Upland Municipalities of Ilocos Sur

The Upland Municipalities of Ilocos Sur

Mountains are always considered by most urban dwellers as well as the artists a perfect place to go when one wants to meditate or experience silence and tranquility. Mountains are the campers’ common destination for retreat and recollection.
The yogis or yoga practitioners often says they experience samadhi (heavenly state of mind) when they meditate in the mountains it is because the place is free from pollution or contamination espcially from negative thoughts and narrowmindedness.
One writer said, “life in the uplands is a picturesque image of serenity and delight, a place when one treks to encounter the Creator amidst untainted Creation. In the mountains, food is simple, and fashion is immaterial, but uniquely tribal.”
In the upland areas, one can find and feel the beauty of nature and an interesting place. There are several areas in the upland municipalities of Ilocos Sur which are identified as tourist destination. Some of these are the Bessang Pass National Park in Naiba, Cervantes; the Tirad Pass National Park located in the municipality of Gregorio del Pilar, the Aw-asen Water Falls in Sigay, and the newly developed Eco - Mountain Park Resort in Suyo. There are also occasions of festivities where local people perform their unique culture such as the tapey festivals in Lidlidda and San Emilio. The fiesta celebration in Gregorio del Pilar during the first week of December remembering the valiant struggle and the death anniversary of General Gregorio del Pilar also attract foreign and local visitors.
The Upland Municipalities are populated by the tribal communities and they observe value systems which is a heritage from their early ancestors. These value systems are cooperativism, volunteerism, docility, honestly and act of sharing. The cooperativism is shown in their effort to beautify and clean the community and in building a house. The practice of volunteerism is observed in times of weddings and in death such as borrowing utensils and returns them after, good cooks volunteers their expertise, washing of dishes, volunteering to dig the grave and in the building of the sapao or collecting saranay. They practice docility by obeying the laws and regulations of the community. They share vegetables to others and they observe the saying “uray matay ti nagtulagan, saan la ket ti tulagan” and unknown visitors are welcomed to their house.
I can say that my personal experience in the upland municipalities of the province, when I went there recently to conduct a research study, is really something worth remembering. All the people I met and talked are very kind and hospitable. Though they are usually referred to as taga surong or residents from the second or third floor, I consider them people with pure hearts and open minded.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people I met during the conduct of my research study in the Upland areas. They are: Mayor Clifford Patil-ao of Quirino, Vice Mayor Henry Gallardo of Gregorio del Pilar, Mr. Seferino Tucdaden and Mr. Bennie Habon, punong barangay of Conception, Gregorio del Pilar, Mr. Odie and Mrs. Priscilla Tiwan of Poblacion, Quirino, Mr. Francisco Pusayen and family of Poblacion, Cervantes, Dr. Romulo Ramos and his wife, Marissa San Jose of Banayoyo, Mayor Lorenzo Bragado Jr. of San Emilio, Liezl Pasahol Polides of Sigay, Vita Sirra and Mr. Cecilio Quidangen of Lidlidda, Mr. Daniel Agyapas of Poblacion, Sugpon and many more who helped me a lot. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.* (Ver Alviento - March 2009)