Understanding Livestock Farming

Starting May 29, 2010 while moving around Baguio and Benguet, I was privileged to learn and understand about livestock farming particularly swine raising.

My travels are done mostly by hitch hiking due to the lack of public transportation and between a choice of spending for a private transportation and the risk of being stuck in any landslide in the mountains.

Farmers experience almost the same plight as any other business men or entrepreneurs in the country such as lack of capitalization that leads to risk of bankruptcy, hence raising the questions if the livestock raising that they ventured into is a livelihood activity or a hobby.

However I have learned three keys to success in livestock raising and they are the following:

1. M
2. A
3. N


And the three (3) basic principles in livestock raising are I think applicable to other businesses and other endeavors such as managing our lives...

1. Management ---- there is a time of everything, our houses should be properly built so that its occupants won't be sickly and others.
2. Animal (breeding) --- our future lies in us... Remembering my readings on the illnesses that came about such as schizophrenia. We have the power to alleviate the adverse effects of poor bred humans should we apply the principles we do with our live stocks. Supposed to be even at a higher level because we are humans. Instead we tend to become worse than the live stocks that we breed.
3. Nutrition  -  most often we take care more meticulously of the car and the live stocks and the houses and of our clothes, not minding of our nutrition... of our own health... by eating more often in fast foods or skipping meals for a task and others...

Livestock Farming is not easy task but the farmers engage in it because they enjoy it, though the pay is not that lucrative, it serves as a therapy  besides being an additional venture from the vegetable farming, it also develops skills until they can manage a bigger one.


I envy those who are in the countryside because they have the space for livestock farming. 

Ms. Rei Ann

FAM Tour Sagada and Banawe

While most of the members of the Skipping Stones Adventours are preparing for their trip back to Manila, Ms. Rei Ann also rushed for some tasks for a familiarization tour for Joyous Educational Tours and Services of Sagada and Banawe.

With the assistance of an associate, Mr. Cubian, the three (3) Ms. Daisy, Richard and Ms. Rei Ann was able to catch up the bus towards Bontoc and with was met by Lopus at Dantay, an intersection towards Bontoc and Sagada.

The first and foremost thought of the night was to eat and sleep and the first choice is the Rock Cafe Inn being managed by Bang.

The next day was an early tour and breakfast and ocular inspection of the log cabin, the pottery, the yogurt house, the entrance of the cave, of Saint Joseph and the best stop was the museum. Afterwards we were brought and with courtesy of the owner of the van, to Bontoc and had lunch at the Kambingan along the road. 1:30 the trip towards Banawe began.

Banawe Inn's caretaker Ms. Tessi is always warm to guests likewise to tour operators. She assisted and gave tips and gave the name of the past contacts of Ms. Rei Ann. The next destination is the police station and then the Banawe Hotel. Fortunately the Florida bus had center spaces where the three (3) was able to make themselves comfortable on the way to Novaliches, Manila.

FAM tours are usually one of the best times in preparing for guests and clients. It challenges ones imagination, creativity and the urge to feel like on a vacation... Hey Tour Operator, you are at work... wake up!

FAM Tours Batch 2

The second batch of Tour Operators came to Baguio on May 11, 2010 just after the elections. They travelled from Laguna and from Manila at about 12 midnight and reached Baguio City whereby Ms. Rei Ann met them before the welcome arch of Baguio City, near police station 5.

They were excited to know that we are allowed to enter the Mansion House grounds and get to see other places.

The tour operators was also met by a representative from the Benguet State University and was brought around the Food Processing, Bakery, the BSU new Marketing area where a clean restroom and the giant strawberry statue stands, likewise a tour in the processing (vegetable) plant is also done. The tour operators also had a chance of buying and picking strawberries at the schools' farm.

Next is a tour at the Nature Park whereby the tour operators got to see the animal park and the coffee bean plantation. What was not visited in the compound is the camping facilities which have the cabins and bonfire facilities.

Next is a visit to Tam-awan Village and then Easter School Weaving Rooms. We also visited the Loakan Airport but did not climb the tower because it is not yet coordinated and the shopping and the hiking sored the feet.

The Kennon Road View Point was also visited and then straight to downtown towards the hotel.

The one and half day of the stay of the tour operators was very exciting because they were able to give feedbacks and tips for us to improve our tours and services for their clients.

Additional documentations and promotional materials are needed for a clearer Baguio Tour...

