Menbiyahe

In summer 2008, I was fortunate to reach one of the peaceful places in the country – Sagada.

Sagada is a 5^th class municipality in the Mountain Province with the population of approximately 10, 575 people in 2,158 households. Sagada is famous for its hanging coffins—the traditional way of burying people that is not use anymore. However, according to the locals, not anyone was qualified to be buried this way. One has to be married and have grandchildren to be qualified.

When I arrived in Sagada, the first thing that struck was the quietude of the place. The serenity of the town helped me appreciate the beauty and richness of its surrounding – the abundance of flowers, pleasant architecture, lots of trees, dramatic limestone outcrops and breathtaking views down the valley.

Walking is one of the great pleasures in Sagada. There are no tricycles there which are a silent blessing. Strolling around the town can be relaxing given the fact that the temperature was so cold and refreshing. Moreover, the friendliness of the people gives me secured feeling to do other things such as trekking, caving and camping.

The old century bell

In the street of Sagada

Sagada has observed a 9:00 p.m. curfew for many years. This is a farming community and most people are up before dawn to go to the fields, so closing down at 9:00 p.m. makes a lot of sense. The stores close, the restaurant stop serving food and the streets become quiet. The curfew is also a way of controlling public drunkenness. Curfew can conjure up all sorts of images and often tourists are troubled by it. There is nothing to worry about this Shangri-la.

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