| Start: | Apr 5, '08 |
| End: | Apr 7, '08 |
Dear Friends,
We are inviting you to participate in SITMo's Tagtag ad Asipulo Tour on April 5-7, 2008. Tagtag is a traditional ritual to protect the rice crop from rats and other pests. It is also a ritual to drive away evils and bad omens from Ifugao communities.
Please support this tour as it helps the Ifugao rice terraces by bringing tourists to share the tourism income with the community. Part of the proceeds of the tour goes directly to the community to help them promote their indigenous culture and preserve the rice terraces.
The Tagtag ad Asipulo Tour will give the tourists the opportunity to see an important aspect of the Ifugao culture that has nurtured the Ifugao rice terraces for thousands of years. It will be held in Amduntog Village in Asipulo, a laidback and beautiful town in Ifugao.
This year's Tagtag Tour also features Liyah, a conferment ritual of mumbaki, a high priest of Ifugao. It will be held on the night of April 6 'til the morning of April 7, in Hapao Village in Hungduan, one of the heritage towns of Ifugao.
The Hapao rice terraces will be at its finest during this time of the year. Visit to the famous Banaue rice terraces is also included in the itinerary.
Thank you very much.
Very truly yours,
TEDDY B. BAGUILAT, JR.
Governor, Ifugao Province
Honorary Chairman, Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo)
Link to Tagtag 2008 website
http://sitmo.ueuo.com/html/news/tagtag08.html Link to Maps
http://sitmo.ueuo.com/html/news/tagtag08maps.html New Autobus station
http://sitmo.ueuo.com/html/news/new_autobus_station.html TAGTAG AD ASIPULO
April 5-7, 2008
Tagtag is a traditional ritual to protect the rice crop from rats and other pests, and to drive away evils and bad omens from the community.
It involves a great number of Ifugao men clad in traditional Ifugao attire marching along the rice terraces while beating wood planks in rhythm.
Another highlight of the tour is the cultural night showcasing Ifugao traditional performing arts – dances, chants, songs and ethnic instrument playing.
This year's Tagtag Tour also features Liyah, a conferment ritual of mumbaki, a high priest of Ifugao. It will be held in Hapao Village in Hungduan, one of the heritage towns of Ifugao.
The Hapao rice terraces will be at its finest during this time of the year. Visit to the famous Banaue rice terraces is also included in the itinerary.
Package cost: P4,400 per person (3 days/2nights)
Also available, 2 days/1night at P3,300 per person
Inclusions:
Transportation within the province
Meals (from breakfast on the day of arrival to lunch on the day of departure)
Lodging (homestays in Asipulo; homestays or lodging house in Hungduan)
Tour guide fee
Cultural night
Environmental fee
Entrance fees
Souvenir t-shirt
ID and certificate
Exclusions:
Transfers (or bus fare) to Ifugao from Manila, Baguio, or Central Luzon and back (we will arrange reservations for those who will travel by bus)
Snacks and beverages
Travel insurance
Itinerary
April 5-7 (3days/2 nights)
P4,400 per person
April 4, Friday
Departure from Manila or Baguio (9:30 p.m.)
April 5, Saturday
Arrival in Kiangan (5-6 a.m.)
Rest/Breakfast in Kiangan
Travel to Asipulo
Visit Ungul Rice Terraces (with view of Mt. Kasimelan)
Lunch
Demonstration
• Basket weaving
• Rice wine making
• Ifugao dances
Dinner in Asipulo
Cultural Night
Overnight stay in Asipulo
April 6, Sunday
Breakfast in Asipulo
Tagtag ritual
Lunch and interaction with the community (Asipulo)
Travel to Hapao, Hungduan (2 ½ hours, with short hike to Liyah venue)
Dinner
Liyah ritual (from evening 'til the next morning, those who opt not to observe the whole ritual may go to their accommodations earlier and see the culmination in the early morning)
Overnight stay in Hungduan
April 7, Monday
Liyah ritual culmination
Breakfast in Hapao, Hungduan
Visit Baang Hotpsring
Lunch in Baang
Travel to Banaue town center
Visit Banaue Viewpoint
Shopping
Departure from Banaue (5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.)
April 5-6 (2days/1 night)
P3,300 per person
April 4, Friday
Departure from Manila or Baguio (9:30 p.m.)
April 5, Saturday
Arrival in Kiangan (5-6 a.m.)
Rest/Breakfast in Kiangan
Travel to Asipulo
Visit Ungul Rice Terraces (with view of Mt. Kasimelan)
Lunch
Demonstration
• Basket weaving
• Rice wine making
• Ifugao dances
Dinner in Asipulo
Cultural Night
Overnight stay in Asipulo
April 6, Sunday
Breakfast in Asipulo
Tagtag ritual
Lunch and interaction with the community (Asipulo)
Travel to Banaue town center
Visit Banaue Viewpoint
Shopping
Departure from Banaue (5:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.)
