[Note] This is an article printed in a brochure promoting the Mt. Kalugong Eco-Park in La Trinidad, Benguet. It was written by Recy C. Kitano. It’s an interesting piece that provides you with an idea as to what to expect when you go there yourself.
Mt. Kalugong Eco Park aims to show the world a part of the culture of the Igorots in the olden times. Aside from its earnest desire to preserve the natural charm and pleasant serenity of the park, it wants to revive some of the primeval practices which make the Igorot culture different from those of the other indigenous people of the Philippines.
All that Mt. Kalugong Eco Park offers is simplicity. Modern and well-furnished cottages have no place in the park. This explains why Igorot huts and the Poor Man’s Cabin were built instead. These simple dwellings are built as they are because that is how the Igorots used them as their homes in the earlier times. A certain culture will only be appreciated and understood through actual experience. Mt. Kalugong Eco Park is a challenge for the guests to get away for a moment from their sophisticated lives. To experience simple living and the tranquillity of the primitive way of life is what the park is all about.
The bumpy road leading to the Mt. Kalugong Eco Park is part of the challenge. The spirit of adventure will be best attained if we pass the rugged road which our forebears tread. Not everything rough is bad and not everything smooth is good. Mt. Kalugong is for real. It is a portrait one has to see far beyond the image – a portrait which connects the Igorots of today and the Igorots of yesteryears.
Let us embrace our culture and traditions. Long live the Igorots!
[Other mountains in Benguet that you should climb and check out: Mt. Pigingan, Mt. Tabayoc, Mt. Yangbew, Bakun Trio.]
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tourism. Show all posts
Mt. Kalugong Entrance Fee, Registration Fee
Before you can roam the entirety of Mt. Kalugong, you are required to pay the entrance/registration fee of 50 pesos per person. Just enter the park and you will be met by the person collecting the fees. You will be asked to enter your name and address on their logbook. After paying for the entrance fee, you are free to roam the premises, climb the rock formations, enjoy the swings, eat at any of the picnic tables, and ride the zip line. Using the zip line is free.
If you’re wondering how to get to Mt. Kalugong, you have two options. There are two entry points to the park. Your first option is to ride a jeepney from Baguio City and get off in barangay Cruz. The entrance to the road leading up to Mt. Kalugong is visible along the highway. Make sure that the jeepney you ride from Baguio City goes to either Tomay or Cruz in La Trinidad. If you don’t know where to get off, just tell the driver to drop you off at the entrance to Mt. Kalugong in barangay Cruz. Most drivers know the place.
Your second option is to ride a jeepney from Baguio City, get off in Pines Park just in front of Tiong San La Trinidad, and ride another jeep that goes to Lubas/Tawang. Again, you should tell the driver to drop you off at the trail that leads to Mt. Kalugong.
Here are the rates in using the facilities inside the park. Take note that these facilities are optional. Using the swings, riding the zip line, having picnics on the tables, and climbing the rock formations are free.
Hut – 250 pesos a day
Hut with beddings – 600 pesos a night (hut is good for two persons only)
Extra person – 200 pesos per person
Poor Man’s Cabin – 250 pesos per day
Poor Man’s Cabin with Beddings – 500 pesos per night (hut is good for two persons only)
Extra person – 200 pesos per person
Bonfire – 40 pesos per head (from 6 pm to 10 pm)
Things to Remember When Inside the Park
1. Do not smoke cigarettes, chew/spit “moma” inside the park.
2. You are not allowed to bring in alcoholic beverages inside the park. This include beer and wine.
3. Graffiti and vandalism are strictly prohibited. Don’t write on the trees, picnic tables, and rock formations.
4. The park doesn’t let animals and pets like cats and dogs inside the premises. The park has its own cats, dogs, and chickens. Bringing in your own pets may cause conflict amongst or against the resident pets.
