The Philippine highway system is a network of national roads maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with a grand total distance of 33,018.25 kilometers (20,516.59 mi).
The north–south backbone refers to the main trunkline, the Pan-Philippine Highway (designated as Asian Highway 26), which runs from Laoag in the northernmost parts of Luzon to Zamboanga City in western Mindanao, interconnecting the country's major islands with a total distance of 3,549km.
The Highest Points.
If you ever wonder about the road with the highest elevation in the entire Philippines (or simply called the “highest point”), that road was previously located in the infamous curves and bends of Halsema Highway, in Atok, Benguet with an elevation of 2,255 meters ASL, and 52km away from Baguio City.
In January 2019 however, DPWH declared a road 45.5km away traversing a mountain connecting Buguias and Kaingan roads in Tinoc, Ifugao as the new highest elevation point in the country. A road link that is crucial for the trade of goods between Ifugao and Benguet to flourish, the Kaingan~Tinoc~Buguias Road (the new highest point) is surprisingly 173.66 meters higher with an elevation of 2,428.66 meters ASL.
Riders from the north of Luzon are very fortunate to have easy access to these very exciting stiff curves, enormous bends, and roads on very high elevations like you are almost gone into the level of the clouds when riding there.
The Plan.
We aim to ride and visit both the 2nd highest point in Atok, Benguet, and the new highest point in Tinoc, Ifugao - entering via Halsema Highway in Benguet and exiting via Aritao in Nueva Vizcaya, passing Mt. Pulag unpredictable roads in Bokod.
Riding a motorcycle in mountainous areas has always been very exciting and fun most specially to people living in the urban areas like us. This loop will allow us to pass the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija and back to Pampanga (from where we begin) which will complete the loop.
The Start.
Starting from the city that never sleeps, Angeles City, we are to link up with sir Jong and his wife Jeanette early in the morning at Capas, Tarlac.
It was very cold in that early morning, and we have to reach Capas, Tarlac by 4:30am since Sir Jong is known for being on time.
By the time we reach Capas, Tarlac junction, Sir Jong and Ma'am Jeanette were already waiting for us - so we immediately took off to get more distance as early as possible.
It was a calm and windy day from Angeles City and going to La Union.
Shell McArthur HW, Rosario, La Union.
This gas station has always been our comfort place for stop-overs before continuing our journey either going up north, or going down back to Angeles City.
You can certainly take the clean comfort rooms, hydrate a bit, and refill gas before riding or driving again up north.
It was a very calm weather when passing the Subusub-TPLEX Rotonda in Rosario, La Union.
The Pogo-Rosario Road leading to Marcos Highway was also very nice to ride that day.
So we easily reach the Marcos Highway Tunnel in Tuba, Benguet. It's not actually a tunnel but sort of putting concrete ceiling to finally protect passing vehicles from frequent falling rocks from the side of the very high cliff.
We arrived Baguio City earlier than expected and the steak house that we were about to eat was not yet open.
Mines View Park, Baguio City.
We visited first the amazing Mines View Park that's a place to go to when in Baguio City.
It was so nice to visit there again and again.
Aside from taking landscape photos and selfies, there were trained horses and dogs there for taking crazy photos with you.
The view before has now been noticeably changed - there were now houses seen from afar, and for me it's not nice in preserving the view versus those arrogant people who built their house there, in my opinion.
It's only the cold mountain wind that blows and makes people there very excited - the moment the cold air stops blowing, it's no longer amazing there unlike before. So go there in the early morning.
There were also lots of foods there to enjoy.
Like these fresh ripe mangoes that's ready to eat and comes with sweet tasting anchovies.
This crispy fried one-day old chicks is what makes me excited in going to Mines View Park, realtalk..!
After an hour of fun and happy moments in the Mine's View Park, we ride back to the steak house in Leonard Wood that's one of the exciting part in our plan when passing Baguio City.
Sizzling Plate Leonard Wood, Baguio City.
One of the cozy places to eat in Baguio City is in Leonard Wood’s Sizzling Plate.
Not only that the best steak cuts are served there, but the place is very cozy to enjoy the meal.
Porterhouse steaks are cut from the rear end of the short loin and thus include more tenderloin steak, along with a large strip steak and served best in medium rare.
