Sagada Philippines

My girlfriend brought to my attention this WordCamp event to be held at the College of St. Benilde. Up until then, I haven’t heard of such a thing and when I looked into it, I’ve learned it’s a major event in the U.S. with its main goal as set:

One of the objectives of WordCamp Philippines is to encourage more developers to use and deploy WordPress, not only as a blogging engine but also as a full-featured content management system for Web sites. Another is to increase the number of WordPress users and developers in the country. By developers, we mean programmers of WordPress plugins and designers of themes & templates.

Wordcamp Philippines 2008 will be held on September 6, 2008 at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzalez Theater, College of Saint Benilde in Manila.

Since I am maintaining a few blogs using WordPress, I really look forward to attending this event and learn more tips and perhaps tricks to be a better WordPress blogger.

The event is backed by Mindanao Bloggers and sponsored by the following:

* i.PH: the Domain for Individuals
* Free Online Flash Games
* Wazzup Manila Philippines
* Real Estate CRM
* Real Estate Website Designers
* Orange County Real Estate
* Auto Insurance Quotes
* Lane Systems Inc.
* RedMedia

Tags: WordCamp Philippines

I was interviewed way back for MoneySense’s summer edition about Sagada. And I’m just thrilled to see my name on their site.

Be alone or meet new friends in Sagada

This product development officer did not mind hiking up north just to be with Mother Nature

MJ Ces, a product development officer for a paper company, shares he already made four trips to Sagada – once even by himself. He fell in love with the place and was even joined by friends who were willing to sweat, take long walks, get dirty, but breathe fresh air, taste good food, and meet nice people.

MJ recommends traveling alone for those who would like to spend time alone with nature and meet new friends. The only downside of being a lone traveler is you do not have anyone else to share expenses with, especially when hiring guides.

On all his Sagada trips, he carries with him around P3,000, spending on transportation (Manila-Banaue bus costs P462, Banaue-Sagada jeepney/bus fare is P250, Sagada-Baguio bus fare is P250, and Baguio-Manila bus fare is P385); lodging (P150 per night); food (around P400); guide fee (P500for Sumaguing Cave). All in all, he spends on average P2,400, with enough money for pasalubong. “Bring only cash as there is no ATM in Sagada and the shops there do not take credit cards,” MJ advises.

Lodging in Sagada is relatively cheap, a per night stay in a dormitory-type room costs P150. At Ganduyan Inn, you can get a single-bed room for P200 a night. The St. Joseph’s Inn is a bit more expensive because of better amenities, like a hot shower…

Tags: MoneySense.com, Sagada

I wasn’t expecting to find cattle in Sagada, considering the altitude of this mountain destination.

Here are the cows grazing on the lawn of the St. Mary’s Church.

Or are they going to hear Mass?

Tags: Sagada, St. Mary's Church

Sagada is a great place to go backpacking. While I highly suggest you hire a guide, for those who are more adventurous, solo backpacking might be the thing for them. Here are some tips you might want to read first:

Solo Backpacking Tips

1. Tell someone where you’ll be, and when you expect to return. It’s probably best if you leave a map with them, and let them know who to call if you don’t return on time.

2. Bring a cell phone. Turn it off and put it in the bottom of your pack so it won’t bother you.

3. Bring the usual safety items (matches, first aid kit, flashlight, etc). Check first if you have everything you need and if they are working properly.

4. If you’re not sure of your abilities, or have a bad knee or other potential problem, stick to well-traveled trails. On many routes, another backpacker will be by every hour. That’s good to know if you’re in trouble.

5. Learn well how to read a map and use a compass. If you are two miles off route and can’t get a signal on your phone when your knee gives out, you’re in trouble. Even if you like to wander, you should be able to know where you are on the map for safety.

6. Know your abilities. Don’t plan on twenty-mile days if you haven’t done them before.

7. Learn to lighten your load. When you’re alone, you lose the efficiency of sharing the load for stoves, tents and other common items. It’s easy - and dangerous - to become overloaded when yours is the only backpack. You might want to read up on ultralight backpacking.

Tags: backpack, backpacking, backpacking tips, Sagada, sagada philippines, tips

First-timers often easily shrug off the adventure a Sagada caving can give, specifically of the Sumaguing Cave. You can hear people saying, “Been there done that, what could possibly be exciting about it?”

