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Ifugao Is Famous For... |
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Banaue Rice Terraces |
Dubbed as the "Eight Wonder of the World," the Banaue Rice Terraces start from the base of the mountain range and reach up to several thousand feet high. It is said that their length, put end to end, would encircle half of the globe. Made 2,000 years ago, these rice terraces manifest the engineering skill and ingenuity of the sturdy Ifugaos. Streams and springs found in the mountains were tapped and channeled into irrigation canals that run downhill through the rice terraces.
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Batad Rice Terraces |
Located at Barangay Batad in Banaue, these rice terraces are shaped like an amphitheater. The Batad Rice Terraces can be reached by a 12-kilometer ride from Banaue Hotel and a 2-hour hike uphill through mountain trails.
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Bangaan Rice Terraces |
The rice terraces cluster and village both showcase the typical Ifugao community, where the livelihood activities are within the surroundings. The Bangaan Rice Terraces is accessible in a one-hour ride from Poblacion, Banaue then a 20-minute trek down to the village. It can be viewed best from the road to Mayoyao.
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Mayoyao Rice Terraces |
These rice terraces can be found in Mayoyao, 44 kilometers away from Poblacion, Banaue. The poblacion of Mayoyao lies in the midst of these rice terraces thus, upon arrival in the town, one is awed with a breathtaking view of the rice terraces, where all the dikes are tiered with flat stones.
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Hapao Rice Terraces |
More of Ifugao's world-famous stone-walled rice terraces can be found in the municipality of Hungduan. The Hapao Rice Terraces can be reached witihn 55 kilometers from the capital town of Lagawe.
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Banaue Imbayah |
The Imbayah ethnic sports festival is a unique three-day affair that is celebrated only once every four years. Activities include an ethnic parade portraying the evolution of the Ifugao culture. This is followed by ethnic games participated in by various barangay delegations.
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Philippine War Memorial Shrine |
The enormous memorial shrine was built to commemorate the end of World War II. A concrete pyramid-type structure that resembles an oversized Ifugao native house, it depicts historical events, from Filipino opposition to Spanish rule to the Death March, and the role of the Ifugao and American troops in the defeat of General Yamashita. The shrine is also used as a vantage point of the poblacion, other neighboring barangays, and the capital town of Lagawe. The shrine is located at Linda, Kiangan. It can be reached within 10 kilometers or a 15-minute drive from the capital town.
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Gotad ad Kiangan |
The festival, held in Kiangan, is actually a part of the Ifugao prestige rites. Gotad ad Kiangan traditionally involves a festive celebration filled with singing, dancing, and drinking wine.
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Gotad ad Hingyon |
It is one special day in twelve feasts that are celebrated by the Ifugao royal class to please their gods. Modern Ifugaos celebrate Gotad in April in the municipality of Hingyon. Activities include cultural parades, ethno-modern sports, and a booth competition where the best of Ifugao crafts are displayed.
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The Ifugao Epic "Hudhud" |
The UNESCO World Heritage List has cited the Ifugao epic �HUDHUD� as among the �Masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of the humanity.� The late anthropologist Fr. Francis Lambrecht, CICM brought HUDHUD to the international scene, which he claims has been sung by generations of Ifugaos since the late 17th century and still is a central part of the Ifugao life. The social characteristic of the ancient Ifugaos as seen in the HUDHUD showed a strong matriarchal society. The epic is chanted by Ifugao women, usually at harvest time, funeral wakes, and weddings. Once chanted, the epic will go on for two to three days. There used to be many versions of it but the advent of Catholicism in the province has helped dilute this heritage.
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Banaue / Cordillera Mountainbiking |
The rugged mountains of Northern Luzon offer fabulous scenery and give you a close look at some of the Philippines� most fascinating tribal groups. Start in Baguio, where local bikers will be happy to guide you along routes ranging from a quick run up Mt. Sto. Tomas to a lung-busting full day down to Ambuklao Dam and back. If you want more mountain adventure, you�ll find plenty here. Try a two-day ride to Sagada, then base yourself there to explore the numerous local roads and trails. From Sagada, you can ride to Bontoc, then out through untouched mountain wilderness to the rice terraces of Banaue. From Banaue, you can make side trips to the equally spectacular terraces at Hungduan and Mayoyao, far off the usual tourist trail. Or wind your way from Baguio to Ambuklao and up to Abatan, then down to Cervantes and over historic Bessang Pass. Up here, the mountain air is cool, the people you meet are friendly, and the rugged roads will challenge even the most dedicated of upland bikers.
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