Philippine Tourist Spots

Jaurigue, Ron Michael F.

Banaue Rice Terraces• The Banaue Rice

Terraces are 2,000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people.

Banaue Rice Terraces• The Rice Terraces are

commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".

Tourism

• The Tourism industry has developed a number of activities for visitors which may include the traditional sight seeing of the terraces and visits to the tribes at the foot of the terraces.

Tourism

• A Mumbaki (traditional Ifugao witch doctor) is also recommended to visitors, these doctors can perform spiritual healing rituals. Domestic tourism however has gone down over the past few years.

• The Banaue Rice Terraces refer to the cluster close to the Banaue poblacion as seen from the viewpoint.

National Cultural Treasure

National Cultural Treasure

• Contrary to popular belief perpetrated by its inclusion on the Twenty peso banknote, the Banaue Rice Terraces are not a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• The terraces are found in the province of Ifugao and the Ifugao people have been its caretakers.

Ifugao rice culture

Ifugao rice culture

• Ifugao culture revolves around rice and the culture displays an elaborate array of rice culture feasts linked with agricultural rites from rice cultivation to rice consumption.

• Harvest season generally calls for thanksgiving feasts while the concluding harvest rites tungo or tungul (the day of rest) entail a strict taboo of any agricultural work.

Ifugao rice culture

Ifugao rice culture

• Partaking of the bayah (rice beer), rice cakes, and betel nut constitutes an indelible practice during the festivities and ritual activities.

• The Ifugao people practise traditional farming spending most of their labour at their terraces and forest lands while occasionally tending to root crop cultivation.

Ifugao rice culture

• The Ifugaos have also been known to culture edible shells, fruit trees, and other vegetables which has been exhibited among Ifugaos for generations.

Ifugao rice culture