguio, then land travel hours, taking getting
- Currency: Philippine Peso (PHP)
- Time zone: UTC+8 (Philippine Standard Time)
- Driving side: Right side
- Main electricity: 220 volts, 60 Hz
- Official languages: Filipino and English; the Ifugao dialect is spoken here naturally
- Major religion: A Mix of Christianity and indigenous beliefs practised together
Reason 02
Highlights
- The local markets with their colourful textile woven by local artisans add flavour to the experience offered by the holidays to Lagawe that still resonate with the cultural heritage of the Ifugao.
- When flying with world pinoy, booking a flight with the company usually comes with a welcome briefing pre-flight, which also points out safe ways of travelling and getting a preview of the various cultural year-round festivals.
- Lagawe Town Plaza featuring the colonial fountain and its heritage buildings can be described as a living classroom where tourists can be taught the history of the area.
- A visit of the tour to the Ifugao Museum gives a better understanding of ancient pottery, stone tools and agricultural practises that have made the landscape during thousands of years.
- The Boliwong Public Spring and River is a refreshing point where people will get to wash off the dust of the day and still have the local folklore that states that the water has protective blessings.
- A relaxed stroll through the Lagawe Viewpoint will give a dramatic landscape of the terraced fields that appear to be extending endlessly into the horizon a testament to the ingenuity and patience that humans had.
Reason 03
Seasons to Travel
- In case of planning the holidays to Lagawe, the dry season March-June is the best time to go there to have a trek to see the crystal skies that cover the rice terraces.
- September and October are the cooler months at the start of autumn which make the exploration of the old stone walls of the terraces comfortable.
- Winter, in particular, the month of December is characterised by the fiestas of Simbang Gabi, when the plaza of the town is a living museum of the local faith and traditions.
- The rainy season covers the period of July to September and presents a very green landscape but can also restrict some of the high altitude trails because of the slippery surface.
- The best way to engage in the cultural experience is to come at the end of the festival of Santa Maria in the end of July, when the streets are lined with processions, music, and the smell of freshly grilled pork.
- March and April are spring months during which wild orchids and pine saplings bloom, thereby making the air smell sweet and the rugged terrain exude some colour.
Reason 04
Worth A Visit
Ifugao Museum
- The intelligent design of the museum takes the visitor through a chronological account of the Ifugao people, starting with the early stone tools up to the present-day art pieces.
- The museum has a rare collection of old farm tools that describe how terrace techniques of farming developed.
- Interactive exhibits enable visitors to experience the real carvings on stone giving them a physical relationship to the craftsmen who made it.
- The courtyard of the museum has seasonal cultural events where ancient myths come to life to all the attendees of the museum.
- A guided tour discloses the meaning of every artefact connecting them with the regional histories of the Cordillera on a larger scope.
- The restaurant located in the museum has the traditional Ifugao delicacies and so the travellers can experience history with each bite.
Lagawe Viewpoint
- The high elevation point of the viewpoint also provides a clear view of the whole valley thus the best location to be in during the sunrise.
- There are a few wooden steps and informational boards that give some background on the way the mountains around have been formed geologically.
- There are benches (made of reclaimed wood) which encourage people to sit down and admire the panorama view.
- The angle of the view of the river Lagawe gives easy access to a reflective water body which is a reflection of the landscape in the area.
- Seasonal festivals tend to make the perspective their platform when doing fireworks and this makes a breathtaking experience to the viewers.
- There is a small gift shop on the lower level where local bamboo and rattan are used to make some home-crafted souvenirs so that travellers can bring the view back home.
Lagawe Town Plaza
- At the centre of the plaza is a centuries-old fountain, which is a communal meeting point to both the locals and tourists.
- The area of the colonial architecture reflects the blending of the indigenous design with the Spanish colonial influences.
- The plaza has an engraving of names of historic figures and local legends in stone benches on all corners.
- You can also taste freshly prepared pinikpikan and other local delicacies in the plaza that is often the place where open markets are held.
- The plaza is the platform where traditional dances, music and coloristic processions are presented during the annual fiesta held in the town.
- The surrounding light of the twilight shifts the plaza into a serene water pool, where one can take thoughtful strolls.
Boliwong Public Spring & River
- The crystal-clear waters of the spring have been labelled as the blue heart of holidays to Lagawe and the spring is a source of natural clean drinking water to its inhabitants.
