More sites in Sagada

A walk upwards from the centennial old church of St Mary the Virgin is Echo Valley. To reach here, you pass along the public cemetery. Echo Valley as its name connotes , reverberates an echoing sound when one shouts at a distance from the road side. The imposing limestone rocks locates century old coffins of pagan tribes nailed high amongst the craggy rocks.

Rice terraces are found in a almost all barangays of Sagada to include Tanulong, Suyo, Nagonongan Nacagang, Balugan, Bangaan. Fidelisan, Tetep-an and Aguid. The famous Kiltepan Rice Terraces is located in Tetepan. The site can be reached following 20 minute hike from the main road. Kiltepan Rice Terraces takes on a grandiose view while offering environs perfects for picnics.

For the industrious people of Sagada, rice planting had been an age-old source of livelihood for at least 85% of the population. For behind these wonderfully carved rice terraces speaks of a people who have a ceremonial attachment to planting and eating rice.

Centennial old, the church of St Mary the Virgin is a stone walled edifice manifesting people who labored for the construction of the post-war church building. The church itself speaks of a hundred old attempt at converting the Igorot natives who still cling to their traditions at present. Though, baptism and attending church services became a social obligation, it is curious to note that the equally age-old customs on death rituals, weddings, birth of a child and harvest are still intact.

Photo credit: Hanging Coffins

Photo credit: Church of St Mary the Virgin