Sagada, Mountain Province

Sagada is a 5th class municipality in the province of Mountain Province, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 10,575 people in 2,158 households.

It is located 275 km. north of Manila, 100 km. from Baguio, and it is adjacent to Bontoc, the provincial capital.

Sagada is nestled in a valley at the upper end of the Malitep tributary of the Chico River some one and a half kilometers above sea level in the central Cordillera; enveloped between the main Cordillera Ranges and the Ilocos Range. Mt. Data in the south and Mt. Kalawitan in the southeast pierce the horizon. Mt. Polis, Bessang and Mt. Tirad in the east, and Mt. Sisipitan in the north mark the Mountain Province - Abra boundary.

The subtropical climate and crops are like those of Baguio and Benguet: cabbage, tomatoes, green pepper, potatoes, carrots, beans, and other temperate products. Between 1882 and 1896, the Spanish colonizers introduced Arabica coffee: a source of income since the American occupation. Citrus, mainly lemon, lime and Valencia oranges were introduced from Spain by Jaime Masferre to provide the needs of American missionaries and employees of the Mission of Saint Mary the Virgin. During the American Period, the Americans introduced products like strawberries, apples, and pine trees, due to its cold, lowland climate.

Basic culture refers to the indigenous culture before the establishment of a Spanish Mission in 1882. As an ili or village, Sagada was founded by a man, Biag, from Bika in Eastern Abra. The people from Bika were forced out of their ili by raiding headhunters. Biag's family resettled in Candon but when baptism or the giving of names was enforced, Biag's family chose to move back toward the mountains in search for a settlement. Along the way, he and his siblings decided to part ways. A brother, Balay, chose to return to Candon, a sister to Abra. Another brother settled along the upper Abra River. Biag pushed further to the east until he came to what is now Sagada.

Sagada has many natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists can enjoy the waters of Bokong and Bomod-ok Falls. Other places that can be visited are:

*Sumaguing and Lumiang Caves
*Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls
*Rice terraces
*Echo Valley
*Kiltepan Tower
*Underground River
*Lake Danum
*Hanging Coffins
*Pongas Falls
*Mt. Ampacao
*Marlboro Mountain

Sagada was featured in a local film called Don't Give Up on Us.
Sagada was also featured in an episode of "Locked Up Abroad".
From Manila, it takes at least 12–15 hours to reach Sagada by Bus.
Perhaps for lack of transportation and willing guides, few of the Spanish Conquistadors made it into Sagada during the Spanish Era, making it one of the many places that has preserved its tribal culture with a minimum amount of Spanish influence.

There are Limestone mountains throughout Sagada. This part of Luzon Island used to be submerged in the ocean billions of years ago.