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Home / Exploring Our World / Member Stories (31) / Individual Traveler (10) / Far East (1) / People: Indigenous (1)

 

Treading Through Rice Terraces: A Peek Into the Endangered Culture of the Ifugaos

Modernization and change threatens to overtake the unique rice culture of the Ifugaos.

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The rice terraces of Mayoyao


 

Travelling to the rice terraces of the Cordilleras is a trip back in time. It was built by hand on steep mountain slopes hundreds of years ago. The Ifugao rice terraces is an engineering feat, often considered at par with other wonders of the world, i.e., the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China.

After an 8-hour bus ride from Manila and a half-day connecting bumpy ride by minibus through rugged unpaved roads, our first stop is Mayoyao. The natives of Mayoyao were known as the fiercest fighters among the Ifugaos in the Cordilleras. Today, I could say that they are most the hospitable people I have ever met in my travels all throughout the region. They welcomed our party of travelers with an open heart, enthusiastic to share the beauty of their place and their unique cultural identity.

The next day, we trekked in the outlying villages accessible only by foot. Even in hot weather, the adults are busy working on rice paddies carved on mountain slopes. Only the children and old folks are left in the villages we passed. As we stopped to rest, a native boy sang a Christian song, probably taught by a missionary in his school.

At the rate we were going, there is little hope that we could reach the tourist-popular village of Batad where we planned to have lunch. An old woman we passed might have sensed the hunger we felt. She brought out a tray of boiled “camotes’’(sweet potatoes) which we gladly accepted. She speaks a different dialect. Our smiles and gestures were enough to express our gratitude to her kindness.

In Batad, we couldn’t help but lament the effect tourism brought to the children. They would beg us for money or a piece of candy. I remember reading somewhere that authorities had no choice but to kill bears in Yellowstone National Park. The bears, used to food handouts from tourists, became more aggressive to successive visitors. Being a traveler carries with it a certain responsibility. Sometimes, we unknowingly create damage in the places that we visit. Some small acts of kindness may at first appear to be harmless. However, it creates lasting impact to indigenous residents or species of the place.

Modernization and change has a bane and boon effect on the Ifugaos and their unique rice culture. The thatched roof of their huts is being replaced by galvanized iron which many claim are more durable. Yield from the farm is not enough to feed a family for a year, so some of them seek work in the outlying provinces. With small farms to tend, some of the forest covers have been cleared to give way for other crops. The elders complain that the younger generation have less interest in tending and maintaining the rice terraces and prefer instead the more lucrative tourism-related jobs.

As we traveled back, I had a mixture of feelings about the place. I hope the rice terraces last long for the future generations to see and experience. I hope the children of Ifugao will cherish their unique rice culture. Everyone is responsible for the preservation of the Ifugao heritage --- the locals, the government, non-government organizations (NGO’s)… and even us visitors.

 

Community Question

How do we preserve a unique indigenous culture and prevent it from being overtaken by the global culture of modernization?

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