Enjoying Sagada amidst Covid-19 scare

Hanging coffins of Sagada seen from a distance by the roadside at Gagab-an, Ambasing 

HAPPY WEEKEND

Gina P. Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- While eco- tourism activities are suspended in this tourist town momentarily with the corona virus scare, Sagada is not closing its doors to travelers coming to town.

Sagada mayor James Pooten who issued Executive Order 7-20 indefinitely suspending eco-tourism activities within the coverage of the municipality due to the Covid-19 epidemic, said travelers are not prevented from visiting Sagada.

Eco-tourism activities usually done in eco-tourism sites are cave spelunking, dipping in waterfalls and trekking in mountains. With EO 7-20, these activities are held in abeyance indefinitely until further notice.

Sites visitors may visit include those located in residential and commercial sites including Danonoy pottery, Sagada weaving, sunset viewing, leisure walking at Mission Compound, watching hanging coffins from the roadside, and the town’s souvenir shops and restaurants. 

Pottery in Danonoy was started by Archie Stapleton in the ‘90s. Archie is the son of American missionary and school principal Rev Archie Stapleton whose family stayed for quite some time in Sagada and served as principal of St Mary’s School.

Archie taught some Sagada residents how to do pottery at site Danonoy.  Potters Siegrid Bangyay-Rogers, Tessie Malecdan-Baldo and Lope Bosaing are among early learners who still practice pottery as of now.

Many an exhibit in Baguio and Manila has already been joined by noted local potters.

Soil from Sagada is proven to be good for molded and glazed mugs, plates, and jars made of clay.

Other potter-artists to name David Fowler from UK  who married Jane Abad from Sagada and then resident tourists Jaime de Guzman and wife Ann also stayed in Sagada with their family for quite some time and taught some locals how to do the ceramic art.

A little further from Danonoy Pottery is Danum sunset with its breathtaking site viewed at a commercial view deck atop Danum Lake.  Danum Lake by the way is closed to tourism and the visitor is advised not to enter peripheries of the lake.  

Sagada composes a rich and significant story of the Episcopal sect having made a mark in the history of the place and its people. Structures were made within the Mission Compound located in the middle of the town.

The Mission Compound is a breezy greenbelt locating the centennial Church of St Mary the Virgin (CSMV), St Theodore’s Hospital and St Mary School, all evidentiary signs of the American Episcopal Missionaries’ stay in Sagada who came in the early 1900s. The church of CSMV is a splendid architecture made of stone by natives of Sagada and stood its durability through the years. Nearby the Church is St Mary’s School having graduated a number of local residents including those from nearby towns of Besao, Tadian, and Besao.

Weaving is a craft and a source of livelihood mainly done by women who supply woven material to some 25 weaving firms in town. Buying a woven item helps the family who in most cases are also farmers who tend to their individual farms.  They do the craft in their own homes while tending to their children and farms.  

Weaving was gradually made popular by Sagada Weaving then managed by owner-entrepreneur Andrea Bondad in the late 70s employing and teaching local women who wove and sew bags made of the intricately woven material. The business grew having made its trademark in national and international market. The early weavers eventually made their own separate businesses with other local enthusiasts with the weaving business having grown to nearly 30 individual firms as of now.

Not to forget one’s stay in Sagada, one should taste what Sagada cooks.

Sagada is a site of many splendored things called food. Food comes in many flavors and aroma-American, European, Filipino to local cuisine. Sagada offers a number of restos including Log Cabin Café, St Jo Café,  Alapo’s, Homestay, Masferre’s, 7Js, Slabhaus, Yogurt Haus, Salt and Pepper, Strawberry’s. Ayeona’s Café-Bar, Sagada Bistro, Bana’s Coffee, Vincent’s, Sagada Brew, Black Door, Happy Haus. Sagada Hub, Cuisina, Centrum food section, and the newly opened carinderias at Sagada Market building.    

And Sagada being a ‘walk town’, walking is good along the town’s streets where the visitor finds souvenir shops selling a number of items of many kinds ranging from local to outside- of- town- made items of bracelets, bangles, fridge magnets, bags and more bags and locally processed foods and wines.  

And while one enjoys her or his stay in Sagada, all including visitors and locals are advised to practice good hygiene practices of washing hands before eating, covering the nose (not with hands but under the elbow) when coughing or sneezing and keep the immune system healthy.