Filed under: Destination Cafe
WARNING: A very long read.
I don’t get stumped with a story’s introduction. It’s usually the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I write. And then the body just comes to me naturally. With this story, I found it odd that the title came first. I usually think of the title when I am already finished with the article. But the title is not a bad start. It’s just perfect for what I’m about to tell you. Join me, make that join us, on our journey to the RUGGED HEAVENS.
Friendship Tales From the Rugged Heavens.
There are only a few places in this world that will make me want to stay longer than the usual. First, there’s my hometown. Second, there’s the town where I studied and am working in. And then third, the places where I travelled to with my family and friends. These are the places I found myself wanting to stay a few days more not only because of the place’s enthralling beauty but because of the experiences I had with my companions.
I’ve always believed that travelling doesn’t have to be done alone. Being a scaredy cat, I won’t dare travel on my own in some remote place, mush less some faraway place I’ve never been to. That would be crazy, if not suicidal. Good thing, there are people who share the same sense of adventure that I have. I simply call them my “ka-seasons.” (Why? That’s a different story altogether.)
The Longest Journey.
It was on November 2006 that my college friends and I made the longest journey of our lives. We’ve never been far from Metro Manila, where we all met in the university, except for the Ilocos region. The idea of going outside the urban jungle thrilled us endless when we were in college and after graduation. It was just a matter of picking the right place. The first one that came to mind? SAGADA.
Sagada lies in the Mountain Province, found somewhere on the Cordilleras mountain range. We’ve heard lots of things about this place that enticed us to dream, talk, and plan. The realization of this dream happened on a whim but then again, the day we set foot on Sagada’s soil was the day a love affair began between us, a group of friends trying to find ourselves, and the place which will teach us how.
Sagada is a mysterious place. It beckons but it doesn’t reveal much of itself unless there’s a willing ness to travel the height and depth of the earth. The moment we left Baguio, our wide world was transformed into a cramped space with just a window separating us from the imposing mountains on one side and the scary cliffs on the other. Twelve hours of journey made us tired, our excitement beginning to fade halfway the beaten path. There’s dust everywhere and the old bus we were riding on wasn’t the comfortable vehicle we’re accustomed to. But time and again, there’s a surprise waiting for us on the bend of the road. Whether it be the glorious sun rising or the gentle breeze silently whispering encouraging words or the breathtaking view, our eagerness slowly returned. Hope was fully restored in our hearts by the time we set foot in Sagada.
It was easy to fall in love with the place. With its rustic mystique and rugged appeal, Sagada is like a dream man - tall, dark and handsome. Its real beauty is hidden behind rocks, hills, and trees. In every part of this municipality, I found pieces of myself and pieces of my friends.
The adventures in Sagada tested our limits and tested our friendship. How far can we go and how far can we urge each other to go on despite our own self-preservation instincts? What will this place bring to this group? Will it break us apart or will our friendship be stronger than ever? These questions are not that relevant at first because our first agenda was to enjoy the activities. But in taking these treks, we proved that as a group, we can do so much more, we can show so much more and we can share many, many more.
Strength in Number.
We were never really prepared with the challenges of Sagada’s eclectic mix of activities. We thought going inside the great Sumaguing Cave was a walk in the park. At the sight of the cave’s mammoth entrance, we knew we were wrong. Doubt slowly creeped in our hearts but we were undeterred when we saw each other’s faces. “Yes team, we can do this!” And so we entered Sumaguing. With only a lamp guiding us on our way down, our afternoon turned into night. We used every inch of our bodies to make the exhausting climb down. Though it’s a lonely struggle, each to his/her own, giggles and curses from friends were actually assuring. It made me realize that no matter what happens, there are people in front and behind me to uplift my spirit. It’s seeing this cave in an epic scale that I appreciated my friends more because they were there with me to face this moment of powerlessness. Without them, I couldn’t have lasted a minute more inside the damp and dark cave. No matter how beautiful the rock formations (the King’s Palace, the turtle’s head, etc. ) inside were, they wouldn’t be as appealing without my friends gawking at the natural structures beside me.
There was a feeling of pride when we finished caving. Seeing the outside world after being trapped halfway middle earth was a breath of fresh air. Seeing each other’s hands and faces with traces of mud was funny but we earned each other’s respect. Not that we didn’t respect each other before that. We just saw each other’s capacity in another light. We can do these kinds of adventures and so we became hopeful of our next journeys. We can do everything and anything because we’re together.
Together, we learned that there were a dozen or more places in Sagada that captivate the history of the place and immortalize the legacies of the Igorots and their ancestors. The Echo Valley and its hanging coffins, the Bokong Falls and its inhabitants, the Kiltepan Tower and its amazing view, the Cemetery and its aged tradition of burning firewood instead of candles for the dead… everything is historic as it is overwhelming. We took pictures, silently documenting the whole experience through our senses and lenses. Our smiles that showed through the photographs were the most genuine smiles we’ve ever caught on cam.
I am easily amazed with nature’s wonders and so are my friends. During our walks to and fro the home where we stayed, we share comments and laughters. It’s good to have them when I feel like shouting at the sight of an open wooden coffin or when I run into a dog angrily barking at me or when I stumble and fall during our hike. It’s fun hearing us urge each other with “We can do this, team! Energy team, energy!” when we feel like we’ve exhausted every bit of strength we have left.
Even late night wanderings on the town proved to be a bonding moment, a chance to strengthen further our friendship. We drank bitter juices and sipped rice wine (perhaps sniff a bit of the fabled drug leaves planted somewhere on the mountains through the passing breeze) to a soundtrack of humming cicadas and singing new-found friends. We shared stories that warmed our souls and stirred our senses in a chilly, grassy hill.
Several days after, we have to return to reality. But we returned with fuller hearts and a stronger, tighter bond.
Lessons from the Mountain.
For leisure travels, I think I wouldn’t want to travel alone after our Sagada experience. I’ve discovered lots of things about myself and about my friends in this journey. Indeed, sometimes the journey to self-discovery starts with a trip to an unknown place with the people we know best.
A part of the Sagada Song summarized it all for me: With you, I believe. In my life, I can live. With you, I can share. What I have without care. I think it doesn’t only talk about the place. It also talks about my friends. With you, I believe. In my life, I can live. With you, I can share. What I have without care.
These are my friendship tales from the rugged heavens… and back.
(This first entry in Destination Cafe is lovingly dedicated to the certified ka-seasons…)
