Adto na 'ta

Our difficult trek to Banga-an, a small barangay in Banawe, Ifugao, was rewarded upon seeing this lone authentic Ifugao gentleman who we caught chewing a betel nut under one of the huts (probably his own). We were disappointed at first when we noticed that almost all people living in this barangay no longer wear their traditional clothing, so it was a pleasure for us to see this authentic Ifugao in his traditional garb. As not one of us could speak Ifugao, we could not converse with him, but according to the neighbors, he is slightly deaf. From the Greenview Hotel where we were billeted, we could see the Banawe Rice Terraces in all its grandeur. But at that time, the vegetation was not as thick as it would be during the rainy months. We arranged for a local jeepney with a guide whose name is Manong Johny, it cost us P2,000 and P700 for the guide. The ratio of a tour guide to the number of tourists is 7:1 or thereabouts. But if you are travelling on a budget, you may just hike goin...

The Hot Peanut Cart, which can be seen in practically every corner and every barangay in Manila and the Philippines for that matter, is an example of the unique English of the Filipinos and the "gaya-gaya" culture.