Ramon Home Stay and Restaurant

             Ramon Home Stay and Restaurant is one of the best accommodation that you will find in Batad, Ifugao.  I chose to stay here not only because it was highly recommended by a friend but I want to experience how it feels like to live in a typical 'bahay-kubo'.  The 'kubo' is made of nipa-hut, so, even at noon you will not feel the heat of the sun.  It is very cozy and comfortable.  It fits four to eight persons.  It has its own 'kalan', 'palayok' and 'sandok' (cooking utensils/materials) for guest who wanted to cook their own food in a primitive way.  Woods are also provided for free by the owner.  The place may look like a small house but it is wide inside, has a small window that we used to have a glimpse of Batad rice terraces in the morning (with the fog and dew all over it) and at night (when all we see are silhouette of the trees and eventually, darkness).

            There is no electricity in the house but you may ask the owner to charge your cellphone and camera's battery and even your laptop in the restaurant.  Inside the nipa-hut, you will be provided with big and several candles to last for the night.  Smooth and sweet-smelling comforters/blankets, huge pillows and bed to sleep well.

          The 'kubo' is very impressive, I must say. A typical Cordillera house.  It was built without using a single nail, not even a rope.  Can you believe that? The locals simply put it together and balance it to form an authentic, beautiful and unbelievably sturdy hut.

            The food they serve are one of the best in the area.  They offer Filipino meal with a twist ( cook in Ifugao way).  One of the best order I had was their Batad pizza (cheese, tuna, squash with a lot of ketchup and tomato sauce). 

           The owner, manong Ramon, who personally run the home stay is very accommodating and helpful.  We have discussed how the rice terraces are maintained and how the locals manage to survive despite living in a remote area.  We had a nice and very interesting conversation over coffee about everything Batad can offer.