Saturday, March 16, 2013

Benguet | Fire Mummies Of The Philippines


BENGUET | Fire Mummies Of The Philippines
The Pride And Rich Cultural Heritage Of The Ibaloi's


Photo was taken at the home of our guide in Mt Timbak. We registered before we were escorted to the burial sites of the mummies, the house has a very nice view of the Mountains before it, including Mt Pulag, and this dirty kitchen was homey with charm akin to it.


Mt Timbak uniquely stands out for the very rich heritage that it hoards. This is the home of the so called Fire Mummies of the Philippines, aka Kabayan Mummies. That says a lot about the rich culture of the Ibaloi's, but due to danger of losing this, it was listed in 1998 World Monuments Watch, a nonprofit organization that calls to action and challenge government authorities responsible for important cultural resources to identify sites immediately at risk, and to stimulate public awareness of the tremendous need to preserve and create sustainable uses for significant heritage made by man.

The plight and preservation of these Mummies are very real, against vandalizing visitors and thefts that would lead these revered Ibaloi ancestors to the black market. It's good to know that our government pays a close watch, we were only allowed as it is to visit these caves along the slopes of Mt Timbak, it is known that these caves century old as they were, that dates back even before the Spaniards came to colonize the Philippines and spread Roman Catholicism. The Mummy caves of Mt Timbak are famous along  to with many other sites in Benguet Province, simply because it is here that these sacred Mummies where opened to the public's awareness, hence the looting and vandalism came. I've heard accounts of Mummy caves even in Mt Pulag, and knowing that most of these caves are unprotected, it serves well that the elders of the Ibaloi tribes kept mum of these sites.

The Mummies fascinated me, seeing the human remains of a revered Filipino ancestor. I only have but utmost respect, safe in fetal position in their wooden coffins, with prayers offered by our guide before they were opened to us. 

Perhaps one of the most famous Mummy from Benguet is Apo Anno, a true  legend of folklore and is even thought to be a son of a goddess. His remains is now safe in it's sealed cave in Natubleng, Buguias, Benguet.

 The recovered remains of Apo Anno.


Apo Anno was eventually returned to Benguet in the same year. In May 1999, the mummy was sealed from public view.

More of Apo Anno from WikiPilinas


Visiting These Mummy caves is a sidetrip to trekking Mt Timbak (Mt Singakalsa), and like to hike up, to see the caves is to walk the slopes of the mountain for a good 15 to 20 minutes, with a good aerial view of the town of Kabayan Benguet. Fences are built over the sites that are open to visitors. One needs an Ibaloi guide to these graves, fortunately it's not very difficult to locate the house of the guide , locals are very friendly and easy to talk with, seems like everybody that lives here knows everyone around within a mile of their surroundings. The house of the guide is near the jump off to these hills. A scenic place, very good to the eyes and filled with pine trees all over. Some of the pines are bath in clouds, some even have Spanish mosses that can only be seen in high altitude areas.


Photo of our guide walking down the path as he leads us to visit the burial caves.

 




Photo from the outside of one of the Mummy Caves, our guide requested that we do not take photos of the actual Mummy, but that we are allowed to see it. For your eyes only.


Photo of Kabayan Municipality, a neighboring settlement or Municipality of Atok, Benguet. Photo taken along the slopes of Mt Timbak.





*** Blog updated as of November 2, 2014. Added a few photos from a return visit to Mt Timbak (Mt Singakalsa) February 2014. See the set of photos below this.



This time, our guide is a girl who walked ahead of us. A little less friendly than Vince who was our guide last year.












Registration fee is Php 30.00 fund that as I understand is to be used for the effort to preserve the heritage.

Wishing to visit the Mummies, You can reach out to the Guide Vince Gapuz at 0919-8524410 or add him in Facebook at www.facebook.com/vince.gapuz 

Thanks to Mervin of pinoyadventurista.com for the contact info.


On The Map

On a closer look. Mt Singakalsa is an a.k.a of Mt Timbac, a closer look on the map will show the Timbac Mummy Caves along the hills facing the town of Kabayan. The snaking green mark is the Halsema Highway along Atok, Benguet while the straight green lines is the Upper Agno River Basin.


