Luzon Cordilleras
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) of the Philippines consists of the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Apayao. Baguio is the regional center. The Cordillera region encompasses most of the areas within the Cordillera Central mountain range of Luzon, the largest range in the country.
The region is home to indigenous cultures of different tribal ethnicity such as the Igorot, Kalingan, Ifugaos, Kankanaeys, Illian, Baliwon and many others spread in isolated communities in the various parts of the region. Despite differences in tribal ethnicity, the Cordillera peoples have commonalities in costumes, music, dances and even customs.
In the central part of the Cordillera Mountain Range, rice terraces abounds - from Ifugao to Mountain Province, famous of which is the Banaue Rice Terraces. The UNESCO Heritage Site declared five clusters of rice terraces in various towns in Ifugao. Other hidden rice terraces can found in Natonin, Mountain Province. Scenic terrains of cornfields can be found in Paracelis, Mountain Province, a town next to Natonin.
Provinces
Cities
Other destinations
Understand
On July 15, 1987, Executive Order No. 220 was issued creating the Cordillera Administrative Region. It is composed of provinces which used to be part of the Old Mountain Province. Republic Act No. 6766 was passed on October 23, 1989. It provided for an Organic Act for the Cordillera Autonomous Region. It mandates the creation of an autonomous government to be headed by a Regional Governor. It creates a Regional Assembly that will enact laws of regional application and a regional judiciary composed of a supreme court and lower courts. The act also directs the proposed autonomous government in the Cordillera to exercise governmental functions, including the raising of taxes, but excluding defense, foreign affairs and monetary functions. However, the Constitution requires that the act has to be ratified by the people in a plebiscite. It was originally scheduled on December 27 of the same year but was reset to January 30 the following by virtue of the Commission on Elections. During the said plebiscite, it was only Ifugao which voted favorably.
Republic Act No. 8438 dated December 22, 1997 created the Cordillera Autonomous Region. In January 1998, a group of lawyers challenged the constitutionality of the act. A plebiscite held on March 9 of the same year was held and invalidated the act. The region was created but reduced to a regular administrative region.
Talk
Get in
Despite being centrally located between Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley Region, the region has limited entry points from neighboring regions and provinces due to its topographic configuration mostly of steep slopes and mountain ranges.
By air
The regions only operating airport is Loakan Airport in Baguio City. However, due to its short runway, most commercial airlines stopped flying to the city but small charter with regular schedules fly to Baguio City from other airports in the Cagayan Valley Region.
By land
By land, major bus companies in Manila ply the route Manila-Baguio.
From Cagayan Valley Region, buses ply the route from Solano to Banaue. From Santiago City, buses operate from the city to Paracelis.
From Ilocos Region, buses from Manila plies to Abra via Ilocos Sur.
Get around
See
Tourist attractions in the region include the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces in the province of Ifugao. This is supposedly considered as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Natural attractions of the region include the Sumaguing Cave in Sagada and the mummy caves of Benguet and Mt. Province. There are four National Parks: Cassamata Hill, Mount Pulag (the third highest mountain in the Philippines with an elevation of 2,922 meters above sea level), Mt. Data and Balbalasang-Balbalan, located in the province of Kalinga.
Itineraries
Do
Climb Mt. Pulag : Pulag is the highest mountain on Luzon and the third highest mountain in the Philippines. It has an elevation of 2922 meters or 9587 feet. Several trails can be used. The most difficult being Akiki and the easiest being Ambangeg. You will need at least two days to climb Mt. Pulag.
Recommended outfitters:
- Pulag Climb : This package includes round trip transfer from Manila, meals, tour guide and entrance fee. For more information check [1]
Eat
Drinks
Tapey or rice wines.