June 2010, I got an e-mail from Karl Grobl asking for a quotation for 32 seater coaster to Baguio, Sagada and then to Vigan City. After one year of exchanging e-mails, finally Karl and his group with their HD cameras came to see the beauty of the Philippines. On June 14, 2011 at around 8:00am, riding on the 32 seater tourist class mini-bus driven by Christian, we arrived at their hotel. Everybody were on the ground floor hotel lobby with their stuff surrendering the room keys and other things. Karl greeted me a smile and introduce me to the group where two beautiful ladies standing besides me greeted me with shake hands. They were all very excited. As we left the hotel and everybody have their seats, Karl started to turn the bus into a class room. He gave points about what to see on the road and how to shoot in clear/dark sky etc. Along the NLEX, we stopped at Shell station to have some coffee and drinks and then roll off again until we reach Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac City and spend our lunch. When we reach PUGO, the start of ascending road to Baguio City, Ferdz started his talk about the twisted road going up to the City of Baguio. According to Ferdz, before the concrete pavements was constructed and passable by any vehicles, it was a carabao or water buffalo's trail or path. At the top, there parts that we passed a zero visibility because of thick fog. The group enjoyed swinging inside the bus and amaze the beautiful mountain scenery and the houses that hung around the hills. We arrived at Manor Hotel, Camp John Hay around 4:00pm.
At around 8:00am, we left Manor hotel to Sagada. After a few minutes of traveling on the zigzag roads, the group requested to stop and make some shots of the beautiful scenery.
Anietra Hamper, a TV anchor, journalist from USA
We spend our lunch in this restaurant (below). Luyong's restaurant located at Mt. Atok. Here you can order local dishes like fried chicken (native), tilapia, chopsuey.
After a few minutes of travel, we reached the highest point of Halsema hi-way. Halsema hi-way was once tagged as one of the most dangerouse hi-way in the world. Today, Halsema is a 2-way lane, concrete pavements with wide curve shoulder.
At Sagada, we checked in at Rock Inn hotel, one of the best hotel in Sagada. The place is so simple, silent with a fire place and it sorrounded with trees and citrus. The group's first mission is to catch the low lying clouds and the sun rise at Mt. Kiltepan in the early morning of June 16 and followed by other tourist spots.
At the echo valley, the group prepare their cameras and get ready to the hanging coffins.
The hanging coffins.
The rice terraces.
The pinikpikan way of dressing chicken
. After the mission, the group proceed back to the hotel riding in a locally made jeepney.
The next day, we traveled from Sagada to Vigan City via the challenging route, Abatan-Mangkayan-Cervantes road and Cervantes-Tagudin road.
If planned to visit Sagada and you need assistant regarding transportation (tourist bus), just call or txt me at 09084447711.
