me, basti and the world: Ifugao

So we woke up late.. and missed the Opening Parade of Panagbenga.. And we were famished..

booooh.. :( so we took a bath and went to Tam-awan Village.

Located at 366-C Pinsao Proper 2600 Baguio City

How to get there:

By jeep: from Baguio proper go to "Baguio Long-Long Tacay Tam-Awan Vice Versa" jeepney terminal on Hilltop Street near the market area. You can always ask the locals for direction. :)

We were in Ferguson so we just rode a cab. Fare is about Php90.00-100 from Ferguson.

Chanum Foundation, Inc., founded in 1998, began to reconstruct Ifugao houses in Baguio with the view of making a model village accessible to people who have not had the chance to travel to the Cordillera interior. On a land near an abundant spring, the foundation started out with three knocked-down huts transported from Bangaan, Ifugao. Tam-awan village now has seven Ifugao huts and two Kalinga houses. Using the original materials and adding only new cogon roofs, traditional artisans reconstructed the houses and laid them out resembling the design of a traditional Cordillera Village.

(http://www.tam-awanvillage.com/)

An Ifugao house is compact and though deceptively simple, its architecture is quite sophisticated. Built by clever mortise makers without nails or hardware, it exemplifies the exactness of Ifugao construction. With the heavy hand-hewn timber elevated to about shoulder height by four posts usually made of hard wood, the house, with periodic re-roofing, can last several generations.

The Kalinga house is more spacious and is made with the same hand-hewn pinewood. The binayon is the traditional octagonal house of Southern Kalinga Province and Tam-awan Village is proud to present one the three remaining such houses in the country today.

The huts in Tam-awan Village are named after the areas where they come from. From Ifugao, we have the Bangaan Hut, Anaba Hut, Batad Hut, Dukligan Hut, Kinakin Hut, and Nagor Hut. Our Kalinga huts are from Luccong and Bugnay. Except for Bugnay Hut, which serves as one of the village’s galleries, lodgers are accepted in these huts. (http://www.tam-awanvillage.com/)

You can actually stay in the Ifugao huts..

Lodging (per day):

Beddings and towels are provided.

Toiletries should be provided by lodgers.

* Meals (Reservation Required)

• 1 PERSON P 500.00

• 2 PERSONS P 1,000.00

• EXTRA PERSON (ADD) P 300.00 each

• GROUP (10 PERSONS OR MORE) P 350.00 each

(http://www.tam-awanvillage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=41)

At the center of the village, right outside the cafe, you can buy crepes..

His name is Louis. "Not King Louis, he's already dead" he said. He was a jolly French guy who sells crepe. Full of energy, Louis was amazing.. :) He said that it was an honor for him to make authentic French crepes to Filipinos.. He's been here in the Philippines for 10 months now and came to Tam-awan 5 months ago..

THIS WAS THE BEST PART!!

While waiting for our food we ordered Baileys crepe. Php150.00

The crepe was so good. Its crunchy on the burned part and it was very thin.. The liquor was too strong for me though...

For dessert Strawberry crepe. Php 120.00.

Rate 1(needs super improvement) -10 (superb!!!) Louis' crepe

Ambiance : n/a

Cleanliness: 9

Food: 9

Service: 10

The Tam-awan Village Cafe started when the village was created in the late 90's with only 12 seating capacity. In 2007 it was renovated and expanded to accomodate more customers.. More dishes was added. Artists would occasionally cook their favorite signature dishes. :)

Bagnet (it says good for 2.. You be the judge if the Bagnet will feed 2 people..). Php 250.00. Not really Bagnet that I am accustomed to. (If you want to really get a taste of bagnet, try STOOPS in Vito cruz and at "the zone" in Malugay Makati).

This was the cheesecake.. Php 30.00. I thought it was New York style cheesecake.. Hahaha

Tam-awan salad was not available at that time.. so I just ordered Tam-awan Burger Php 190.00.

The burger was scrumptious. Very moist and tasted really good.. :)

Boneless Daing na Bangus Php 185.00

Rate 1(needs super improvement) -10 (superb!!!)

Ambiance : 10

Cleanliness: 8

Food: 7

Service: 8

Aside from eating at Tam-awan cafe (the only reason why we came there..hehehe). There were other activities that you can enjoy. Printmaking, wood Carving, bamboo craft, rice wine making, solar drawing, drawing and painting

Workshop:

*Only paper & pencil will be provided. Participants shall provide other materials like watercolor, oil, acrylic, canvas, charcoal pencil, t-shirts etc.

• P 450.00 per person per module

(Basic/Advanced Drawing, Solar Drawing, Oil Pastel, Water Color, Wood Carving, Bamboo Craft, Dreamcatcher making, Life Drawing/Portraiture)

(http://www.tam-awanvillage.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=41)