Life Exists at the Top of the Mountain

While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.
-Dorothea Lance

Hello dear Hivers!🤗How are you today?

In my previous blog, I shared about our memorable hiking adventure to Sto. Niño Shrine at Tindog-Bato Peak and I mentioned that on our way to the peak, I and the hubby passed by a village that exists at the top of the mountain.

And what amazes me is how they are able to manage a life at the top of the mountain which is far from civilization,- the market, water system, electricity, etc.

After about 30 minutes of hiking from the provincial road - the starting point, we reached Purok Bayabas barangay Manlagtang and we discovered the place is not at all behind from the advancement of time!

_{This young man tries to climb up to the topmost portion of the village on his motorbike carrying a sack of cement. This should be for the half-concrete house constructed as shown in the next photo.}
Mobile data connection should be strong in this area because of a popular network satellite tower standing at the adjacent mountain.

_{The photo on the left shows a house in the village where an old man we overheard talking on the phone video calling someone. The photo on the right shows that a motorcycle can climb as far as this village's location.}

Life at the Top of the Mountain

A cable connection also reaches here as shown by this satellite dish installed on the roof of this house. When I saw this, I looked around and saw at the top of another hill an electric post that sources out electricity in this small village.

As we ascended to this flat space towards the center of the village, these two cute kids suddenly appeared and were running towards another house. I assumed they came from another house behind the bushes.

This uppermost portion is where a small basketball court stands with about three houses on sight and a chapel. I assume the village also celebrates its own fiesta or feast with its patron saint Sta. Cruz. (The priest who presides the mass here should be ready to take the hiking challenge of climbing up to this secluded village).

Barangay Manlagtang is popular in Tabogon for basket weaving and as I looked around, I caught a glimpse of two locals from two separate households weaving baskets, too. This is really their cup of tea I guess.

As you can see, they also raise pigs here, which added my amazement to these villagers because I know water is necessary when starting a hog-raising business. But when we climbed farther up, I discovered they devise their own water source to sustain their need for water.

Most of the houses here I assumed use this water catchment tank to catch rainwater during rainy days. This tank should store enough water they need to be able to live in this place. I wonder if this water storage can store enough to use during long hot summer days.

Living A Life of Abundance

Corn Farming

With the kind of land and soil we have in Tabogon, hardworking farmers grow corn productively in this village.

The farming lot below this village must be fertile to grow these very healthy-looking corn plants.

The Mango Tree

This mango tree looks lovely with many fruits hanging on its branches. When this tree bears more fruits, it will not only provide food for the owner of this tree but also can give his family a source of income.

A Bunch of Large Banana Fruits

Another source of their food here is the banana plant. And these banana plants produce a bunch of large fruits that will surely satisfy their owner.

The Delicious-Looking Papaya

These papaya fruits look yummy in their position that made this a wonderful sight!

Growing Dragon Fruit

I, myself, love dragon fruit and it seems the locals in this village know how these fruits can be costly in the market by growing this in their own yard.

As we took a quick stop to breathe the free oxygen that we enjoy making our way to this part of the mountain, I realized there's always peace and tranquility in being close to nature.

Witnessing this simple life of the locals living in this village, I realized that, indeed "it is not how much we have but how much we enjoy that makes happiness" (Charles Spurgeon). The happiest people do not have the best of everything but those who make the best of what they have.

And this is all for today's blog dear Hive friends. Thank you for reaching this far. See you again in my next blogs. Until then....