About Me
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Welcome to Sagada-Igorot.com. My name is Kamulo, an Igorot from Sagada. I'm currently based in the northern suburbs of Illinois with my lovely wife and 3 growing children - all boys. I'm an IT consulting professional currently working for a client in the healthcare industry. I maintain several blogs and I do some online marketing as a hobby. I am the creator of this site, and I'm primarily responsible for updating it.
Sagada, Philippines - My Hometown
Sagada is the first home I've known. I was born, baptized, got my first communion and attended elementary school in this town. My wife, Kosta, also traces her roots back to Sagada since my mother-in-law is a townmate, and possibly, even a distant relative.
My formattive years were spent in the neighborhood of Nangonogan in Poblacion, Sagada. My family later moved to Dagdag, Sagada; one of four barangays that compose what is known as Central Sagada. The pine covered terrain, cool climate, and beautiful sceneries of this town were very ordinary for me. I only realized how much I longed for Sagada when I was exposed to the heat, pollution, and stressed up living in the capital city of Manila. Sagada, to a lot of countrymen from the lowlands, is an excellent place for a vacation.
The Igorot People
Growing up, I always knew I was an Igorot and I grew up proud of that knowledge. I got exposed to how limited others think of the Igorot people when I attended the Philippine Science High School and the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Even in these premier institutions of education, Igorots were thought to be lower than the normal Filipino. There are misconceptions on the looks, culture, and intellectual capabilities of the Igorot. This site, amongst other things, is here to educate our fellow Filipinos of who we really are - a proud and hardworking people, with a rich cultural heritage that is different from most other Filipinos because we were not subjected under almost 400 years of brutal Spanish colonization.
Site Objective
This site is first and foremost, a personal website. It possibly is the first website on Sagada and the Igorot people by a Sagada Igorot himself. While there's not much to update on Sagada attractions and Igorot facts, I have incorporated a blog where I plan to share my thoughts and experiences on being a Sagada Igorot.
Thought this site contains links and travel information to Sagada, it is not a travel website. As a personal site, its purpose is bound to change over time. I've recently added Google Adsense advertising as a means of covering hosting costs for the sagada-igorot.com domain. I've also added an online store for visitors interested in purchasing Sagada, Igorot, Philippines, and Filipino related products online. A Philippines section has been created as a means of providing high level tourist information on my beloved country. It is also a way of highlighting Sagada as a destination amongst local travellers within the Philippines.
Site History
Sagada-Igorot.com used to exist as "Kamulo and Kosta's Home: Breathtaking Sagada, Philippines and the Proud Igorot people". This site was first published in Geocities on December 1997 when Kosta (my wife) and I were not yet married. It has been more than a decade since, and this site has undergone a few changes over the years. I recently made the decision to continually update it. The website is ranking highly among search engine results of queries on "sagada" and "igorot". I intend to keep it that way.
Here's a timeline on this site:
1997 - 2 pages of Kamulo and Kosta's Home was published under Geocities
1998 - Added two Sections; one each for SAGADA and the IGOROTS
2002 - Updated links information, re-formatted overall look and navigation
2007 - Added Philippine Section, online store, and included the B.O.T.S.I. (Blog of the Sagada Igorot)
- Created the sagada-igorot.com domain and renamed the site to Sagada Igorot Online
2009 - Moved all pages to the Sagada-Igorot blog hosted in Blogger for easier maintenance
Posts
35 comments:
Hello Kamulo
I found your site by chance whilst trying the Google to find about us the Igorots. I am an Ifugao married to an Englishman and settled in New Zealand.
I am planning to go back home again,visit our place then on to Sagada and your site proved very useful.
Thanks and keep it up. We need sites like these and who could better write about the place than the person who comes from there.
Haggiye! (Ifugao word meaning mabuhay)
Elsa Pitpitunge Taylor
Hi Elsa, thanks for dropping by and leaving a note. "We need sites like these and who could better write about the place than the person who comes from there." I agree. Hope to see more Sagada Igorot bloggers as well. I'm sure that if you blog too, the WWW will be richer to have your contribution.
Hello Kamulo,
My name is Annie Cayaya Banig. I am also a proud Igorot based in New York.But I grew up as a little girl in Pide and Ambasing. First of all I thank God for using you and giving you the talent and wisdom to do what you're doing. It's very helpful for us. We are planning to go back to Sagada this coming March for a visit to see all the places that I've been and places that I don't know yet. So thanks again for all the pertinent information you provided in your site.
Annie - I'm really jealous coz you're going home soon. :-) Good for you. Enjoy your visit. Sometimes, reminiscing about Sagada takes away some of my homesickness for our beloved town. Really wish this site could be providing more...
Cheers!
Hi Kamulo ... in response to your earlier comments on my blog, i want you to know that i have made the corrections accordingly...thanks for the informations.
Congratulations....i find your site informative and entertaining...am one with you in your objective to bridge the gap between your people's proud culture and heritage, with the rest of the nation...carry on...
i so love sagada and hope to visit the place.. i'll be back to this site as soon as i made my first tour to Sagada..
