An eye opening Philippines experience for Monash students

6 February 2008

A group of 18 students from the School of Arts and Sciences, along with two lecturers acting as chaperones had a taste of the Philippines when they visited the country for a study tour from 12 – 21 December. The study tour was hosted by the Cordillera Studies Centre of the University of the Philippines, Baguio City Campus.

The 10-day trip saw the students visiting two cities namely Baguio and Sagada. Baguio which is also known as the Summer City of Philippines, is in the seat of the Cordilerra Administrative Region.

At Baguio’s University of the Philippines’ Cordilerra Studies Centre, the students were first briefed on the historical, socio-political, geographical and economic background of the city, as well as current issues it faced.

On their second day in Baguio City, the students attended an afternoon seminar with the Cordillera People’s Allliance (CPA), an organisation representing the rights of indigenous people in the region, and a session with the Baguio City Muslim Association. The interactive and informal talks gave students an insight into issues affecting minorities in the region and an opportunity to interact with local people.

Apart from these organisations, the students also attended a talk by representatives from the Northern Dispatch Weekly (NORDIS), a weekly newspaper covering the three regions of Northern Luzon, Cordillera, and the Cagayan Valley.

The fourth day of the study tour took the students to Sagada city, where they saw for themselves its famed rice terraces. During their stay there, the students had a chance to go hiking and spelunking at the Sumaging Caves.

During their caving expedition, the students had to maneuver themselves through tiny passages that opened up to fascinating chambers and splendid rock formations. To make it easier for them to go through the caves, their guides advised them to walk barefooted and this gave them the experience of walking on a ‘bed’ filled with bat guano!

In Sagada, the students also had a chance to see the famous Hanging Coffins. The 200 year-old coffins are neatly stacked and hung onto a limestone cliff.

The students also visited the Sagada National High School, where they met local residents. In Sagada, the group also tried out some of the local delicacies like balut. Balut is a nearly developed duck embryo which is boiled and eaten.

All in all, the students learned much about life in Baguio City and Sagada. The different people they met, the things they saw and experienced were truly an eye-opener for them.

One of the trip’s chaperones, Dr Yeoh Seng Guan said, “If there are any learning points that my fellow travelers can discern from this year’s trip to what may seem to be exotic and unfamiliar worlds, I believe there are two.”

“Firstly, it is the tenacity of the human spirit in search for better livelihoods as embodied in the courageous daily struggles of local communities and civil society groups.”

“Secondly, the singular wisdom and necessity of valuing and protecting cultural diversities wherever they may be found in order to shape a more convivial place for all,” he added. – by Anita Hadi