MATTHEW'S HILLS IN KENNY VILLAGE: AN ACCESSIBLE OPTION FOR HIKERS

 Location:  Barangay Mauraro, Guinobatan, Albay

While at Peak 3 with Peak 4 as the backdrop

Kenny Village is a residential locality or purok situated in Barangay Mauraro, in the municipality of Guinobatan, Albay, Philippines.   It is about 7.6 kilometers away from the Guinobatan town proper via a concrete Guinobatan - Jovellar Road with a travel duration of 13 minutes by car or local transport under normal traffic conditions.

Peak 1 with a Cell Site Tower

Matthew's Hills has four peaks.  Peak 1 has the cell site tower.  Its trail is not established and so steep.  It is grown with thick and tall talahib grass. Thus, it is advisable that one has to equip himself with gloves since the blade of its leaves can literally cut one's hands in case being held.

Maipon Elementary School

The two alternatives of public transportation to Kenny Village is either a tricycle or habal-habal with its Guinobatan Terminal just beside the Oarde's Bakery next to Guinobatan Public Market with identified terminal as Mauraro.  The rate for the tricycle is P35 or US$0.56 if only within the village proper.  However, if up to the jump-off point is already P40 or US$0.64.  

Jump-off point for Peak 1

The jump-off point for Peak 1 is at the housing project Angat Buhay Village (initially launched under the project name BAHAYanihan).  It was turned over by former Vice President Leni Robredo's Angat Buhay program to families displaced by typhoons.

The grass-covered trail of Peak 1

Even from the start of scaling Peak 1, the trail is heavily grown with grasses.   The local kids who volunteered to be our guide, assured us that whenever they want to climb here, they use this trail, but no climbers are scaling this hill.

The thick and tall Talahib grass of Peak 1 trail just few meters from the summit

The trail for Peak 1 is not established.  It is so thick and obviously not being used.   Our guide were only volunteer kids of the village.  And it turned out as I posted my pictures of this climb, it was identified by a family friend to have his cousin in the name of Jasper Penaflor.

Minding the barbed-wire fence

The trail of Peak 1 from start to finish were all steep and one has no choice but to hold the talahib grass whether in ascending to advance and descending in order not to slide down.  

Halfway to the summit of Peak 1

Talahib grasses is so dense from the midpoint to the summit.  I was even worried that a snake might be on our trail since you cannot see the ground but only the thick talahib grasses.  And mind you, you cannot capture a view from the midpoint to the summit.  Thick talahib grasses block the view.

Relaxing at the midpoint after summitting

The midpoint is an open flat area with clearing which is  narrow ridge.  It connects to Peak 2.  But during our climb, Jasper told us that there is no trail going to Peak.  Thus, if we want to  scale Peak 3 and Peak 4, we have to go back to the jump-off point and walked towards another jump-off point which is for Peak 3 and 4.

Jump-off point for Peak 3 and 4

Walking to the jump-off point of Peak 3 and 4 coming from the jump-off point of Peak 1 is barely 25 meters.   One has to pass thru a couple of houses.  Locals there are very welcoming.

Heading to  the picturesque Peak 4

Peak 4 is the easiest to scale.  It offers the best view among the four peaks.  But at this point, Kenny village lowlands can't be seen.  It connects to Peak 3, which is higher in elevation.

The view as captured from Peak 4

Peak 4 has the lowest elevation and it captures the view of the other side and not overlooking the village compared to the three peaks that they can possibly capture the view of the whole Kenny Village.

My wife and son heading to Peak 3

Heading to the higher elevation of  Peak 3

Peak 3 can be connected to Peak 2.  However, local authorities is not opening a trail yet.   As I see it, Peak 2 is more dense in flora species.

By the way, there no jeepney transport plying direct to Kenny Village.  However, there is a jeepney with a route to Jovellar and passes thru the junction heading to Kenny Village.  From the junction, it takes approximately 1 kilometer to the jump off point of Matthew's Hills of Kenny Village.  Only tricycle transport is available directly plying to Kenny Village.  The jeepney terminal is just beside Oarde Bakery just opposite the tricycle terminal to Mauraro.

THANKS FOR READING!

