It is difficult to talk about China without mentioning its national drink: tea. This beverage was born in this country and has become some sort of identity hallmark. Chinese people drink tea at any time; taxi drivers carry big thermos bottles with tea, and even in the trains you can find a faucet with hot tap water so people can make their tea. Ada’s passion for tea goes a bit beyond that, for her tea is her way of living. “Tea is my religion”

The countryside around the village of Whang Od (December 2012). The Kalinga valleys and irrigated rice plantations are spectacular.

Burial in Kalinga of a tuberculosis patient in a village near Buscalan. (December, 2012). For three days the body stays at home because they feel that, in their culture, the person is still alive, and thus the villagers or other neighboring villages have the opportunity to say their last words to the deceased. Some visitors come to the village after killing an animal to give as a gift to the family. The burial is a party, drinking gin and the women prepare food, and it’s rude not to try a bite. After the funeral, as Christians who are buried, the body is put in the hole that the villagers have dug using a wooden paddle.

Daily Life of Buscalan (December, 2012). Buscalan is a hidden village in a mountain of the Luzon island and the only way to arrive to this town of the Kalinga province is walking an hour through treacherous tracks.

Daily Life of Buscalan (December, 2012). Buscalan is a hidden village in a mountain of the Luzon island and the only way to arrive to this town of the Kalinga province is walking an hour through treacherous tracks.

Whang Od is feeding her pigs (December, 2012). With the money she earns doing tattoos Whang Od can buy more pigs and chickens.

Burial in Kalinga of a tuberculosis patient in a village near Buscalan. (December, 2013). For three days the body stays at home because they feel that, in their culture, the person is still alive, and thus the villagers or other neighboring villages have the opportunity to say their last words to the deceased. Some visitors come to the village after killing an animal to give as a gift to the family. The burial is a party, drinking gin and the women prepare food, and it’s rude not to try a bite. After the funeral, as Christians who are buried, the body is put in the hole that the villagers have dug using a wooden paddle.

Daily Life of Buscalan (December, 2012). Buscalan is a hidden village in a mountain of the Luzon island and the only way to arrive to this town of the Kalinga province is walking an hour through treacherous tracks.

Burial in Kalinga of a tuberculosis patient in a village near Buscalan. (December, 2012). For three days the body stays at home because they feel that, in their culture, the person is still alive, and thus the villagers or other neighboring villages have the opportunity to say their last words to the deceased. Some visitors come to the village after killing an animal to give as a gift to the family. The burial is a party, drinking gin and the women prepare food, and it’s rude not to try a bite. After the funeral, as Christians who are buried, the body is put in the hole that the villagers have dug using a wooden paddle.

Burial in Kalinga of a tuberculosis patient in a village near Buscalan. (December, 2012). For three days the body stays at home because they feel that, in their culture, the person is still alive, and thus the villagers or other neighboring villages have the opportunity to say their last words to the deceased. Some visitors come to the village after killing an animal to give as a gift to the family. The burial is a party, drinking gin and the women prepare food, and it’s rude not to try a bite. After the funeral, as Christians who are buried, the body is put in the hole that the villagers have dug using a wooden paddle.

Burial in Kalinga of a tuberculosis patient in a village near Buscalan. (December, 2012). For three days the body stays at home because they feel that, in their culture, the person is still alive, and thus the villagers or other neighboring villages have the opportunity to say their last words to the deceased. Some visitors come to the village after killing an animal to give as a gift to the family. The burial is a party, drinking gin and the women prepare food, and it’s rude not to try a bite. After the funeral, as Christians who are buried, the body is put in the hole that the villagers have dug using a wooden paddle.

Whang Od, age 92, rests at home after making a tattoo (December 2012). Her fingers are stained by mixing charcoal, water and sweet potato used for tattooing.

Daily Life of Buscalan (December, 2012). Buscalan is a hidden village in a mountain of the Luzon island and the only way to arrive to this town of the Kalinga province is walking an hour through treacherous tracks.

Tourists are resting in Whang Od's house (December 2012). The tourists who pass by Buscalan are offered lodging and food at Whang Od’s modest two-story house.

Daily Life of Buscalan (December, 2012). Buscalan is a hidden village in a mountain of the Luzon island and the only way to arrive to this town of the Kalinga province is walking an hour through treacherous tracks.

The countryside around the village of Whang Od (December 2012). The Kalinga valleys and irrigated rice plantations are spectacular.

In Jeepney in route to Whang Od's vilage (December, 2012). To get there you have to go by Jeepney, the typical transport of the Philippines.

In Jeepney in route to Whang Od's vilage (December, 2012). To get there you have to go by Jeepney, the typical transport of the Philippines.

In Jeepney in route to Whang Od's vilage (December, 2012). To get there you have to go by Jeepney, the typical transport of the Philippines.

In Jeepney in route to Whang Od's vilage (December, 2012). To get there you have to go by Jeepney, the typical transport of the Philippines.

In Jeepney in route to Whang Od's vilage (December, 2012). To get there you have to go by Jeepney, the typical transport of the Philippines.

In Jeepney in route to Whang Od's vilage (December, 2012). To get there you have to go by Jeepney, the typical transport of the Philippines.

In Jeepney in route to Whang Od's vilage (December, 2012). To get there you have to go by Jeepney, the typical transport of the Philippines.

Elaine is putting on makeup, she dances as a go-go girl in a nightclub to pay for her school.

Elaine's dance partner is in the changing room

Elaine dances as a go-go girl in a nightclub to pay for her school.

Elaine in the changing room at the night club where she works.

Elaine is putting on makeup, she dances as a go-go girl in a nightclub to pay for her school.

Elaine dances as a go-go girl in a nightclub to pay for her school.

Elaine dances in a night club, but during the day she works as a ballet instructor and choreographer of photo sessions with models.

Elaine is putting on makeup, she dances as a go-go girl in a nightclub to pay for her school.

Elaine in her room, that she shares at the university where she studies psychology.

Elaine is dancing, rehearsing her dance moves in the yard at her university.

Elaine is putting on makeup, she dances as a go-go girl in a nightclub to pay for her school.

Elaine dances in a night club, but during the day she works as a ballet instructor and choreographer of photo sessions with models.

Elaine rehearses her dance moves in the yard at her university.

Elaine shares a room at the university where she studies psychology.

Elaine rehearses her dance moves in the gym at her university.

Elaine in the changing room at the night club where she works.

Elaine during one of the photo shoots where she instructs and choreographs models.