Thank you for visiting... Skipping Stone Adventour members

Relocated to residential address

Dear Patrons:

Went back to the a home-based office, and more of visiting clients in their own offices.

Kindly text or call  for a meeting where it is convenient for you.

Thank you very much.

Ms. Rei Ann

History of Baguio City (grabbed from DENR-CAR site)

In the first half of the 19th century, Spanish explorers stumbled upon a land of fertile vales, verdan forests and ore-rich streams deep in the mountains of Luzon. They came in armies of soldiers, priests and fortune-hunters to conquer, convert and exploit. It took numerous skirmishes with fierce tribes before Spanish colonial government was able to establish its authority in this territory. But the division of the land into local government units called commandancias only succeeded in driving the tribes higher into the mountains. The Spaniards found the proud mountain people difficult to rule and subdue, thus, they again parcelled the commandancias into rancherias, which they placed in the hands of the landed gentry.

When the Americans arrived in the wide low valley of "Kafagway" deep in these highlands in 1900, the area was a rancheria of 20 houses owned by the Cariño clan, the wealthiest family in Benguet Province. Although there were few houses and even fewer roads in the area which was mostly pasture or marshland, the Americans found the pine-covered hills, grassy slopes and cool heights ideal as a summer retreat from the sweltering heat of the lowlands.

In November 1990, the Americans established the first civil government in Benguet, with Kafagway, which was renamed Baguio, as the capital. The new name was said to have been derived from the native word "Bigyiw", a moss-like green plant which the Ibaloi - the aboriginal inhabitants - had found growing around the area where Burnham Park is now located. A rest and recreation camp was created immediately after, which later became Camp John Hay. On June 01, 1903, a resolution was passed by the American colonial government, naming the town of Baguio "Summer Capital of the Archipelago." They built Kennon Road - completed three years later - the first road to connect Manila with the mountain regions. They constructed buildings, secured transportation and water supply, and established 19 other townships. In September 1, 1909, Baguio became a chartered city and the townships were later reduced to 13 municipalities.

The city prospered in the years before World War II, but was destroyed by repeating bombing during the liberation. From these ruins rose another city which steadily grew into commercial, educational and recreation center of the Cordilleras. Today, Baguio City is a self-governing member of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) - composed of the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mt. Province.

As such, there are lot of tourism sites in the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, KalingaMt. Province.

For more information, keep following this blog and / or www.baguioadventures.blogspot.com

Tour Operators FAM Tour of Baguio and La Trinidad 4 ...

Before reaching the Tam-awan Village, it was pointed out that the tour guides for the future projects can discuss about the Vegetable Industry while leaving or approaching La Trinidad,. 

The tour may drop by one of the lemon farms in this area. Also the tour guides can also be coordinated with the La Trinidad Strawberry Multipurpose Cooperative, to complete a tour  at the Strawberry Green houses where strawberries are produced especially during off seasons.

The next destination is Tam - awan Village. 

Our memory cards can not accommodate more photos. We will wait for the photos that our tour operators took and share with us.

Tam-awan Village is operated by the Chanum Foundation and Sir Chit is always in the area. A lot of thanks to him and Ms. Kim, the manager for the warm welcoming  of the Tour Operators. (Again, this is another initiative by a group of concerned citizens who love Baguio, that the Tour Operators are happy about. They can have another exciting destination for Baguio to sell to their clients. 

After Tam-awan was supposed to be a visit to the Lourdes Grotto. It is an old itinerary, however what made it difficult for us to enter at this time and the ruling of no bus, no entry requires us to have another mission and work and work it out with the Baguio City Police Office, the local barangay and the City Mayors Office. It will ease up the burden of the service personnel servicing the tourists and the community as well. 

Lunch, running tour to Ibays, the Mansion House, the Mines View, shopped at the Good Shepherd Convent, and running tour at the Wright Park, South Drive, Military Cut-Off, then I dropped at the Basecamp Baguio Outdoors Sales and Service (BBOSS) Office at 91 Corner Legarda-Marcos hi-way, Baguio City... 

We separated with high hopes and with renewed spirit for the work ahead of us... Bringing in tourists and business not only for their own pockets but also for Baguio City...

The next batch of tour operators will be arriving on  May 6-7, 2010, once again,  to be hosted by Ms. Rose of Rajah Soliman.

 

Tour Operators FAM Tour of Baguio and La Trinidad 3...

