Sagada

File:523 Sagada, Dec 1980 (52283486821).jpg

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2021}}

According to legend, Sagada was founded as an ili or village by Biag, a man from Bika in eastern Abra.{{Cite journal |last=Scott |first=William Henry |date=1964 |title=The Legend of Biag, an Igorot Culture Hero |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1177639 |journal=Asian Folklore Studies |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=93–110 |doi=10.2307/1177639 |jstor=1177639 |issn=0385-2342|url-access=subscription }} The people from Bika were forced out of their ili by raiding headhunters. Biag's family resettled in Candon, Ilocos but when baptism or the giving of names was enforced, Biag's family chose to move back toward the mountains in search for a settlement. Along the way, he and his siblings decided to part ways. A brother, Balay, chose to return to Candon, a sister to Abra. Another brother settled along the upper Abra River. Biag pushed further to the east until he came to what is now Sagada.

Perhaps for lack of transportation and willing guides, few conquistadors set foot in Sagada during the Spanish Era, and a Spanish Mission was not founded until 1882{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}. As a result, it is one of a few places in the Philippines that has preserved its indigenous culture with little Spanish influence.

Anglican missionaries led by Rev. Fr. John Staunton built the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and founded St. Mary's School, Sagada in 1904.{{Cite news |last=Palangchao |first=Harley |title=From 'warriors' to educators and missionaries |work=Baguio Midland Courier |url=http://www.baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph/anniv09_article.asp?mode=anniv09/supplements/harley.txt |access-date=2020-09-20}}{{cite web |last=Scott |first=William Henry |title=Brief History of Saint Mary's School |url=http://sagada.org/stmarys/ |access-date=2020-09-20 |website=sagada.org}}

Sagada was one of several municipalities in Mountain Province which would have been flooded by the Chico River Dam Project during the Marcos dictatorship, alongside Bauko, Bontoc, Sabangan, Sadanga, and parts of Barlig.{{Cite magazine |date=1980-09-05 |title=Valley of Sorrow |magazine=Asiaweek}} However, the indigenous peoples of Kalinga Province and Mountain Province resisted the project and when hostilities resulted in the murder of Macli-ing Dulag, the project became unpopular and was abandoned before Marcos was ousted by the 1986 People Power Revolution.{{Cite book |title=Macli-ing Dulag: Kalinga Chief, Defender of the Cordillera |last=Doyo |first=Ma. Ceres P. |author-link=Maria Ceres Doyo |publisher=University of the Philippines Press |year=2015 |isbn=978971542772-2 |location=Diliman, Quezon City}}

In 1983, refugees fleeing the Beew massacre (in which the 623rd Philippine Constabulary burned down Sitio Beew in Tuba, Abra, claiming that they were "rebel sympathizers") were forced to take refuge in the Church of the St. Mary, where they were given succor by Fr. Paul Sagayo Jr. until they could finally be aided by Atty Pablo Sanidad of the Free Legal Assistance Group and journalist Isidoro Chammag of the Bulletin Today (now Manila Bulletin).Panaglagip: The North Remembers – Martial Law Stories of Struggle and Survival Edited by Joanna K. Cariño and Luchie B. Maranan.{{rp|page=197–198}}

Sagada is nestled in a valley at the upper end of the Malitep tributary of the Chico River some one and a half kilometers above sea level in the Central Cordillera Mountains, enveloped between the main Cordillera Ranges and the Ilocos Range. Mount Data in the south and Mount Kalawitan in the southeast pierce the horizon. Mount Polis, Bessang and Mount Tirad in the east, and Mount Sisipitan in the north mark the Mountain Province–Abra boundary. There are limestone mountains throughout Sagada. This part of Luzon used to be submerged in the ocean tens of millions of years ago, and fossilized seashells can be found in the walls of Sumaguing Cave.

Sagada is situated {{convert|18.43|km}} from the provincial capital Bontoc, and {{convert|387.56|km}} from the country's capital city of Manila.

Sagada is politically subdivided into 19 barangays. Each barangay consists of puroks and some have sitios.

