You are now entering “ABRA” – the signboard said as I entered Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) from Sta Maria, Ilocos Sur (Region 1).
View from Victoria Park, Bangued
Nothing so special. It doesn’t have stunning rock formations nor white sand beaches. I believe there are waterfalls but very far from Bangued, its capital. The green mountains of Ilocos began to be brown and dry as Abra province came near. It was scorching hot and if not for the gushing wind, I will be all wet of my sweat.
So what’s in Abra? Some Old Churches, Campo Santo, La Paz loom-weaving, Victoria Park and the Calaba river where locals sometimes visit to freshen up. I believe there’s more but because of the peace and order situation, tourists have no choice but to explore the places within the city.
Bangued Centro. Bangued Cathedral's belfry can be seen. Tricycles are the main PUV.
Bangued Cathedral
Lorenzon Ruiz Chapel at the Campo Santo
Its one province that tourist avoid because of the political problem that it has. I don’t want to comment on this. I just want to share what I felt when I visited the town after Bangued- Tayum.
Mary V. Barbero Park in Tayum. IIt's 5:30pm and there are no kids playing nor locals relaxing on the benches.
Another shot of the Public Park in Tayum, Abra
It was 5:30pm, and people should be out there walking at the park, kids playing, and so on… But what I saw was almost a ghost town. The few locals I met along the way are wary of me, “tamang hinala sa mga kilos ko” should I do something bad. I can’t blame them, maybe because a lot has done something wrong in the past. It’s kinda sad that when I smile at them, they would pretend as if they didn’t see me. Some busied themselves.
Santa Catalina de Alejandria Church, Tayum, Abra. It is a National Cultural Treasure.
And when I went back to Bangued proper, a grim scene just happened. A man was shot 3 times right there at the ground floor of Mega Centrum, the building that the city government is using. The suspect ran away and I saw the shot man being rushed to the hospital by the policemen.
It freaked me a little because I went inside that same building hours ago to ask information about tourist spots in the area.
Now I know why the government officials kept on telling me not to wander when it is already dark.
So I spent the rest of the night inside my room.
Went up here the morning before I left for Vigan
NOTE: Forgive me for the black and white photos. Its a sign of protest to the government officials of Abra. I hope they do something about the situation.
And I hope what I heard wasn’t true. Some kill even for just a cavan of rice as payment. WHATDA?!!!
Bangued, Abra as viewed from Victoria Park
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I was in Abra during Days 8 and 9 of ISANG DAAN Journey .
#ISANGDAAN is a personal journey and challenge to backpack around the Philippines the cheapest way possible for 100 days. “Isang Daan” is a Filipino term that can mean either “one way” or “one hundred.”
If you want real time updates, you can check my facebook page: www.facebook.com/journeyingjames or follow me on twitter: @journeyingjames
If you want to follow my steps, I have an interactive map- ISANGDAAN Journey map.
Hanggat di nawawala private armies at maayos ang justice system nila jan, mananatili yang ganyang atmosphere jan.
Kaloka naman to. No wonder hindi sya masyadong pinupuntahan kasi people don’t feel safe anymore. Sad. >.<
Actually, the town itself looks like a throwback to the 50’s era romantic flicks. The B&W pics gives it justice. Take away the peace and order problem and its a place I would have fun wandering around. But its Abra, local warlords thinks just bec. they are in the northernmost part of Luzon they can be untouchables, about time for media and bloggers such as yourself brings this out in open so the National Govt can take a close look at the local government – we dont want another Maguindanao to happen where private armies ran wild and unchecked.
Kudos for bringing the facts to light, because as the photo shows, the place has a bright promise ahead of it. If only ‘peace and order’ will be put in place.
sorry for the grammar typos hehe
Scary yan. Keep safe bro. Just keep safe all the time
sad situation. curious pa naman ako kung ano meron sa abra.
you will enjoy taking B&W photos there pre..
Now I can say, it’s safer to go to most places in Mindanao than here. sorry for the comment but that’s what I feel right now. Proud Mindanaoan!
I agree Lauvee.
@ James, Davao is not included in your itinerary pala ano? 🙂 Thank you for sharing this article. I’ll remember not to go there. hehe
Thanks!
BE SAFE ALL THE TIME JAMES!
Kuya James, it’s part na kasi of the political culture. It is a cancer or a severe disease not easy to heal. It runs through the blood of these people in political power. Even at the brgy level, politics is a hot issue 🙁
Abra could be nice, there are hidden gems but the situation is just terrifying driving tourists away 🙁
I have many friends in Abra and I frequent the province at times. The thing here is that, “huwag ka lang gumawa ng masama sa kapwa at hindi ka gagawan ng masama.”
