You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Digging Sagada's<br />
Cultural Treasure<br />
By Joseph Almer Pedrajas<br />
The road turned narrow and was sloping uphill. On one<br />
side was a mound, while on the other was a cliff. En route<br />
were fogs and huge trees and mountains and landslides,<br />
and the temperature started to drop. Take a photo of this<br />
and that; despite being here for a countless of times, I was<br />
still enthralled. And after five more hours of such a Shangrila—and<br />
of a butt-numbing ride—finally, the bus conductor<br />
announced, “We have arrived.”<br />
Tucked in lush, far-flung high elevation of the Philippines’<br />
Mountain Province, Sagada town is endowed not only with<br />
a good climate but also with interesting cultural beliefs.<br />
An indigenous group, its Igorots (meaning, people of the<br />
mountain) have had a distinct tradition of burying the dead<br />
through hanging coffins.<br />
“It is believed that it is to make them get closer to the spirits,”<br />
Diligen, our tour guide says, “However, it is also said that it is<br />
to protect the dead bodies. Headhunting here was a prevalent<br />
practice. And some savages might be lurking in and were<br />
hunting for human heads to take home as their trophies.”<br />
Hanging Coffins<br />
4 | VILLAGE PIPOL<br />
MNP @villagepipol
Change language