Mt Timbac as shown on the map and its distance from Kabayan, Benguet and the more popular neighbor Mt Pulag. I place a circle in the Timbac Mummy caves.





Francis Balgos is a Call Center Agent, Weekend Travel Warrior, Amateur Spelunker, Sometime Surfer, Newbie Mountain Climber, Photography Enthusiast, Certified Beach Bum, A first born son, Faithful lover, True Explorer...

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28 comments:

  1. This is a great experience to see the mummies and at the same time be able to appreciate nature via its scenic landscapes.

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  2. Its amazing how nature preserves those mummies and kept them for hundreds and even thousands of years... benguit is not just nice with all the beautiful mountains but also with an authentic philippine culture..

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  3. Wow I didn't know that there are mummies in the Philippines and specifically in Benguet. I have the tendency to feel scared when visiting those places. :O

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  4. Aside from the beautiful scenery, I was completely amazed with the well-preserved state of Apo Anno. It's something that I would like to see when I visit real soon.

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  5. That was an exciting trip indeed. So amazing how old civilizations were able to perform something like this without aid of new technology.

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  6. What a scenery! I just love your pictures! But what amazed me are the mummies that are preserved for so many years!

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  7. truly breathtaking places! i would love to be in a place like this plus so proud that atleast the bones we're preserved away from the public. An amazing expereince for sure! xx

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  8. This would be a great place to explore and learn more about our culture. The views are also very spectacular!

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  9. Napakagaling ng pagkaka preserved nila kay Apo Anno,
    cool experience + beautiful scenery = Hapiness.. :)

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  10. It's truly a wonderful experience once you visit Benguet.
    You will be closer to nature with that scenery.

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  11. I love to see these mummies. But I have read in some article posted that, medyo napapabayan na raw ang site. Sad naman if the report is true.

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  12. Amazing trip in Benguet..i would love to go there someday!

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  13. Wooow! What a spectacular sight! I've been to Benguet before, but have never visited those mummy caves.

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  14. Been wanting to visit this place. Hope to pay my homage to Apo Anno this summer.

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  15. It is good that there are people who try to preserve our rich culture. I hope and pray that, they will be in an auspicious situation in relation to government policies, funds, and community support. I noticed that the mountains are denuded. I hope they are not tolerating logging here. Whatever efforts to preserve the heritage is futile if the mountain will crumble or eroded.

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  16. Now that's a unique experience, not to mention new sceneries to view and explore.

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  17. The place looks good but a bit creepy especially the burial caves. Never heard of this place until today.

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  18. That dirty kitchen has the best view in the world :P parang ang sarap siguro mag luto with that view..nakaka inspire :) Lovely views all around - ok lang na walang photos ng mummy, medyo creepy ata yun :)

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    1. Yup! I noticed it too.. ganda ng view ng kitchen nya.. very relaxing.
      kung sobrang lamig lang siguro na mg aayaw ka dun

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  19. Replies
    1. Sir, Heritage site po to..
      So its government funded.
      Yung guide fee to the Mummies is only Php 20.00 per head
      But if you intend to do somethign else like going to the summit, you can contact Vince Gapuz.
      I posted his Facebook in the last part of the link.

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    2. Thanks Sir Francis. On my way there on Saturday!

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    3. Update lang Ann, I got back there 2 weeks ago..
      The guide fee to the mummies is now Php 30.00 per head

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  20. Hi Sir! We are planning on visiting here this coming January. Required po ba ang guide kung aakyat ng summit?

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    1. Guides are not required here in climbing to the summit, but the visit to the Mummy Graves will need it since the guides are the gatekeepers.

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    2. Is it ok to walk in? Or should the guide be contacted in advance?

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    3. Day hike po or overnight? kung overnight, you need to check kung pwede kayo matulog sa School. Farmlands kasi yung trails, Ive never seen anyone camping there but who knows. You can get in touch with Vince Gapuz, there are several guides there so he can coordinate. If day hike lang or if you intend to traverse only, no need for a guide but you may need to ask for directions. Its on a regular basis that hikers sleep in Mangoto Elementary School so contacting the guide can help you coordinate with the School's caretaker. This would depend though on the number of hikers, kasi kung konti lang kayo, baka sa bahay na ng Guide kayo patuluyin.

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    4. Thank you very much po!

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