The Colorful Walls of Tam-Awan Village

Hello, everyone! This week's ASEAN Hive Challenge, "Graffiti & Street Art", is really calling me to make an entry. After digging into my external hard drive for an hour, I found the photos.

Last January 2018, my friend and I went on a budget travel in Baguio City. This city is on a mountain and people go here primarily for its cool weather, rich culture, pine trees, local foods and strawberries. The Benguet province where Baguio City is at has a very rich culture and history. Tribes do their best to keep their culture alive despite the fast modernization of the world by also expressing it through arts and wood crafts. And one of the reasons why they are thriving 'till this day is through the support of the locals and tourists. Museums, weekend art activities, and cultural villages were built in Baguio for everyone to easily have an insight of the lives of the tribes in the province. One of these is the Tam-Awan Village.

Tam-Awan Village is located in Baguio City, a few minutes from the city proper. The village showcases Igorot tribe houses, bon fire area, wood carvings, paintings by local artists, cafe which serves local foods, and a cultural dance by the Igorot tribe. I would love to return here if given the chance. This is where I also got to try the Benguet coffee for the first time. It's bitter even when I have poured creamer. Maybe coffee lovers would enjoy this drink.

I love the serene and artistic vibe of Tam-Awan Village and I believe the graffiti on its walls outside was also among the reasons. Anyone passing by this road will surely turn their heads to see the odd drawings on these walls.

We took these photos late afternoon after visiting the village. I wonder what the inspiration was for those minion and alien-looking creatures. I find it cute though.

There's even a frog painting beside the entrance. The murals already looked faded and six years has already passed. I wonder if the murals are still there or have been replaced.

Murals, graffiti, street art (as long as it's legal) always amazes me. Not only with the artwork itself but with the process of how the artist have painted it. It takes a lot of effort to draw on a huge canvas. The artist also has to consider the weather and safety to avoid accidents.

Kudos to all artists and the locals for keeping the creative side of the culture of Benguet province. Mabuhay! :)

Thanks for reading! 💚