The Imbayah Ritual of the Ifugao People as Depicted in a Diorama at the Baguio Museum

There is a colorful diorama at the Baguio Museum that depicts the activities and ceremonies performed in the 𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗵 ritual of the Ifugao people especially in Banaue. This is a multi-day ritual that celebrates the elevation of a person or family from commoners to "kadangyans" (wealthy class).

The Imbayah Festival of Banaue was conceptualized and named after this important Ifugao ritual.

Affordable Abra Miki in Baguio City at the Skyz Toss and Bites Restaurant

In this cold and rainy weather, everybody's craving for hot and spicy soups. So we went to one of our favorite eateries in Baguio City that serve great Abra miki. And that is Skyz Toss and Bites at the rooftop of the Porta Vaga Mall. Marami yung serving and the bowl only costs 99 pesos. Sulit siya. Try niyo rin. 

Dried and Preserved "Bunog" on a Stick from Bokod, Benguet

Dried and preserved 𝗯𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗴 on a stick. This is one of the products on display by the Bokod booth during the "Panungkalan Trade Fair Expo" at the Benguet Capitol a few days ago. This was a trade fair that featured locally-made products from the 13 municipalities of Benguet.

A 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢) Spotted in Benguet

This is a 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 (𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢). They're very common in the Cordillera region. They can grow really big thus people are often scared of them. But don't worry, they are basically harmless to humans. They have venom but not significant enough to harm a human.

Unlike other spiders, they don't spin webs to catch their prey. They use their speed. They are extremely fast runners which make them efficient hunters for prey like cockroaches and small lizards.

Dehydrated and Preserved Truffles (Buo) in Benguet

Dried and preserved "buo" on display last month during the "Panungkalan Trade Fair Expo" at the Benguet Capitol. Preservation is a great idea as the "buo" is only abundant for a few months. You have to wonder though how much the taste changes after dehydration and preservation.

The Fruits of the Rattan (Calamus manillensis) Known Locally as "Littuko"

These are the fruits of the rattan (𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) displayed on a trade fair at the Benguet capitol. It's known locally as "littuko". It's very acidic and it's considered as one of the sourest fruits in the world.

You can eat it as is (raw). They are also commonly preserved and pickled. Some use it as a souring agent when cooking soups and stews because of its intense tartness.

The La Trinidad Valley Today and as It Was Described in the Past

Evening falls over the La Trinidad valley. It's a stark contrast to the descriptions of the valley from historical accounts by Spaniards and European travellers who saw this valley more than a hundred years ago. 

They describe a swampy valley dotted with little farms and huts by Igorots. They describe a lagoon or a lake where wild ducks and grouse play. They describe a sky that would sometimes go dark because of migratory birds. They describe a crystal-clear river where the Igorots wash their golden-brown skin. 

They describe hills with trees where the Igorots got their timber for building houses, sticks for fencing their farms, and wood for their kitchens. They describe little fires at night that seem to reach out and dance with the stars above.