Sagada Nightlife

Beer has always been available in and around the Philippines and that sucks (for others)! haha

You can purchase Red Horse Beer and Colt 45 in some sari-sari stores in Sagada. Each bottle (Grande in size) costs P80 (2007). MAHAL TODO! which P30 will be refunded upon returning the beer bottles. OKAY nadin.. Play pusoy or tong-its to kill the night time since, sagada has almost zero night life (2007) which I find very interesting to avoid the noise at once and try to run the runny-pink matter inside your skull and have the chance to think real deep while gazing at the night sky (tula to, maisingit lang!).

Dress Code: Wear Dress no more

Nothing fancy about this place and can only accommodate few guests. So if you want someplace not crowded go to this place if there’s still space left for you. I tried this one because I’m too tired to go farther up from George Guesthouse. The bar only plays soft music and their Redhorse beer costs P40 pesos.

I love this bar located in front of Igorot Inn. It is frequented by foreigners because of its international ambiance and they have good singer that belted out mixed and reggae music. I think this one is the only place where you can party while listening to live music. It is also a good place to mingle with fellow tourist and exchange experiences about the town.

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After having our quick afternoon nap to recharge ourselves, our group then headed to Lake Danum for our Bonfire Dinner. We've just waited in our Guest House's mini-living room for Sir Raymond and his SAGGAS acquaintances, who were then buying some bonfire foods and their very special viand called "Pinikpikang Manok" that they've suggested for our dinner. Lake Danum ia a small lake which can be found at the borders of Sagada and its neighboring municipality, Besao. Lake Danum, which literally means “lake water,” is four (4) kilometers away from the municipal hall of Sagada, so we decided to hire a jeepney (but Sir Ray was able to get us a comfortable van!) that would bring us to the bonfire ground. We were supposed to catch the sunset at the lake, for it's also been known as a perfect spot for sunset viewing, but unfortunately, the weather turned bad as the rain started to fall at around 1300-0330, so we didn't get the chance to capture the sunset. But our adventure wouldn't be completed without our Bonfire Dinner experience, so we've decided to push it through despite of the sudden weather changed, and just prayed that everything would work out just fine once we started our bonfire dinner (otherwise, we're goin to have our petromax dinner inside our van, nyahaha).

FELLOWSHIP UNDER THE STARS: A GREAT BONFIRE DINNER

It was already past five when the sky started to clear, so we then proceeded to our last rendezvous together with of course our wholehearted guides (Sir Raymond, Sir Erwin & David).
We were chasing the sunset along the valley as our van tackled the uneven clay road up to the lake. The sky was heavily overcast and the sun was unfortunately unable to break
through the thick flat clouds that covered the heavens.

We arrived at the Lake around six in the evening. It took us one hour to reach the place because of our stop-overs at Youghurt House and Souvenir Shop. It looks like the the lake has been reserved for our group that evening, because nobody among the tourist in Sagada had bravely tried to have a bonfire or just a visit at the lake that evening. Perhaps, they weren't a risk-taker like us who would challenge the unpredictable weather. The moment we stepped out of the van, we got an answered prayer, because the heavily overcast sky that afternoon had turned into a beautiful night. The sky that evening was covered with a blanket of thousands of stars, that seemed like falling on the other side of the Lake (gee, the other stars were amazingly surprising because they're at the ground level that i thought was just a light from a forest house!). A visit to the lake may not be as beautiful if the purpose is to see the sunset, however, there is still a magic in this tranquil lake during the cold night, and it could still be the best picnic ground for dinner and some drinks over a bonfire. I could say that this is the perfect spot to enjoy the nightlife in Sagada where you could have bonfire dinner/gatherings, overnight camping/jamming/parties or even just a simple stargazing (you could asked your guide to have it arranged for you). It is a silty lake carpeted of thick grass (a carabao grass, if i'm not mistaken) surrounded by layered of trees in a misty forest going up to Mt. Ampacao. And though it rained, the ground was surprisingly clean, without any traces of muds or patches of rainwater.