THE IDYLLIC BEAUTY OF CAMIGUIN NORTE ISLAND

 Location:  Municipality of Calayan, Cagayan Province, Philippines

The stunning coastline of Naguilian today

Naguilian Beach in October 2003

You might be wondering where Camiguin Norte Island is.   Well, there are two Camiguin Islands in the Philippines.  One of which is the Camiguin Island in Mindanao or is known as Camiguin Sur or South Camiguin.  While, Camiguin Norte Island is a part of the northern Philippines specifically a part of the Babuyan Islands group.  It is also called as Camiguin de Babuyanes, being a part of the Babuyan group of Islands.  Babuyan islands has 5 principal islands, namely:  Babuyan (Babuyan Claro), Calayan, Camiguin Norte, Dalupiri and Fuga.

A souvenir picture in Pinon Islet  in Barangay Balatubat way back October 2003

I first visited Camiguin Norte in 2003 and I cannot forget my experience where I stayed there for more than a month as chronicled in my blog Camiguin de Babuyanes. I was based in Barangay Balatubat.  Camiguin Norte is consist of only three barangays, namely: Balatubat, Nauguilian and Minabel.  I visited all three barangays.  Naguilian is close to Balatubat, but Minabel is quite far, where I reached it by foot for 4 hours trek.  By that time, there was no road yet connecting to that barangay and no land transportation means in the whole island.  We  trekked along the coastline of endless and untouched beautiful beaches.  And best part of that trip was when I climbed Mount Camiguin de Babuyanes.

MOUNT LAKIPAN CLIMB: THE FIFTH OF MALIGCONG PENTACLIMB SERIES

 Location:  Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines
Jump-off Point:  Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Alternate Jump-off Point: Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Exit point: Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Backtrail)
Alternate exit point:  Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Hexaclimb Traverse)
Elevation: Approximately 1,655 MASL (5,430 feet)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day/ 2.5 hours (from Sitio Fang-orao via Mount Matuon)
Specs: Minor Climb, 3/9, Trail Class 1

Features:  From its jump-off point of Sitio Fang-orao, the trail is consist of rice terraces of Maligcong, passing thru the main Maligcong village at the middle of the rice terraces and struts along the Fib-iling rice terraces. From its foot from Sitio Fib-iling, it has few rice granary houses.  From its midpoint to the summit its trail has pine trees.  Its summit has no open view since it is in the middle of  densely-forested area.

While at the summit of Mount Lakipan

From Mount Matuon, I headed the trail heading to Mount Lakipan.   This completed my Maligcong Pentaclimb series.  The trail was not challenging.  Most of it are rolling and well-established ones. It looks like the trail has been frequently passed and used.

The first 10 minutes of trek to Mount Lakipan

Few sightings were burned leaves of the trees along the trail

According to my guide, local customs and village regulations explicitly ban the collection of wild plants, flowers, and animals from the mountains.  The sloping terrain of the Maligcong mountains are strictly conserved by local indigenous tradition.

Giant flora species along the trail

At this point of my trek, I haven't seen pine trees, but instead seen various species characterized by a cool high-altitude ecosystem rich in endemic Cordillera flora.

A quite relaxing trail halfway to the summit

My impression of the trail was not challenging at all compared to the trails of Mount Chumanegcheg and Mount Amfungotngor.   I haven't seen mossy forest nor thick mist along the trail.

A summit with no viewdeck

Reaching its summit at 1,655 MASL was not rewarding as there was no clearing nor viewdeck to enjoy the view of the lowlands.   According to my guide, the native and indigenous trees other than pine trees that grow in Maligcong forests are: Alukon, Paguringon, Bagalnga, Awihaw, Dao, Malibago, Kalumpang, Dapdap, Agoho and Ylang-ylang, but I failed to document them one by one.

A view deck while I descend to another route heading to Sitio Favarey

Descending from Mount Lakipan requires a sharp descent where we needed a rope to manage it down.  Thanks to my reliable guide, he was always ready to assist me to make my climb easier.

Descending this time to Maligcong Rice Terraces

At this point, I am not able yet to see Sitio Favarey.  I still have to go down to the rice terraces and trek much longer to get closer to Sitio Favarey.

The point of deception

This terraces is a part which blocked the view of Sitio Favarey.   From where I was seated, I need to trek again to the end of the terraces, so that I can descend to Sitio Favarey.  It is only the time where I can already see Sitio Favarey at a distance.