For reservation and inquiries, contact us:
Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement
Dinapugan, Tuplac
3604 Kiangan, Ifugao
Mobile: +639068093662, +639182829839, +639067727193
Email: sitmo311@gmail.com
URL:
http://www.sitmo.ueuo.com Deadline of Reservation and Payment: on or before March 19, 2008
Please fill-up the registration/confirmation form and send it to us.
We will inform you of the payment procedure and policies upon your confirmation of participation in the tour.
We can entertain late reservations only if slots are available.
ADVISORIES
TAGTAG AD ASIPULO 2008
Date and venue:
April 5-7, 2008 (or April 5-6 for 2 days/1 night package)
Amduntog, Asipulo
Hapao, Hungduan (for 3 days/2 nights package)
Other places to be visited:
Ungul Rice Terraces, in Pula, Asipulo, both packages
Hapao Rice Terraces, Hungduan, 3 days/2 nights package
Baang Hotspring, Hungduan, 3 days/2 night package
Banaue Rice Terraces, Banaue Viewpoint, both packages
Package Cost:
A. 3 days/2 nights (April 5-7, Saturday to Monday) P4,400 per person
B. 2 days/1 night (April 5-6, Saturday to Sunday) P3,300 per person
Inclusions:
Transportation within the province
Meals (from breakfast on the day of arrival to lunch on the day of departure)
Lodging (homestays in Asipulo; homestays or lodging house in Hungduan)
Tour guide fee
Cultural night
Environmental fee
Entrance fees
Souvenir t-shirt
ID and certificate
Exclusions:
Transfers (or bus fare) to Ifugao from Manila, Baguio, or Central Luzon and back (we will arrange reservations for those who will travel by bus)
Snacks and beverages
Travel insurance
For those traveling by bus (round trip bus fare):
Add P746 for those coming from Manila
Add P655 for those coming from Baguio
so that we can do the reservation for you.
Note: Bus fare cost may change or vary.
Deadline of reservation and payment
March 19, 2008
Reservation procedure:
Fill-up the registration/confirmation form and send it to us. Submission of registration/confirmation form does not assure you of slot. Only after full payment is the slot reserved for you.
Payment:
Upon submission of filled-up registration/confirmation form, we will advise you if slot is available and give you the payment procedure.
Slots are on a first come first served basis, so please reserve and pay earlier to be assured of your slot.
Payment refund policy:
14-8 days before departure less 50% of total cost
7-5 days before departure less 75% of total cost
4-0 days before departure less 100% or NO REFUND
How to go to Kiangan, Ifugao:
From Manila, Kiangan is 323 kilometers away. For those traveling with their own vehicle, take the North Luzon Expressway, exit at Sta. Rita, then follow the route to Cagayan Valley passing San Miguel in Bulacan, Gapan City, Cabanatuan City and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija, Sta. Fe, Solano and Bagabag in Nueva Vizcaya. At a junction in Bagabag, take the left fork leading to Ifugao. The right fork leads to Santiago, Isabela and Tuguegarao, Cagayan. From the Bagabag Junction, Kiangan is 38 kilometers away.
From Baguio, take a left in Carmen, Rosales in Pangasinan. Follow the route to San Jose City in Nueva Ecija.
For those traveling by bus, Autobus Transport has a regular trip from Manila direct to Kiangan. It leaves their station in Sampaloc, Manila (F. Cayco St. cor. S. H. Loyola St.) at 9:30 p.m. and arrives in Kiangan at around 5-6 a.m. in the morning.
We will do the reservation for you. The round trip costs P746.
From Baguio, KMS Buslines has a direct trip to Kiangan. The bus leaves Baguio from their station in Rizal Park, Nelbusco Station at 9:00 p.m. and arrives in Kiangan at around 4-5 a.m. The round trip costs P655.
Reminders on Things to Bring:
Homestay and lodging house provide basic accommodations – beddings and blankets. Please bring your own towels and toiletries.
Though food and drinks are available in stores in Ifugao, it is advisable that you bring some food for your needs.
Bring mineral waters, also available in stores here, for the trekking part of the tour.
Though April is warm in Ifugao, mornings and evenings are chilly. Please bring clothes and gears suitable to cold weather.
It is very cold inside the bus. Bring out your jackets and malong. Socks and bonnet would help also.
Rain is unpredictable so please bring rain gears.
Bring footwear suitable for hiking.
Bring swimming gears if you intend to take a dip in the hotspring.
For those with medical problems please bring your medication. Advise your guide upon arrival here of your medical condition.
