LAOAG CITY—Missing the old Baguio City when almost every corner still smelled of fresh pine trees?
Adventure-seekers had found a similar spot on a trip to the Ilocos Norte-Apayao road located between the boundary of Barangays Manalpac in Solsona town and Butao in Calanasan, Apayao, some 40 kilometers from Laoag.
Thousands of curious visitors and mountaineers now ride a motorbike or a 4×4 off-road vehicle to reach the newly-opened highway linking the two provinces, where a view deck at the top offers them a picturesque sight of surrounding areas with rich flora and fauna, amid a sea of clouds.
The misty cold wind that welcomes visitors is akin to that in Baguio, the country’s summer capital, in the earlier times when it was less dense and had no traffic congestion.
Seasoned trekkers who have been to this site are reminded of the Ambangeg trail of Mt. Pulag, the highest peak of Luzon at 2,926 meters above sea level, located between the borders of Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya.
With the influx of tourists visiting what is now called “Old Baguio City” in viral social networking site posts, the local government unit of Solsona is determined to improve the tourism facilities in the area.
Town Mayor Alexander Calucag bared plans to establish a “stop over” tourism facility in Manalpac village in time for the Holy Week, where visitors can have refreshments or use the restroom before going up to the mountain view deck.
Garbage collection bins will also be set up to deter littering.
As the main attraction leads to the majestic Mount Kilang in the neighboring province of Apayao, Calucag said they are also open to a sisterhood agreement with the municipality of Calanasan to establish better cooperation with tourism stakeholders there.
Likened to a giant ice cream scoop, observers describe Mt. Kilang as an intriguing sight to behold.
Though it is a promising tourism destination, the Apayao government through its Provincial Tourism Office, however, continues to reiterate that as of the moment, the area is not yet ready to host a volume of tourists.
For the safety of visitors, the Calanasan government urged tourists to take the necessary precautions when going to the area and to help preserve its natural beauty by leaving nothing but footprints. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
