Uploads from Storm Crypt, tagged cordillera

Agno River

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:31:43 -0800

This valley in the cordillera region shows partly the length of the Agno River. The Agno river is the largest and longest river in Luzon island, Philippines. It is approximately 275 kilometers from its source up in Mt. Data in the Cordillera. Its headwater at Mt. Data has an elevation of approximately 2,000 meters. It has two hydroelectric plants along it in the Cordillera region, the Binga Dam and the Ambuklao Dam, both in benguet. Binga Dam is located 31 kilometers east of Baguio City, while the Ambuklao Dam is located 19 kilometers to the north of Binga Dam. This river flows to the plains of Pangasinan, where it irrigates almost 100 square kilometers of farmlands.

Agno River
Benguet, Philippines

Binga Dam and Reservoir

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:31:40 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

This is the Binga Dam, operational since 1960. It utilizes the Agno river, the largest river in Luzon. This dam is located 31 kilometers east of Baguio City in Benguet.

Binga Dam and Reservoir
Itogon, Benguet
Philippines

Baguio Airport viewed from the NorthEast

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:53:47 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

To the right of the runway are large industrial buildings, one of them is Texas Instruments. The forested area to the far left is part of the PMA(Philippine Military Academy) campus. I'm looking forward to walking on the PMA grounds again. Its been years since I last stepped on it.

Loakan Airport
Baguio City, Benguet
Philippines

Baguio Airport

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:04:55 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

Airport on a Plateau. This is Baguio City's Loakan airport. You overshoot it to the west, you fall of a cliff. You overshoot the runway to the east, you will fall off to an even deeper ravine. This airport is not for the faint of heart pilots. Nor is it for pilots who are only after the flight attendants -- one of the worst trait of commercial pilots(that's why they crash down big time).

Map: Baguio Airport Area

Loakan Airport
Baguio City, Benguet
Philippines

Baguio and Beyond

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:28:52 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

This shot is taken shortly after crossing the southern border of Mountain province, passing through Ifugao's southwest border, then turning to the southwest towards Baguio city in Benguet, and near the northern tip of Ambuklao lake. The town of Atok is almost visible on the right side of the frame. Tublay(a town in Benguet) is near the area to the right of the road(center of the frame). The populated place where the road ends is La Trinidad, Benguet, where the Strawberry Fields are. On the top left of the frame is the northern part of the city of Baguio.

The road that curls from the bottom of the frame going to the top of the frame is the road that connects Benguet province to Mountain Province(Bontoc and Sagada), Ifugao(turning southeast at Bontoc), to Kalinga-Apayao to the far North, and to the northeastern provinces: Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan.

Benguet,
Philippines

Clouds on the Mountainside

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:43:14 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

This photo is taken from the side of the road of the Highest Point in the Philippine Highway System. The white cross below was placed there in memory of an accident -- people who died when their vehicle plunged several hundred feet down the mountainside not so long ago. This is one of the most dangerous roads in the Philippines. The road where I'm standing on is 7,400 ft above sea level.

The view from Sagada - Baguio City Road
Mountain Province
Philippines

Sagada Mid-Morning

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:06:03 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

Evergreens on a mountain side, partially concealed by the mid-morning fog. Taken on one of the hillsides of the town of Sagada. Sagada is part of Mountain Province. This place is a few kilometers south of the province of Abra border. The town center is around a hundred kilometers(straight line distance) NNW(North-Northwest) of Baguio City.

Sagada, Mountain Province
Philippines

Map: Sagada, Mountain Province

Mountain of Rice

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:59:35 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

These rice terraces that follow the contours of the mountain had been here for roughly 2,000 years. Dubbed as the eight wonder of the world, these rice terraces are carved out of rocky mountainsides in most of the Cordillera Provinces -- following sacred traditions and skill passed on to generations. On the average, these rice terraces are 1,500 meters above sea level.

I've got a lot of questions lately(after posting those aerials of this place) on what these rice terraces(and places) look like from the ground. Good thing I have the good old film photos that I scanned. Well, there's not too many, but I think this would be enough. Not a problem inserting this into the photo stream. Photo taken by my Pentax IQZoom 110 35mm point and shoot film camera, almost a decade ago.

Banaue Rice Terraces
Banaue, Ifugao
Philippines

Google Map Image:
Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines

Rice Terraces of Ifugao

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:42:38 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

These rice terraces that follow the contours of the mountain had been here for roughly 2,000 years. Dubbed as the eight wonder of the world, these rice terraces are carved out of rocky mountainsides in most of the Cordillera Provinces -- following sacred traditions and skill passed on to generations. On the average, these rice terraces are 1,500 meters above sea level.