Still in high elevation but can already see Sitio Favarey at a distance

Documenting my exact distance from Sitio Favarey

Getting closer to Sitio Favarey

As I get closer to Sitio Favarey

You might think that the five pictures have just short distance.  But you are wrong, since the trails are in repeated pattern of ascending to descending.  Crossing a bridge in some deep ravine and and have steep ascent then descend to a sharp drop along the unending, winding and zigzag rice terraces trail.

Completing a steep ascent to Sitio Favarey

No! it was not easy to reach Sitio Favarey, for I descended deep to that bridge down there (at the bottom right).   Reaching the top was a zigzag trail.   The backdrop of the picture is the route I trekked down from Mount Lakipan.  You think it was just near.  It was not.

Setting foot in Sitio Favarey

Down the trees as shown in the picture are the houses of the villagers of Sitio Favarey.   I was supposed to capture pictures of the houses and villagers, but I was advised by my guide not to, to respect their privacy.

This was already a part of Sitio Fang-orao

At the foreground of the picture is view deck which belongs to Sitio Fang-orao.  This point is being flocked by tourists as the full view of Maligcong Rice Terraces can be captured.

From the concrete jump-off point of Fang-orao, we rode a motorcycle going to my accommodation at Chen's Homestay and arrived there at 10:15 AM.  Since there was no longer time, I just had a clean-up and check-out at 11:00 AM and took a jeepney to Bontoc town proper.   I took time for me to leave Sitio Favuyan as we have to wait that the jeepney is filled.  I had my lunch in Bontoc town and waited for my trip to Manila which departed Bontoc at 3:25 PM.

ACCOMMODATION,  MEAL RATES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEE

The accommodation at Chen's Homestay is P500 or US$8.11 per person for a day, while kids is charged at half or P250 or US$4.05 per person.  Meal per order is P250 or US$4.05.  However, the guests can cooked their food and they charge P500 or US$8.11 per day using all the cooking, dining wares and all cutlery items.  Coffee is free.  There is an environmental fee of P60 or US$0.97  per head.

GUIDING FEE 

The guide fee is charged per destination or mountain for P500 or US$8.11for a ratio of 1 guide to 5 persons.  So, a penta climb costs P2,500 or US$40.54, regardless if it was held only for one day or more.  David Rome Chumacog is a highly recommended guide who can be contacted at his mobile number at 09066243602.

HOW TO GO TO BONTOC AND CHEN'S HOMESTAY (PUBLIC TRANSPORT)

1. Take a Coda Bus Liner from Cubao (Quezon City of Metro Manila) to Bontoc of Mountain Province for a fare which varies from P900 or US$14.69 to P1,200 or US$19.59 one way with a travel duration of 10-11 hours.  The final destination of this bus is to Sagada, but you need to alight in Bontoc town proper.
2. From Bontoc Commercial Center, usually parked along Capital Road behind the public market or in front of Pines Kitchenette and Inn, take a jeepney to Maligcong where your drop-off point is Favuyan (the lower/main area near most homestays) for P50 or US$0.81.  The travel time is roughly 30 to 45 minutes along scenic, uphill road.   Jeepneys leave when full, with standard intervals typically scheduled around 8:00 AM, 12:00 NN, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM.

THANKS FOR READING!

MOUNT MATUON CLIMB: THE FOURTH OF MALIGCONG PENTACLIMB SERIES

Location:  Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines
Jump-off Point:  Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Alternate Jump-off Point: Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Exit point: Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Backtrail)
Alternate exit point:  Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Hexaclimb Traverse)
Elevation: Approximately 1,650 MASL (5,413 feet)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day/ 2 hours (from Sitio Fang-orao)
Specs: Minor Climb, 3/9, Trail Class 1

Features:  From its jump-off point of Sitio Fang-orao, the trail is consist of rice terraces of Maligcong, passing thru the main Maligcong village at the middle of the rice terraces and struts along the Fib-iling rice terraces. From its foot from Sitio Fib-iling, it has few rice granary houses.  From its midpoint to the summit its trail has pine trees.  It is overlooking the other side of Maligcong rice terraces between the windows of pine trees on its summit.

