Relieve the Historical Past at Tam-awan Village
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Although it is not my first time in Baguio City, the city offers a lot more than just cold weather and pine trees. Baguio also has a rich history to tell and the kids of this generation would be the lovely audience of this wonderful culture we had way back then.
The Tam-Awan Village is located in the northwestern part of the city. To go to the village, proceed to Bokawkan Road which is behind Camp Allen, turn left at Ferguzon Road which leads to the Easter Weaving Room, and then right to Tacay Road which is an uphill climb. Upon reaching the top of the hill, take a right turn and this road will bring you to Tam-Awan Village. If you proceed further on, the road will take you to the town of La Trinidad.
Before we took a tour at the village, we were welcomed by the young Igorots who also performed ritual dances.
It was again, my first time to witness an Igorot dance. The culture and traditions of the Cordillerans are still practiced until now. Though modernization and technology changed the way we live, it is still very important for the Cordillerans to preserve these unique customs and pass it on to the next generations. They showed us some of this rituals through a wonderful dance.
1. The cañao – An Igorot ritual that features a traditional dance accompanied by music played by a group of tribesmen with a set of gongs that produce a unique rhythmic sound and tempo. Different tribes have their own unique dance and distinct sound of instruments.
2. Pinikpikan – It is a ritual in the Cordillera tribes for them to determine their fate and what appropriate course of action they shall take. The process of light beating or pikpik is where pinikpikan got its name. This traditional meal is composed of a chicken that is lightly beaten; sayote or papaya; and other ingredients. They say that when you are a true Cordilleran, you have to eat pinikpikan.
After their peroformance, we then toured the village. The village showcased Nipa Huts
which will really take you back in time. 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 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.
Tam-awan Village also has a cafe inside. They have an art gallery inside the cafe which will make you appreciate art even more while divulging in their delectable dishes.
They sometimes hold art exhibits here or workshops. I can imagine myself reading a book in the corner while drinking their very relaxing tea and savoring the cold weather too.
We visited Tam-awan Village on our Day 1 at Baguio. We stayed at Azalea Residences who also prepared our memorable itinerary. Thank you so much!
If you're looking for an amazing place to stay in Baguio, head on to Azalea Residences.
They can also prepare an itinerary for you :)
Baguio City is not only rich with these very unique and exciting customs and traditions and spectacular tourist landmarks, it is also a business center and a “Metropolis of the North.” Baguio is one of the cities that is developing and is well-governed. It is a place where one can experience a modern and traditional way of living at the same time.
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