The Philippines is made up of 7,107 Islands. Beautiful in nature and in the nature of its people. A verdant archipelago with pristine beaches and soaring mountains and such diversity among its own people. Hop on one island and then the next and you would think you have travelled to another country!



Sagada is one of the ten towns of the Mountain Province in the Cordillera Region of Northern Philippines. I consider it my Shangri-la. I would often retreat to this place when I was still in the Philippines to recharge.

It has a population of about 10,000 divided into its 19 barangays. It is known for its pleasant climate, pine sceneries, rocky terrain, waterfalls, centuries-old burial caves, rice terraces, local weaving and hanging coffins. The forebears of the current residents practiced an unusual burial practice by hanging and stacking coffins, hewed from tree trunks, in the limestone karst cliffs and caves near town.

Sagada is a 6 to 7-hour bus ride from Baguio City which is in turn a 5-hour bus ride from Manila. This route enables one to experience the grandiose of the Halsema Highway with its zig-zagging roads and the breathtaking Benguet countryside.

The food is an experience, always fresh and abundant. Vegetarians would never want to leave this place! From Sagada, one can travel to the next interesting site, also known as the 8th wonder of the World.

Banaue rice terraces

As landscapes go, there can be few more spectacular and breathtaking than those around Banaue. Over two thousand years in the making, this site has been dubbed “the stairway to heaven”

The Ifugao tribespeople who created and farmed the terraces in order to supply their staple crop of rice have in doing so left behind an architectural masterpiece. The fact that they were constructed using only primitive tools and bare hands makes the terraces even more astounding .


The Ifugao house is built on stilts with a pyramid roof made of straw. In the nearby village of Tam-An the people still carry on traditional crafts such as weaving and woodcarving, and you cannot ask for a better price. Frankly speaking, it’s a steal.

Heading down from the mountain, the Hundred Islands National Park is the foremost tourist destination in the province of Pangasinan in northern Philippines.

It is a five-hour drive north of Manila passing through Pampanga, Tarlac, and finally to Alaminos. It is about 250 kms. from Manila. The jump-off point is the town of Lucap. From the wharf, it is just a short 20-minute boat ride to the islands.

This National Park covers a land area of 1,884 hectares with 123 islands. The government has kept development within the park to a minimum. Until now, only Quezon, Governor, and Children's Islands have any sort of structures.

And these are just very basic picnic huts and tables, rest rooms, and some overnight huts and a cottage. There are no restaurants or souvenir shops or even running water. You have to bring everything you need, including drinking water, food and a roll of toilet paper!