The

Provinces.
of the
Cordillera
Cordillera Administrative Region or CAR as it is referred to is
a completely landlocked region in the central mountains of
Northern Luzon.
The region is located on and around the Cordillera Mountain
ranges, which are the largest in the Philippines. The
Cordillera Administrative Region boasts the second highest
mountain in the Philippines, Mt Pulag and the Banaue Rice
Terraces, one of the man made wonders of the world.
The Cordillera Administrative Region is divided into six
provinces.
1. Abra
2. Apayao.
3. Benguet
4. Ifugao
5. Kalinga
6. Mountain Province

Administrati
ve Region

The two ways of getting to Apayao by land is either through

Cagayan Province to the west or Mountain Province which is
also to the west of Apayao Province.

Apayao
The province of Apayao boasts its own collection of natural
wonders that are otherwise not found in the rest of the
Cordilleras. Little wonder that it has been dubbed as
Cordilleras Last Frontier for Nature Richness. Here,
underground rivers, majestic waterfalls, magnificent lakes
hug a unique land that is replete with captivating caves,
picture-pretty parks, and exotic wildlife.
Delve deep into underwater splendor being offered by
Malabisin Lake and Underground River as well as Waton
Subterranean River. Come up the surface to gape at fish and
wildlife, which are highly visible in the unpolluted waters of
Apayao River. And do stop to admire the myriad of
picturesque waterfalls of varying sizes that are found along
the river.
Commune with nature and marvel at wondrous sights at the
Agamata, Agora, and Anag-Sicapo wildlife sanctuaries. Scale
the heights of Mount Solo, the highest peak in Apayao.
Stumble into untold discoveries at Purit, Anganupan, Nalvo,
and countless other caves that make Apayao a whole lot
more than simply interesting.
How to get here?
The only way to get to Apayao Province to by land transport.
There is no commercial airport in Apayao Province.

Abra
The Province of Abra is now known as the "Natural Dye
Capital of the Philippines" because it is blessed with
abundant natural dye-yielding plants. Natural dyes are
extracted from the barks, leaves, fruits, and roots of these
plants, and used to color food, beverages, textiles,
cosmetics, furniture, and pharmaceutical products.
The revival of Abras dyeing tradition had been the project of
former Governor Ma. Zita Claustro-Valera. It started in 1992
with the Katutubong Foundation, Inc., headed by former First
Lady Amelita ""Ming"" Ramos, with the help of designer Patis
Tesoro who is renowned for using ethnic designs and fabrics
for her haute couture creations.
Another revival project that is related to the province's
natural dye industry is loom weaving and embroidery.
How to get here?
The province of Abra can be reached from Manila by bus. The
trip through the mountains can be alarming and spectacular,
all part of your journey!
Where to stay?

You can fly from Manila to Tuguegarao, which is the capital of

Cagayan Province, have a look here for information. The
flight and subsequent jeepney trip to Tabuk, the capital of
Kalinga will take a little over 1 hours.
The other option is to bus it from Manila.

Kalinga
A glance of the Philippine map will easily reveal the similarity
of the physiography of Kalinga to that of a bust of a man akin
to former President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The provinces
geographic feature is characterized in the western portion by
sharp crested interlinking peaks of the steep slope, isolated
flat lands, plateaus, and valleys. The eastern portion has
generally rolling, gradually sloping foothills. With interlocking
wide tracks of flat lands and flood plains along its main
drainage system, this rare geography interposes a great role
expected of the province in national development pursuits.

Mountain
Province
Mountain Province is known as the Weavers Paradise due
to the presence of various weaving centers sporting different
designs that bespeak of the provinces cultural heritage. This
was a province that practiced the traditional
parliamentary/participatory form of governance as evidenced
by the presence of the Dap-ay/Ato, a traditional form of
governance led by the respected elders in the community.
How to get here?
Getting to Bontoc in Mountain Province from Manila is a long
bus trip. The trip will take you through Baguio City and then
through the Halaema Mountain Highway to Bontoc.
Once in Bontoc only jeepneys will take you the 4 hour trip to
Sagada. Dont be put off as it is well worth the effort.

Ifugao
How to get here?

Ifugao is home to a thriving ancient culture and host to the

famous rice terraces carved from the base of the
mountainsides to the top, which appear to be massive green
stairways reaching to the sky. The famous terraces had been
inscribed in UNESCOs World Heritage List in 1995 as a
continuing cultural landscape and likewise considered by
the U.S. Association of Civil Engineers as an engineering
marvel built by unschooled and free men not of slave labor.
It was a credit to the inherent wisdom of the Ifugao
forefathers that a forest and watershed management system
was instituted to help sustain the terraces that serve as the
basic food source of the sturdy Ifugaos.
The Ifugao native huts could probably be among the worlds
first prefabricated houses that do not use a single nail or
metal to fasten their parts.

Flying time from Manila to Baguio City, is only 35 minutes so

if time is short catch a plane.
Have a look here for information on flights and schedules to
Baguio City. From Baguio you are in Benguet Province.
The other option is to take an air conditioned bus from
Manila, it will take about 6 hours.

How to get here?

