Northern Luzon - The Rough Guide to the Philippines - page 180

burial mounds called Apfo'or. They are at their greenest from April to May and
October to November.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE MAYOYAO

There are buses to Mayoyao from Banaue (2 daily; 3hr) and Santiago (4 daily; 4-5hr).

ACCOMMODATION
Mayoyao Hostel T 0905 806 4261. Under renovation at
the time of research, this hostel is wonderfully located on
top of a hill overlooking the rice terraces. There's a stone
burial mound at the end of the garden - a pretty spot to sit

back and enjoy the views at sunrise. Dorms are comfortable
and spacious, and there 's a large well-equipped guest
kitchen. Per person P200

Kiangan and around
On September 2 1945, General Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army surrendered
to US and Filipino troops in the town of KIANGAN , 10km from the provincial capital
Lagawe (which is itself 24km south of Banaue). The surrender is commemorated with
a large shrine although the actual site of the surrender (marked with a plaque) is now
occupied by the library of the nearby Kiangan Elementary School. The hill on the right
as you look out from the front of the shrine is where the Japanese holed up for their
last stand; it's known as the Million Dollar Hill for the supposed cost of the artillery with
which the US shelled it. Across from the shrine, the Ifugao Museum (Mon-Fri
8am-5pm; P30) displays everyday local artefacts including men's hip bags used to
store betel nut, and a mouth harp, considered to be a courtship instrument played to
express intimate love.
he rice terraces around Kiangan are at their best in April and May. You can take a
jeepney to the terraces at either Nagacadan (20min; P15) or Julungan (“Hul-ungan”;
1hr; P50). Tricycles also make it to Nagacadan (15min; P75 each way). Ask at Kiangan
tourist o ce if you need a guide.

3

Julia Campbell Agroforest Memorial Park
Brgy Pula, Asipulo • T 0905 732 2942, W bantaicivetcoffee.com or W juliacampbellpark.wordpress.com • Volunteers can contact the park
direct or make arrangements through Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms ( W wwoof.ph)
Some 18km west of Kiangan, in the Pula barangay of Asipulo, the Julia Campbell
Agroforest Memorial Park grows organic coffee made from beans that have been eaten
and excreted by civets, a product considered particularly flavourful and sold at a
premium price.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE KIANGAN AND AROUND

By bus The closest bus station to Kiangan is in Lagawe,
14km away, where Ohayami buses from Manila drop off
passengers (1 daily; 6-8hr).
By jeepney Jeepneys connect Kiangan and Lagawe

(every 30min; 15min; P15), from where there are regular
jeepneys to Banaue (every 30min; 1hr; P37).
By tricycle There are tricycles from Lagawe to Kiangan
(20min; P100).

INFORMATION
Tourist o ces The municipal tourist o ce is in the town
proper (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; T 0920 467 1020, W kiangan
.gov.ph); there is also a provincial tourist o ce in the

barangay of Baguinge, halfway between Lagawe and
Kiangan, just by Ibulao, Ibulao guesthouse (Mon-Fri
7.30am-5pm; T 0906 774 8310, W ifugaotourism.org.ph).

ACCOMMODATION
★

Ibulao, Ibulao Ibulao T 0917 553 3299,
E [e-mail]. This award-winning eco-
lodge and B&B, set in one hectare of land midway
between Lagawe and Kiangan, has a selection of creatively

presented rooms mostly decorated with Ifugao wood
carvings. The family room (P2800) with stone floors is
particularly impressive, built around exposed rocks. Owner
and doctor Roberto Kalungan also arranges rafting trips.