province of the Philippines
Asia > Southeast Asia > Philippines > Luzon > Luzon Cordil leras > Benguet
Benguet is a province in the Cordil lera region of Luzon in the Philippines.
Benguet is home to the I baloy, Kankana-ey, and Kalanguya peoples. Benguet became a ful l province in 1968,
being carved out of the larger Mountain Province.
Cities and towns
Benguet is divided into 13 municipalities, mostly rural and sparsely populated, each having a central town.
Baguio is the only city, but is political ly independent from Benguet, but is stil l part of Benguet geographical ly.
Baguio – Dubbed the "Summer Capital of the Philippines" and "City of Pines" for its cool climate and pine
trees, it is the tourist hub and the commercial center or the province.
La Trinidad – Provincial capitals, with its draws like its strawberry farms and a vil lage with painted houses
reminiscent of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro
Other destinations
Mount Pulag – The second highest mountain in the Philippines, and the highest in Luzon.
Understand
Geography
Benguet occupies over 2,600 km2 (1,000 sq mi) of land area, mostly mountainous terrain. The capital is La
Trinidad.
At 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level, the province lies on top of the Cordil lera Mountains containing Mount
Pulag, the second highest mountain in the Philippines. Amidst these mountain peaks is a wide plateau wherein
the capital town, La Trinidad, is located.
The province is bounded on the south by Pangasinan and on the west by La Union and I locos Sur, Benguet serves
as the gateway to the highland provinces of the Cordil lera Region.
Climate
Benguet has a more temperate climate due to its altitude. Daytime highs rarely reach 25 °C (77 °F), but the
nighttime lows can reach below 7 °C (45 °F) during the cool season, causing frost that can destroy vegetables.
Many visit the province during the dry season between November and April, where temperatures are at its
coolest and rainfal l at its lowest. The rainy season is rather the same as with the rest of Luzon, but precipitation
is somewhat higher. Heavy rain, especial ly those brought by typhoons, can cause seasonal road closures due to
landslides and rockfal ls.
People
In the sparsely populated Cordil lera Region, Benguet stands out as having the highest population among the
provinces with over 300 thousand and a population density of over 115 people per square km (300 people per
square mile). Migrants have joined the local tribes such as the Kankana-eys, I baloys and Kalanguyas to settle in
this rich highland province. Although the three tribes speak different languages and dialects, they share similar
cultures and have common beliefs and rituals.
History
During the Spanish colonial era, Benguet was not a remote area for the Spaniards to explore. The vastness and
promising economic potential of the place lured the Spaniards to conduct a series of expeditions. Series of
attempts to pacify the Igorot have failed, and in 1846, Comandante de Galvey established his Commandancy at
La Trinidad, which he named after his wife. The first Captain General of Benguet was Pulito of Kafagway
(present-day Baguio), a vil lage of about 20 houses.
The Americans came early in 1900 and established its government with H. Whitmarsh as the appointed governor
of Benguet and Baguio City as the capital. This was the first provincial government to be established in the
Philippines and this happened a year prior to the inauguration of the civil government of the Philippines. Their
best administrators and teachers were fervent boosters and promoters: Worcester, Wright Forbes, Pack
Barrows, Eckman and others who together with Filipinos committed to make the place a heaven.
The mines near Baguio were developed and became productive. Business in the city flourished with commercial
centers put up. Recreation facilities were instal led. The city was growing before the outbreak of the war.
Baguio was bombed December 8, 1941 by the Japanese and they occupied it on December 27 of the same year,
However, the war changed course and on September 3, 1945, General Yamashita surrendered to the Americans
at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Camp John Hay, after which, Baguio immediately set to the task of
rehabilitation.
Talk
The major language is I locano, brought by lowland migrants who settled in the province, but there are also many
indigenous languages, such as Kankana-ey, I baloi, and Kalanguya. The people of the province can also
converse in English, especial ly the younger populations. I locano or Tagalog is much useful when communicating
with locals.