5. Never uproot nor cut plants, flowers, and trees inside the park.
6. Don’t dump your garbage anywhere. Always bring a plastic bag with you where you can put your litter.
In conclusion, Mt. Kalugong is a beautiful place that you and your friends or family can enjoy together. The park also has its own coffee shop where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, cupcakes, and cakes. The coffee shop has a view deck where you can see the La Trinidad Valley.
[Other mountains in Benguet that you should climb and check out: Mt. Pigingan, Mt. Tabayoc, Mt. Yangbew, Bakun Trio.]
If you’re wondering how to get to Mt. Kalugong, you have two options. There are two entry points to the park. Your first option is to ride a jeepney from Baguio City and get off in barangay Cruz. The entrance to the road leading up to Mt. Kalugong is visible along the highway. Make sure that the jeepney you ride from Baguio City goes to either Tomay or Cruz in La Trinidad. If you don’t know where to get off, just tell the driver to drop you off at the entrance to Mt. Kalugong in barangay Cruz. Most drivers know the place.
Your second option is to ride a jeepney from Baguio City, get off in Pines Park just in front of Tiong San La Trinidad, and ride another jeep that goes to Lubas/Tawang. Again, you should tell the driver to drop you off at the trail that leads to Mt. Kalugong.
Here are the rates in using the facilities inside the park. Take note that these facilities are optional. Using the swings, riding the zip line, having picnics on the tables, and climbing the rock formations are free.
Hut – 250 pesos a day
Hut with beddings – 600 pesos a night (hut is good for two persons only)
Extra person – 200 pesos per person
Poor Man’s Cabin – 250 pesos per day
Poor Man’s Cabin with Beddings – 500 pesos per night (hut is good for two persons only)
Extra person – 200 pesos per person
Bonfire – 40 pesos per head (from 6 pm to 10 pm)
Things to Remember When Inside the Park
1. Do not smoke cigarettes, chew/spit “moma” inside the park.
2. You are not allowed to bring in alcoholic beverages inside the park. This include beer and wine.
3. Graffiti and vandalism are strictly prohibited. Don’t write on the trees, picnic tables, and rock formations.
4. The park doesn’t let animals and pets like cats and dogs inside the premises. The park has its own cats, dogs, and chickens. Bringing in your own pets may cause conflict amongst or against the resident pets.
5. Never uproot nor cut plants, flowers, and trees inside the park.
6. Don’t dump your garbage anywhere. Always bring a plastic bag with you where you can put your litter.
In conclusion, Mt. Kalugong is a beautiful place that you and your friends or family can enjoy together. The park also has its own coffee shop where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, cupcakes, and cakes. The coffee shop has a view deck where you can see the La Trinidad Valley.
[Other mountains in Benguet that you should climb and check out: Mt. Pigingan, Mt. Tabayoc, Mt. Yangbew, Bakun Trio.]
History of the Mt. Kalugong Eco-Park in La Trinidad, Benguet
[Note] The following story is a copy of an article printed in a brochure promoting the Mt. Kalugong Eco-Park in the town of La Trinidad in Benguet. The brochure was given to us when we visited the mountain one time. The brochure says that the story was by a certain Felipe Neis Gadgad and that it was compiled by Norma Pablo. Anyway, here’s the story.
Mt. Kalugong, the enthralling mountains overlooking the panoramic view of the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines” and the flower gardens of La Trinidad, Benguet is just another irrefutable wonder! It is derived from the hat-shaped rock sitting at the edge of the mountain furtively watching over the plains of La Trinidad, seemingly contented with its indubitable throne. Up there, the said hat-shaped rock looks shy, calm and elusive. “Kalugong” is the local term for hat or cap.
Mt. Kalugong was known to the first settlers of Tawang, La Trinidad as “tayawan”. “Tayawan” is the place where they dance “tayao”, the cultural dance of the Ibalois. The settlers then claimed that they often heard gongs being played at the mountain top. Along with the synchronized and captivating melody form the gongs and drums, they would see flames and smoke rising up high. These made them wonder who their neighbours were and why they feasted so often.
