Ø Mt. Province was a special province
of the Philippines since 1907. It was composed of the sub province of
Bontoc-Lepanto, Amburayan, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao and Kalinga. On June 18,
1966, Republic Act Nos. 4695 divided Mt. Province into four provinces Benguet,
Ifugao, kalinga-Apayao and Mt. Province. The area that retained the old
provinces name was formerly the sub provinces of Bontoc. The Spaniars called
the territory “La Montanosa” because of its mountainous terrain. The rugged
mountain peaks provided protection against the Spanish efforts to colonize and
convert the tribes to Christianity. In 1901, Catholic and Protestant
missionaries began evangelization work in the highlands. In spite of this, Mt.
Province has preserved its tribal culture and unique way of life to this day.
Ø In 1899, during the
Filipino-American War, General Emilio Aguinaldo and the revolutionary forces
crossed the Grand Cordillera through Mt. Province. They proceeded to Sagada and
Isabela where they were eventually captured.
Ø Under the American rule, Mt Province
was one of the provinces of the Ilocos Region (Region 1) until Executive Order
Nos. 2220, dated July 1987, and made it a part of the Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR).
Ø Mt Province Is the home of
industrious and friendly people, mainly Bontoc-Igorots or Ilocano migrants from
the neighboring provinces. Bontoc-Igorots are industrious farmers who were once
regarded as the most belligerent of the mountain tribes. Though they are
Christians, they still cling to their traditional belief and rituals. The
inhabitant’s main source of livelihood is agriculture as well as livestock and
poultry raising. The people of Mt. Province generally speak Kankaney with
Bontoc as their major dialect. Others speak Gaddang and Kalinga, but English
and Ilocano are widely spoken and understood.
Ø At present, Mt Province is growing
in popularity as “Spunkelers” Delight and Weavers Paradise. It is becoming a favorite
destination of local and foreign tourists.
Geographic Location
Ø
Mt.
Province is nestled in the heart of the Grand Cordillera, the biggest and the
highest chain of mountains in the Philippines located some 170 kilometers north
of Baguio City. Hugged by huge mountains, Mt. Province lies between Ilocos Sur
in Region I and Cagayan Valley in Region II. It is bounded in the north by
Kalinga and Apayao; Benguet and Ifugao in the south; Isabela in the east; and
Ilocos Sur in the west.
Ø
Mt.
Province has a land area of 2,239.89 square kilometers. About eight percent of
this area consists of alienable and disposable land, while the rest (ninety-two
percent) are forestlands.
Ø
The
province has two types of climate: it is wet during the Philippines rainy
season (June to October) and the dry season extends from November through May.
Tourist Attractions
and Points of Interest in the Province
Cultural
b) Sagada Weaving House
(Sagada)- Woven
products are Knapsacks, bags, purses and dress materials.
c) Sabangan Loom Weaving
(Sabangan)-Sabangan
loom weaving features placemats, table napkin, table runners and bags.
d) Samoki Weaving House
(Samoki, Bontoc)-Samoki
weaving is distinct from Sagada weaving and Sabangan loom waving in the manner
materials are woven. Typical products are back strap weaving, Samoki tapis,
G-strings, belts and Blankets.
Natural
a) Hot Springs- the warm sulfuric water that flows
from these hot springs is a wondrous relaxant. Villagers believe that, after a
hard day’s work, a dip in the hot spring will ease muscle pains caused by
fatigue. Hot springs are found in Mornang, Lingoy in Barlig, and in Mainit,
Bontoc.
b) Caves/Hanging Coffins-caves found in Sagada, Besao,
Bontoc and Sadanga have hanging coffins and century old burial sites. Four of
these caves are found in Sagada, which is about 19 kilometers west of Bontoc:
they are the Matangkib Cave, the Sugong Cave, Lumuyang Burial Cave and
Sumaguing Cave; in Bontoc, the Ganga Cave; the Angoten Cave in Sadanga; and the
Liang Burial Cave in Basao.
c) Lakes/Waterfalls-there
are a number of lakes and waterfalls in Mt Province. Among these are Bokong,
Latang Lakes, the Aguid and Fidelisan Water Spots and the Bumodok Waterfalls in
Sagada, the Banao Lake in Besao and the Gawan Lake in Tadian.
a) Agricultural Stone
Calendar in Guedey, Besao-it
consists of two huge rocks situated side by side with a crevice at the middle.
When the rays of the sun hit the crevice, farmers know that the planting season
has arrived.
b) Alab Petroglyphs in Alab,
Bontoc-a huge rock with
bows and arrows and humans beings craved in its surface. The carvings of human
beings are believed to images of warriors buried in the Ganga Cave at the foot
of the mountain where the rock stands.
c) Pagan God Footprints
palikut Aso in Bontoc-a
large stone with footprints believed to be those of Lumauig, the pagan God of
the Igorots. A stone resembling that of a sleeping dog is found in the area.
d) Makilo Sphinx in
Paracelis- it has
similarities with the Egyptian Sphinx.
e) Enchanted Eels-found at the Cagubatan Lake in
Tadian.
Man-made Tourist Attractions
b) Pottery/Ceramics
Industry- Samoki Pottery in Bauko. Items like bowls, jars and charcoal
stoves are made from the clay that abounds in these villages. The items are
molded with bare hands by the villagers after whom they are charred and
fortified with glaze. The linga (glaze) is obtained from the sap of pine
trees.
Municipalities
of Mt. Province
·
Barlig
·
Bauko
·
Besao
·
Bontoc
(Capital)
·
Natonin
·
Paracelis
·
Sabangan
·
Sadanga
·
Sagada
·
Tadian