The issue is, it should not be a hindrance for hardcore travelers to explore the place because the only predicament here is the political “war”. If you are linked to the other party and vice versa, you are on a hot seat. So better huwag nalang makialam sa away politika. It is safe to tour here I can attest to that “basta wala kang kaaway”
Go guys, explore Abra and kuya James, you just did a great job!
sad : | an tapang mo sir, kun ako yun naka witness ng gnun eksena magfreak out din cguro tlg ko. And you must really brave to blog about it I like your candor! 🙂 way to go sir james!
🙂
when situations like that happen, you need to calm down.
yiie. nakakatakot naman.. nananalangin ako na pakelaman na dapat ng Nat’l Gov ang lalawigang ito.
same here ivan!
i hope they have the guts
Wow you are such a brave soul. Your story freaks me out, really!! I can’t believe such thing exist in Luzon and if I witnessed the incident or even just seeing the victim on the spot it would take me a long while to pull my self together maybe a month or so (from the trauma) LOL. I hate how politics is being managed in that area and how they are embracing such political culture. I don’t know how the government is addressing the situation, it’s a shame and they need to ACT ASAP. BTW the photos were kinda creepy-because of the story behind it and not to mention the black and white effect that made it more dramatic (brilliant) Also I would commend the last photo…nice and inviting LOL have fun in your travels. Be safe
thank you for your warm feedback anzy.
i hope someone does something about it too!
i think, this is the right time to visit Abra, kc next year pa ang elections… cguro nga, as long as di ka kasama ng mga nag-aaway na camps ok naman… wag na nga lang mag ikot kapag gabi na… great shots James… hope to visit Abra soon! but that would be 2014 na cguro, after the 2013 elections…
indeed! punta kana ng abra mervs.
soooo sad.. I always say that Filipinos should explore and enjoy the treasures of the Philppines but because of some political and peace issues at some areas, nakakahinayang na maraming mga lugar ang hindi mapuntahan ng madaming tourists. 🙁
There are really a lot of special places beyond Bangued. Lush sceneries, cool(er) weather, and loads of culture as the highlands are populated by the Tingguians/Itneg, the indigenous people of Abra. It’s really a shame that the province is overrun by these corrupt tyrants, keeping their people poor, oppressed and terrorized. Do you know that Abra shares a border with Sagada? There are towns in Sagada which look like Sagada, pine trees, weather and all.
My family is from Abra and it’s a shame that I rarely visit because of the peace and order situation.
i was actually looking forward to meet the itnegs and tingguians.
i just hope that people would be able to visit that place you are talking about.
thanks for letting us know
Hi James, buti na lang we did not have the same experience when we visited Bagued and Tayum last week. I think tama si Edmar | Edmaration, as long as wala kang tatapakan o inargabyado, then you should be safe. Nung nag-lunch kami sa Jollibee sa may plaza, ok naman yung mga tao, they do return a smile naman. When we were asking for directions, very helpful naman ang mga locals. Siguro isolated lang talaga ang mga violence sa politics. Let us all be nice na lang kahit saan tayo pupunta. 🙂
good to know that. i hope political killings in abra will stop.
hindi naman sa pinagtatakpan ko ang bad image ng Abra, i think it’s not appropriate to be stereotype kase not all places in Abra naman ay magulo, i mean hindi maayos ang peace and order situation. i am from Abra and i CAN tell you guys na you will probably ENJOY your stay there. lawakan niyo lang ang pag-iisip niyo. sorry for my term. 🙁
im so sorry if i generalized the situation. i believe that there are places in abra that are safe and people are friendly
yeah. most of the places in abra are safe. it just hapenned that the capital town is freaky!
i do believe that most of the places in abra are safe, i wanna experience that next time.
wag niyo pong ikukumpara ang abra sa mindanao.. malayo pong mas tahimik dun mga sir and maam.. dont judge the book by the comments of the reader.. experience nyo po muna pumunta dun bago kayo mag comment.. and sa author po ng site na to ang lakas mo po mang lait sa lugar in fact d mo naman nilibot ung boung abra.. mag hohost ka ng website wag kang manlait ng mga napuntahan mo.. kac ndi mo alam qng cnu po ang mga nakakavisit ng site mo..
Have you been to mindanao? Just curious.
Hi!
Abra is “SAFE FOR TOURISTS”
I will not say more… 🙂
Thanks for visiting Abra James!! 🙂
Next time visit bucay james
What’s on the article was an honest view about Abra. I’m born and raise here. I believe, before Abra opens itself to tourist, it should fix its problems first. Im sick of those trying hard tourism effort of the provincial government. It should address its provincial issues first, like political killings, poverty, education and indigenous oppressions. Abra is a majestic place, places away from the ‘centro’ are the virgin forests, awesome springs, imagine an enchanting place where you could feel how its like living ‘pre-technology’ times and people who still practices their rich culture. To say its worst than any place, that I detest. Ordinary people of Mindanao and Abra were just victims of traditional politics which the Philippines faces.