Get in
The province of Benguet can be accessed through five national roads; Kennon Rd (Rte 54), Marcos Hwy (Rte
208, also the Aspiras-Palispis Hwy) and Naguilian Rd (Rte 54, also Quirino Hwy) are the main routes coming
from Manila, while the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Rd (Rte 110) and Halsema Hwy (Rte 204) offer entry from Nueva
Vizcaya and to the rest of the Cordil lera region.
Benguet can also be reached by air through the Loakan Airport (BAG IATA) in Baguio, but is limited to general
aviation and private aircraft.
Get around
One can get around the province by public transportation such as jeepney, bus, and passenger bus. Taxis are
limited around Baguio and La Trinidad, and the more ubiquitous tricycle replace them in the towns.
By road, the most important highway is the winding Halsema Highway (Route 204, official ly the Baguio-Bontoc
Road), which starts at La Trinidad and stretching north through the town of Bontoc in Mountain Province. It is a
critical lifeline between the mountain towns and Baguio, and has the highest point in the Philippine highway
network, at 2,300 m (7,500 ft) above sea level over the municipality of Atok. Driving there is quite dangerous
due to the numerous sharp curves, unguarded cliffs, and landslides during rainy season. Halsema Highway is a
tol l road, and you must pay ₱20 at the tol l barriers at each end of the highway.
If you have your own vehicle but are not familiar with the town you want to visit, people wil l be wil ling to hel p
you with the directions.
See
Benguet Museum, Capitol, La Trinidad, 2601 Benguet. M-F 9AM-5PM. Provincial museum containing
ethnographic materials relating to the indigenous people of Benguet. Free.
Kabayan Branch Museum, Kabayan. M-Sa 8AM-noon, 1-5PM. Kabayan Museum is established to protect and
care the Kabayan Mummy Caves in the province. Mummy Caves are one of the country's national cultural
treasures. It is a burial caves that holds mummies sited in Kabayan especial ly in the Timbac Caves. The
building is placed in a lot donated by citizens who value the culture of the I baloi and the Kankanaey. It is a
one-story building and a basement builds in a 500-m² lot in 1989. Also kept here are ethnographical,
ecological and geological col lections including artifacts and other relics of the Kabayan Mummies. Free.
Historical sites and land marks
Camp Utopia (Sagubo, Kapangan): This was the camp of the 66th Infantry Battalion during the Second World
War. It was also the site where the late Major Bado Dangwa and Major Dennis Molintas led the defense of the
Igorotlandia.
Kaliwaga Cave (Kaliwaga, Kapangan): The burial place of the British soldiers of fortune who came to Benguet
during the 15th century.
Gueril la Sadd le (Km. 26, Atok): Where the fiercest battle between the advancing Japanese Imperial Forces
and the United States Armed Forces - 66th Infantry was fought to the advantage of the guerril la resistance
movement. A lot of Japanese soldiers have fal len and perished on this spot. Thus, Atok is known as the
Vanguard of Freedom in Benguet.
Darew Ancient Ruins of Civilization (Kapangan): Located at the top of the mountain west of Kapangan. It
commands a vantage view of the coastline to the west and fertile val ley to the east. For many years, the
people lived in peace and prosperity. From this area, they traded and intermarried, forged al liances and came
to recognize as kin those who lived in more populous settlements of Tagudin, Agoo, Tubao, Ambanganan
(Pugo), Lingayen, Dagupan, Binalonan, Tayug, Safid (San Manuel), Imogen, Ituy, Tinok and Ahin.
Hil l WW I I (Mankayan): Site where the 66th Infantry Battalion and guerril las fought to make their way to
Besang Pass. The capture of Hil l WW I I opened the right flank guard of the Japanese Imperial Garrison to
bombardment and constant attack by Igorot freedom fighters.
Lamtang (Puguis, La Trinidad): The escape route of then President Sergio Osmena and party who were
escorted by a detachment of the 66th Infantry Battalion to Camp Val hal la, Kapangan then to San Gabriel, La
Union during the World War I I.
