MANILA, Philippines - The road is long and winding, at times rough, but the reward for going the distance is priceless: Sagada.

If you are in Banaue, you definitely should head farther toward this mountain-top town, about seven hours away by bus. Otherwise, you?d be passing up a chance to discover mystical souvenirs from the past.

That?s what my companions and I did when work recently took us to Banaue. Four local schools were formally taken into the Smart Schools Program, which promotes ICT in education by providing Internet access, online content and training to deserving public schools nationwide.

Our business done, we continued on to Sagada. A wise decision, it turned out to be.

Sagada, like most other towns in the Mountain Province, is laid back. Tranquil. Quiet. To city dwellers, tired of the daily hustle and bustle, it?s a whiff of refreshing air. And literally, too, because Sagada is swathed in a cool breeze, which can turn chilly, as though you?ve stepped into a giant freezer.

The serenity of the place, which probably comes from the peaceful coexistence between man and nature, is perfect for those who want to meditate and for writers and composers in search of the best story plot and the right lyrics.

Those who go to Sagada for a taste of adventure will not be disappointed either.

Among Sagada?s most famous attractions are burial areas, such as Echo Valley, a popular hiking site. The hanging coffins, in particular, are visual spectacles like no other. They?re seen on limestone cliffs in clusters, some orderly piled, others seemingly randomly stacked, precariously perched on a wedge. One is said to be more than a century old.

How could the coffins stand the test of time and the wrath of nature? How were people able to put them there?places that seem impossible to reach? Have people fallen to their death while burying their dead?

Questions that may never be answered make the hanging coffins all the more fascinating and at the same time mystifying.
Viewing the hanging coffins at sundown, when pine trees dotting the cliffs cast shadows on the suspended relics, only adds to the mystery of the past.

Other must-see spots are the Sumaging Cave, also called the ?Big Cave,? in southern Sagada. Found inside are fascinating chambers and interesting rock formations. At one point, you will have to maneuver your way through ?The Tunnel,? a series of tiny passages that require crawling to pass through.

Also recommended are Bokong Waterfalls and Bomod-ok Falls. You can take a dip in the waters of Bokong, about a half-hour outside the town. Bomod-ok, located in the northern barangay of Bangaan, can be reached via a four-hour hike from town. Adventurous tourists hike all the way to the top of the waterfalls. It takes about an hour.

Bomod-ok is surrounded by rice terraces, which can also be seen on the way to Bokong. Sagada?s rice terraces are smaller than those in Banaue and were formed with small rocks instead of compacted earth.

If you want to plan your trip, there?s a lot of online information you can access. Activities usually recommended are trekking, spelunking, rappelling, nature hikes, visits to historical sites, bonfires, picnics and watching tribal celebrations.

Even if you don?t plan ahead, you can now chart your course right in Sagada. There are now Internet shops where you can get connected via Smart Bro, the high-speed broadband Internet service that uses Smart?s nationwide network to connect a computer to the World Wide Web wirelessly, that is, even where there is no phone line.

Smart Bro now also offers the country?s first and only prepaid mobile broadband Internet service, which lets you surf the Internet anywhere there?s a PC or a laptop.

If you have a 3G-capable Smart handset, you can use its built-in Internet browser, or use it as a modem to connect a PC or laptop to the Internet.

For travelers who prefer to keep in touch with home and office, it?s a comfort to know that connectivity has no bounds.

That?s part of what Smart?s Orlando B. Vea calls ?Internet for All.? But more than just connectivity, the telecommunication company?s Chief

Wireless

Advisor says it?s about affordable and reliable services. ?Just as we democratized the mobile phone, Smart hopes to bring Internet connectivity all over the archipelago and down to the grassroots.?

And that includes such exotic getaway places as Sagada, Pagudpud, Boracay, Davao, Bantayan island, Palawan and many more.