It’s an amazing picture, don’t you think so? That’s just a portion of Barlig, Mountain Province in the Cordilleras. Our house can be seen at the right most part of the picture. Barlig might not be my birthplace but I spent all my childhood and teenage years here. All those times with great pleasure. Thanks God!
The Tanudan river is in between the crowded houses below the Catholic Church on one side and the Baptist and Spiritist Churches on the other side. The river is such a place where we spent most of our free times swimming. You can just imagine nakedness as a picture of innocence then (sad to say that no one is seen playing in the river these days because of the pollution from the hospital and of course, children are now aware of their sexuality). More often, we are scolded for being late in school after the lunch break because taking a dip in the river is so irresistible.
I could say that Christianity conquered Barlig. We may be still practicing some customs and traditions, no one can dispute that no Barligian is a pagan.
Can you see those two galvanized houses in the midst of the rice terraces? It’s a sore eye really. How my heart was broken upon seeing them for the first time after 11 years. If only I could do something to protect and preserve the landscape. (Any help?) The other rice terraces are located beyond the picture’s limits. Compared to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, ours is a majestic sight. It’s unique in structural designs aside from being stone-walled. How I wish many tourists will visit my hometown and see the difference. Anyhow, Barlig is just a two hour ride from Banaue. It’s worth the side trip!
(Thanks to Ms. Ayeona for the picture. I also used it for the 23rd Barligian Family Reunion 2005 in Baguio City programme cover sponsored by the Fikingas-Mandia Family. My apologies to my ever dearest webmaster Jun Torrano a.k.a freakish_alien, without his knowledge I changed the banner, eh?)
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