Marlboro Hills in Sagada, Mountain Province

Marlboro country is not really a country and yet it has claimed a few places in the Cordillera, one in Sagada and one in Mount Pulag. But apparently, it’s not a part of Sagada but rather a part of Bontoc.

By 4:00 am, we were on our way wearing thick jackets and holding needed flashlights. The cold morning breeze together with the already-cold temperature threatened to stop me on my tracks.

The sunrise in Marlboro Hills, Sagada is an experience first-timers in this chilly, pine-filled town in Mt. Province will love – it usually comes with the view of the iconic sea of clouds! While Kiltepan Viewpoint is the one in Sagada immediately associated with the sea-of-clouds view, the site has closed temporarily, especially after its popularity soared after the movie “That Thing Called Tadhana” and tourists flooded the site.

Marlboro Hills’ own misty sunrise is an alternative offered by Sagada’s guides to visitors. With rice terraces below and a lush mountain backdrop, the view can be breathtaking. Locally known as kaman baneng, its meaning generally translates to “like a ridge,” or “like a rice paddy.”