Bontoc Mountain Province

Before this trip the only thing I can associate about Bontoc is the bus accident that killed comedian, Tado and 14 other people in February 2014. It is sad when people can only remember a place because of an ugly occurence so I am happy that I was able to go to the Mountain Province and discover the interesting things that Bontoc has to offer.

Bontoc is the capital of Mountain Province. It is a second class municipality known for their Lang-ay Festival, a celebration that involves street dances, theatrical performance, trade fair, and sports competition.

Bontoc is also known as the home to the Bontoc Tribe, a group of indigenous people who were always involved in tribal wars. But what made this group feared by many is the fact that they did head hunting. More information, photographs as well as artifacts can be found in their museum in Guinaang Road. You can also see a replica of “ato” or the village that shows Bontoc’s social structure in this museum.

On the streets, you can see old women walking, with tribal tattoos etched on their arms. These tattoos are called pong’-o.

Summer suspends the cold. The sun was up, but didn’t scorch. While waiting for the guide we roamed the city. And learned a piece of the town’s history.