 

 After coming from the Food Processing Area where strawberry jams are also processed, we proceeded to the Benguet State University Strawberry Farm at Km 4, La Trinidad, Bengeut. 

Some of our visitors also tried to understand why Ms. Rei Ann mentioned about probably re-naming our strawberries to plastic berries :-)

Ms. Rose, Ms. Rei Ann and some of the Tour Operators' waiting for the others who are shopping for strawberries and other local items to be brought back home as "pasalubong". 

We parked here at the frontage of the Gardenia Hotel and we discussed possible routes for the huge tourist buses when they send them here. 

We thought of doing either the same route as we did now, and coordinating with the municipality of La Trinidad that it will be a one -way traffic so that when tourists buses will ply along the areas, the traggic congestion will not be as much as we have been experiencing before. 

Either we enter thru the Km. 5 entry and exit to Puguis or the other way around. 

This time, we entered thru Km 5 and exited towards Longlong area to Tam-awan Village.

Photos by: Adan and Greg

Tour Operators FAM Tour of Baguio and La Trinidad 2

One of the missed experiences of educational toursists' is this: experiencing purchase of, or "palengke" of fresh vegetables from the mountains of Benguet and La Trinidad areas. 

Here,  our beloved Tour Operators had a great time buying fresh and wholesale worth vegetables. 

They were ecstatic about it because most of the vegetables we see in Baguio are of course on a retail price and by small plastics. 

However, in La Trinidad Trading Post, one can buy no by plastics but BY PLASTICS and on a whole sale price. 

Experiencing, seeing, touching, 

the TRADE of Mountain Vegetables 

in the midst of the SALAD BOWL of the Philippines

Tour Operators FAM Tour of Baguio and La Trinidad ...

Emailed Photos by Dganit and Yosef

Photos were sent by Dganit and Yosef after reaching home. 

They traveled all around the Philippines and dropped by the Basecamp Baguio on February 11, 2010

Here, Yosef, Oliver were accompanied by a guide from Sagada.

"Bring Books to the Boondocks" Year II by Scorpion Mountaineers in cooperation with the BSP Mountaineers Club on April 10, 2010

Some books spread out for inspection at the frontage of the DENR Office at Ambangeg, Daclan, Benguet while waiting for the turn over with Greg and Adan of Basecamp-Baguio.

"Bringing Books to the Boondocks"

A project started by Ian Flojo assisted by Basecamp Baguio's proprietress Ms. Rei Ann P. Cayetano, and a lot of others... was started about August 2007 and was delivered on September 2, 2007 at the Mount Pulag Department of Environment and Natural Resources / PAWDI Office an Ambangeg...where we met the teachers of at least four (4) different schools.

The following are some of the old photos 
 

Fidel Ian --->

Trek to Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet

potato flowers

trekking along private farms

Mount Kabunian (an old photo in 2003)

An old photo of a group outreach project with conquer at the bakun municipality on Oct 2003

Ms. Rei Ann, with the mixed group from the National Capital Region led by Mr. Jessi Tan and his team and mountaineers from the Cordillera Region and its nearby towns, grouped together to visit and newly set-up basecamp (at the foot) of Mount Kabunian. 

The municipality of Bakun and in coordination with the barangay and thru the indorsement of the Governors' Office, we were given permission to set up camp a newly designated camp site. It was the first time for the municipality to have at one (1) time, 50 campers.  

(more photos of documents and documentaries to follow)

An old Photo of the Waterfalls at Batad, Ifugao

Food Preparation Service at the Foods Camp Resto ....

Visitor

Dropped by for a visit ... a volunteer from the City Disasters Coordinating Council

Practice Singing at the Foods Camp Resto

The Geiser at Daclan, Bokod, Benguet

Mount Pulag Tour (feb 2010)

The world (We) are now losing real mineral water even  from the even the highest mountain of luzon.

This is where hikers used to fetch water from, drink like one haven't drunk water for many years. However, with the degradation of the mountain,  one has to carry, not only small containers of commercialized mineral water but  "by gallons" from Baguio, for cooking and for drinking.  

Hopefully we could do something about it so that not only tourists but the locals will continue enjoying the clean, pure, real goodness of true mineral water.

 

A few kilometers before the summit of Mount Pulag at about four (4pm) ...

Camping at Camp Three (3) otherwise called as saddle camp.

This is where the tourists / hikers coming from the akiki trail area camp however BBOSS group converged with them though they came from the opposite direction. 