But as this blogger experienced for herself, when people emerge from the bowels of the Sumaguing, they feel something short of a life-changing encounter. Some would want to revisit, but there are also those would swear they wouldn’t go near the caves again.

Experience the Sagada caves for yourself and prove that you can conquer your fears of the dark, the bats, the guano and the slippery rocks.

Tags: caving, Sagada, sagada philippines, sumaguing cave

It is very cold in Sagada, that’s a given. And although most of the inns advertise that they have hot showers, you must keep in mind the Murphy Law. That those hot showers at times won’t work.

You can still get a shower, but the ice-cold type. So it is best to carry a back-up plan: the potable water heater.

It’s like a long wire with a knob on one end that you put into a pail of water and plug it to the outlet. You wait for a few minutes and the water will heat up. Just don’t be as stupid as I was the first time I used it. I tested the water with my hand to see if it’s already warm enough–without removing the heater first–and I got a shock!

It’s not a deadly shock but still, it was a shock! That was among the most stupid things I ever did in my life.

Anyway, if you can, bring such a device when you go to Sagada. Unless of course you’re used to taking extremely freezing showers.

Tags: portable heater, Sagada

There are a number of peak seasons for Sagada: Holy Week, Christmas, All Saint’s Day and long weekend holidays. During this time, all the inns are fully-booked weeks in advance. Hundreds of people are there to enjoy the place. But can they truly enjoy Sagada in that manner?

I would say no. Although there would be added joy of meeting lots of people, Sagada is best experienced when it is less crowded. Just imagine traversing the caves and you’re stuck standing on one pathway because you have to wait for a group of people to pass. Or try finding a seat in Yoghurt House, Masferre or the other restaurants.

It would be a nightmare, for me at least.

Try to schedule your visit on an off peak season. These would be the days where the rest of the country would normally be busy at the office. It’s a sacrifice on your time at work but I assure you that it’s all worth it.

Tags: peak season, Sagada

I have never seen a hanging coffin up close in Sagada. Each time I plan to hike to the limestone cliffs where the coffins are suspended or to Lumiang Cave where some where piled, the weather was always against me, raining hard until I opt to relax and eat instead.

It has come to my attention that tourists will no longer be allowed to touch the coffins. Before, anybody can just go hike to these locations but they have to register first at the tourist information center. Now visitors are required to take a guide.

This is a welcome news, I believe, so these hanging coffins and other Sagada attractions can be preserved. Especially with the increase in the number of visitors that Sagada has experienced for the past two years, protecting these relics and sites has never been this important.

Tags: hanging coffins, lumiang cave, Sagada, sagada philippines

People say you haven’t lived until you’ve seen the amazing Banaue Rice Terraces. It’s truly a majestic sight as these look like giant steps that lead to heaven!

It’s a great thing that one of the routes that you can take to Sagada will pass by these Banaue Rice Terraces. Just make sure to ask your driver or guide to make a stopover at the viewpoint. There are actually a number of viewpoints, your guide should be able to find you one that is perfect for a photo op.

Tags: banaue rice terraces

Writing about Sagada, my favorite place in the world, requires that I visit it once in a while. Now, wouldn’t it be nice to have an additional income to help me finance such a trip?

A friend of mine who have been blogging for more than a year mentioned to me the number of ways she was able to monetize her blog. Hands down, she referred me to PayPerPost as the most effective means to do it.

So I started to read her blog and other people’s blogs where I knew they have made a post either reviewing, advertising or just plain mentioning a product they got through PayPerPost and I’ve realized, because they are such good writers, these posts blended perfectly with their blogs.

What a great way to earn while maintaining the credibility and general theme of your blog! Blog advertising has never been this easy and effective for both the advertiser and the blogger.

So I’ve decided to give it a try. Signing up was easy and my blog was approved within the day. And I realized (even though I still have yet to earn anything) why haven’t I tried it before? And one great thing that I’ve just found out is that PayPerPost gives me the choice to donate my future earnings to worthwhile organizations such as the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.

Now that’s what I call blogging for a cause.

It has been a good two months since I last visited Sagada and although I’m planning another trip before this year ends, I’m still saving so I can make my next Sagada stay a bit longer so I can provide more information and insights about the place.

Tags: additional income, payperpost