THC002: PHILIPPINE CULTURE AND TOURISM GEOGRAPHY

Chapter 7

Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Identify the different major attractions, activities, accommodations, and cultural

highlights in the provinces within the Cordillera Administrative Region;
2. Create different tour packages that carry different types of tourism activities
within the region; and
3. Assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the region in
terms of the 4 As of tourism.

This chapter presents the major tourist destination areas of Cordillera

Administrative Region. The major discussions will be on access, health and safety
issues, geographical characteristics, major attractions, gastronomy, and distinctive
cultural attributes of the region related to the development and promotion of tourism in
the Philippines.

The Cordillera region encompasses most of the areas within the Cordillera Central
mountain range of Luzon, the largest range in the country. Baguio is its regional
center. The Cordillera Administrative Region includes the provinces of:
 Abra
 Apayao
 Bengut
 Ifugao
 Kalinga and
 Mountain Province

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No. of Towns
Land Area (in No. of
Capital Major Industries and
hectares) Cities
Municipalities
Agriculture,Cottage,B
amboo And Rattan
Abra Bangued 416, 525 - 27
Craft,Weaving,
Embroidery
Agriculture, furniture,
Apayao Kabugao 441,335 garment craft, food - 7
processing

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Agriculture, Tourism,
livestock,
Benguet La Trinidad 282,659 1 13
woodcraft,loom
weaving,mining
Agriculture,trading,
Ifugao Lagawe 262,821 - 11
manufacturing
Agriculture,trade,loom
Kalinga Tabuk 323,125 weaving rattan, 1 7
coffee pre-processing
Agriculture,furniture,
Mountain
Botoc 215,738 bamboo and rattan - 10
Province
craft, handicrafts

A. Ports of Access

via MacArthur Highway, North Luzon

Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressway (SCTEX), and Tarlac-
Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)
By Land: Due to its geographic nature as the only landlocked region in
the country, the Cordillera Administrative Region is only accessible by land
through the MacArthur Highway or via the interconnected expressway systems
from Manila, Ilocos Region, and Central Luzon Region. Regular bus trips are
offered by various companies from Manila to the provinces of CAR.

Getting Around: Private van and car rentals are available to move
around the region as well as public modes of transportation. One can take a
bus to move from one province to the other or a jeepney and tricycle to get
around towns.

B. Attractions and Activities

Historical, Cultural and
Natural Attractions Built Attractions
Heritage Attractions
Santa Catalina De Cassamata Hill National
Abraeniana Museum
Alejandria Church Park
St. James The Elder
Abra River Calaba Bridge
Cathedral
Gabriela Silang
Abra San Lorenzo Ruiz Shrine Bani Hot Spring
Monument
Quintin Paredes Don Mariano Marcos
Libtec Underground River
Ancestral House Bridge
Pinaing Sacred Stones Piwek Rock Formations
Apao Rolling Hills

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Spanish Church Ruins Apayao River

Manacota Cave And
Underground River
Apayao Lussok Crystal Cave
Agamata National Park
And Wildlife Sanctuary
Allabang Cave
Darew Ancient Ruins Of
Opdas Cave Burnham Park
Civilization
Apo Anno Cave Tinongchol Burial Rock The Mansion
Baguio Cathedral Mt. Pulag National Park Mines View Park
Benguet
Bell Church Colorado Falls Camp John Hay
Mountain Lakes Lourdes Grotto
Ambongdolan Caves
Asian Hot Springs
Strawberry Farms
Tam-An Cultural Village Tappiya Falls Ifugao Museum
Philippine War Memorial Banaue And Batad Rice
Mt. Amuyao
Ifugao Shrine Terraces
Apfo (Burial Tombs) Bintakan Cave
Ambuwaya Lake
Aguinaldo Hill Sungang View Point Capitol Tourism Plaza
Mabilong Weavers
Buscalan Village Palan-Ah Falls
Kalinga Village Quintin
Awichon Village Mt. Mating-Oy Dinayao Paredes
Chico River
Hanging Coffins Of Episcopal Church Of
Kiltepan View
Sagada Saint Mary The Virgin
Mountain
Dap-Ay/Ato Balangagan Cave Maligcong Rice Terraces
Province
Bontoc Museum Sumaguing Cave Ancestral
Bomod-Ok Falls House, Abra

