Tam-awan Village-Showcase of living culture
Posted on | Wednesday 15 June 2011 | No Comments
The Tam-Awan Village is found in the northwestern part of the city. To find 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.
As a former resident of Baguio, I didn't know about the Tam-Awan Village 'till my visit sometime in 1999. A friend of mine was kind enough to show me the place which I really appreciated. Seeing the Igorot huts reminded me a lot of a trip I took to Bontoc Province some decades back where I saw a number of Igorot homes in the different villages I visited. There are a number of Igorot huts within the village which will allow you to see how the homes of the mountain people really look like. You do get a chance to climb up the wooden ladder and see what is inside each hut. This will give you a chance to feel what it is like to be living in one of these huts. Since these huts were set up on different locations on a hillside, visitors have to climb up the steep pathways to go from one hut to another. For a lowlander who is not accustomed to Baguio's high elevation, it does get to be quite an exhilarating experience to visit the Tam-Awan village. One will surely find a need to rest at each hut just to catch a breathe before climbing further up.
If you do manage to climb up to the hut located at the highest point in the village, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the low-lying areas of La Union Province and also the Gulf of Lingayen which lie due west of Baguio. To be able to do this, be sure to time your ascent before the afternoon fog comes in, otherwise the scenic view will not be visible and all that you will see is the thick fog and the nearby pine tress.
The village has a main hut which serves as a store and an information office for visitors. There are a few native handicraft items that are sold aside from some books and publications about the Igorot people, their culture and traditions. You can also order a hot cup of native coffee which gets to be a welcome treat after completing a tour of the entire village, especially on a cold and rainy day.
Category:
Travel
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