Here, we had a "condominium" type of tent good for ten people and the camp site was filled with about fifty (50)  campers on the site.

 

Preparing the camp dinner packed by FOODS CAMP Resto:-) 

Start the trek back towards the ranger station.

View of the campsite after breaking camp. 

The photographer is the last man and the sweeper.

The tip of the steep trail coming from the Saddle Camp. 

Above this area is also the crossing or junction of the trail going to the summit 

and going back to Ambangeg. 

An attempt to shoot the summit in a tree frame... :-)

     The best way to ride the dust and the jitney is the "top loading" ...

We coordinate with the driver and do the top loading only in areas where it is "safe".

The signage is now at the "altar" of the DENR PAO Office.

XI. SPORTS / RESCUE AND MOUNTAINEERING GEARS:

• Climbing Equipment such ropes, carabineers, eight rings amongst others 
• Rescue Equipment such as stretchers, spine boards amongst others 
• Backpacking Equipment such as backpacks, sleeping bags, accessories 
• Sports-Mountaineering-Rescue Clothing Equipment such as t-shirts, jackets, pants, shoes  
• Personal Protective Equipment such as rubber boots, helmets, eye glasses and others. 
• Safety Gears and Equipment  
• Gardening and Lawn Equipment 
• Extrication Equipment amongst others.

X. VENUE for Seminars / Trainings:

• Foods Camp Resto’ – it can accommodate as much as twenty (20) people at a time.Foods Camp Function Hall (Mezzanine) good for as much about forty (40) people.
• Camp Inn Verandah which is good for fifteen (15) people. 
• Camp Inns’ Garden (special arrangement) good for fifteen (15) people. 
• Camp Inns’ Lobby good for smaller meeting of at least seven (7) people.

IX. CONVENIENCE and DELIGHTFUL SERVICES:

Pasalubong / Ukay2 Purchasing services such as:

1. Good Shepherd Baskets
2. Baguio Boquets’
3. Baguio Fruit Basket
4. Baguio’s Jam Basket
5. Baguio’s Peanut Brittle Basket
6. Pastries Baskets
7. Cakes amongst others.

Souvenir Items on display will vary from:

1. wood crafts
2. “recycled” crafts
3. paintings
4. sculptures
5. photographs.

Sports / Recreational Gears such as:

1. backpacks
2. sleeping bags
3. gloves
4. travelling bags
5. and other accessories.

Toiletries and other usual travelling needs.

VIII. FOOD PREPARATION Services at the FOODS CAMP RESTO

1. Dine In Meals
2. Take Out / Packed Meals
3. Catering Services
4. Camp / Backpacker Meals
5. Bottled home made products such as:

• strawberry jams
• ube jams 
• various mountain delicacies

VII. Wellness & Beauty Services:

1. Beauty Services 
2. Massage Services
3. Blood Cupping Therapy Services
4. Bonfire Therapy Services

VI. TRAININGS AND SEMINARS:

1. Basic Mountaineering Courses;
2. Leadership Trainings;
3. Youth Programs

Note:

Please check our calendar of activities for updates of various trainings and seminars.

V. Events Organizing / Coordination and / Assistance for Logistics:

1. Tournaments
2. Concerts
3. Adventure Races
4. Parties
5. Convention

IV. Hotel/ Inn Accommodation.

We also arrange with other hotels and inns locally and international. (baguio hotel rates to follow)

Camp Inn rates though are the following:

Green Room Queen Sized Bed for two (2) pax P2, 000

Sneak In (maximum 2 pax) - P350 /pax
Extra Beds (maximum 2 beds) P500 / bed
Breakfast Included for two (2) persons


Blue Room - Queen Sized Bed P2, 000
Sneak In (maximum 2 pax) - P350/pax
Extra Beds (2 pull out beds) P500/bed
Breakfast included for two (2) persons


Yellow Room Two Single Beds P1, 500
Sneak In (maximum 2pax) P350/pax
Extra Beds (pull out beds) P500 /bed
Breakfast included for two (2) persons


Orange Room Three (3) Single Beds P2, 250
Sneak In (maximum 2pax) P350/pax
Extra Beds (1 pull out bed) P500 /bed
Breakfast included for two (2) persons

III. TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENT SERVICES:

1. Cars 
2. Vans
3. Jitneys
4. Buses
5. Chartered Planes / Helicopters
6. Chartered Ferry / Boats
7. Horse Rides
8. Other means of transportation, indigenous and unconventional

Note: please get in touch with us for the rates

II. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT SERVICES:

1. Ticketing Assistance
2. Visa Assistance
3. Passport Processing Assistance;
4. Documentation Processing services such as:

• Red Ribbon processing;
• NSO Authentication,
• Embassy authentication,
• Translation and embassy appointment for tourist visa.