The Sirloin is home to popular fabricated cuts but is first separated into the top sirloin butt and bottom sirloin butt - in the top sirloin, I find it the best tasting steaks best served in medium rare.
The T-bone steaks are cut closer to the front and contains a smaller section of tenderloin and is best served well done.
Leonard Wood's Sizzling Plate is known to serve steaks in best cuts, and during good weather, me and my wife often ride to Baguio City (straight from Angeles City) just to have fun and eat lunch there, then enjoy more riding down the mountains via the Naguilian Road all the way to San Juan Surf Beach, in La Union province.
The Thrilling Halsema Highway.
The Baguio-La Trinidad-Bontoc Road (which is the Halsema Highway) starts from Baguio City and ends in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Our original plan was to rest in Sunrise Cabin Travelers Inn before proceeding to the 2nd highest point, but we arrived in Atok ahead the schedule - so, we directly went to the Atok highest point that’s only 1km farther away from Sunrise Cabin Travelers Inn.
2nd Highest Point of the Philippine HW System, Atok, Benguet.
For decades, most have known that the highest point of the Philippine Highway System is located along the Halsema Highway, specifically in Cattubo, Atok in the province of Benguet, with an elevation of 2,255 meters above sea level.
Arriving safely in the 2nd highest point, we were so delighted after enjoying the almost 2hrs of zigzag roads in the Halsema highway.
It's easy to ride and enjoy the zigzag roads when the road is dry under the clear sky - at night and when it's raining, the ride becomes so different and dangerous in the Halsema highway.
I had been there too many times - so I somehow knew what to expect, depending on the weather.
The old and original view deck was still the same, just as when it was still the highest point of the Philippine highway system.
There were shops there to buy snacks, beverages, shirts, and stickers which are good to bring down with you after conquering it.
Only confident riders are encouraged to ride the Halsema highway because trucks carrying vegetables are having fun there and might surprise you big time in tight turns coming from the opposite direction.
Sunrise Cabin Travelers Inn, Atok, Benguet.
Located on the high cliff on the opposite side of the Northern Blossom Flower Farm, Sunrise Cabin Travelers Inn is perhaps the best value for money place to stay in Atok.
Not only that it gives you best view on the horizon in the balcony, the temperature during the night also makes you feel that you are up on the mountain, and not in your comfort zone.
I was very tired on that 1st day of rides - so I rested earlier than expected after a quick and freezing shower.
A Beautiful Morning in Atok, Benguet.
I have been in Sunrise Cabin Travelers Inn many times (calling it Jonas Cabin sometimes), and the best time there has always been in the early morning hours seeing the clouds and mountains in the horizon.
Life is so fresh, easy, and calm when you are at that kind of place, away from human noise, pollution, and fast-pacing life in the city.
We were up and ready to go in that early morning - and we had to be of high spirit in order to safely reach the new highest point in Tinoc.
The best and most thrilling part in Jonas Cabin location is the descent when you are leaving. It's a bit terrifying, unbelievable, and crazy feeling.
Amgaleyguey View Deck, Buguias, Benguet.
A wider view of the mountain ranges in Buguias, the Amgaleyguey View Deck is one of the best place to stop, take photos, hydrate, rest, and enjoy the cool breeze of the mountain winds.
What better view than this, and without any human buildings cluttering the beautiful landscape.
This place is still pristine and way more grandeur than the Mines View Deck in Baguio City.
This awesome view is 20km away from the 2nd highest point in Atok, and 72km away from Baguio City, which is about 3hrs of rides in the most zigzag roads of Halsema highway.
But it worth all the risk upon arriving here and enjoying the magnificent view of nature in its pristine condition.
Mankayan, Buguias, Benguet.
This is the turning point in Abatan, Benguet on whether you are going to Cervantes (turn tight left), going to Bontoc (straight ahead), or going to Tinoc (turn right).
This is one of a few densely populated places in the Cordillera region.
Make no mistake in carefully choosing the right direction to turn to, since the cost of going back is not a joke in the Cordilleras.
Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road.
While in Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan Road, you will have to (again) carefully watch out for this splitting road because if you miss this point and go straight ahead, you will be Bokod which leads to Baguio City or Aritao via Mt. Pulag in Mankayan, and not in Tinoc.