Klondykes Stone Wal ls (Klondykes, Tuba): Remnant of the first American building used by the American
engineers who constructed Kennon Road. It is believed to have been built in 1902 and is stil l visible today.
Cari ño Cave (Eddet, Kabayan): The hiding place of Governor Ora Cari ño and the place where he was captured
by the Americans in 1900.
Manenchen (Manenchen, Kabayan): The site of the massacre of Eddet residents by the Japanese Imperial
Army during the World War I I.
Kennon Road (Tuba): One of the legacies of the American Administration. It was the first Benguet road to be
constructed by the Americans in 1902. The completion of this road opened the entire Benguet Province to
vehicular traffic and marked the entry of Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese and lowlanders to the
Province of Benguet. It was referred as the Benguet Road until it was renamed Kennon Road by virtue of
Executive Order No. 9 in 1922, in honor of Col. Lyman W. Kennon, the American engineer who supervised and
finished the construction of the road in 1905.
Kabayan Pyramid (Poblacion, Kabayan): It is also cal led the "Kinepol ni Nabaloi." The burial tomb of Henry A.
Kamora, the Grand Old Man of Kabayan which is located at the municipal compound.
Embosi: It is the first known I baloi settlement. The place is found at Gusaran, Kabayan.
Other places to visit
Baguio City
Philippine Military Academy - the premier military school in the country, the West Point of the Philippines
Camp John Hay - former American military recreational facility now developed as a world class mountain
resort
Teachers Camp - famous for its facilities for sports training, trainings and live-in conventions
Easter Weaving Room - first started as a Church School this facility has already transformed as a must-see
for weaving aficionados
Baguio-Mountain Province Museum - built mainly to preserve the cultural heritage of the Cordil lera
Baguio Convention Center - the main convention venue in the city of Baguio
Ifugao Woodcarvers Vil lage - produces and sel ls beautiful hand-carved curio items at very low prices
Asin Hot Spring - water resorts supplied by nature's hot and cold springs
Mt. Sto. Tomas - for hikers, it is about 7,500 feet high and commands a majestic view of mountains, sea
and val ley
Lourdes Grotto - a religious shrine housing the image of our lady of Lourdes, about 252 steps lead to this
shrine where pilgrims brave the steep climb to offer sacrifices, devotions
and prayers; one is also blessed with a beautiful panoramic view of the city
Burnham Park - It is thickly wooded and is a great place to have picnics and concerts. The place is equipped
with tennis and basketbal l courts, a footbal l field, athletic oval and an orchidarium.
Mines View Park - Appropriately names for its breathtaking view of mountain ranges and Baguio's "mineral
bowl where gold,silver and other ores were once quarried.
Wright Park - It is sometimes mistakenly cal led "ride park" by some who identify this tree park reserve for its
kiddy horse rides. A long stairway leads to the "Pool of the Pines".
Other places of interest
Baguio Country Club; Baguio Cathedral; Bel l Church; Session Road/Market; the many educational institutions;
SLU Museum; Botanical Garden; Pine Trees of the World Park; churches, seminaries and convents.
Do
Mountain biking. Coordinate with the Philippine Tourism Office.
Mountain climbing. Coordinate with the Philippine Tourism office.
Mt. Pulag hike. Coordinate with the Philippine Tourism Office
Attend a kanyaw. This is an Igorot practice, Visitors can easily be in one during Benguet Day, or the Adivayan
Festival.
Eat
Try the Igorot delicacies like the fol lowing:
Pinikpikan, the dish also known as "Kil ling Me Softly"
"Etag", salted and preserved meat
Kiniing, smoked pork jerky
Drink
Rice wine (commonly known as Tapey or Tapuy) - this is the native drink of the Igorots.
Strawberry wine - you can find this at the public markets
Stay safe
Watch out for pickpockets. There are a lot, especial ly in Baguio. You don't have to worry about them in the
smal l towns, but Baguio and La Trinidad are their target.
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