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• Aguid
• Ambasing
• Angkeling
• Antadao
• Balugan
• Bangaan
• Dagdag
• Demang
• Fidelisan
• Kilong
• Madongo
• Nacagang
• Pide
• Poblacion
• Suyo
• Taccong
• Tanulong
• Tetepan Norte
• Tetepan Sur{{div col end}}

{{Weather box

| location = Sagada, Mountain Province

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

| Jan high C = 21

| Jan mean C = 16

| Jan low C = 11

| Feb high C = 20

| Feb mean C = 14.5

| Feb low C = 9

| Mar high C = 21

| Mar mean C = 16

| Mar low C = 11

| Apr high C = 23

| Apr mean C = 17.5

| Apr low C = 12

| May high C = 24

| May mean C = 19

| May low C = 14

| Jun high C = 25

| Jun mean C = 20.5

| Jun low C = 16

| Jul high C = 28

| Jul mean C = 22

| Jul low C = 16

| Aug high C = 24

| Aug mean C = 19.5

| Aug low C = 15

| Sep high C = 22

| Sep mean C = 18

| Sep low C = 14

| Oct high C = 21

| Oct mean C = 17

| Oct low C = 13

| Nov high C = 20

| Nov mean C = 16

| Nov low C = 12

| Dec high C = 19

| Dec mean C = 15

| Dec low C = 11

| Jan precipitation mm = 35

| Feb precipitation mm = 46

| Mar precipitation mm = 63

| Apr precipitation mm = 117

| May precipitation mm = 402

| Jun precipitation mm = 400

| Jul precipitation mm = 441

| Aug precipitation mm = 471

| Sep precipitation mm = 440

| Oct precipitation mm = 258

| Nov precipitation mm = 94

| Dec precipitation mm = 68

| Jan rain days = 9.9

| Feb rain days = 19.5

| Mar rain days = 13.9

| Apr rain days = 18.9

| May rain days = 26.0

| Jun rain days = 27.3

| Jul rain days = 28.9

| Aug rain days = 28.5

| Sep rain days = 26.1

| Oct rain days = 19.7

| Nov rain days = 14.5

| Dec rain days = 12.8

| source 1 = Meteoblue (modeled/calculated data, not measured locally)

{{cite web

| url = https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/sagada_philippines_1691184

| title = Sagada: Average Temperatures and Rainfall

| publisher = Meteoblue

| accessdate = 8 March 2020 }}

| date = 8 March 2020

}}

Under the Köppen climate classification, Sagada features a subtropical highland climate (‘’Cwb’’). The area averages 2,835 mm of precipitation annually, the bulk of which falls between the months of May and October. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the course with average daily temperatures ranging from around 17 to 20 degrees Celsius.

File:Sagada, Cordilleras, Philippines (181762728).jpg

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| footnote= Source: Philippine Statistics Authority{{PH census|2015}}{{PH census|2010}}{{PH census|2007}}{{LWUA population data}}

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Bontoc and Kankanaey are the main languages of Sagada. Ilocano is used as a lingua franca in the municipality.

File:Anglican Church,Pobalcion, Sagada, Mountain Province.JPG

Seeing that the Roman Catholicism in the Philippines has long been established, missionary Charles Henry Brent mentioned that "we are not building an altar over and against another altar," thus focusing Episcopal missionary activity among the Filipino-Chinese in Manila, the tribes in Mindanao and the tribes of northern Luzon. Since the coming of missionaries from the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, the municipality of Sagada has become the only Philippine town that is predominantly Anglican with almost 95% baptised into the Episcopal Church of the Philippines (ECP). A known landmark at the centre of town is the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, a vibrant Episcopal parish. In 2004, the ECP celebrated its centennial with much of the festivities centered on the town of Sagada.

File:Sagada_Oranges.jpg, Benguet]]

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Since the climate is similar to those of Benguet, its crops are likewise temperate products such as cabbage, tomatoes, green pepper, potatoes, carrots, beans, and others. Between 1882 and 1896, the Spanish colonizers introduced Arabica coffee: a source of income since the American occupation. Citrus, mainly lemon, lime and Valencia oranges were introduced from Spain by Jaime Masferre to provide the needs of American missionaries and employees of the Mission of Saint Mary the Virgin. During the American Period, the Americans introduced products like strawberries, and peaches due to its cooler, highland rainforest climate.

In recent years, tourism has also grown to contribute significantly to the local economy. Inns, restaurants, tour guide services, and other tourism-related industries have also grown rapidly. The municipal government also collects significant amounts through the environmental fee it charges each tourist, as well as through the taxes levied on local businesses.

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Sagada, belonging to the lone congressional district of the province of Mountain Province, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code. The mayor, vice mayor, and the councilors are elected directly by the people through an election which is being held every three years.