- The steps stones lead to a small island where the visitors can sleep and have a panoramic view of the pine forests around.
- They still embrace traditional Filipino bathing rituals, and that provides them with a cultural experience.
- the flowing nature of the river causes it to be a great fishing location and so there are always storeys of the most feasible places to fish among the local fishermen.
- The flowers of the surrounding environment like orchids and ferns make a natural canopy which provides shading on the hottest time of the day.
- Nocturnal residents build lanterns at the banks and the luminous effect appears on the water surface.
Reason 05
Discover More
Banaue Rice Terraces (nearby)
- These world-heritage terraces are cut into the mountain side in a grid design, which maximises the efficiency of irrigation and has a history of existence of more than 2,000 years.
- Tourists can walk up and down the ancient stone paths which surround every level and marvel at the accuracy of the work and the green vegetation that grows there.
- Terraces created are enclosed by a system of stone walks which offer easy access to both leisurely walks and more adventurous voyages.
- Domestic guides describe the special inverted irrigation process which directs the water at the bottom to the highest areas.
- Hilly terrain around it provides the scenery to shoot sunrise and the rays of sunlight reflect golden colours on the terraces.
- There is a small on-site visitor centre that is a source of information regarding the culture, history and conservation efforts that guard this UNESCO heritage site.
Hungduan Rice Terraces (nearby)
- Hungduan Rice Terraces (nearby): This type of terrace has a width of 1.5 to 1.6 metres and a depth of 3.5 to 4.4 metres that are built on
- Terraces in Hungduan are a bit more isolated providing the feeling of closeness which allows the traveller to bond with the scenery.
- This community has maintained its traditional way of farming, and guests have an opportunity to see how stone walls are carefully hand-shaped in a way which has been developed over generations.
- The forest around is full of indigenous pine trees which create a canopy which cools the place on hot afternoons.
- local festivals during Hungduan give one an idea of the local lifestyle with music, dancing, and a feast of local culture to celebrate the harvest.
- There is a good quality dirt road which leads to the terraces and makes its way through picturesque valleys and has a picturesque view in several directions.
- Travellers usually give a small gift to the fields as a reminder of their respect towards the local farming culture at the end of every visit.
Burnay Pottery Sites
- BURNay pottery is an art that has existed since time immemorial, and each pot has its distinctive form with added value of being fired using natural clay collected in the local riverbanks.
- Visitors are offered the opportunity to observe the artisans during their work when they make the clay knead, sculpt and wheel in order to understand the beneficence of each ingredient to the ultimate pot resistance.
- These glazes give a black appearance to the unique pottery, which is created by burning the pottery in a regulated outdoor kiln, and this practise has been perfected over the centuries.
- Tourists will be invited to join a brief workshop during which they will have the opportunity to make a small jar by themselves, as a memory to take home.
- There is a small shop on the site where completed Burnay pieces are exhibited enabling travellers to buy local authentic souvenirs.
- The nearby environment is sprinkled with old fashioned houses which depict the way the Burnay pottery works its way into the day-to-day life, whether in preserving rice or in serving food.
Local Ifugao Handicraft Shops
- There are numerous traditional crafts displayed in these shops like bamboo baskets, rattan mats and woven shawls that are evidence of the rich history of the region as far as textiles are concerned.
- The workshop of every artisan is accessible to visitors to see and develop a close insight into how much effort it takes to make these products.
- Tourists will be able to bargain in a pleasant environment, and they will learn how to bargain respectfully and at the same time sustain local livelihoods.
- It also has custom craft workshops where you can create your own patterned shawl or accessory made of bamboo guided by a master weaver in many of the shops.
- The stores tend to have explanatory plaques explaining the cultural significance of each of the crafts and its use in the Ifugao society.
- Buying a handcrafted object, the traveller does not only get a unique object but also helps to preserve a centuries-old cultural tradition.
Reason 06
Culture Traditions
- Folkloric Ifugao music is distinguished by the playing of bamboo flutes and gongs that are used in the community meeting and rituals.
- The Binatbatan dance is a dance of the harvest festival, this dance consists of elegant movements, which depict the unity of man and nature.
- The ideology of the community in the protection of a spirit or the Pakad, Paka, is expressed in the sculpting of stone figures of the guardians that are placed at the door of houses.
- There is the customary law called Bayanihan that promotes collaboration among neighbours, such that such resources as water and labour are distributed fairly.
