"Prehistoric mountain dwellers inhabited this place leaving a mark that became an evidence of their existence. "

Alab Village in Bontoc, Mountain Province is probably a haven for archaeologists and for people who love studying the extreme past. I will never know it's worth if I didn't personally visit the tourism office located at the Bontoc Town Hall.

Your breathtaking connection to Alab Oriente, Bontoc

Alab Oriente, Bontoc, Mountain Province title=

I feel sad, not many find things like this interesting. Many are so captivated by the mainstream, uber-publicized destinations on which however, I am not against, in fairness. Well, I have to understand, 4 to 6 hours of mountain hiking and trekking would be too calorie-depleting and lung-endurance is a mainstay. You need to exert much effort and then what you're just going to see are stones and stone carvings. So what about those stones? See stones and just stones in exchange of the 4-6 hours of effort? Sounds uncool for most -- well not me.

A welcoming view of Alab Village

And yes, what makes this village ancient is the presence of these stones that signify the presence of human civilization dating back those years unwritten in our history. Prehistoric mountain dwellers inhabited this place leaving a mark that became an evidence of their existence.

I am referring to the Alab Petroglyphs, the Ganga Stone Houses and some other mysterious stone formations I discovered there which will be given a separate post. These stones have made this village a home for a rich cultural heritage that will jar your brain (Watch out for the separate post on this topic).

This village is still a home to authentic Bontok tribes. Although most residents are now living the modern way, there are still some people who practice and wear the icons of their traditions, mostly the elders.

Another interesting feature of this village is the presence of three sacred grounds called Dap-ayan, Kabingwilan, and Patpatayan. I learned that many residents here still believe with supernatural powers and elements of nature that determine the fate of their community.

Photos of Dap-ayan or Ato in Alab Oriente

Dap-ayan, as I said, is one of the three sacred grounds in Alab Village. During those days where the Bontok tribal society is still the prevailing system, dap-ayan or ato used to be the venue of many important social and community activities.

This sacred ground is a place where members of the tribe practice their customs and traditions often delivered in the form of singing, dancing and playing of gongs (gansa) in honor of their gods. It was mainly a paganistic ritual which does not jive with the Christian point of view.

In this place, the people gather for ceremonies before bringing their sacrificial offerings to the patpatayan, another sacred ground located at the top of a mountain in Alab Oriente.

Notice those wood carving at the photos above. These wood carvings represent the headhunting culture of our Igorot brothers. Tribal wars were rampant before for the sake of maintaining the integrity of their tribe and ancestral domains. Each wood carving of a human face represents a person killed. The more wood carvings made, the more persons were headhunted.

It is weird how killing other people is integrated with the sacredness of this ground. Well to date, gone are those days of headhunting and these carvings are now just marks of the past.

The dap-ayan is still used until now for their rituals but the way they do their ceremonies is no longer as similar or authentic as the ways of the past. The people here have embraced the modern world and this sacred ground is no longer considered as sacred to some extent as it was before (Notice some garbage at the last photo above).

Patpatayan (Sacrificial Ground) at Alab Oriente

Alab Village | Bontoc, Mountain Province

The next sacred ground in Alab Oriente Village is the patpatayan. Patpatayan is located at the top of the mountain. It is a sacrificial altar for the people of this village.

This sacred ground is a place where the people believe to have an effect to their health. The villagers offer animals here for the gods in exchange of good health and cure to their illnesses.

I was not able to capture a photo of this sacred ground that's why I am showing you a photo I took from the brochure.

Kabingwilan (Virgin Bamboo Forest) of Alab Oriente

Alab Oriente | Bontoc, Mountain Province

If the patpatayan is believed to have effects to the health of the villagers, kabingwilan, a thick bamboo forest at the center of the village is believed to have effects in the condition of nature and environment.

No one in the community is allowed to cut any bamboo here since it is considered as a great crime. Something bad will happen if the bamboos here are cut or altered. People believe that the kabingwilan is the reason for some weather disturbances and to stop it, the villagers have to offer pigs or chickens.

These are the three sacred grounds in Alab Oriente, Bontoc, Mountain Province but the marks of the ancient civilization is not over yet.

The search isn't over yet

It requires hiking and trekking. Some parts of the trail have stairs but that just accounts for the 25% of the whole trail. I climbed a mountain and trekked to deadly paths just to satisfy my curiosity.

I need to get a guide (photo above is my guide) so that I will not be lost in the trail, and of course, to be able to locate the important points and for security purposes. /To be continued...

Do you want to discover Alab Village by yourself? Hit me an email at edmaration@gmail.com and I will give you the name of the guide including her contact number and more details. Also, you can contact me in my facebook page and twitter if you don't have an email on which I doubt.

Bontoc #TownExploration Series

Map Showing the Location of #Bontoc

Click this map to view other posts about MOUNTAIN PROVINCE

Culture and Heritage Expressed in Arts

The wealth of her culture, heritage and her sweet history is not easy to express in words. It is priceless; better than gold and any richness of this world. The complexity of her identity can make a person-of-few-words to be lost for words.

It is the kind of wealth that can defy greed. It actually promotes selflessness. It is the wealth that gathers the community for peace. It does not create Walls of Jericho that builds division among the people. It is the kind of wealth that benefits not a single individual but an equal distribution to the people. This is the wealth of Vigan. It is not about money and power. It is the culture and heritage that we can not afford to lose.

This day has come once again. The old houses of Vigan are the superstars; the old houses that stimulated development; the old houses that stood the test of time; the old houses that brought my hometown to stardom; the old houses that served as silent witnesses of the past. They are the Vigan ancestral houses -- an asset, attraction, a priceless gem.

Old Houses with Abel Decors along Liberation Blvd

UCPB Vigan branch building

Banks, restaurants and many commercial establishments have no freedom to choose the design of their buildings because they are regulated by a city ordinance. The original designs of the structures should be maintained. For new buildings, it must look similar with the old buildings that dominate this bustling Quezon Avenue.

This is Vigan. It's great people has learned to love and appreciate it's heritage. I couldn't be happier. I see these structures everyday. These old houses make me feel like they give me new hope, daily. As long as these ancestral houses are there, I'll never get tired blogging about it. /end