Luli spends four days in Ifugao incognito

BAGUIO CITY – Presidential daughter Luli Arroyo spent four days in Ifugao, without the trappings of presidential privilege.

Luli was just with three friends, four presidential guards, and Joan Sheelah Nalliw, president of Pochon Youth Group in Ifugao, said Jeremy Gamongwa of the Office of Gov. Teodoro Baguilat Jr.

They were in Mayoyao town from Sept. 25-28.

“I was surprised to receive a text message from Madam Luli and was requested to transact with her through e-mail,” Nalliw said. “I could hardly believe at first but as we went on with our transaction, I was eventually convinced that I was dealing with the president’s daughter.”

Luli reportedly searched for Mayoyao in the Internet and came across Nalliw’s name and contact number.

The presidential daughter then met with her in Santiago, Isabela on Sept. 25 and she accompanied them to Mayoyao.

Nalliw said Luli requested that her stay in Mayoyao be kept confidential so she could focus on her adventure.

Two Ifugao tour guides trained by the Department of Tourism led the visitors on their trek.

Luli checked in at Milcah Lodge. Later, she visited Mayoyao’s Marian and Eucharistic Center and spent some time with SVD priest Romeo Benitez, rector of Our Lady of Assumption Mission Station.

Luli trekked up to the historic Mount Nagchajan, site of the last battle between the Japanese and Filipino and American soldiers during World War II.

She also went inside the Mapfu-ag tunnel which supplies water to the rice terraces, and to the Akakoy Park.

Luli then traversed the rice terraces starting from Chaya, its topmost portion, down to Bongan, Mayoyao proper, and Balangbang, Nalliw said.

Robert Bongayon, a former history teacher who briefed Luli on the places they visited, said her lolo, former President Diosdado Macapagal, was the first Philippine president to visit Mayoyao.

The presidential daughter ate kamote (sweet potatoes), pikaw/yu-yu (loach) and gabi stalks together with the natives.