During the years when the entire City of Baguio was still grazing land for large herds of cattle, Pinsao, location of the Tam-awan Village was one vast pastureland. A spring beside Tam-awan is the source of a body of water that once served as a watering hole for cattle. Thus, the place became associated with chanum, which in Ibaloi, means water. Adopting the name to symbolize its vision, Chanum Foundation, Inc. views its role to be as nurturing and life-giving as the spring in Tam-awan Village.
The Chanum Foundation, Inc., founded in 1998, began to reconstruct Ifugao houses in Baguio with the view of making a model village accessible to people who have not had the chance to travel to the Cordillera interior. Building on the land near an abundant spring, the foundation started out with three knocked down huts transported from Banga-an, Ifugao. The village now has seven Ifugao huts and two Kalinga houses. Using the original materials and adding only new cogon roofs, traditional artisans reconstructed the houses and laid them out resembling the design of a traditional Cordillera Village.
In keeping with the spirit in which the village was originally conceived, Tam-awan Village has become a venue for cultural activities, art exhibits and workshops envisioned to foster a deeper understanding, respect and pride in the cultural heritage of the Cordillera people.
From the Village's huts and natural surroundings, Tam-awan's resident artists find inspiration for their craft.The Tam-awan Village Artists all share a passion for indigenous art and they imbue local elements and techniques in their works.
Village called Tam-awan is a museum gallery that promotes awareness, appreciation and respect for the cultural heritage and the arts in the Philippines particularly in the Cordilleras. Trekking for around 20 minutes to reach the view deck and found ourselves cold and the area almost covered with cool and breezy fog.