Ifugao Province is just under 350 kilometres from Manila.
You can catch a plane to the province of Nueva Viscaya, the
land portion of the trip then will only take about 45 minutes
to Ifugao Province.
Buses from Manila will take about 10 hours, the scenery is
nothing short of awesome.

Benguet
Benguet is the roof of Northern Luzon. It straddles on the
Cordillera mountain ranges. Mt. Pulag, second highest
mountain in the Philippines, and Halsema Highway, the
highest mountain highway system in the country, are located
in Benguet. Today it holds claim as the Salad Bowl of the
Philippines because of the huge production of upland
vegetables.
How to get here?
You can either fly or go by road.

Discerning the Wonders of Cordillera

Cordilleran
Wonders

History of Philippine Cordillera

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) came into being
by virtue of Executive Order No. 220 signed by former
President Corazon C. Aquino on July 15, 1987, otherwise
known as the Organic Act of CAR.
Originally, the region was composed of the provinces of Abra,
Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao, Mt. Province and the City of
Baguio. The provinces of Abra, Benguet, Mt. Province and
Baguio City were formerly part of the Ilocos Region while
Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao were part of the Cagayan Valley
Region.

and among the clouds with an elevation of 1,600 meters

above sea level.
The strawberry fields & rose farms in La Trinidad, the lush
botanical garden, the quaint cafes in Camp John Hay & the
Lourdes Grotto in Dominican Hill are all mute witnesses to
many episodes in the lives of many people.

On February 14, 1995, Republic Act No. 7878 was enacted

separating the province of Kalinga-Apayao into Kalinga
province and Apayao province.
This mountainous region on the northern part of the
Philippine archipelago is rich in culture, customs and
traditions and beset with beautiful virgin natural tourists
spots.

Five Places to Visit in the Philippine Cordilleras

The Philippine Cordillera is located in the northern part of the
Philippines.
With the prospect of there being a Grand Cordillera Trail
established,
The Philippine Cordilleras occupy about a sixth of the
landmass of the entirety of Luzon Island, the largest of the
7,000 plus islands of the Philippines.
There are so many places and people to see along the
winding mountain roads of the Philippine Cordilleras.

1.Baguio City
Baguio City, the de facto capital of the Philippine Cordilleras.
Though much of it is being rapidly developed, it is still quite a
travel experience being in a city perched on top of mountains

2.The Halsema Highway

The highest mountain range in the Philippines happens to
have one of the most scenic drives in the country.
The Halsema Highway begins in La Trinidad, Benguet right
outside Baguio City and winds through the gorgeous
mountain scenery of the Philippine Cordilleras featuring rice
terraces, verdant valleys, deep gorges and dizzying cliffs.
The highway even climbs up to 2,200 meters above sea level
in a section of the road near Atok in Benguet. Views from up
here are stunning. The road passes through the capital of
Mountain Province Bontoc before winding down to Tabuk in
Kalinga.

3.Mount Pulag
Being the highest peak in the Philippine Cordilleras and on
Luzon island and the second highest peak (or third,
depending on which survey you follow) in the Philippines,
Mount Pulag attracts trekkers far and wide.
The peak features seemingly barren terrain full of dwarf
bamboo and no tall trees or shrubs. Hence, its name: pulag
or pulog, which in the local language means kalbo or barren.
Mount Pulag's peak is a trekking peak, so no specialized
equipment or skill necessary to reach the highest point at
2,900 meters above sea level.

4.Sagada
Sagada's most popular attractions are the hanging coffins of
Echo Valley: some are centuries old, others were put there
recently.
Most are high up the sheer rock face, leading you to wonder
how it was originally done. It's a short trek (P300); it takes
less than half an hour to get down to the coffins via the
overgrown trail that runs by the cemetery, but people do get
lost without a guide.
The chairs, also attached to the rock face, are the funereal
chairs that the bodies were originally strapped to during a
traditional burial; the smallest coffins are the ones which
accommodated the bodies laid out in foetal position.

5.Banaue
No other image best represents the Philippine Cordilleras
other than the rice terraces which generations of local Ifugao
people have constructed here in a bid to temper the land
that they have been given.

The grand green terraces are indeed a sight to behold that

UNESCO noticed and named it a World Heritage Site. Banaue
is just the jump-off point.
There are many rice terraces here such as Batad and
Mayaoyao to last you your whole trip.

BAGUIO CITY
-

Burnham Park
Camp John Hay
Baguio Cathedral
The Mansion

Eats
- Cafe by the Ruins
Arts & Museums
- Tam-Awan Village
- Bencab Museum
Festivals
- Panagbenga Festival (every Feb.)
http://www.awanderfulsole.com/baguio-city-tourist-spots/
http://www.rappler.com/life-andstyle/travel/shareph/baguio/78393-baguio-city-weekenditinerary
http://www.lakadpilipinas.com/2013/12/baguio-city-travelguide-itinerary.html
http://asiatravel.com/philippines/baguio1.html

http://www.traveltrilogy.com/2016/08/baguio-touristattractions.html

https://prezi.com/p-gzwwzerfr5/discerning-the-wonders-ofcordillera/