A ‘Meaningful Travel’ to the Highlands of Barlig, Mountain Province
“Happiness and kindness is something if you give it away—then it comes right back to you,” the song reverberates harmoniously inside the classroom as the pupils of Ogo-og Elementary School sing in unison. A few minutes more and our Meaningful Travels PH group will be distributing the school-supply kits to each one of them. Everywhere, wide smiles are on display as the little ones happily goof around with each other, unable to contain their pure excitement.
We arrived at this highland town the previous night—after almost 24 long hours of land travel prolonged by a few unexpected misadventures on the road: suffering a flat tire, getting delayed by a sudden landslide, and getting stuck in deep mud on a rough stretch of road heading to Kaleo, Barlig, Mountain Province.
As I looked back to that exact moment when the kids concluded their song and we started to hand out their school supplies, I felt the kindness they were pertaining to in their song—the one that comes back—is what we were receiving from the community, and the realization of seeing how they live their daily lives.
Close-knit and planted in simplicity, fueled by backbreaking farming jobs in a setting surrounded by a beautiful canvas of nature, the townsfolk of Kaleo and Ogo-og have not only shown us what a peaceful and loving community they have, but they also handed back to us what we came to bring.
In a place wrapped by stunning visuals of snaking rice terraces, rolling hills, and fog-covered foot trails, kindness certainly comes full circle in this part of Luzon.
The Road to Barlig
As the sprinkle of raindrops and a thickening fog started to envelop our surroundings, we stood by the roadside—or what looked like an endless path of mud, fallen trees, and skidded rocks—and watched as a number of men tried to pull our jeepney out of a deep sludge that rendered our vehicle immovable, to no success.
“This is what we always encounter on our way to my hometown,” Jeric told me in Tagalog. “I hope by the month of April, the whole road will be cemented, so it would be easier for everyone to reach our place.”
Jeric is a young teenager who hails from Ogo-og, our destination town, but is now based in Baguio City. He became an internet sensation after a highland tourist took his photo while he was filling up and carrying heavy sacks of carrots—an image that quickly went viral and earned him the moniker “Carrot Man.”
While he seemed to avoid questions about his foray into show business, he told us he traveled straight from Baguio City after learning that a group of travelers would be visiting his hometown to bring boxloads of school supplies. “It is nice for all of you to come a long way and share school supplies with the school I attended,” Jeric shared warmly.
A Trip Buoyed by the Spirit of Sharing
I came as part of a group of travelers organized by Ann Marie Cunanan, the founder of Meaningful Travels PH. As an avid traveler—even back when she was working in the corporate world—Cunanan decided to take her travels to another level, accomplishing the dual goals of satisfying one’s wanderlust and forming genuine relationships with the communities she visits.
“I remember talking to a dear friend when we were conceptualizing travels that make an impact. She mentioned that when people travel, they take a lot with them: memories, photos, souvenirs, and anything in between. But what if we take our travels a notch higher? What if we also give back to the places that we go to?” Cunanan recalled.
“So I realized, what if you take the time to say ‘hello’ to the very people who live in the places you visit, sit down, share a meal with them, and listen to their stories? In short, you connect and build relationships,” Cunanan added.
From Strangers to Friends
When the 10 of us hopped inside the Banaue-bound bus at the Ohayami bus terminal in Sampaloc, Manila, we were complete strangers to each other. Along with us were boxes filled with school supplies donated by dozens of individuals who heeded the call of Meaningful Travels PH to help raise funds for the students of Kaleo and Ogo-og elementary schools.
On the 11th hour of our trip, after a brief stopover in Banaue, we were all laughing together top-load style on top of the jeepney as it threaded the snaking road leading to Barlig, Mountain Province. It took another eight or nine hours of traveling together, and by the time we reached the town of Kaleo, we had become not only Facebook connections, but real-life friends.
A Warm Welcome on a Shivering Cold Night
Almost 24 hours from the minute we left Manila, and after another hour of trekking under darkness and a heavy downpour, we finally reached Kaleo Elementary School.
Despite the challenging journey, the experience taught me to shrug off whatever commuting inconvenience we faced, realizing that such instances are everyday occurrences for locals living in remote villages across Ifugao and Mountain Province. Where towns, schools, and markets are separated by rugged mountains and long dirt roads, traveling from one place to another takes difficulty to another level.
“Our students were here waiting until 5 p.m., excited to meet all of you,” the principal of Kaleo Elementary School told us.
Since we arrived deep in the night, the children had already gone home, leaving behind handwritten thank you notes with smiling faces and words of gratitude. After sharing stories and simple introductions over a sumptuous hot dinner and warm soya coffee, we surrendered to sleep.
Meeting the Kids of Ogo-og Elementary School
Since we missed meeting the students of Kaleo Elementary School in person, we left the school-supply kits with their teachers to be distributed on the next school day. The following morning, a Saturday, we visited Ogo-og Elementary School and met students who were attending make-up classes.
Ogo-og Elementary School sits atop a hill almost an hour's hike away from Kaleo. The trails between offer a picturesque backdrop of rice terraces. As the green mountains and misty fog collided, a dreamlike scenery opened before us as we passed through a community isolated from modernity, yet so close to all the beautiful things Mother Nature has to offer.
We started giving away the school-supply kits as soon as the kids entered and filled the school's largest classroom with laughter and exhilaration.
After our introductions, several teachers responded, Jeric delivered an inspirational talk, and then the kids stood up in front and sang: “Happiness and kindness is something if you give it away—then it comes right back to you.”
Throughout the morning, kindness took on a life of its own, making our long journey to Barlig, Mountain Province, one of my most meaningful trips ever.