Photo taken near the western border of Ifugao, a few kilometers from Benguet province. I thought it was spectacular enough when I last saw these terraces from the ground. It is far overwhelming when you see the whole mountainside directly from above. To all fellow Philippine citizens out there, how many of you have seen the rice terraces of Ifugao from this view? You should try it sometimes. It is spectacular.

Near the Benguet/Ifugao Border
Cordillera Administrative Region
Philippines

Cordillera Mountains

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:15:52 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

This is one of the places in the Philippines where sometimes, its hard to draw the line between good and bad. Who's good and who's bad. Who is more righteous, the New People's Army or the Philippine army. If the NPA had SAMs(Surface to air missiles), or even the small Stinger missiles, this is a very treacherous journey. Taken somewhere over the Mountain Province, a few kilometers after passing by Abra province's airspace. This spot is probably east of the town of Conception in Ilocos Sur. The area where Tirad Pass is. The area made famous by a young general.

Speaking of Tirad Pass, this is that place(and battle) where Gen. Gregorio del Pilar died in the late 1800s. If you don't know yet, here's the story. This young Filipino general gave everything to stop the advancing American forces. The american forces are running after Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo the "first" philippine president. Due to del Pilar's "bravery" (I think I should call it dumbness or stupidity), he died. Well, just like most young generals, poor planning, poor intelligence, poor armory, etc. But the bottom line is... he died in vain. He gave his life at Tirad Pass, the Americans overran him, and eventually caught Aguinaldo in Palanan, Isabela. You know what happened next? Aguinaldo surrendered without incident. Went back to Cavite to be a "Don" again. Still living a rich life.

Del Pilar was indeed brave, but intelligent? I doubt it. Such a waste. Defending someone who doesn't even value what you are fighting for. Such, is evident in many politicans and military forces in the Philippines today. A hundred years, a lot has changed in the country, but the mentality of most leaders -- still the same. Most of them don't know what they stand or fight for.

Cordillera Mountains
Mountain Province, Philippines

Mighty Cordillera Mountains

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:50 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

Shortly after gaining cruising latitude I saw this view. For a time it looked like Isla Sorna, that fictitious island from the movie Jurassic Park, or it looked like the rocky mountainsides of Maui, Hawaii. But it is not.

This is part of the Cordillera Mountain range. Took this shot near the Ilocos Sur and Abra province border.

Abra Province
Philippines

Abra River

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:00:24 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

This is the Abra River. It passes close to the city of Vigan, Ilocos Sur before flowing out to the South China Sea. Its source is deep in the Cordillera Region. This shot is taken a few kilometers west of Bangued City of Abra province. The flat land area before the shores of the South China sea is Vigan City of Ilocos Sur. This shot was taken shortly before setting my foot on Vigan City once more. At this point, the closest airport is Vigan city's short runway. Well today, I don't have to worry about that at all.

Abra River, Western Abra
Province of Abra, Philippines

Photo Notes:
I have officially allowed "Jun Ballera" and group "Berroy Clan" to use this photo. Apparently other groups have used this without my permission. Before using any photos from my flickr account, please let me know. Thanks.

Philex Open Pit Mine

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:04:15 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

Itogon, Benguet Province
Philippines

San Roque Dam and Reservoir

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:31:38 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

San Roque Dam and Reservoir
Bokod, Benguet
Philippines

Baguio City

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:54:04 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

The mountain city of Baguio, viewed from the East. The runway to the left of the frame is Baguio City's Loakan Airport. Its cool high altitude temperature, earned it the title "summer capital" of the Philippines.

Baguio City, Benguet
Philippines

Kabayan's Pride

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:49:17 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

Taken over the municipality of Kabayan, approximately 9 miles west from the peak of Mt. Pulog(the highest mountain peak in Luzon), this is the northern part of Ambuklao Lake, part of the municipality of Kabayan. One of the cleanest in the Philippines. Ambuklao dam generates its power from this lake as it flows downriver in the Cordillera region, and is a major contributor to power generation in Luzon. This place is 11 miles, northeast of the city of Baguio. With its vicinity to Mt. Pulag, this place is part of the area known to local folklore as the playground of the Gods.

Exact location: Latitude: 16°29'2.93"N Longitude: 120°44'47.91"E

Ambuklao Lake
Municipality of Kabayan
Benguet, Philippines

Map: Ambuklao Lake Area

Jagged Edge

nobody@flickr.com (Storm Crypt) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 05:18:10 -0800

Storm Crypt posted a photo:

Jagged mountain sides. This is what can be observed when one is near the common border of three Philippine provinces: Ifugao, Mountain province and Benguet. This jagged mountain side is still part of the mighty cordillera mountain range.

Cordillera Administrative Region
Philippines