Going to historic Bessang Pass in Ilocos Sur, Philippines
Glimpse of Bessang Pass Trip
It was almost noon under the scorching heat of the sun, I and two good friends on top of our respectively motorbikes, transversed the more than 60 kilometers Suyo- Cervantes Road to go the famous Bessang Pass Shrine in Malaya, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.
The area is very historic and significant part of Philippine history as it is the site where 3, 400 people perished.
It led to the conquering of the Japanese Imperial Force under General Tomoyuki Yamashita by the combine United State Army Force in Philippines and Filipino Soldiers.
As American soldiers admitted as “it is one of the most terrible and incredibly difficult battle of the entire World War II”.
The photographs were taken as we proceeded and when we go down at about two o’clock in the afternoon.
The more than one hour trip going up and equally the same time going down was worth every moment because of the rare experience to be too close to nature and appreciate its beauty.
Lawin the mountainer's Weblog 
on September 5, 2008 on 7:27 am
I am not so busy so I had time to surf the web till I reach Cervantes as I always do, I was so happy to see something new about the town and specially the project which is now going on . I am from Cervantes my self , I was born in the Mountain Prvince but moved to Pilipil when I started my 1st drade, at the moment I am living in Finland but my children are all living in PI, actually my son Rodel and my daughter Rose are both residing in the town of Cervantes and I heard that my son Rodel is working in the said project as a security guarrd . I do hope that the project will be soon completed and the road going down will become better in the future. Thanks a lot
Reg. from Finland
on September 5, 2008 on 7:36 am
yap mam we proceeded in your place by motorcycle. it is worth all our efforts because of such a wonderful and unique place. its historic significance and its natural beauty which is something worth documenting and taking time out to reach it. . . hopefully will go there the soonest after the rain mam. . .
on September 11, 2008 on 4:33 pm
i hope that this beautiful land on earth will improve to acces business in area through irradicating those corrupt people for the generalwelfare of the cervantennians….
on October 9, 2008 on 4:20 am
My father fought at Bessang with the 3rd Bn. (USAFIP NL). He has passed on and we would like to visit this memorial in his honor. We live in the U.S. what is the best way to get there and the best staging point? Appreciate any tips. thx.
on October 13, 2008 on 2:22 am
mam thanks for viewing for trip to bessang pass. bessan pass is situated near top of mountain peak in malaya, cervantes, ilocos sur. the area is about 55 kilometers east of the national highway in tagudin, ilocos sur and about more than 340 kilometers north of manila.
if you will come i can offer myself to guide you.
thanks
jun balbin
on December 12, 2008 on 5:13 pm
hi, im very much intrigued by bessang pass and tirad pass. according to the PH Road Guide GPS map, there is a link using those passes from Ilocos Sur to Sagada/bontoc area? can anyone confirm this? thanks.
on December 13, 2008 on 7:14 am
it is through bessang pass because there is a way there going to sagada. it is rough road and about 2 hrs trip sir. the road going to bessang from the national highway in tagudin ilocos sur is also very good road as it is about 80 percent finish sir
on October 12, 2009 on 9:08 am
Sorry for the late reply, you definitely cant bring a car anymore because you will have to cross a 1 feet deep cervantes river on a good day or a 10 feet deep river after a typhoon to go to Bontoc. If you take the bus you have to go down at Tagudin Ilokos Sur Bitalag Park before 1pm because there wont be anymore jeeps after 1pm that will go to Cervantes. Cervantes to Bontoc jeep only one daily and it leaves at 5a.m. There are good clean reasonable lodges in Cervantes small town. The mountain highway from Bontoc to Cervantes and Cervantes to Suyo Tagudin are newly concreted with beautiful sceneries. I dont know if it was destroyed by the two typhoons.
on December 22, 2008 on 5:44 am
Hi! Good day. can you please advise if there’s a direct bus trip from manila to cervantes, ilocos sur? I’ve been trying to search for this on the net but to no avail. If you could please asap as we have to go there before friday, 26th Dec. Thanks much.