Reaching the summit of Mount Matuon

This is the second day of my Maligcong Pentaclimb series and the fourth mountain that I climbed.  Unable to traverse from Mount Amfungotngor the other day with a jump-off point from Sitio Favuyan, this climb had a jump-off point from Sitio Fang-orao.  The other two mountains I climbed yesterday were Mount Chumanegcheg and Mount Kupapey.

Trekking to Sitio Favarey through Maligcong Rice Terraces

David Rome, my guide and I, left Chen's Homestay accommodation at around 7:20 A.M. boarding a motorcycle up to Sitio Fang-orao, an uphill drive and where the road network ends and this serves as the jump-off point to Maligcong Rice Terraces.

Descending from Sitio Favarey and strutting these terraces

After passing Sitio Favarey, we descended again to trek over Maligcong Rice Terraces.  Sitio Faverey is notably smaller compared to Sitio Fang-orao.   Like Sitio Fang-orao, Sitio Favarey has a mix of traditional wooden structures and modern houses, though I can still see a couple of wooden houses with cogon grass as roofs.   The community stays quiet and rustic, acting as a home base for local farmers.  From the looks of it, I have seen that some families practice burying their dead right within the yards of immediate vicinity of their houses.

The ups and downs of rice terraces trail

The trail from Sitio Favarey to the jump-off point of Mount Matuon or it is also spelled it as Mount Matu-on, was not at all easy for it there was a combination of descent and ascent connected by bridges since there was irrigation channels in most of the rice terraces

Ascending trail of Mount Matuon

The trail at the start was well-established.  It was wide since according to my guide, farmers regularly use the trail for their farming needs.

The trail halfway to the summit

As we trek halfway to the summit, the trail became narrow and thickly grown with bushes and wild ferns that sometimes, we can no longer the trail for it was covered already.

The less dense pine trees approaching the shoulder of the mountain

From the shoulder of the mountain, the lowlands which is mostly the Sitio Favarey and Maligcong Rice Terraces can be viewed in great splendor, though it was unfortunate this day that mists were thick.

No established view deck at the summit

I have not seen any developed structures at the summit and in fact, there was no platform or view deck where the majestic lowlands can be viewed.   In some other mountains like those of Santa Cruz of Davao del Sur, mountains are being developed by the ethnic locals Bagobos into a tourism site installed with beautiful and colorful gardens, huts for refuge of the tired climbers and stores where basic necessities can be bought.  You may read the blog posts of my climbs there like in Bamboo Peak, Mount Loay and Mount Dinor.

The magnified scenery in between the branches of pine trees

Actually, Mount Matuon is just an easy climb, though what keeps it longer trek was the rice terraces from Sitio Fang-orao to Sitio Favarey and to its jump-off point.  However, from its jump-off point to the summit is barely an hour where in my relaxed pacing, it was only 48 minutes. Don't be confused since I mentioned two jump-off point, but the main jump-off point is from Sitio Fang-orao, then the second jump-off point is from the base of the mountain.

Last shot at the summit

David Rome and I had an ample time at the summit having a conversation about the review of what we did on the first day of our Maligcong Pentaclimb where we finished three mountains, but were not able to traverse to Mount Lakipan.  It should have been a save of time if we did it, but definitely it would take us until the evening to trek since we have to traverse from Mount Lakipan, Mount Matuon, then the rice terraces along Sitio Favarey and Sitio Fang-orao.

The trail heading to Mount Lakipan

You can read the next blog post of the continuation of my Maligcong Pentaclimb series, as I trekked to Mount Lakipan and exited down to Maligcong Rice Terraces back to the jump-off point of Sitio Fang-orao.  But it was not backtrail.  It was a different route.

ACCOMMODATION,  MEAL RATES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEE

The accommodation at Chen's Homestay is P500 or US$8.11 per person for a day, while kids is charged at half or P250 or US$4.05 per person.  Meal per order is P250 or US$4.05.  However, the guests can cooked their food and they charge P500 per day using all the cooking, dining wares and all cutlery items.  Coffee is free.  There is an environmental fee of P60 or US$0.97 per head.

GUIDING FEE 

The guide fee is charged per destination or mountain for P500 or US$8.11 for a ratio of 1 guide to 5 persons.  So, a penta climb costs P2,500 or US$40.54, regardless if it was held only for one day or more.  David Rome Chumacog is a highly recommended guide who can be contacted at his mobile number at 09066243602.

