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Known
for its famous Banaue Rice
Terraces.
The province of Ifugao is
part of the Cordillera Central
Mountains.
Surrounded by the
Mountain Province on the north,
Isabela on the east, Benguet on
the west and Nueva Vizcaya on
the south.
Characterized by rugged
environment and mountain tilts
east towards the flatlands of
Nueva Vizcaya.
Ancient
walls in the surrounding area of
Potia indicate early human
community in the province.
Ifugao’s culture is
allegedly 3000 yrs old and the
rice terraces are estimated to
have taken 2000 yrs to build.
During the Spanish
regime, they have tried to
convert the natives to
Christians but their attempts
have failed.
At the time of the
Americans, they used a different
tactic, which have developed
into a much friendly relations.
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| Ifugao |
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Historians
believed that the Ifugaos
journeyed from Indochina across
southern Japan to Luzon then
southward to Java.
Others say they came from
the northern part of Indonesia
because of their art forms and
rituals, which are similar to
Borneo’s and other Indonesian
tribes.
Wherever they came from,
the fairly short and brawny
Ifugao have obtained a
reputation as strong resisters
to foreign authority. Ifugao men
still wear G-strings and
feathered headgear while the
women wear colorful, hand-woven
dresses.
Ifugao’s
main industry is agriculture.
The province’s soil is
appropriate for a range of
agricultural crops.
Rice is their major
product and coffee is the most
important commercial harvest.
They also produce
metallic and non-metallic
deposits like gold, copper,
silica, limestone and clay. Wood
carving and producing
traditional handicrafts such as
woven cloth and baskets are also
a key industry.
There
are two ways to reach Ifugao,
one is through Nueva Vizcaya and
the other is from Baguio through
Bontoc via Halsema highway.
Ifugao particularly Banaue is a
six-hour drive either from
Manila or Baguio.
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