Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City, Philippines

Panagbenga, pa rin

More Native Products

Created by dexterous hands.

Beautiful native products

Narda's Native Products and Baguio

Dresses made of handwoven material are unique and colorful. Here's an example. This one of the products by Narda's, one of the most popular native stores in Baguio.

By the way, this is not a paid post. I just felt that Narda's products are worth the shout out because they're truly good.

Dismayed at Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City, Philippines

Beautiful and colorful woven native material.


The beautiful flowers of the Panagbenga festival in the Pines City had made me happy after the terrible experience I had at the Panagbenga parade festival. There was insufficient organization of the activity. The visitors and tourists were not given proper orientation, or even arrows or announcements or signs that could help. There were no signs to say that a street is one way, not until you have entered it. And at the oval, the entrance and exit portals are the same. What if a stampede happens? Even the loudspeaker was concentrated only on people who were on stage. What about the thousands seated all around the oval? There are still many dismaying things I've noticed and I'll write about them later.

The Kalinga Costume- "Ginamat" and "Bongol"

The colorful beads or "bongol" is a part of the native costume. It is always worn during fiestas , weddings and important occasions.



Woven "ginamat" , a beautiful, native costume from Kalinga.

Taloctoc, Kalinga: My Village

Taloctoc is the Village where I grew up since age 5. I stayed in the city and then went home to Taloctoc. It was my small Paradise, an ideal haven for those who would like to escape the hurly-burly of city life. Taloctoc then was has fresh, cool air, clear, sparkling waters, verdant, rich mountains and a flora and fauna that were incomparable. I still have not gone back. I hope in time I can and would still see a remnant of the Taloctoc I knew as a child.


Drawing: by Eugene Supermedtech

Amabalo e Algao Yo

"Ambalo e algao yo" is a Kalinga sentence meaning , Good morning to all of you.

"Intakkon not," means let's go. This is used in informal conversation and among peers. If used in a formal conversation, you add the title of the person you're talking to like, "Apo Palicas, intakkon not."

When they give you water, take it even if you're not thirsty. It is an affront if you don't. Accepting the water indicates that you accept the offer of friendship.

These are some Kalinga practices still observed by many up to this day.

Kalinga, A Place of Beauty

How I wish I could go back home and capture the beauty and serenity of my small village. It has been eons ago that I have not visited. When I do, I'll splash all the pictures here. For now, you'll have to bear with my rants.

But here is a wonderful site that talks about Kalinga.