I. ORGANIZING OF Local and International Tour Packages:

a. Adventure Tours in Baguio and its surroundings:
1.Mountain / Backpacking Tours.
    a. Benguet Mountains:
        a1. Mount Pulag
        a2. Kibungan Rocky Mountain Highs
    b. Sagada Mountains
    c. Ifugao Mountains:
        c1.  Mount Napulawan
        c2.  Mount Pangagawan
        c3.  Mount Amuyao
        c4.  Batad Terraces
        c5.  others                               
2. Camping Tours – to any desired destinations for camping
3. Hiking Tours – from 3-hour hikes to 8-hour hike tours.
4. Rock Climbing Tours
5. Scuba Diving Lessons and / Tours
6. Surfing Tours
7. Kayaking Tours
8. White water Rafting Tours
9. Spelunking (Caving) Tours
10. Island to Island Tours
11. And other customized adventure / outdoorsy adventure tours. Please specify your wants and needs.


b. City Tours
1. Baguio City Tour
2. Manila / Intramuros Tours
3. Olongapo / Subic Tours
4. Other cities in the Philippines – please specify your wants and needs.

b. Cultural / Heritage Tours
1. Baguio-Benguet Tours
2. Sagada and Mountain Provinces Tours
3. Banaue and Ifugao Province Tours
4. Kalinga and Apayao Tours
5. Ilocos Heritage Tours
6. And others – please specify your wants and needs.

c. Business / Corporate Packaged Tours – customized

d. Convention Packaged Tours – customized

e. Educational Tours – customized

Packaged Mount Pulag Camping Tour via the Difficult Trail

Packaged Mount Pulag Camping Tour via the Easy Trail

Mount Pulag Tour on Feb 27&28, 2010

Ms.Annie Cosalan at the Protected Areas & Wildlife Department (PAWD) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Office
Ambangeg, Bokod, Benguet on February 28, 2010.

The Altar with the Signage of the Summit

Trail at the Mossy Forest

Trail towards the Camp Three / Saddle Camp Site area...
This site is only about a twenty-minute walk towards the Summit...

A view of the summit from the trail...

Basecamp Baguio now have a new address :-)

 

 

Starting February 2, 2010, we occupied the INN at 91 Corner Legarda - Marcos Hi-way, Baguio City, Philippines...

A view from the living room at about seven (7) in the morning... the sun rises (nowadays) from the south east...>

View of the Inn from the opposite side of the road...

   

The lobby during the clean up

 

Cleaning up the function room and the verandah by JL's Clean Up Janitorial

and Manpower Services

The verandah

 
Precious wooden tables under preservation by Butch, our all around manager, driver, handyman, confidante, life saver, most of all a friend:-)

Cleaning up, washing up, vacuuming and shampooing of furnitures  is not an easy task.... however it did help in making the house smell so good...

  

<-----Our  first visitors on February 11, 2010 (time of arrival in baguio is10pm victory liner) (arranged months back)  who came all the way from Israel. I arranged their transportation from Baguio to Ifugao with Oliver.

Although they came earlier than expected, we were able to keep them a bit comfortable at one (1) of the curtain-less rooms of Basecamp Baguio Inn (being cleaned up).

They left Baguio on February 12, 2010 at 12 a.m.

The cleaning was still on going On February 12, 2010 --- supposed to be a date for a soft opening, however the house was not yet ready for guests until night time when they ----> finally arrived from Manila --- being our first official guests of the inn.... They are professors from the Manila Central University, Caloocan... 

Due to popular demand and request,  a tarpaulin (temporary signage)  is put in place on  February 12, 2012 at the stairs of Basecamp Baguio (an inn, cafe, outdoors shop, showroom)

 

Ms. Rei Ann,  Jerry (a licensed mechanical engineer) who assisted in the clean up (leaving already for home eventually to find work in manila) and Gemil, a musician, but will remain to continue assisting at Basecamp Baguio...

This weekend has been very exciting.... The house is full of various personalities and people of different backgrounds...