So far, I found a direct trip from manila to Vigan but I’m NOT sure if Vigan is near to Cervantes. See below:
PARTAS
Vigan City
(Beside Vigan Public Market)
+ 63 77 722 3369 / 722 2933
Routes
CUBAO, QUEZON CITY
and PASAY CITY to VIGAN CITY, ILOCOS SUR
LAOAG CITY, ILOCOS NORTE
BANGUED, ABRA
BAGUIO CITY
SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION
and Vice Versa
Or
DOMINION BUS LINES
Quezon Avenue, Vigan City
+ 63 77 722 2053
Routes
CUBAO, QUEZON CITY to VIGAN CITY, ILOCOS SUR
BANGUED, ABRA
SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION
and Vice Versa
Or
MARTINEZ TRANS
Candon City
+ 63 77 742 6007
on Avenue, Vigan City
+ 63 77 722 2053
Routes
CUBAO, QUEZON CITY to VIGAN CITY, ILOCOS SUR
BANGUED, ABRA
SAN FERNANDO CITY, LA UNION
and Vice Versa
on December 24, 2008 on 2:41 am
mam there is no direct bus going to cervantes ilocos sur from manila. you can take provincial bus bound for vigan city, candon city, abra, laoag city and stop at bitalag, tagudin and wait for passenger jeepney going up to cervantes. mam cervantes from bitalag, tagudin is about 65 kilometers 80 percent well paved road as it is currently under construction.
on December 24, 2008 on 2:48 am
sir/mam you can email me lbj888@gmail.com for more personal info or il give you my contact number.
on June 2, 2009 on 7:42 am
hello,.a blessed day to you.
My family and relatives of 8-10 pax have plan of visiting banaue and sagada the next weekend (june 13, 2009), we also look forward to proceed to vigan, laoag and eventualy pagudpud. Is it possible nowadays to take the route/link via cervantes? cause we also look forward to see the bessang/tirad pass as we bound for tagudin taking the national highway for ilocos norte. Would you think the road from sagada to cervantes is passable and safe for us to take with our four wheeled vehicle? I really need your help and professional advice. thank you very much! Hope to hear from you the soonest time. More power!
-rich (laguna)
on October 12, 2009 on 8:38 am
Sorry for the late reply but on sept. 23, 2009 i took the only jeep that leaves daily from bontoc to cervantes at 10a.m. Very beautiful vistas scenery at the newly concreted road of the Suyo Cervantes mountain highway, resembles the Marcos Highway. At 12.45 the jeep had to cross a 1 feet deep cervantes river because the bridge has been destroyed. If the river rises more then the passengers have to disembark and cross a hanging bridge on foot and then take a 10 min. tricycle ride to town to catch a van that will take them to Tagudin Ilokos Sur.roughly 1 hour 40mins of mountain scenery again. The van will go straight to San Fernando La Union or you can go down Bitalag Park Tagudin and take any bus that goes opposite direction to Ilocos Norte. I dont know the condition now afrer the Typhoon Pepeng incident and the Cervantes river could be deep now and dangerous.
on June 21, 2009 on 12:06 am
HALELUYAH FROM HEAVEN ABOVE WHEN I WAS 6 YRS OLD CARMILING CRISOLOGO CAME IN OUR SITIO KINAPIAN WITH HELOCOPTER SAYING TO HER COMPANYA POLITKA MAKAUMAYTO KALSADA DITOY A LUGAR DIMMAKKELLAK NO MAPAN KAMI TGUDIN SUSUON KO BALON KO APAN AGISKUELA MARAGSAKANAK TA SEMENTO METTEN TI KALSADA AGINGA KINAPIAN WOW IM NOW GOING TO 50 I WAITED 44 YEARS FOR THE PROMISE TO BE FULFILLED IN OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE JESUS IS THE PROMISE OF GOD TO SAVE US .JUAN 14:6 JUAN 3:16
on June 29, 2009 on 12:26 am
very personally experience mam at least my fulfillment. it will be soon all weather road and even better than the national highway. . . hope you will enjoy the road by going home frequently mam
on October 10, 2009 on 7:44 am
I love and miss suyo very much ,i’ve been to cervantes many many times too. where i am right now reminds me of where i came from , because vancouver, canada has lots of similarities rigth to the mountain ranges, forest , rivers and so on.