In 1971, Seth Lesser first set foot on Sagada, Mountain Province in the northern part of the Philippines. The moment he did so, he fell in love. Rich in culture and tradition, it cast a spell on the Englishman. Saying it was one of the most “magical” places he had been to, he loved that it was so far removed from London where he came from, and even Westernized Manila – the country’s capital.
Backpacking with his American friend on a whim, Seth Lesser, a solicitor from London, U.K., came to Sagada with no idea what he would find. At that time, Sagada was the favorite lair of Filipino “hippies.” Part of its charm were its noble people from what is known as the Cordilleras, with whom they could enjoy life.
Unlike today, there weren’t many inns in Sagada in the ‘70s. Relying on the resourcefulness of his American friend who had been coming to the place back and forth since 1970, he enjoyed lodging at different places in the out of the way municipality. Staying on for months, they got to know the people. For his board and lodging on his second trip in 1972, he called on the friends he had made on his trip prior. Except for the stories he heard of the children of William Henry Scott, the famous historian, being anti-Marcos oppositionists, Sagada seemed untouched from the Martial Law imposed by then President Marcos.
On his third trip in 1973, Seth Lesser met the famous William Henry Scott. Every year until his death in 1985, he made it a point to visit Sagada. His son, Seth Lesser, Jr. now visits Sagada every summer to continue his father’s personal tradition.
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