Ifugaos celebrate harvest ritual

Among the Ifugaos of highland Philippines, rice harvest is celebrated in a ritual called Bakle, observed by the cooking of rice cakes called binakle. The indigenous peoples here, go from house to house to partake in eating the rice cakes and drinking tapuey (rice wine). A festive celebration is observed to give thanks to Kabunyan (God) for good harvest in the month of August. The ceremony is complete with the butchering of a hen and a rooster. Gloria Tuazon of Northern Philippine Times writes in her column,Trails up North, her travel to Mayoyao, Ifugao, to witness the ritual. (Two photos by Glo Tuazon)

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Pfoto' ad Majawjaw 2008 (Rice Harvest Tour in Mayoyao 2008)

Rites and rituals

Where is Ifugao

Ifugao is located in the Cordillera region of the Philippines characterized by a rugged and mountainous terrain. It borders Benguet to the west, Mountain Province to the north, Isabela to the east, and Nueva Vizcaya to the south. Ifugao locates Banaue Rice Terraces, a major tourist attraction of the province. The famous rice terraces was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995. Ifugao can be reached via Bontoc, Mountain Province or straight from Manila.