I’m posting this straight out of a friend’s e-mail. I believe in this cause and I also think that Kalinga is one of the most breathtaking places in the country. I hope you could consider this trip. The price looks really affordable and you’ll get to help out people in one of the most remote corners of the Cordilleras and Caraballo Mountain Range. These people were devastated by the Typhoon Megi last year and it would get a great gesture to give them a pick-me-up on May.

Hi everyone!

It’s the second leg of K.I.D.S. Foundation’s, A TREK TO REMEMBER (Medical-Dental Mission) with our partner in Kalinga, the IDP Foundation. We would like to invite medical practitioners; doctors, dentists, nurses, nature lovers, travel geeks, or simply, those young at heart to explore another memorable trek going to Tanudan, Kalinga while getting a chance to know 3,500 pangol tribe & locals of 14 remote barangays of Tanudan.

A Trek To Remember – is a bi-annual trek of the K.I.D.S. Foundation that, distributes books and school supplies for public schools in far flung places. This trek-for-a-cause brings the trekker back to nature and assures the participant of a different kind of high that one can only feel when one shares. This month of May we would like to continue this journey and we will be trekking to two (2) barangays; Baccong and Bawak of Tanudan, Kalinga that will serve the fourteen (14) barangays: Ammaboy, Magtoma, Lay-asan, Burninan, Liyang, Cabugao, Gombowoy, Sabila, Allubaggan, Darulog, Pagugo & Mabaca to bring not only school supplies and books but, a Medical and Dental services and conduct a gift-giving in preparation for the opening of the school year. Tanudan is a 4th class municipality of Kalinga province.

What: A TREK TO REMEMBER VII: Medical-Dental Mission & School Supplies Gift-giving for Pangol tribe & locals of Kalinga

Where: Tanudan, Kalinga (right next to the picturesque town of Tinglayan)

When: May 20th – 24th (ETD for Kalinga at 6PM of Friday – ETA in Manila 5AM of Tuesday)

Registration starts today.
Registration fee is Php3,000.00 (meals, transfers & accommodation). Deadline for Registration is on April 30th and Payment is on May 10th. Kindly, send your registration form via email: rt_oquendo@yahoo.com.

In case you want to experience the adventures in Kalinga here are the extra fees that you have to consider for the R&R or explore in Tabuk, Kalinga after the medical mission (whole day of Monday):

- White Water rafting Php2,500.00
- Kalinga purse & bag Php 30.00 – 500.00
- Kalinga wall decor – Php1,000.00/pair
- Kalinga blend Coffee – Php120.00 to Php150.00/box

In addition, we need to bring medicines & medical supplies and we are also willing to accept cash donations to be used to purchase primarily the vitamins for 3,500 children for the medical mission.
We are hoping for your kind response. You may also call K.I.D.S. Office at (02) 708-KIDS (5437), (02) 348-2109 or 0922-854-3733 for questions or clarifications. Look for Rox and June.

KIDS FOUNDATION, INC.
Diether Ocampo
Karina Tanega
Mondo Castro
Tinette Cortes
Bene Go
Rapa Lopa
Darius Hizon
June Hamoy
Rox Oquendo

Thank you and See you all!

Roxanne T. Oquendo
Programs Manager
K.I.D.S. Foundation, Inc.
Ground floor, # 20 G. Araneta Ave.,
Brgy. Santo Domingo, Quezon City
Telefax: (02) 708-KIDS (5437)
(02)3482109 / 09228543733
rt_oquendo@yahoo.com
kidsfoundation_army@yahoo.com
http://www.kidsfoundation.org.ph

Realizing a Child’s Dream Today
Kabataang Inyong Dapat Suportahan (K.I.D.S.) Foundation, Inc.
DSWD Registration Number: NCR-2007-R-035
SEC Registration Number: CN200600126
TIN: 243-359-313-000

Chin of the wildly entertaining and now emerging We Are Sole Sisters blog recently published a very light and somewhat inspiring piece on Sagada. She went up on a whim and ended up (as expected) falling in love with the place. Keep visiting their blog to see how Chin chronicles her stay in Sagada.

The next post is going to be on “5 things I did in Sagada that you should never ever ever tell my Daddy”. That sure sounds like an intriguing read, right?

Log Cabin is easily the most highly-regarded restaurants in Sagada. It’s located just a little up hill relative to the bus terminal – right in front of Strawberry Cafe. This establishment is best known for their Saturday night buffet featuring the cooking of French-native (and now adopted son of Sagada) Chef Aklay. The menu always changes because it is highly dependent on what inspires the chef during the weekend market. The food has always been impeccable and the desserts are plated and prepared to absolute perfection.

During other nights, customers may sample the great food from the Log Cabin menu Meals start at around 150 and go to as high as around 280 per plate. It’s a bit pricy for a plate of food up in Sagada but it’s really good. They are also one of the few establishments with a decent selection of wines. You have to place your order before 3PM to be entertained for the dinner service.

To book your seats for the Saturday buffet, call or text +639205200463.

We’ve written on this topic extensively, but I think this post needs a bit of revisiting. We have notes on Baguio, Banaue and Bontoc.

1. Which one is the best option?

If you’re coming from Manila there are four factors that you have to consider

• Do you want to arrive early in Sagada? If you’re going via Baguio, the earliest you’ll arrive in Sagada is around 1130 AM.  This is because the first Lizardo Bus leaves Baguio at around 6AM. Going through Bontoc will allow you to get to Sagada relatively earlier – even before 9AM.
• Do you want to see Banaue? Banaue is on the opposite side of mountain range relative to Baguio. Banaue is on the eastern side of Luzon while Baguio is closer to the west coast.  Baguio and Banaue are actually 8-9 hours apart so this is a major consideration if you’re thinking of a non-circuitous route.
• Do you want more flexibility with your bus schedules? Simply put, there are more buses from Manila leaving for Baguio. There are also seven buses leaving for Sagada from Baguio. Contrast this to just ONE bus nightly from Manila to Bontoc and Banaue.
• Are you going to be comfortable staying in the same bus for 12 hours? The Bontoc bus takes 12 hours so you’re in for a long trip. If you’re comfortable sleeping in buses, this should be a good option since this is an all nighter. You will need to take a jeep from Bontoc to compete the trip (30-40 minutes). The Baguio-Sagada route cuts the trip into 6-hour halves – six hours each on two buses. (more…)