You have to take the left road going up to Catlubong which is the Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road that brings you to the new highest point in Tinoc.
The New Highest Point in the Philippine HW System, Tinoc, Ifugao.
If your navigator tells you that you are under 1km away from the new highest point, you will see the clouds within your level, and the roads become surprisingly stiff unlike no other roads that came along.
Confirmed by the DPWH to be at height of 2,428.66 meters above sea level, New Highest Point in Tinoc, Ifugao is a joy to ride and reach - and there is nothing like it.
The weather was surprisingly perfect up there when we reach it by past 9am - and we have plenty of time to spare.
So, we were able to take many photos and videos on the highest point in the Philippine highway system.
And spend more time than we had before during our 1st visit there on heavy rains.
I really do encourage confident motorcycle riders to have it visit at least once in their lives.
The feeling is almost the same as having been visited the last living legend in Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga.
The 1st time we were here, I was wearing my AGV Orbyt Valencia 2003 half-face helmet - so this was the 1st time that my most favorite HJC RPHA 70 Full Carbon had been to Tinoc highest point.
This was also the 1st time that my Kymco Xciting S 400i (Xcy) had been here because I used my Yamaha NMAX 155 V1 (Lambo) during our 1st time here.
The brand-new Pirelli Angel Scooter rubber tire took some beating on the edges but still there were still chicken strips left since I was riding conservatively when with my wife with me.
The 360deg view in Tinoc highest points was awesome...!
The weather there on top was very unpredictable. The 1st time ascent we have a very violent storm that we lasted only for about 5mins - this time, it was very calm and accommodating.
We were able to meet there a group of friends and riders from Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.
It was fun there on top - we were able to take some snacks, lots of photos and videos, and took time to regain strength for our bid to safely go home via Aritao.
Emeve Benguet-Viz Restaurant, Bukod, Benguet.
This is the place that you don’t have to miss turning tight U-turn to left while in Gorel-Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan Road - and by the time you arrive here, you are hungry again - and the (so expensive to eat) Emeve Benguet-Viz Restaurant is you landmark to take the right road.
From Mt. Pulag, if you go straight, you will reach Baguio City in less than a couple of hours at about 50km of rides.
But if you are going to exit to Aritao, you need to take the Benguet-Nueva Vizcaya Road in your left instead of going straight, and you will reach the Aritao Petron gas station after an hour and a half of riding at about 56km.
There were rains and heavy rains when we were in Petron Poblacion, Aritao and exited the main road Pan-Philippine Highway (AH26), going to San Jose City in Nueva Ecija.
Tambahay Petron, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.
This is our comfort place very similar to Shell Rosario in La Union – Tambahay, San Jose, Nueva Ecija is the most ideal place to stop before going up to either Banaue in Ifugao (if you go straight via the Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road), Nueva Vizcaya going to Cagayan Valley (if you turn right following the AH26), or going to Baguio City via Bokod~Aritao Road (if you turn left in Aritao where we exited).
There were lots of Filipino dishes to eat and enjoy your short stay there - and since we were soaked in wet, I opted to eat goto with crispy chicharon bulaklak..
We left Tambahay while still raining, and my gopro were already drained of battery.
Home Sweet Home, Angeles City, Pampanga.
We safely reach home just before 9pm via SCTEX in Tarlac, and exiting in Clark South - while Sir Jong and Ma'am Jeanette ride going to Capas, Tarlac.
The Mis-points.
There are intersections and splitting roads that you have to carefully consider in order to reach the new highest point in Kiangan-Tinoc-Buguias Road flawlessly.
The intersection in Abatan (turn right), the splitting road going to up to Tinoc in Bokod-Kabayan-Buguias-Abatan Road (take the left side), and the splitting road in Bokod going to Aritao (U-turn left). If you miss these critical points, you will find yourself either going to Cervantes or to Baguio City.
Life is a Crazy Ride and Nothing is Guaranteed.
As a person that really loves riding a motorcycle most of the time, the experience of reaching two (2) of the highest points in the Philippine highway network was an awesome experience to treasure.
Byahe lang..!
2022 August 27~28, Cordillera Region
#HighestPoints
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