By Kevin Ryan A. Ong (Intern, De La Salle University)
KYLE “Kulas” Jennermann has been traveling around the Philippines for quite some time already.
Currently based in Cagayan de Oro City, the Canadian has a firm, genuine belief that he could introduce the country to the rest of the world in a positive light.
As a resident for five-and-a-half years, immersed well into the “Pinoy” way of life and already fluent speaking in Filipino, Jennermann now considers himself a local.
The one-time visitor would go to places, such as Ifugao, particularly in its world-famous rice terraces, in awe of its beauty, tourist attractions and works of art.
In 2016, he was able to visit and explore the Cordilleras. For four days, he enjoyed staying in that part of the country to see up close what it is like.
Prior to his sojourn in the Cordilleras, he had been to almost all Philippine provinces already (unlike most Filipinos!), with only the Bicol region left for him to discover.
Jennermann shared his profound experience up in the highlands with the BusinessMirror in this exclusive interview:
ENVOYS&EXPATS: Tell us about your climb to the Cordilleras. We learned that you traversed it just on a scooter.
JENNERMANN: I had driven a scooter around 70 provinces (of the archipelago) in the past five years. I had it shipped to Manila, then took it around the country and in every kind of environment imaginable in the Philippines. It was pretty amazing, because it was quite an unconventional style of going around.
I started from Manila and went to Baguio, where I stayed for the night. Thereafter, I took off and ended up going through every single province in the Cordilleras: in Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao and Abra.
In the Cordilleras, the ride was actually very comfortable because the temperature is a lot cooler there.
Everywhere I went, there were these incredible mountain roads, gardens of valleys and amazing sunrises. Environmentally, you could never be bored, as you can simply stare at the scenery as you drive.
When I went around, I did not announce on social media where I was going, unlike how I would usually do it in my previous trips in advance. I just really traveled around, going here and there, following Google Maps. I was just some random white dude on a scooter!
I bumped into a lot of local people who did not know me from the Internet. It was really pleasant to see the diversity in the mountains, just as you travel from province to province.
I would have probably spent four or five days in each province. It was crazy. You can dedicate a whole month of your life for local exploration, but it would just barely scratch the surface.
Speaking of the people whom you met in your travels, how would you describe your interactions with them?
When it came to the people, I was blown away. In the mountains, I tried to speak in Tagalog, because I figured I was in Luzon.
Surprisingly, people in the highlands actually preferred that I speak in English, if not in their local language, rather than in Tagalog, which I found quite unique. I had a lot of fun trying to pick up the local languages, like in Kalinga or in Apayao, where they speak in Isnag.
One thing that shocked me was that, everywhere I went, I would always be offered with coffee. This is very much a “mountain thing,” and that coffee would actually lead me to some very deep and emotional conversations.
I found out that several people in the mountains would actually open up to me about their feeling of discrimination by people in the lowlands. They felt that people there thought they were uncivilized. But actually, the locals were undoubtedly so friendly. It was interesting listening to them. Thus, it came as a shock that so many Filipinos would just say they felt discriminated.
The experience was also inspiring. The residents spoke about how they should not be discriminated against. They are a bit saddened of the view that mountain people are not friendly, yet they continued to open up their homes, while they continued to offer me coffee.
What have you discovered about the diversity in the area?
I was very impressed, especially when I visited Apayao. I went to the capital where they have these two incredible underground rivers with massive caves, remarkably clean water, and some incredible rock formations just within the same municipality.
The locals cooked trout in bamboo with no seasoning, but it tasted like some master chef prepared it.
These were all in the same municipality. It is amazing what the mountains have to offer. These reminded me of how the Philippines is not just coconut trees and volcanoes, but there’s this whole new side to it.
At one point, I ended up in a random village in Kalinga, way-off in the mountains. A man invited me into his home with open arms. When I left his home, he sent local kids from the village to follow me everywhere I went, to ensure I would not get lost until I safely returned.
It was really amazing how the people in the mountains and in these provinces in the Cordilleras were very open to having conversations, and in helping me with my way around.
Any realizations with your journeys around the Cordilleras?
The mountains have taught me to appreciate its “other side:” the livelihood of the locals. The people there work all-day long, and all-year round, just to maintain their region’s attractions.
When I was in Bontoc, someone fell from one of the rice terraces while he was working, and had to be stretchered out. It gave me a big reminder that people there have tough lives and work really hard for us to appreciate the beauty that they have created.
A few things that struck me were the many beautiful experiences; but, at the same time, I was able to witness the people’s very difficult lives. The fact that these areas make up the locals’ very homes and lives, we always have to respect them.
My message to my fellow voyagers, and even for Filipinos who have yet to explore their country: Always travel with an open mind, and respect the locals. As long as travelers have that mindset, they will have many enlightening experiences—whether as expats or simply as visitors of this country.
I hope that the posts that I share online would lead to a “transformation of sorts,” not only in the lives of the locals in the uplands, but also to a positive shift on the way the entire world views them.
I spent a long time up there in the Cordilleras, yet feel I barely hit a small percentage of what one could possibly experience.
The Philippines is like a hundred countries in one. You can spend your whole life exploring around, but hardly understand it, as there are tons of new experiences that await every day.
Follow Jennermann through his social-media accounts—Facebook: Kyle Jennermann, Twitter: @KyleJennermann, Instagram and YouTube: Becoming Filipino.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano
1 comment
I would say, Kulas is welcomed in the Cordilleras. He did not conquer it. As he said, he was welcomed with open arms.
I have followed Kulas’ posts and I admire his listening and respectful spirit. May all visitors to our place truly listen.