TAGUDTOD, Bagulin, La Union — When people think of La Union, they often picture its beaches and resorts. Rarely do they hear of the province’s uplands, home to many indigenous peoples — particularly the Kankanaey ethnolinguistic group.

According to Dina Abangley, the Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Barangay Tagudtod, visitors seldom come to their community, though they always welcome anyone who makes the trip. Tagudtod has 221 households, all belonging to the Kankanaey group.

Abangley said their primary source of livelihood is producing soft brooms, locally called boyboy (walis tambo). Thanks to the abundance of tiger grass, broom-making has long supported the community. Most of their products are sold in La Union towns frequented by tourists, but a significant portion goes to the Baguio City market, where they often brand their brooms with “I Love Baguio” to attract buyers.

Aside from broom-making, the community also grows coffee. Their Baguionian Coffee, still a small-scale industry, yields only a few hundred kilos a year — far from meeting the demand of local cafés in La Union.

They also plant rice and various highland vegetables such as beans and pechay and produce native delicacies like suman and patupat.

Tagudtod boasts a picnic park and viewing site in Sitio Kudal. However, strong winds from super typhoon “Uwan” destroyed several huts. Abangley said they are working to repair and rebuild these structures so visitors can once again enjoy the area.