UP DILIMAN: Finding Luna at the Vargas Museum

August 16, 2014

UP DILIMAN: Finding Luna at the Vargas Museum

The Vargas Museum is worth the trip to visit simply because there are FIVE (5) JUAN LUNA ARTWORKS on display that you can view.

The FIVE (5) JUAN LUNA ARTWORKS are as follows (taken from the museum brochure since photography is prohibited):









Background on the Vargas Museum

The Vargas Museum inside the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City was established to house the personal collection of Jorge B. Vargas, the country's first Executive Secretary, who served under President Manuel Quezon.

The important timeline are as follows:

1978: Vargas donated his personal collection to the University of the Philippines where he studied Liberal Arts and Law.

1983: The university laid the cornerstone for the construction of the building.

1986: The personal collection was transferred to the Vargas Museum in Diliman.


The Vargas Museum at UP Diliman


The source of the above information is the brochure that the Museum sells. Below is a scanned copy of the information. You can read it in more detail.



WHERE IS THE PERMANENT COLLECTION LOCATED:

The permanent collection is housed on the 2nd floor. 

This is the entrance of the 2nd floor where the permanent collection is exhibited

This is the layout of the 2nd floor
Photography is prohibited on the second floor so I'll share with you the museum brochure below, which lists all the items in the the Jorge Vargas collection. Aside from Lunas, there are a lot of Hidalgos, Amorsolos, Manansalas, etc.









THE THIRD FLOOR





THE FIRST FLOOR





THE MUSEUM CAFE






VARGAS MUSEUM
Roxas Avenue, University of the Philippines, Diliman Quezon City
Landline: (+632) 9281927
Cellphone (+63) 9298567909
Museum Hours: Tues - Sat, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Museum Fees: 30 pesos entrance fee, 80 pesos for the museum brochure.

http://vargasmuseum.upd.edu.ph
www.facebook.com/vargasmuseum.upd

SAGADA: Information on Services and Facilities

August 12, 2014

SAGADA: Information on Services and Facilities



TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER



You have to register at the Tourist Information Center
and pay 35 pesos environmental fee to be able to enter the caves.





AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE


This ATM machine is found inside the Tourist Information Center.




TOUR GUIDE SERVICES

Sagada Genuine Guides' Association

Recommended guide: Gareth Likigan
Cellphone number : (+63)929-55-69-55-3
Email address: crazyhim16@yahoo.com



CATHOLIC CHURCH SERVICES


Sunday Catholic Mass schedules


JEEPNEY SERVICES

Jeepney services are primarily between Sagada and Bontoc

The jeepneys going to Bontoc are found across Edward Gaudan Longid centrum



STORE SELLING ICE

We had difficulty finding a store selling ice for our cooler.
We found this store located across Lemon Pie house.



"MALL"
(THE EDWARD GAUDAN LONGID CENTRUM)





Mall directory


We bought ready-to-eat food at this place.
Meals like chicken adobo with rice is 90 pesos.
Bulalo with rice is 120 pesos


There's a mini grocery at this mall.

There are really nice souvenirs that can be bought here
but slightly more expensive.

Other stores inside the mall

SAGADA: Gareth Likigan: Best SAGGAS Guide for Exploring the Sumaging Cave

August 9, 2014


SAGADA: Gareth Likigan: Best SAGGAS Guide for Exploring the Sumaging Cave

WHY GET A GUIDE

1. They know where to go. 
Sumaging cave is very hard to navigate on your own. See my post "Exploring Sumaging Cave with Kids" to see how the Sumaging cave exploration goes.

2. They know how to keep you safe.
  • They provide the equipment that will keep you safe, like the lamps.
  • They remind you where to step, what rocks are slippery and where to step to avoid guano. 
  • They also try to gauge your physical capability and decide whether to take you the whole length of the cave or just part of it.

