by: Glo Abaeo Tuazon

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Travelling to Kapangan, Benguet from Baguio City has always been a breeze to me, it being one and a half hour drive only. I do not have to mind the rocky roads anymore knowing my purpose was way more interesting than the bumps I get from travelling there. Besides the roads are now being developed all the way from the entrance of Kapangan to Kibungan. That would make travel a lot easier and enjoyable in a few years or so...I hope. Because aside from these caves that I have seen, there are so much more beautiful reasons in Kapangan to come back to. Beautiful and unexplored places to set foot on and admire.

Contributed by: Glo A. Tuazon

Passing the long bridge of Samoki gave me a whiff of strong, almost cold wind lapping at my face to get to this fast becoming popular tourist resting place in Bontoc. The great ChicoRiver roaring, like a morning yawn just after sunrise. Most of the households were clustered way behind the Bontoc-Banaue Road, behind the mushrooming and booming hotel and restaurant businesses in the area. Being a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of the central activities in Bontoc Ili or Poblacion, Samoki is an ideal place to spend the night. Mornings would find you licking in the views of the rice paddies just in front of the hotels. Unknown to some though, especially for visitors like me, there is another life lurking behind these row of businesses, something vintage and traditional, something that indicates the ways of the old.

Contributed by Mary Jane Day-asen Aluyen

MPE Published: August 10, 2008

“We are not worshiping the eel! We are only protecting the rare specie found in our place. Idolatry is different from preserving what we have”

This is what the LGU of Tadian emphasized and wanted to let the people know on their environmental concerns of preserving the eel in Cagubatan. It was almost a hundred years ago when the old folks first noticed this peculiar fish and were amazed by it. Through observation, the eel comes alone and after three years, when it’s already big, it disappears. After a couple of weeks another eel appears but now they are two. This is the routine observed by the community. There are people who try to visit the eel but unluckily they do not see it for it appears only to lucky people.

Contributed by Glo A. Tuazon
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In the olden tradition of celebrating the different stages of rice cycle comes a phase called am-among where families gather and join other clan members to share the bounties of their labor. That in the yearly non-stop circle of activities and work, they set aside a time to rest, settle down a bit and just mingle and enjoy the company of family while thanking the Giver for everything that has come and gone during the season.

Barangay Mainit performing and interpreting the tradition of Saknit. this is the harvesting the sugar cane, juicing it and cooking it to produce "basi" or cane rum and also of molasses.