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Apao Rolling Hills, Abra Santa Catalina de Alejandrina Church, Abra

Spanish Church Ruins, Apayao Lussok Crystal Cave, Apayao

Baguio Cathedral, Benguet Colorado Falls, Benguet

The Mansion, Benguet Strawberry Farms, Benguet

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Sungang Viewpoint, Kalinga Mt. Mating-Oy Dinayao, Kalinga

Hanging Coffins of Sagada, Maligcong Rice Terraces, Mountain Province

Mountain Province

Kiangan Shrine, Ifugao Apfo’or Burial Tombs, Ifugao

Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao

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C. Range of Accommodation
Budget (less than P1,500 per Mid-Range (P1,500 to P3,000 High-End (at least P3,000
night) per night) per night)
Abrassi Hotel Oval Era Hotel
Rylanyan Place
Abra
King David Palace
Abra Valley Grand Hotel
Luna Village Guest House
Pensione Lavigna
Apayao
Rosallinda’s Lodging
Capitol Guest House
Travelite Express Hotel Microtel Inn The Manor At Camp John Hay
Inn Rocio Hotel Elizabeth Le Monet Hotel
Hotel Henrico Baguio Holiday Villas Azalea Residences
Benguet
Ibay Zion Hotel Venus Parkview Hotel
Dream Transient Rooms Hotel Veniz
Starwood Hotel Hotel Supreme Convention Plaza
Batad View Inn Banaue Hotel
Hillside Inn Native Village Inn
Ramon’s Homestay
Ifugao Batad Top View Point Homestay
Halfway Lodge
Banaue Ethnic Village And Pine
Forest Resort
Ma-K Homestay Grand Zion Garden Resort Hotel
Golden Berries Hotel And
Davidson Hotel
Convention Center
Kalinga Laoagan Inn M Hotel Tabuk
Kalinga Hostel
Las Vegas Hotel
Mahogany Lodge
Good Samaritan Inn
Churya-A Hotel And Restaurant Inandako’s Bnb
Sagada Guest House Rock Inn And Café
Sagada Grandma’s Yellow House
Martha’s Hearth
And Café
Mountain Province
Masferre Country Inn Treasure Rock Inn
Sagada Homestay
Salt & Pepper Lodge Inn
Ridgebrook Hotel

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Oval Era Hotel, Abra Pensione La Vigna, Apayao

The Manor at Camp John Hay Azalea Residences Baguio, Benguet

Baguio, Benguet

Banaue Hotel, Ifugao Grand Zion Garden Resort Hotel

Inandako’s Bed and Breakfast, Rock Inn and Café, Mountain Province
Mountain Province

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D. Food and Delicacies

Mountain
Abra Apayao Benguet Ifugao Kalinga
Province
Abra miki Pinikpikan Etag Dikit Chilokchok Etag
Inihaw na baboy
Warek-warek Sininggub Sabusab Vah-vah and gajiw Safeng
ramo
Imbaliktad Sinursur Tapuey Pinuneg Binungor Tapey
Lechon de abra Pinaltit Pinuneg Pinikpikan Inanchila Tsu-om/ du-om
Palileng Binungor Pinikpikan Cinafa’y feclat
Lomo-lomo Sagket Kinidlo’y makan
Sinanglao Agurong
Abuos
Sinuman
Patupat
Cascaron

E. Recommended Pasalubong

 Organic rice
 Strawberries
 Sundot kulangot
 Choco flakes
 Ube crinkles
 Peanut brittle
 Lengua de gato
 Ube or strawberry jams
 Rice wine
 Good shepherd products
 Kalinga coffee
 Handmade beads
 Handwoven products
 Bamboo products
 Wood and stone carvings

F. Festivals and Special Events

Abra

 Abrenian Kawayan Festival —

(March 6-9) showcase of Bamboo as the major
product in Abra.
 Arya Abra — (March 9)
commemoration of the creation of the province in
1917.
 Tingguian Festival — (March)

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ethno-cultural celebration that features traditional dances, songs, and rituals

of the Tingguians.
Apayao

 Say-Am Festival — (March) a

thanksgiving festival for bountiful harvest.