3. They take your photos.
It's impossible for you to hold a typical digital camera because you need both hands to keep your balance and to keep yourself safe. The guide can take your photo while exploring the cave

WHY GET GARETH LIKIGAN

I highly recommend that you get Gareth Likigan as your guide in Sumaging cave. 
  • He's very knowledgeable about the history of Sagada.
Gareth giving safety tips at the entrance of Sumaging cave

You can see Gareth in action in this video at the Lumiang burial cave

  • He's very experienced exploring the Sumaging cave. He constantly reminds us where it's safe to step on the rocks and is very vigilant all throughout the tour in keeping us out of danger. 
After exploring Sumaging cave

  • He meticulously took our photos every step of the way so we had numerous and great photos of the tour.
  • Aside from this, he's also very likeable and nice to my kids. My kids enjoyed the tour and was given souvenir rings that Gareth himself made while going down the steps of Lumiang Burial Cave. 

Gareth with my kids after the Lumiang burial cave tour




While going down the Lumiang burial cave, Gareth made rings...

...from this plant.

The finished product.

Then he gave my kids the rings he made as souvenir. 


How to contact Gareth Likigan

Gareth Likigan
Cellphone number : (+63)929-55-69-55-3
Email address: crazyhim16@yahoo.com

NOTE: UPDATED SUMAGING CAVE RATES AS OF MARCH 25, 2014:


The Sumaging cave tour includes a visit to the Lumiang burial cave

My BANAUE and SAGADA Itinerary with Kids (Day 4: Sumaguing Cave, Lumiang Burial Caves in Sagada)

My BANAUE and SAGADA Itinerary with Kids 
(Day 4: Sumaging Cave, Lumiang Burial Cave)

DAY 2. SATURDAY
KIANGAN-BATAD-KIANGAN

See the BATAD RICE TERRACES

DAY 3. SUNDAY
KIANGAN - BANAUE - SAGADA

See the Banaue Rice Terraces at the Banaue Viewpoint
Lunch at Mount Polis
See the Bayyo Rice Terraces
Read more of Day 3 of My Banaue and Sagada Itinerary with Kids

DAY 4. MONDAY
SAGADA

Do SPELUNKING AT SUMAGING CAVE
See the LUMIANG BURIAL CAVE


Map of the route for today



STARTING POINT: St. Joseph's Resthouse
FIRST STOP: Sumaging Cave
SECOND STOP: Lumiang Burial Cave
THIRD STOP: Lunch at St. Joseph's Resthouse

9:00 AM - 9:40 AM:

Meet up with Gareth Likigan of Sagada Genuine Guides' Association at St. Joseph's Resthouse 
Passed by the SAGGAS office to pick up another guide and equipment for caving. 

Paid municipal tourism fee at the Municipal Tourist Office and got the Sumaging cave entrance pass.
Municipal tourism fee is 35 pesos per person




After getting the pass, we travelled to Sumaging Cave.

9:45 AM - 12:00 PM:
Spelunking at Sumaguing Cave
Check out my post: "Exploring Sumaging Cave with Kids

12:00 PM - 12:40 PM:
Washed up at Sagada Cave pay washroom.
Walked from Sumaguing Cave to Lumiang Cave.

12:40 PM - 1:30 PM:
Explored Lumiang Burial Cave
Check out my post: "Exploring the Lumiang Burial Cave with Kids " 

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM:
Returned guides to Saggas Office
Returned to St. Joseph's resthouse

2:00 PM - 3:45 PM:
 Lunch at St. Joseph's Inn.

Rest of the day:
We rested at our cottage at St. Joseph's resthouse.


DAY 5. TUESDAY
SAGADA

See Echo Valley and Hanging Coffins
Do the Sagada Zipline
Read more of Day 5 of My Banaue and Sagada Itinerary with Kids 


DAY 6. WEDNESDAY
SAGADA - MANILA

See Dalton Pass
Read more of Day 6 of My Banaue and Sagada Itinerary with Kids