Blissfully Banaue

Sometimes called by locals as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", 

the Ifugao Rice Terraces begin at the base of the mountain range and 

extend several thousand feet upwards. 

Two of the terrace clusters in Banaue, namely Bangaan and Batad, 

are part of the UNESCO World Heritage inscription. 

It is said that their length, if put end to end, would encircle half of the globe. 

Built 2,000 years ago, the rice terraces manifest the engineering skill and 

ingenuity of the sturdy Ifugaos. They are irrigated by means of mountain 
streams and springs that have been tapped and
channeled into canals that run downhill through the rice terraces. 

(From Wikipedia)

One of the indigenous people in the Batad Viewpoint 

HOW WE GOT THERE

We took the one and only trip of Florida Bus Lines from their Manila station with a PhP450.00 fare. We left at approximately 10:30 pm and arrived in Banaue at 6:30 am. The trip was relatively pleasant, with occasional stops for toilet breaks and a quick cup of coffee. You can also try Ohayami Trans which serves the same route during peak season.

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO SEE THERE

Hire a guide! Not only will it be very convenient for you, it will also help the locals and encourage them to stay. We were told that there have already been several instances when the “young ones” would rather go to Manila or Baguio and experience the city life – abandoning their culture and practices. By showing them that their culture and heritage is precious enough, we help them realize that their practices are worth learning and keeping alive. When you hire a guide and/or transportation service, make sure to agree on a rate and the inclusions of the package price you agree upon, to avoid further inconvenience and unnecessary haggling at the end of the trip.

Hap-ao Terraces at Hungduan

See the various rice terraces in the several municipalities in the Ifugao Province (Lagawe, Hungduan, Banaue, etc.) The terraces you will be able to see will depend on the season you will go. When we went, the ones we saw “green” were Ba-ang and Hap-ao in Hungduan town and Bay-yo in Bontoc. The reason behind this is that they alternate the planting season for the areas so that in essence, they have rice available for harvest all year round. They also let the soil rest by planting other crops like sweet potatoes, vegetables, or not plant at all so the soil can replenish its minerals.

Try riding the wooden bike/scooter. The wooden bikes are quite amusing as the kids still use them for fun. Every April, during the Imbayah Festival, they have a downhill race using these wooden scooters.

Some items that can be found in the native house

See or even stay in a native house. Have your guide explain to you why the house is structured the way it is and you’ll realize how agriculture plays a huge and crucial part in their lives, even influencing how their homes are structured. Be amazed at the skulls and ancient weaponry used by their elders who take pride in being warriors of their land and family.

Watch the cultural show at the Banaue Hotel. Be entertained and educated on how the natives go on about their daily lives and milestones in their lives including birth, marriage, death and other celebrations in their lives.

Buy wooden souvenirs carved by the indigenous people. Buy interesting sculptures and carvings made by locals. Each design has a meaning and story so try to see which one you can relate best to or what design appeals to you the most.

Buy locally weaved items. The patterns of their weaving are generally different from the weaving of the rest of the tribes throughout the country. The patterns differ from each tribe and the number of colors used in the weave defines the position or standing of the person in the tribe. These would be nice to bring home as souvenirs for yourself or to bring home to relatives and friends.

Have lunch at People’s Lodge. The food isn’t anything special or spectacular, but the view is! Have Chicken rice for lunch while soaking-in the spectacular view of the terraces.

View from our room

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Banaue Hotel, which is government-owned and managed by the Philippine Tourism Authority, an agency under the Department of Tourism. The hotel is pretty old and so are the rooms. However, it is relatively well kept and facilities are basic but good enough, considering how far out in the mountains it is.

If you want to go backpacker style, you can also stay at People’s Lodge where they have rooms at very affordable rates.

There is generally not much to see in Banaue, except for the rice terraces and some waterfalls we weren't able to see. However, given the grandeur and how marvelous the construction of the terraces are, the totality of the Ifugao Rice Terraces is definitely one of the sites you must see in your lifetime. Merely trying to imagine how their ancestors were able to carve out the terraces out of the mountains will make jaws drop and generate more than enough oohs, aahs, wows, and other exclamatory expressions. After all, these weren't enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for nothing, right?

The Banaue Rice Terraces