One day, when they heard the gongs again and saw the thick smoke swirling up high and the tall flames blazing brightly above the mountain, two old men went up to see for themselves. The two old men were surprised to see many enthusiastic men and women tirelessly playing gongs and buoyantly dancing “tayao”. Several jars of rice wine were lined up at one side and some men and women were everywhere giving out rice wine (tapey) in bowls made from coconut shells locally known as “kawil”. The two old men were instantly thunderstruck. What a splendid feast!
After watching from a distance, the two old men joined the people at the dancing ground. To their astonishment, none of the dancers and the people around took notice of them like they didn’t exist at all. The two old men began to feel scared. They held their breath for they realized that the men and the women who were all gathered there at “tayawan” were ghosts. Harmless ghosts to their relief!
The beautiful rhythm and the seemingly endless rejoicing had gone before World War II. The people missed the orchestrated music and the majestic feast they used to hear from the top of the mountain. Where have all those mysterious people gone? No one knew the answer.
As years passed by, “tayawan’ was forgotten. Perhaps it was because the ghosts had stopped dancing; or perhaps those ghosts had miraculously turned into rocks! Right on the mountains of Mt. Kalugong, aside from the hat-shaped rock, limestone rock formations of varying shapes and sizes appearing lofty and unyielding abound. These exceptional gyms are real and tangible. They are history themselves.
Don’t miss them! Come to Mt. Kalugong now!
[Other mountains in Benguet that you should climb and check out: Mt. Pigingan, Mt. Tabayoc, Mt. Yangbew, Bakun Trio.]
Mt. Kalugong, the enthralling mountains overlooking the panoramic view of the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines” and the flower gardens of La Trinidad, Benguet is just another irrefutable wonder! It is derived from the hat-shaped rock sitting at the edge of the mountain furtively watching over the plains of La Trinidad, seemingly contented with its indubitable throne. Up there, the said hat-shaped rock looks shy, calm and elusive. “Kalugong” is the local term for hat or cap.
Mt. Kalugong was known to the first settlers of Tawang, La Trinidad as “tayawan”. “Tayawan” is the place where they dance “tayao”, the cultural dance of the Ibalois. The settlers then claimed that they often heard gongs being played at the mountain top. Along with the synchronized and captivating melody form the gongs and drums, they would see flames and smoke rising up high. These made them wonder who their neighbours were and why they feasted so often.
One day, when they heard the gongs again and saw the thick smoke swirling up high and the tall flames blazing brightly above the mountain, two old men went up to see for themselves. The two old men were surprised to see many enthusiastic men and women tirelessly playing gongs and buoyantly dancing “tayao”. Several jars of rice wine were lined up at one side and some men and women were everywhere giving out rice wine (tapey) in bowls made from coconut shells locally known as “kawil”. The two old men were instantly thunderstruck. What a splendid feast!
After watching from a distance, the two old men joined the people at the dancing ground. To their astonishment, none of the dancers and the people around took notice of them like they didn’t exist at all. The two old men began to feel scared. They held their breath for they realized that the men and the women who were all gathered there at “tayawan” were ghosts. Harmless ghosts to their relief!
The beautiful rhythm and the seemingly endless rejoicing had gone before World War II. The people missed the orchestrated music and the majestic feast they used to hear from the top of the mountain. Where have all those mysterious people gone? No one knew the answer.
As years passed by, “tayawan’ was forgotten. Perhaps it was because the ghosts had stopped dancing; or perhaps those ghosts had miraculously turned into rocks! Right on the mountains of Mt. Kalugong, aside from the hat-shaped rock, limestone rock formations of varying shapes and sizes appearing lofty and unyielding abound. These exceptional gyms are real and tangible. They are history themselves.
Don’t miss them! Come to Mt. Kalugong now!
[Other mountains in Benguet that you should climb and check out: Mt. Pigingan, Mt. Tabayoc, Mt. Yangbew, Bakun Trio.]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)