Caught in the Middle

Ifugao-Mt.Province Border
Originally uploaded by RyanG.

It's astonishing to know that somewhere in the heart of the mountains lies an oasis - a village called Bontoc, the capital of Mt. Province.

Our group left Banaue maybe past 10 in the morning, and lunch time is fast approaching. While taking some pictures at the Virgin Mary statue marking the Ifugao-Mt. Province border, I told my friends, "Where in the middle of the mountains shall we stop to have lunch? I'll be amaze if there's a Jollibee drive-tru nearby!"

Our driver, a native of Banaue and a seasoned "tour guide" for dim-witted travellers like us, told us not to be anxious, he'll bring us somewhere safe. We shall have a quick stop-over at Bontoc.

Bontoc is bounded on the south by Banaue, were we came from, and on the west by Sagada, the next and final pit stop of this trip. We’re literally caught in the middle of our travel destinations.

After a quick meal in a local eatery, our guide insisted that we visit the town museum to learn more about its history and culture. I’m glad we heed his invitation – Bontoc Museum offers tourist a showcase of the town’s best. We should be thankful for the people of Bontoc for putting up a wonderful display of preserved relics, mosaics and arts & crafts that narrate the noble story of the Bontoc people.




The town is calm and serene, its people live simple yet content lives. How I envy those children I saw bathing in the river as our jeepney passed by. Their resounding laughter made me think of probably how great it would have been if I have lived in this similar environment – away from the anxiety and fast-paced life in the city. But with the rapid developments occurring, Bontoc will soon become a city in the North. Hopefully, Bontoc will retain much of its old and simple charm.

Bontoc is but a glimpse of a more amazing journey ahead of us, I’m becoming anxious to reach Sagada.