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Celebrating the Bountiful Rice Culture of Ifugao


Ifugao culture revolves around rice, which is considered a prestigious crop. There is an elaborate and complex array of rice culture feasts inextricably linked with taboos and intricate agricultural rites, from rice cultivation to rice consumption.

by Jhaypee Guia on July 17, 2012
Celebrating the Bountiful Rice Culture of Ifugao

Ifugao culture revolves around rice, which is considered a prestigious crop. There is an elaborate and complex array of rice culture feasts inextricably linked with taboos and intricate agricultural rites, from rice cultivation to rice consumption. Harvest season calls for grandiose thanksgiving feasts, while the concluding harvest rites "tungo" or "tungul" (the day of rest) entail a strict taboo of any agricultural work. Partaking of the rice wine (bayah), rice cakes, and 'moma' (mixture of several herbs, powdered snail shell and betel nut/ arecoline: and acts as a chewing gum to the Ifugaos) is an indelible practice during the festivities and ritual activities.

Here is a list of celebrations, feasts, and events for bountiful harvest and thanksgiving.

  • BAKLE FESTIVAL AUGUST, KIANGAN, IFUGAO  

A post harvest thanksgiving festival of the community for a bountiful harvest to the Gods of Agriculture. The "binakle" rice cake and "baya", rice wine are prepared by every house to be shared with anybody who visits their house or community.

  • BOKLAY AUGUST, ASIPULO, IFUGAO

A thanksgiving festival for a bountiful harvest.

  • VICTORY DAY CELEBRATION SEPTEMBER, KIANGAN, IFUGAO

An annual celebration commemorating the end of WWII wherein the veterans from the Philippines, their sons and doughters, Japan, USA, gather to reminisce the past and appreciate the value of freedom through songs, dance, medical missions and other activities.

Location

Ifugao, a landlocked area located at the foot of the Cordillera Mountain Ranges, is bounded on the west by the province of Benguet, Nueva Viscaya on the south, Isabela on the east and on the north by Mountain Province. It is located at 120 degrees 40' longitude and 16 degrees 35' latitude.

Area

The total land area of Ifugao is 251,778 hectares, which is about 13.76% of the region's total land area. Of these, Aguinaldo covers the most (45,451.04) hectares followed by Lista (43,474.7), Lamut (28,220.30), Asipulo (25,400.00), Mayoyao (22,246.36), Banaue (18,240.46), Tinoc 14,948.17), Kiangan (14,534.61) Lagawe (14,411.70), Hungduan (13,394.70) and Hingyon with the least area of (11,455.96) hectares.

Accommodations

  • Banaue View Inn - Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mountain Province Road, Banaue
  • Spring Village Inn - Poblacion, Banaue
  • Uyami's Green View Lodge and Restaurant - Poblacion Village, Banaue, Ifugao
  • Hillside Inn and Restaurant - Batad, Banaue, Ifugao
  • People's Lodge - Poblacion, Banaue
  • Banaue Hotel & Youth Hostel  - Ilogue, Banaue

Accessibility

Banaue is a town on the Cordillera mountain range in the north of the island of Luzon, in the Philippines. It is mainly visited for its stunning rice terraces, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

By bus

Getting to Banaue directly might take a lot of effort if you're not taking a direct route from Manila or if you don't have a tour agency to help you.

There are few possible ways to get to Banaue — Manila - Banaue (direct), Manila - Baguio - Banaue, Manila - Baguio - Bontoc - Banaue.

Ohayami Trans, Lacson Ave. cor. Fajardo St., Sampaloc, Manila (Just near University of Sto. Tomas or take the train from the Legarda Station then just take a trickshaw to the terminal. The travel time is about 9-10 hrs. Provides trips directly to Banaue. They have three daily trips - 9pm, 9:45pm and 10pm leaving their terminal.

Manila-Solano, Nueva Vizcaya-Banaue ifugao - buses heading to Tuguegarao (e.g. Baliwag transit, Victory,Florida transport inc., etc.) pass by the town of Solano. Several jeepneys ply the Solano-Banaue route or the Solano-Lagawe, Ifugao route. From Lagawe, one can then take another jeepney to Banaue.

Manila-Tarlac-Solano-Banaue - buses heading for Baguio pass by Tarlac. Vizcaya liner plies the Tarlac-Solano route at 5 am.

By car

The distance between the Balintawak Cloverleaf, in north Manila at the beginning of the North Luzon Expressway and the Welcome to Banaue sign, is about 332 km. The road is paved all the way to Banaue. Travel time can be as long as 9 hours due to the several blind curves through the mountains.

Best day to travel is on good Friday of Lenten season, Christmas day and new year's day. It will take about 7 hours only by car with a reliable driver.

Get around

Jeepneys (converted jeeps/bus) and tricycles (trikes) (little motorcycles with sidecars) are easily available around Banaue. Vans can be hired with driver/guide. Expect to hike some to great places to see that are not on the roads. There is a public jeepney plying the Banaue-to-saddle-point (start of trek to Batad village) route daily. See Get Out, below for more info.

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