Benguet

 Strawberry Festival — (March 18-

April 9) a showcase of the iconic product Of
Benguet, strawberries.
 Adivay Festival — (November)
celebration of unity and cooperation while
promoting their famed vegetable harvest.
 Panagbenga Festival — (February)
a celebration of the season of different variety of
flowers.

Ifugao

 Imbayah Festival — (April) annual

wooden scooter racing event.
 Gotad Ad Festival -- (June)
showcase of their old cultures and traditions,

Kalinga

 Matagoan Festival — (June 16)

cultural festival showcasing cultural practices of
the eight sub-tribes of Tabuk.
 Ullalim Festival — (February 13-16)
a cultural festival showcasing the life and culture
of Kalinga through their traditional sports, crafts,
and indigenous food.

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Mountain Province

 Lang-ay Cultural Festival — (April

7) a cultural celebration showcasing the culture
and tradition of the province through their tribal
dances and songs.

G. Major Cultural Groups

This region is home to numerous indigenous tribes collectively called the

Igorot. Other indigenous groups in the region include Apayao, Ibaloi, Ifugao,
Kalinga, Isneg, Bontoc, and many more.

The Apayaos inhabit the northern part of the Cordillera mountains. The
three generalized groupings (1) Kabugao Mandaya Tawit; (2) Karawagan; and (3)
Talifugu are riverine-oriented and practice slash-and burn cultivation. The political
structure is headed by individuals with high economic and leadership distinction
with large kin following but the position is not inherited.

The Ifugao (Ifugaw, Ipugao, Ypugao, Hilipan, Quiangan) are world-famous

for their spectacular rice terraces especially in Mayaoyao and Banaue where entire
mountainsides are sculpted like giant steps. Agriculture is the main source of
subsistence with its wet rice cultivation in the famous rice terraces, as well as dry
cultivation of other crops like sweet potato. The Ifugao has a complex indigenous
religion marked by that includes hundreds of deities and elaborate rituals that are
celebrated within personal and social events. One such celebration is the elevation
of a couple to the rank of kadangyan which includes the carving a special bench
that signifies prestige—the hagabi.

The Ibaloi is a large ethnic group found in the Benguet province. Rice-
terracing is also practiced in the lower portions of the mountains reached by
drainage systems. Animal husbandry practiced though meat is traditionally limited
to ritual consumption. The traditional community includes a council of elders
(tongtong) whose opinions are valued by the rich (baknang) and the poor (abitug).
Ritual celebrations are conducted which includes animal sacrifice, feasting, and
use of fermented Tice beer. The rich are interred in coffins after mummification in
artificially made caves.

H. Major Industries

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CAR's export products include ethnic woodcarving and hand-woven

materials. The mining industry also continues to position the region as the highest
contributor to the total gross value added of mining and quarrying in the country.
With regards to agricultural products, Cordillera is the best and primary source of'
highland Vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, potatoes,
cabbage, and other greens. The region is also known for its aromatic coffees and
strawberries. About 300 varieties of its upland rice are exported to USA and Japan.

I. Languages and Dialects

Aside from Filipino and English, Ilocano, Kalinga, Ifugao, Iloko, Kanlcana-
ey, and Ibaloi are also spoken.

Badilla, M.G. & Oreta, M.L. (2017). Service... Manila: Rex Book Store,lnc.

Peralta, J. T. (2000). Glimpses: Peoples of the Philippines. National Commission for

Culture and the Arts.

1. www.tripadvisor.com
2. www.tourism.gov.ph
3. www.prnoyadventurista.com
4. www.visitmyphilippines.com
5. www.agoda.com
6. www.langyaw.com
7. www.gobaguio.com
8. www.dti.gov.ph
9. www.tourism.gov.ph
10. www.thepinaysolobackpacker.com
11. www.tripadvisor.com.ph

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