After a while, the temperature had started to drop down, so Sir Raymond decided to set up the bonfire fueled with pine woods while David and Sir Erwin had already started cooking our "Pinikpikang Manok" in a large biscuit can (yeah a biscuit can!). Pinikpikan is a ceremonial dish from the Cordilleras. It is prepared by beating a live chicken using a stick before cooking, the bruises from the beatings, supposedly enhanced its flavor. Animal rights people may cry foul over this practice but this custom has been around since time immemorial in this part of the Philippines. It is said that after the chicken dies, it is then sliced open to unveil a prediction in its gall bladder: if it's hidden the guest were safe, otherwise, the guest will be in trouble or needs to be more cautious. We're lucky to have a chicken with a hidden gall bladder, so we're all safe! The chicken is then turned over a few times on the bonfire to cook its skin and completely remove its feathers. And afterwards, left to stew on a veggie broth until fully cooked.
The cooking process for "Pinikpikang Manok" took quite some time. So while waiting for our dinner, we've all circled the inviting bonfire and started to warm-up ourselves with some shots of "The Bar" (gee, we forgot to try their Rice Wine!). Sir Erwin initiated to roast our hotdogs artistically strucked in long sharpened edge sticks and marshmallows in a sharpened edge magic wand look-a-like sticks with so many little branches, so we could roast up to five marshmallows in just one magic wand (weee, that was fantastic!), over the bonfire. I've never been interested in marshmallows when I was a youngster, until I've learned how to roast a marshmallow over the bonfire that night (oh i just love the crispy melting marshmallow inside my mouth,yuhhmm!). That evening, in the light of a bonfire, our fellowship with our guides made us feel how they were proud of their heritage and how well they preserved their undisturbed cultures and traditions.


After a couple of hours of deep conversation with our guides (our newly-found friends) and some food tripping over the bonfire, with Sir Raymond sneaking some stolen shots of us (we really looked funny on our stolen shots,harharr!), our "Pinikpikang Manok" and pork liempo was finally served on a long & whole banana leaves (freshly cut along the lake) with steaming white rice evenly sliced into eight, like a pie..a rice pie! That was really a unique bonfire banquet that cap off that day’s events! The chicken meat was a bit chewy and I was a bit uncomfortable eating without a table, but it really has a unique palatable taste of a native chicken (yuuhmm!) and the warm soup was delightly audible (mmmm, i forgot my dizziness from the vodka shots)! As the evening strucked ten, everyone had their fill of the Pinikpikan and a
few more light conversation were passed around. The bonfire was about to go out, and the air was getting colder and colder. The night was about to engulf us; it was finally time to go back.

Even though I was unable to fully explore Lake Danum, it was still a fun experience; the late afternoon ride to the lake, the cool mountain air, the warmth of the bonfire, the roasted marshmallows and hotdogs over the bonfire, the laughs and stories passed in betweens and the Pinikpikan dinner finale. This is, as Sir Raymond puts it, Sagada’s version of a night out.

That was my first time to have a bonfire, and I could have no regrets if that will be the last, because I couldn't asked for more than what I've gratefully experience and that really gives me a whole satisfaction! Whooohooo!!!

Dress Code: Windbreaker Jacket/sweater/thick long sleeves or fleece, dark colored trekking pants/jogging pants/cargo pants, shawl, bonnet/cap/hat, trekking shoes/rubber shoes

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There's a strict curfew of 9pm in Sagada so my friends and I opted to just drink gin and orange mix in our guest room. Bring your portable speakers and ipod ut be conscious to keep the volume low in consideration of the curfew. Our guest room had a balcony so we drank al fresco...we saved on food and pulutan because we packed a lot of canned goods, instant noodles, bread and coffee :)

The booze, the bottle of gin, the fresh chilly weather, good conversation and close friends made the nightlife a very happy one.... best of all, if you drink a little too much, all you have to do is hop into bed :)

becuase of the 9pm curfew it's best to eat dinner by 6pm so tht by 7pm you can go straight
to alibama. it's on the left side further down the road passing traveller's inn. you will not miss the sign but u'll be wary since you will not hear nor see anything once you go down the stairs.

it's at the back of the small building. enter the door on your left and alas! you enter
a place so colorful with free videoke!

we stayed till 10pm because after our nth song, the manager whispered to us that after 2 songs we have to stop the singing but can still stay for drinks.

Dress Code: come as you are =)

There is no nightlife in Sagada - that is if you're looking for a band/clubs that can play all night. Do as the locals do - they go out of their houses, chat a little and go to bed promptly at nine. Don't, for the love of God, watch TV. That's why you're there in the first place, to take in the serenity and peacefulness of the place. The world will not change a lot if you won't see the little box for a while. But it can do wonders for your peace of mind.

Nights spent in Sagada are nights of reflection, meditation, and prayer. At 9pm, no one's expected to be outside their houses/ hotels. People are probably sleeping already. This will give you time to think about things of importance to you. Or just chill and relax. You won't have trouble sleeping in Sagada. It's ambience guarantees to lull you to sleep.

Dress Code: comfortable clothes