A-T-O-K

_ _A-T-O-K_ _

                                                 -Mia Kisim 

           Our trip to La Union was quite an exciting one but we concluded that we should have another trip. One of my friends from Buguias recommended that we should visit their place. And the plans were made. To reach our destination, we boarded on a Van located in the terminal at the Shell gasoline station along KM5. As we were on our way to Buguias, we passed and stopped by Atok first and we paid 100 pesos for the fare and the trip took us one hour and 30 minutes. But if you’re looking for a cheaper fare there’s another alternative, there’s a bus station at the Slaughter in Lower Magsaysay, Baguio City. The bus fare is 50 pesos but it will take 2 hours until you reach Atok.

          Atok is a mountainous place and can be cold during the Christmas season which makes it a good place to visit especially for those from the warm places in the lowlands. Atok is one of the remarkable places that we had visited. Since it was summer time, we hadn’t experience the freezing temperature which causes andap or frost to the crops of the farmers. Experts believe that the andap happens when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius. Experts also believe that Atok’s drop in temperature is two degrees lower than Baguio City’s. Still, the main livelihood in there was farming. Different crops were planted and harvested from cabbages, Chinese cabbages, potatoes, sweet peas, carrots to broccoli. Aside from vegetables, they also raise cows, pigs, and chickens.

           The people living there are industrious and friendly. They are united by their rich culture even though they speak different languages and ethnic affiliation: the Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, and Ilocano. Nowadays, many of them are Christians but they still value their culture and beliefs. They have the belief in the “manbunong’’ who performs rituals to cure unexplainable illness. Their offering includes dogs, chickens, pigs to appease the nature spirits or their dead relative’s spirit. Cañao is their big feast to please the Kabunyan and thanksgiving for bountiful blessings.

            They love eating their indigenous foods: sweet potato, “cassava”, “diket’’ and they also drink natural wines. They ate fruits harvested from their farms and made “gabi” and “pinakbet’’ as their viand.

(image from Pinterest) 

               Aside from the people and their culture, the place and sceneries itself are admirable. I enjoyed touring those tourist attactions. We love the view of the Highest Point, a natural attraction found in Cattubo, Atok.

               The Highest point can be found at Cattubo, Atok. It is the highest point in the country under the Philippine highway system, at an elevation of 7,400 ft. above sea level. From the view deck, we can see the vegetable gardens and the mountain ranges of Bokod, Kabayan, Atok and we can even see Mt. Pulag.

           

             Just 4 kilometers from capital of Atok, Sayangan, and another attraction came upon our eyes. We can never forget passing through the Natampukan half tunnel which is a marvel to look at. It was a man-made attraction and passing through it give us awe and wonder for the engineers and workers who built it.