HOW TO GO TO BONTOC AND CHEN'S HOMESTAY (PUBLIC TRANSPORT)

1. Take a Coda Bus Liner from Cubao (Quezon City of Metro Manila) to Bontoc of Mountain Province for a fare which varies from P900 or US$14.69 to P1,200 or US$19.59 one way with a travel duration of 10-11 hours.  The final destination of this bus is to Sagada, but you need to alight in Bontoc town proper.
2. From Bontoc Commercial Center, usually parked along Capital Road behind the public market or in front of Pines Kitchenette and Inn, take a jeepney to Maligcong where your drop-off point is Favuyan (the lower/main area near most homestays) for P50 or US$0.81.  The travel time is roughly 30 to 45 minutes along scenic, uphill road.   Jeepneys leave when full, with standard intervals typically scheduled around 8:00 AM, 12:00 NN, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM.

THANKS FOR READING!

MOUNT AMFUNGOTNGOR CLIMB: THE THIRD OF MALIGCONG PENTACLIMB SERIES

Location:  Bontoc, Mountain Province, Philippines
Jump-off Point:  Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Alternate Jump-off Point: Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province
Exit point: Sitio Fang-orao, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Hexa climb traverse)
Alternate exit point:  Sitio Favuyan, Brgy. Maligcong, Bontoc, Mountain Province (Backtrail)
Elevation: Approximately 1,775 MASL (5,823 feet)
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day/ 3 hours (via Mounts Angtungfao, Kupapey & Chumanegcheg)
Specs: Major Climb, 4/9, Trail Class 1

Features:  It is the highest peak of all the mountains in Maligcong.  It passes 6 major assaults (2 before Mount Angtungfao, 1 before Mount Kupapey, one leading to Mount Chumanegcheg summit and 2 leading to its summit.  The trail offers magnificent pine forest and it has established trail till Mount Kupapey. The trail connecting from Mount Chumanegcheg is a long trek and the trail is no longer established.   It has a long and expansive summit grown with a mossy forest. From its Maligcong side are deep ravines.  It has highly varied flora species and usually with thicker mist even at high noon or early afternoon.  Trails has no rocks along it.

While at the mossy forest summit of Mount Amfungotngor

This climb was third in one day starting with Mount Kupapey and followed by Mount Chumanegcheg.  Compared to the two first mountains, this one has a dense forest and mostly a mossy forest.  This is a part of my Maligcong Pentaclimb.

The misty trail of Mount Amfungotngor

Mount Amfungotngor is the considered as the highest mountain in Maligcong mountains at 1,775 MASL or 5,823 feet above sea level.  Rooted deeply in local oral history, it is celebrated as the sacred ground where the sister from the legendary foundational couple of Maligcong originated.  According to the locals, the descendants of the ancestral figures Fangan and Fukhan descended from Mount Amfungotngor to establish the earlies local settlements.   Unlike the more commercialized, open-ridge beginner hikes nearby, the upper elevations of Mount Amfungotngor remain heavily forested and less-travelled by mainstream tourism.

Some of the trails are not established

Since this mountain is not really climbed by most of the climbers, some of its trails are not established yet.  In few cases, David would clear the trail through cutting thick bushes.

There are times that there is no trail at all

It took us longer to take on our trek here as David has to instruct me to wait at a certain point, so he can figure it out on which direction we were heading to.

Waiting at times for instruction of David to follow him and proceed

Most of the time, my half body was submerged in high grass and I was scared thinking that there were snakes to bite my legs.  Thus, I oftentimes brushed against the tall grass thinking it might scare away snakes if they are really there.

This vegetation made the trees looked bigger and thicker

Indeed, this mountain defines the truest sense of a forest.  I became more alert to look at the thick leaves and grasses that mostly cover the trail for my safety.  What I have seen here are like Epiphytic mosses which are soft, velvety mats clinging to the bark of trees and decaying logs.

Trekking through a steep ascent

After the thick bushes and high grasses, there was like a clearing leading to an steep ascent.  The air became crisp.  This time, my breath felt light, clean and cold in my nose and lungs.  I just felt fresh and sharp compared to the misty trail I had earlier.

Indeed a dense forest where sunlight is blocked to penetrate

This mountain is a closed-canopy one and visibly the area has old-growth jungle.  Their top branches touch each other, where they block almost all sunlight from reaching the ground.