Members of the Municipal Council (2022–2025):{{cite web |title=Halalan 2022 SAGADA, Mountain Province Election Results |url=https://halalanresults.abs-cbn.com/local/mountain-province/sagada |website=ABS-CBN Halalan Results |access-date=10 August 2023}}

• Congressman: Maximo Y. Dalog Jr.
• Mayor: Felicito O. Dula
• Vice-Mayor: David T. Buyagan
• Councilors:
• Andrea Taltala
• Kapon Gomgom-o
• Mokyat Aclayan
• Raynold Davis Dapliyan
• Tambol Padawil
• Fermin Lumbaya
• Benjamin Capuyan
• Felicito Kibayan Jr.

Sagada has many natural wonders, including:

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• Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves
• Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls{{cite web | url=https://suroy.ph/bomod-ok-falls-in-sagada-is-the-mother-of-all-falls/ | title=Bomod-Ok Falls in Sagada is the Mother of All Falls | date=25 April 2022 }}
• Rice terraces{{Cite web | title=Hiking the rice terraces in Sagada down to an ice cold waterfall | url=http://www.unofficialguide.ph/hiking-rice-terraces-in-sagada/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113113355/http://www.unofficialguide.ph/hiking-rice-terraces-in-sagada/ | access-date=2025-02-01 | archive-date=2017-11-13}}
• Echo Valley
• Kiltepan Tower
• Underground River
• Lake Danum
• Hanging Coffins
• Pongas Falls
• Blue Soil Hills
• Mount Ampacao
• Marlboro Hill
• Fortune Express
• Latang and Matang Caves

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Other notable places include:

• The Church of St. Mary the Virgin
• The gravesite of Philippine history scholar William Henry Scott

{{unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}

• Sagada was featured in the Filipino film, Don't Give Up on Us, and That Thing Called Tadhana.
• Sagada was featured in an episode of Locked Up Abroad.
• In the "Death" episode of The Moaning of Life, Karl Pilkington visits Sagada to see a local community{{'}}s cliffside burial techniques.

The Sagada Schools District Office governs all educational institutions within the municipality. It oversees the management and operations of all private and public, from primary to secondary schools.{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Masterlist of Schools |url=https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SY-2020-2021-Masterlist-of-Schools-Address-only-1-1.pdf |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=Department of Education}}

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• Ambasing Elementary School
• Ankileng Elementary School
• Antadao Elementary School
• Balugan Elementary School
• Bangaan Elementary School
• Fidelisan Primary School
• Kilong Primary School
• Nacagang Primary School
• Payag-eo Elementary School
• Sagada Central School
• Taccong Primary School
• Tanulong Elementary School
• Tetepan Elementary School

{{div col end}}

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• Ankileng National High School
• Antadao National High School
• Balugan National High School
• Bangaan National High School
• Sagada National High School
• St. Mary's School of Sagada

{{div col end}}

File:Sagada rice terraces.jpg|Rice terraces in Sagada

File:Coffee from Sagada.jpg|Varieties of Sagada coffee

File:Hanging Coffin Sagada.jpg|Hanging coffins in Echo Valley

File:Hanging Coffin Sagada 2.jpg|Hanging coffins in Echo Valley

• Eduardo Masferré - Filipino-Catalan photographer regarded as the Father of Philippine photography.{{cite news|last=de Villa|first=Gill Gale|title=Beyond the Mountains|url=http://www.aenet.org/ifugao/masfere2.htm|accessdate=April 14, 2012|newspaper=Philippine Star|date=July 2, 1995}}
• William Henry Scott - Historian and Episcopalian missionary best known for numerous books on the Cordilleran peoples and on Precolonial Philippines.{{Cite book |contribution=William Henry Scott: A Biographical Note and Bibliography |contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_eXixQtA84C&pg=PA15 |title=Reflections on Philippine culture and society: festschrift in honor of William Henry Scott |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_eXixQtA84C |author1=Jesus T. Peralta |author2=William Henry Scott |author3=Harold C. Conklin (contributor) |publisher=Ateneo de Manila University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-971-550-368-6 }}

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{{Wikivoyage}}

• {{official website|http://www.sagada.gov.ph/}}
• [{{NSCB detail}} Philippine Standard Geographic Code]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20131004104825/http://census.gov.ph/ Philippine Census Information]
• [http://pcij.org/i-report/6/sagada.html Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism on Sagada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927225708/http://pcij.org/i-report/6/sagada.html |date=2011-09-27 }}

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Sagada

|North = Tubo, Abra

|East = Bontoc

|Southeast = Sabangan

|Southwest = Bauko

|West = Besao

}}

{{Mountain Province}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Mountain resorts in the Philippines

Category:Municipalities of Mountain Province