SUDIPEN, LA UNION: Bonding with a sea of clouds, local heritage
A view from the palm of a hand.
Text and photos by Hanna C. Lacsamana
SUDIPEN, La Union – For those looking for a quiet place surrounded with nature and rich in cultural heritage, La Union’s northernmost town is a perfect place to explore and fall in love with.
Alec’s Summit has instagrammable gardens.
One of the nine towns of the province’s first district, the municipality of Sudipen is an emerging tourist destination that is a must-see for its local heritage, traditional crafts, and scenic rural landscapes.
Achilles’ Hill is where the giant hand statue is located.
From February 19 to 20, professional journalists, vloggers, and content creators had the chance to experience the beauty of Sudipen as it served as the first stop of the two-day Media Agkaysa Ronda, a promotions’ program of the Provincial Government of La Union’s Media Affairs Office that showcased the province’s best practices, emerging attractions, and new points of interest.
Sudipen horizon at sunrise between fingers is amazing.
And it didn’t disappoint. Greeting tourists and visitors are the breathtaking sea of clouds at sunrise amid a backdrop of lush mountains viewed from Top Allan Nature and Adventure Park in Barangay Up-uplas.
Sudipen morning glory is outstanding.
Top Allan, named after the late Sudipen Mayor Alexander “Alan” O. Boquing, is an expansive landscape with multiple gardens that are perfect as a camping ground and view deck. It boasts of breathtaking panoramic views, cool Baguio-like mountain breeze, a perfect spot for sunrises, and a stunning sea of clouds that can be seen early mornings.
Tinungbo and rice cakes are Sudipen specialties.
In case you have missed it, Top Allan is popular among local travelers and photo hobbyists for sunrise watching, quiet nature views, and mountain landscapes.
The perfect spot for viewing sunrise is at Top Allan’s “Achilles’ Hill”, which has a hand statue that seems to hold viewers literally “in the palm of a hand”.
Giant Hand is the attraction at Top Allan’s.
On the other side is “Alec’s Summit” which offers a full view of the sea and coastal and green lands. There is also “AJ’s Haven” that has a welcome arc with the message “Where the Mountain Meets the Sky”; and a Top Allan center view deck surrounded by lush greens and colorful flowers.
The place has a coffee shop and rest area which offer visitors wanting to stay overnight some refreshments, local delicacies like tinungbo (sticky rice cooked in bamboo nodes), and camping materials for minimal rental fees.
Municipal Tourism Officer Rona Paticaoen says Top Allan is a private park opened to the public in May 2020. Those interested to visit the place are asked to pay P30 environmental fee for its upkeep. The local government unit is ready to assist those without vehicles in going to the area and provide other tour information as its counterpart in its promotion to the public.
Cottages are available for rent. Prices depend on size, ranging from P150 to P350 while tents for camping are rented for P450 good for five to 10 persons for an overnight stay.
The town of Sudipen is also proud of its native basket weaving, which is its One Town, One Product craft. Paticaoen said weavers of Barangays Duplas, Bulalaan, and Turod are known for its unique woven products made of bamboo.
The products of Duplas and Bulalaan weavers are carefully crafted pasiking, pouches, wallets, and sling bags while Turod weavers are behind the creatively woven baskets, trays, and bayong, all of which incorporate abel designs.
During its annual town fiesta, Sudipen holds the Kawayan Festival with traditional events and cultural showcases including a float parade featuring the products of its 17 barangays with bamboo as its main highlight along with local delicacies.
Paticaoen said the municipal government under Mayor Wendy Joy Dengayan continues to plan other activities to boost their tourism industry as they invite the public to come and discover what Sudipen has to offer as one of Elyu’s District 1 towns that is worthy of being part of every tourist’s bucket list of places to visit.