A forest with endemic diverse highland flora, brush and shrubs

Wild ferns and mosses thriving under the shaded and humid forest

Heading towards the summit

My calm, cautious and slow movement behavior

As I navigated in this deep and mossy forest, I moved slowly to avoid slipping on damp ground or getting lost.  At times, I stopped and closely on what I see  to inspect their uniqueness endemic to this habitat.  I also keep my voice low to hear wildlife, and leave all plants, rocks, and creatures undisturbed to protect the fragile ecosystem I was in.

Privately prayerful and thankful of witnessing this splendid creation

While I was at the summit, I silently prayed to thank the Almighty Creator of the magnificent beauty that I witnessed.  I believed that not all has the opportunity to enjoy and witness this marvelous experience.

Trying to search for a traversing to Mount Lakipan

According to my guide, we need to look for a possible trail to traverse to Mount Lakipan.  From there, there is a trail which will connect to Mount Matuon exiting to Sitio Favarey and finally to Sitio Fang-orao, the jump-off point at the other end.   As you know, Sitio Fang-oral can be an alternative jump-off point.  My jump-off point for this climb was Sitio Favuyan.

Giant ferns along the trail

We already trekked for another 30 minutes but all we've got were deep ravines and trees housing beehives.  Thus, we need to go back to where we started before we entered the deep and extremely dense forest.

Still another try to search for another trail but to no avail

Our third attempt was even worst as we cannot even see the forest ground.   The thickly covered forest ground had holes whose testing done by my guide, gave him an idea that indeed those holes were deep and with wide radius.

We were convinced that it was a dead-end trail

According to my guide, there was a local team who traversed from Mount Amfungotngor  to Mount Lakipan and they were successful then.  But, he really was not able to figure out how to do it and so, despite being disappointed, we did a back trail.  Besides, according to him, after that team expedition, no climb yet has been organized passing thru this traversed route.

Back to Mount Amfungotngor for backtrail

With almost a drained mobile phone battery and a dead spot network area, we both decided not to search anymore for another trail for traversing to the other end.  The area was already showing too much hostility darkened by thick forest and I was more concerned of our safety.  Thus, we trekked back to Mount Amfunghotngor, then to Mount Chumanegcheg, then to the junction point for Mount Kupapey and down to Sitio Favuyan jump-off point.   It was already 2:10 P.M. when we reached my accommodation and rested well overnight as the following day will be a continuation of my Maligcong Penta Climb Series.  Read the fourth mountain of the climbing series of Mount Matuon Climb.

ACCOMMODATION,  MEAL RATES AND ENVIRONMENTAL FEE

The accommodation at Chen's Homestay is P500 or US$8.11 per person for a day, while kids is charged at half or P250 or US$4.05 per person.  Meal per order is P250 or US$4.05.  However, the guests can cooked their food and they charge P500 or US$8.11 per day using all the cooking, dining wares and all cutlery items.  Coffee is free.  There is an environmental fee of P60 or US$0.97 per head.

GUIDING FEE 

The guide fee is charged per destination or mountain for P500 or US$8.11 for a ratio of 1 guide to 5 persons.  So, a penta climb costs P2,500 or US$40.54, regardless if it was held only for one day or more.  David Rome Chumacog is a highly recommended guide who can be contacted at his mobile number at 09066243602.

HOW TO GO TO BONTOC AND CHEN'S HOMESTAY (PUBLIC TRANSPORT)

1. Take a Coda Bus Liner from Cubao (Quezon City of Metro Manila) to Bontoc of Mountain Province for a fare which varies from P900 or US$14.69 to P1,200 or US$19.59 one way with a travel duration of 10-11 hours.  The final destination of this bus is to Sagada, but you need to alight in Bontoc town proper.
2. From Bontoc Commercial Center, usually parked along Capital Road behind the public market or in front of Pines Kitchenette and Inn, take a jeepney to Maligcong where your drop-off point is Favuyan (the lower/main area near most homestays) for P50 or US$0.81.  The travel time is roughly 30 to 45 minutes along scenic, uphill road.   Jeepneys leave when full, with standard intervals typically scheduled around 8:00 AM, 12:00 NN, 2:30 PM, and 4:30 PM.

THANKS FOR READING!