Webbs in the Philippines: Baguio and Sagada

Sister Webb and Sister Bean enjoy learning the customs of the Mountain Province

Elders Webb and Bean at the Sagada Water Project Celebration

We've been here less than three weeks and have spent more time in the car than in the office.
This last week we traveled north from Manila to Baguio, a 6 hour drive into the Mountain
Province and from there another 6 hours north to Sagada, a charming mountain village of 10,000, where we celebrated turning on the faucet of the water project just completed.  The families of Sagada did not have access to clean water. This project, on which the church partnered with other
NGO's and the people of the town, brings the neighborhoods safe clean water.

The country side is beautiful. The rice fields are still groomed by hand and
the rice stalks are dried on the side of the road as is the hulled rice. It is a step back in time.

The people here have hard bodies from their hard work. They are a happy people and enjoy what they do. Each person seems to take pleasure in his or her job from the farmer to the weaver, the carpenter to the mayor. There is honor in hard work in this Mountain Village. The people are gracious and every where we traveled we were met with smiles and warm respectful greetings.

Back to our trip to Sagada: we wound our way up mountain roads that twisted and turned from Baguio to Sagada. The last couple of hours the monsoon rains began and we found ourselves in dark clouds mixed with fog that slowed our travel. Benson was concerned that we were going to be late for the celebration and was trying to hurry us along, but the roads were not cooperating. We actually turned the wrong way once and had to back track. The road was washed out in a few spots but we were able to proceed until we reached Sagada and the party waiting for us.

The downpour continued in its strength as we struggled to get from our van to the Town Hall where all gathered before heading up to the party hall. We were led about 100 yards up narrow paths made of slate and rock.  Rain run-off gushed down pipes and special channels constructed into the walk ways with flows and counter flows throughout the hillside. I was amazed by what I saw. We finally made it to the Barangay Hall, a large room about 20 feet by 50 feet made of cement and dedicated to town gatherings. All the buildings are made of cement and they are almost all built on rock. A firm foundation indeed.

The room was filled with plastic chairs, many of which were occupied by the townspeople. We were invited to sit in the front of the room.   The meeting began with a prayer and a song. There were talks by the Mayor and the partners in the project. Then there was the unveiling of a certificate acknowledging the completion of the water project. A door was opened at the front of the building and someone went out into the rain and turned on the faucet and water poured out into the yard.

Next we were treated to a program from the locals complete with singing and dancing.  Pan drums were played for rthymn as the men and women danced the Bird Dance. They were remarkably graceful as they acted out the mating dance of birds. We were invited to join in the dance which we did. Elder Webb was given a pan to play. He did well, but it was not as easy as it looked. The sweet sound of the experts was interrupted temporarily while the visitors attempted to play the music.

The building then turned into a banquet hall as chairs were stacked and a buffet table was set up for the meal that had been prepared by the women of the neighborhood. There were salads, and meat dishes. Pig knuckles, fish heads and a blood dish that included unidentified tubing and of course rice. The salad was particularly nice as it featured the city's organic veggies and wonderful avocado. We have to be a bit cautious when it comes to sharing these new foods. Our digestive systems are a bit delicate. We also recognize the tremendous sacrifice these people make in preparing foods for us that could feed their families. We do not want to take away from their gift. So we eat what we can and compliment the cooks on those things that are tasty. The herbal tea with brown sugar was warm and especially soothing. Norriss, who is particularly fussy about his food, has been a real trooper moving well out of his comfort zone.

It was getting dark and still raining when we left for our rooms. We stayed at a local inn surrounded by botanical gardens. Pictures will follow. The morning arrived with beautiful clear skies and striking views from our bedroom windows. We had breakfast and then took a short tour of some of the interesting spots in Sagada. Our travel guide was the county travel director on assignment from the Mayor. He was wonderful.  We only had a couple of hours to tour because we wanted to see the rice terraces and then get back to Baguio before the afternoon Monsoons hit again......We did not make it, but that is a story for another day.

The Philippines have many beautiful things to see and do.  We continue to marvel at our good fortune in once again being assigned someplace we never dreamed we would go. A place full of people to meet and things to learn. God's goodness is manifest each day in the friends and acquaintance we are making and in the things they are teaching us. We change for the better every time we are introduced to a new project and the people it will help. What a blessing it is to be alive and involved in such a vibrant place. We miss our family and loved ones and are grateful for their support. Their notes and letters are cherished.