Banaue Hotel provides a perfect blend of the old and the new

(CONCLUSION)

By the time we got back to the Banaue Hotel where we were staying,

we were completely exhausted. Our only wish then was to drink a

glass of cold water and take a long and refreshing bath. But, we got

even more than that with the modern facilities offered by the

PTA-managed hotel. Situated 348 kms. north of Manila via the Cagayan

Valley, the Banaue Hotel and Youth Hostel provides modern day

comforts in the midst of an environment rich in primitive culture.

The hotel has 82 carpeted rooms with pine wood wallings creating a log cabin

ambience, an intercom, hot and cold shower and private balconies overlooking

the rice terraces. It has a restaurant which serves international cuisine, a bar,

videoke, game room, swimming pool, souvenir and curio shop, a spacious

lobby, fireplace, sundry bar and function rooms. Room and shuttle services

are also available

Indoor activities include a cultural show depicting the ethnic and cultural

traditions of the Ifugaos and exhibition called Anglad held annually from

January to May showcasing Ifugao products such as blankets, bags, wooden

statues and delicacies. Cultural shows are staged depending on the number of

visitors or upon request. Hotel manager Mel Barbon said they just beat the

gongs at 6 p.m. to inform the show participants that there will be a cultural

show. Participants are employes of the hotel living in nearby Tam-an village

located about 240 steps down from the hotel's swimming pool. At present,

there are 89 Ifugaos employed in the hotel.

The hostel, on the other hand are often used by backpackers, students, and

faculties of schools from Manila and neighboring provinces. These dorm type

of hostel has 50 beds, a common bathroom, spacious lobby and a dining

area. Guests can also use the facilities of the hotel. Barbon said that they are

further improving the hotel which is due for renovation this Holy Week.

The rest of our trip was spent on sampling the different facilities provided by

the hotel from the sumptuous food to the cold drinks at the bar. Arman of

Manila Standard, a frustrated singer tortured us with songs from the videoke. It

was also Ms Jane's birthday so we gave her a surprise party. Then, our group

one by one sneaked out of the party and played pusoy dos and tong-its until

the wee hours of the morning.

This Ifugao trip is only one of the three student-designed travel packages of

the Barkadahan sa Turismo project of the PTA. The other two are the Hundred

Islands tour in Alaminos Pangasinan and the Pagsanjan tour in Laguna. This

project was created in response to the Department of Tourism and PTA's

thrust of promoting domestic tourism to Filipinos including the students. The

travel packages are affordable and complete with accommodations, meals,

transportation and tour of the mentioned destinations. Lalaine Gagelonia,

technical assistant of PTA gen. manager Angelito Banayo said three days

after the launching of Barkadahan, a high, positive response was generated

not only from students of different schools but from all sectors as well

including foreigners. Since then, their office has become busy preparing and

booking trips to these places, the most popular of which is the Banaue tour.

Aside from students, the promo is also open to groups of 20 persons or more

and even to senior citizens who are given a 20 percent discount. Gagelonia

also disclosed that the PTA is planning to include Visayas in these tour

packages in response to the requests of several travelers.