- Elderly constructions such as the elaborate stone walls of the Ifugao narrate with geometric designs in terms of a worldview of a living and interrelated world.
- Yearly festivals like the so-called Kalagayan Festival invite the villagers and visitors to the celebration of the ancestors in the form of dancing, music and communal feasting.
Reason 07
Food Fun Fashion
Food
- Pinikpikan- the signature dish is a low-cooked chicken dish which attributes its origins to the ancestral food preparation techniques of the Ifugao.
- Kangkong soup: It is served on rice, with fresh water spinach that is harvested in the river that provides one with a light, refreshing taste.
- Bicol Express is a hot dish that adds some spice to the local palate that uses coconut milk, chilli peppers, and fresh seafood procured at the local rivers.
- The rice cakes (called Butong) are steamed using freshly picked rice and this produces a very delicate and sweet taste that is typical of festivals.
- A snack of sticky rice packed in banana leaves called Suman is a common choice of a snack by travellers who want to have an authentic taste of a local street food.
- The Kalan cooking technique, which involves the use of claypot on an open fire gives dishes a smoky taste that is soothing and appetising.
Fun
- Holidays to Lagawe adventure Park It has zip-lining and rope-way tours, where the visitor of the park can view the beautiful valley at an elevated level.
- There is a local cycling path, which goes through terraced lands and offers an entertaining and fitness-affirming means of sightseeing the nature.
- Kayaking through the Lagawe River is a leisurely event that enables the tourists to see wildlife like birds and small fish in their natural environment.
- Traditional drums are played on the occasion of annual festival of Bunot, and everyone is encouraged to dance and sing.
- The competition of the Banga art motivates tourists to make miniature pottery turning a mere craft into a kind of a contest.
- Bonfires on the town plaza At night, it is common to see evening bonfires on the town plaza, where the locals and visiting guests come to share storeys around the fire.
Fashion
- The Ifugao traditional clothes are characterised by a sophisticated bead-work, woven fabrics, and the natural dye made out of the local plants.
- Women usually use pahong, which is a woven bamboo fibre decorative coat of a skirt, that is not only practical but also has decorative value.
- Men can wear a cloth known as a patong, which is a loose cut piece that embraces the legs with the belt being made of leather and decorated with carved designs.
- The modern designers in Lagawe are incorporating modern outlines with customary designs to form high fashions of fusion that suppliers and tourists love.
- The Banga market also has a range of handmade accessories including bamboo bracelets and rattan hairpins, a product of the artisanal culture of the community.
- It is during the seasonal festivals that the wearing of bright embroidered outfits increase and the colours and cultural pride of the region is displayed in bright colours and embroidery.
Reason 08
Nature Safari
- The pine forests around are occupied by various wildlife, some of which are the elusive Philippine cockatoo and the colourful green crystal-wing butterfly.
- There are hiking trails through the terraced land, which give chances of seeing native orchids, foxes, and other species of birds that flourish in the highlands.
- The mist that covers the hills during the seasons sets a surreal atmosphere, which can be the dream of a photographer who would want to capture surreal pictures of the valley.
- The Lagawe River has clear waters which sustain a minor ecosystem of fish and amphibians providing a serene wildlife viewing place.
- The terraced fields also turn a deep amber during the dry season, and it serves as a bold contrast to the trees that are green and lush and are surrounding the terraced fields.
- Eco-tourists will be able to attend guided nature walks which will focus on sustainable initiatives and the role of conserving the biodiversity in the region.
Reason 09
Events Fiestas
- There is the festival of the Simbang Gabi, carried out in December, a pre Christmas festival, which involves a procession to the town plaza, with traditional music and lanterns.
- Early spring is the season of the Kalagayan Festival. It is a demonstration of social culture of the community in the form of dance, theatre and communal feasting, which attracts the representatives of other provinces.
- During the festival of the beat known as Bunot celebrated in the middle of summer a crowd is invited to dance the rhythmic drum dance representing strength and unity as a community.
- Bangka... Boat Races on the holidays to Lagawe River draw numerous local people and foreigners and will always provide a loud display of rivalry and friendliness.
- in July, the Feast of St. Mary, is marked by a solemn procession when the people are given a common feast, and the strong Catholic connexion of the land is renewed.
- The festival of the end of the work on the terraced fields in the end of summer is called Rice Harvest Festival, it is accompanied by the parades, music and great demonstration of the recently harvested rice.