Pfukhay ad Majawjaw 2010

Dear Friends,

We are once again inviting you to join the Pfukhay ad Majawjaw (Rice Planting in Mayoyao) to be held on February 19-21, 2010 at Barangay Banhal, Mayoyao, Ifugao. This activity is being jointly-hosted by the Pochon and Maanichar Centennial Batch Assoc. (Pochon Group) and the Barangay Banhal Community. Other partner organizations include the Mayoyao Tourguides and Indigenous Knowledge Holders Allied Organization (MATIKHAO) and the AKHA’KHA-EMEH Cultural Performing Group.

For this particular tour, participants get to choose experience actual planting at the ricefields aside from the spectacular sites that Mayoyao can offer. Highlights of the tour include the cultural presentation where the different Native and War dances will be showcased by the AKHA’KHA-EMEH Cultural Performing Group. The participants will also be able to learn how the Mayoyao Native houses were constructed through the demo to be conducted by the Indigenous Knowledge Holders and Scholars.

It is the advocacy of the Pochon group to help maintain and preserve the richness of the cultural heritage of this town to allow the generations to come to appreciate the cultural practices of the ancestors who tried their best to hand the rich culture to the present generation for the next to learn about it. A portion of the tour’s proceeds will go to the heritage trust fund that will be used to help promote the indigenous culture of the Mayoyao people to its young generation and people who wish to have an extraordinary experience in the beautiful town where unexplored nature still abound.

Please help save our dying heritage. Join the Pfukhay ad Majawjaw 2010!

Thank you very much.

Yours truly,

JOAN SHEELAH O. NALLIW

Group President

PFUKHAY AD MAJAWJAW 2010

Package Cost: P3,900 Tour package. Inclusions:

Guide Fee

Cultural Presentation

Demo on Native House Construction

Transportation within the Province

Meals

Lodging

Add P450.00 Bus fare from Banaue to Manila

P4,350.00 Total Cost (Land travel insurance not included)

To bring:

Trekking shoes

Jacket/blanket

Water bottle for drinking water

Trail food

Cameras

Towels

Toiletries

Rainwear

Other clothes and gears suitable for cold weather and trekking

Note: February is a wet and cold month. While weather is always unpredictable, it can rain every afternoon. Temperature in Mayoyao is around 20-25 degrees Celsius at daytime and 15-20 degrees Celsius at night time.

ITINERARY

Date	Time	Activity
Feb. 18, 2010 Thursday	9.00PM	ETD Manila via Victory Liner Bus, Kamias/Kamuning Terminal
Feb. 19, 2010 Friday	5.00AM	ETA, Santiago City (Victory Liner Terminal)
		Travel to Mayoyao via the Ifugao towns of Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista
	6.30AM	Breakfast at Ubao, Aguinaldo, Ifugao
	10.00AM	ETA, Mayoyao, Ifugao
		Room assignments/Rest
	12NN	Lunch at the Lodge
	1PM	Orientation
		Demo on Native House Construction
		Visit to the Museum
		Visit to Acacoy Nature Park
	5PM	Roaming around the Town Plaza/shopping for souvenirs
	7PM	Dinner at the Lodge
		Rest
Feb. 20, 2010 Saturday	7AM	Breakfast at the Lodge
	8AM	Proceed to planting site and join the planting
	12NN	Lunch with the community
	1PM	Trek to Abfo’or Burial Tomb at Ottong
		Trek down Mapawoy rice Terraces Cluster
	5PM	Back to the Lodge
	7PM	Dinner
	8PM	Cultural presentation
		Rest
Feb. 21, 2010 Sunday	7 AM	Breakfast
		Pack-up
	8.30AM	Visit to Chu’it Viewpoint
	10AM	Travel to Banaue
	12NN	Lunch at Midway
	3PM	ETA, Banaue, Ifugao
	8PM	Departure for Manila via Florida Bus Liner
Feb. 22, 2010 Monday	4-5AM	ETA, Manila, Florida Bus Terminal, Lacson St., (Espana Avenue), Sampaloc, Manila

Description of places and activities:

1. Aguinaldo, Ifugao – Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, is said to have rested here a while (previously a part of Mayoyao) when he was fleeing from American forces during the Philippine-American War.

2. Alfonso Lista, Ifugao – The first town of Ifugao from Isabela. During WW2, the Japanese forces are said to have erected a fort in this place (can be seen along the road going to Mayoyao).

3. Ubao, Aguinaldo, Ifugao – This was the former hunting ground of General Dosser who was assigned in Mayoyao to help the guerrillas fight the Japanese forces in WW2. Today, this is the site of the rodeo competition held in every summer.

4. Acacoy Nature Park – A good vantage point for viewing the upper region of the Central Mayoyao Rice Terraces Cluster particularly Chaya Rice Terraces. It is where the “Hospital in the Clouds” is located. The hospital has received awards as the cleanest in the entire Ifugao Province.

5. Demo on Native House Construction – Indigenous Knowledge Holders and Scholars will conduct show how a native house is built with all the rituals and cultural practices that go along with it.

6. Chu’it Viewpoint – Another site for appreciating the Mayoyao Central Rice Terraces cluster.

7. Mun-alajah Waterfalls – One of the pristine waterfalls of Mayoyao. It offers the cleanest and coolest waters. One can drink directly from the water. Also a perfect site for snorkelling and swimming. (not included in the itinerary)

8. O’Phaw Mahencha Waterfalls – According to myth, a beautiful woman named Mahencha had to leap 3 times for an interval of at least 8 meters each waterfalls just to retrieve her necklace which had fallen off while she was taking a bath. (not included in the itinerary)

9. Bongan Rice terraces cluster – The start of the trekking adventure to the rice terraces of central Mayoyao.

10. Apfo’or Burial Tombs – Igloo-type mausoleums built out of stone for warriors during the early days.

11. Manual rice threshing/pounding/sifting – This had to be done before the local people ate when there were no machines.

12. Ecopark – A collection of rare woods are planted in this Ecopark which is managed privately by a family. The park is called “Pinuchu” or mini-forest. (not included in the itinerary)

13. Mayoyao Hostel (Ottong) – This is the site of the oldest Apfo’or Burial tomb.

14. Mapawoy Rice Terraces Cluster – It is the location of what we call the “Father house” or the biggest native house which can accommodate approximately 20 people and also the “Mother Field” or the widest ricefield in the area.

15. Visit to the Clairvoyant – Many people do not believe this clairvoyant can perform healing wonders. My Belgian visitor was relieved of his backpains when the clairvoyant “fixed” his aching back. One has go to see to believe. (not included in the itinerary)

16. Marian Center – Located at the site of the Catholic High School, a vegetable garden converted into a Retreat center offers the best example of infrastructure development that do not sacrifice the nature and the environment. It is built beside a waterfalls that when filled with flowing water shows the image of Mama Mary. (not included in the itinerary)

17. Lomogig Stone – The stone is a huge boulder standing in the middle of a river supported by 3 small stones at the base. It has been said that as long as the Lumogig Stone stands, Mayoyao will continue to experience Peace, Love, and Abundance/Prosperity which are symbolized by the 3 small stones. (not included in the itinerary)