Hello,
Is your site new? I think I have seen it somewhere else... Haven't browsed all contents of your blog but I'm inspired. I was having a notion of creating a site something like this (first was Baguio site but I think there is too many of it now). Anyways I'm also from Sagada (born from there but raised totally in Baguio) so I'm thinking of making atleast a tribute to our wonderful homeland.
Thanks and keep up.
- Sonny Tambiac
halo sonny,
thanks for your post. yep, i transferred my site content from sagada-igorot.com to this blog. go ahead and write about sagada. the more the merrier. there are always different perspectives, different stories on sagada.
I actually came across this site some years ago. And I am glad that it is still being maintained, even now. Carry on...
hi there,
been trying to surf for the lyrics of Igorot songs which am planning to compile when I I saw your site. am currently based in New Zealand with my family but i am a native of Kilong, Sagada. ur site is very informative for others who are our "kailyan" but had not been there for a long time.
Good job! aracelee daw-as
Hello ARACELEE, kailyan ay taga-Kilong. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment.
I'm sure you guys are enjoying the warm weather in New Zealand. We're freezing here.
kammolo,
kindly note that the three sagada men arrested for allegedly peddling hashish were released after their case was dismissed. the story can be found in http://www.cordilleraexpress.com/mt-province/7-news/1928-case-dismissed-against-3-alleged-marijuana-dealers
gary
Hello Kamulo
Your site is so interesting and helpful...
I was searching google for the accounts of a great leader Nadnaden Tarnate and I end up here... I'm currently studying and tracing back my ancestry how am I or my clan is related him...
I look forward on sharing some information about his great clan... thanks for the intel I got from your site..:)
keep it up.... matago tago tako!.
Greetings Kamulo! =) I'm thankful I found your site. I have been to Sagada and I have always adored the Cordilleras and it's people. I've just started blogging and I am currently working on my write up about my solo trip to Sagada last year. I will be linking back to your site for readers to better understand the Igorot people and it's culture. And I agree with you, even other Maroons who are regarded as open-minded people still have misconceptions about the Igorot and even other tribes as well. I am glad to know that you are a proud Igorot since birth. An Igorot writer hath said, an Igorot who was raised in that ethnic culture is better than a non-Igorot scholar writing about Igorot folkways. Keep the post coming! =)
I'm planning to go to Sagada before the Holy Week. Reading your entries makes me feel more excited.
simughi! I am an Igorot.My name is Magui and I am more known by my nickname Marah. I am a very proud Igorot and am very proud of my heritage. I am married to a French-Polish man and I have one child named tribally Langdap. She is also a very proud Igorot.Her pride in her heritage stems from what I tell her about my tribe. Let us educate them and tell them about where we came from. Marah
Hello all.....I'm so glad to come across this site. What get my interest to Google Sagada is because my nephew sent me pictures he took while visiting relatives there. Also to unwind or recharged from 6 months at sea.
Just to let you know, I'm a pure bread Igorota. The only things is I was born and grow up in Sison Pangasinan (Padua Family). I don't really expose or adapted my heritage. As far as I remember I only been there in Sagada once, when I was 5 or 6 years old. My memory in that visit was attended a big wedding held in Sr Mary's church. I'm now in my med 40's and longing to visit there again.
I don't blame my parents for everything because
back then you only visit relatives if someone die's or someone get married and of course lack of money for the bus. Now a days with the internet,cell phone and over seas remittance, they have more ways to get intouch and reach someone.
I just asked Ina, she told me she's from Daw-angan and my daddy from Dagdag. Ina knows Cayaya family there and Puzurobio Pangasinan.
Thanks for the invention of WWW! Since we Filipinos is all over the world we can still get to know each other. Who knows, I may have distant relatives here in the States that I don't know. My mom last name is Kacay and my dad is Padua. Hopefully, I'll meet someone over here.
Thank you Kamulo for creating this! Kudos to you...
hello there!
i am currenty doing a case study about Sagada. i am citing this site as one of my references. may i know your real name? it would be a great help.
thanks!
Hi!
I came to really appreciate SAGADA when myself and wifey went to that place on an unplanned tour from Baguio City in May 2010. It was part of my treat to my wife as a mother's day celebration.
It was our first time, both of us, and we truly enjoyed it. It was so thrilling and adventurous especially the Sumaging Cave and the place itself.
So cool and worthy of emulation God's nature for the people of Sagada.
We will go back there once an opportunity comes in place.
My wife created a blog out of this to perhaps showcase the beauty of the place. Tiffiesworld blogspot has it.
Go SAGADA!
Lawrence
Hi there, I did not know you have this page and I enjoyed every minute I spent reading everything and anything written here. Keep it up. Elma
@ Lawrence: I'm glad you enjoyed your Sagada visit.
@ Madam Elma - thanks for dropping by.
Hello Kamulo,
I stumbled upon your blog doing research about Igorots. I'd like to know if you have done collaborative projects with Igorots or people with Igorots roots who are residing in the Philippines. Thank you.
maui
Kamulo,
just want to invite you to our bibbak illinois 2011 kickoff gathering this saturday (29th). It would be great to meet you. More information is located at http://bibbakil.blogspot.com
- rex
boss kamulo,
me ym ka ba? need kita makausap asap thanks
-bork
hi sir,
greetings! i was so happy when i saw ur blog. i was searching for igorot pictures during ww2 when i found out about ur blog.
i am an igorot also and i wanted to educate co-igorots and other people, especially those who don't know us but discriminate us, about who igorots really are. in fact, i was searching for igorot pictures, for me to use on r power point presentation on r upcoming educational concert about igorots.
thus, i came up with a talent search among talented Igoorot youth and using their talents it is our aim to educate and spread the unwritten history of our forefathers (esp. during ww2). unfortunately, we don't have d necessary funding.i was saddened when r politicians hir said they hv many things to fund which r important.
i guess we - the youth are not that important then to them.
though struggling, we r still continuing the project though it has caused me financial crisis. that's why i was too happy to see ur blog. at least we can educate other people about who we really are.
kudos to you!
hi there!!!
jephany here. I am on making site for uplander(uplanderz-just love placing "z" on the last word). I found your site and it sounds cool. I am an ifugao, and proud to say. Staying here in Philippines. I read that most of those who posted comment on your site are living out of country.
I am a beginner(to blog) yet i found this cool and interesting. I am interested on publishing the "CORDILLERA" as a whole. maybe, with my background on diversified culture and practices of Cordillerans, i can make the best out of it. However, it is a big help to have fellow who are proudly saying that they are cordillerans.
I am just sad to note that there are some people from Cordillera who are ashamed of their culture and origin.
May i therefore solicit an idea from you to make the best out of this, if you don't mind sir.
Thanks and God bless.
So far, this is still the best website that talks about Sagada :)
Hello and Good day po.
Graduating Mass Communication student po ako from Far Eastern University, Manila. Gumagawa po kasi kami ng groupmates ko ng thesis about sa mga bloggers at nakita po namin na active yung blog nyo and at the same time ay interesting. Pwede po ba namin kayong ma-interview? Malaki po kasi ang maitutulong nyo para po sa ginagawa namin na study.
Thank you po and Godbless.
Hello and Good day po.
Graduating Mass Communication student po ako from Far Eastern University, Manila. Gumagawa po kasi kami ng groupmates ko ng thesis about sa mga bloggers at nakita po namin na active yung blog nyo and at the same time ay interesting. Pwede po ba namin kayong ma-interview? Malaki po kasi ang maitutulong nyo para po sa ginagawa namin na study.
Thank you po and Godbless.
- ZANDRELLE G.
Hi, Kamulo. :) I'm Issa and I've been to Sagada.
I didn't know it has 19 barangays!
That's just one of the things I learned from lurking here.
During our trekking to Bomod-ok falls, I was super curious about the Igorot language, but I couldn't keep the guide (ate Karen) to myself.
Anyway, can you post about Basic Igorot words and sayings?
Keep up the fantastic work with this site. :)
Cheers,
Issa
Dear Website Owner:
I am really sorry to bother you with this and would like to apologize up front for the inconvenience.
Unfortunately in the past we utilized an SEO company that may have been guilty of using a variety of questionable techniques to secure links to my website custom-writing.org. These links were placed purely for SEO purposes, with the intention of manipulating search rankings.
As a result, links like this have been placed on your site in the past.
Google has now penalized my site's rankings because of these manipulative links, and unfortunately, retaining them may also be potentially harmful to your website's reputation.
I am writing to ask if you could please remove any links on your site that point to custom-writing.org
There are (or have been) links at these URLs:
http://sagada-igorot.blogspot.de/2008/04/sagada-history-kept-in-basket.html
Once again, I am very sorry that your site has been implicated in these bad practices and would greatly appreciate your help with resolving this problem.
You can also let me know once the links to custom-writing.org have been removed by return email.
If you need any more information, please email me and I will be happy to assist.
I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you and do appreciate your help.
Dear Website Owner/Webmaster,
I've got a quick request of you and I appreciate you taking the time to help me in this matter.
We're in the process of cleaning up backlinks that a previous SEO company had created. Unfortunately it appears they used methods that Google did not favor. So we've decided to try and start over and remove all links, while this link from your site sagada-igorot.blogspot.nl may in fact be a genuine link we'd appreciate it if you could remove the link from our website custom-writing.org. You can find the links on the following pages on your website:http://sagada-igorot.blogspot.nl/2008/04/sagada-history-kept-in-basket.html
I will still patiently wait for your cooperation. This is really important to us=)
Thank you so much for your time.
helo sir,can u help me my problem.my daughter 5yr.old have choosen to wear igorot costume and at desame tym she needs to introduce herself in igorot dialect.can u give me a short introduction mybe 3 lines just to: ntroduce herslf in igorot
Hi sir kamulo, do you have a facebook account or google mail, or yahoo mail?
I am a high school student and we were told by our teacher to report about folktales from mt. province, then I stumbled into your blog, which was very helpful.
I would like to interview you for more details, if its okay with you
I have looked for data offshoreservers.net of this caliber for the previous various hours.
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