Brief Description

For 2,000 years, the high rice fields of the Ifugao have followed the contours of the mountains. The fruit
of knowledge handed down from one generation to the next, and the expression of sacred traditions and a
delicate social balance, they have helped to create a landscape of great beauty that expresses the harmony
between humankind and the environment.
Brief synthesis
The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras is an outstanding example of an evolved, living cultural landscape that
can be traced as far back as two millennia ago in the pre-colonial Philippines. The terraces are located in the remote
areas of the Philippine Cordillera mountain range on the northern island of Luzon, Philippine archipelago. While the
historic terraces cover an extensive area, the inscribed property consists of five clusters of the most intact and
impressive terraces, located in four municipalities. They are all the product of the Ifugao ethnic group, a minority
community that has occupied these mountains for thousands of years.
The Ifugao Rice Terraces epitomize the absolute blending of the physical, socio-cultural, economic, religious, and
political environment. Indeed, it is a living cultural landscape of unparalleled beauty.The Ifugao Rice Terraces are the
priceless contribution of Philippine ancestors to humanity. Built 2000 years ago and passed on from generation to
generation, the Ifugao Rice Terraces represent an enduring illustration of an ancient civilization that surpassed
various challenges and setbacks posed by modernization.
Banaue Rice Terraces
The Banaue Rice Terraces (Tagalog: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) also called Payew, are
2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of
the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of
the World". It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand.
The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square
kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from
the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the
globe.



Locals to this day still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces, although more and more
younger Ifugaos do not find farming appealing, often opting for the more lucrative hospitality
industry generated by the Rice Terraces. The result is the gradual erosion of the characteristic
"steps", which need constant reconstruction and care. In 2010 a further problem was drought,
with the terraces drying up completely in March of that year.
Historians agree that the rice terraces of Banaue were built by the original inhabitants of the rugged
mountain. The geograhical terrain of the land made it impossible for the settlers to produce their basic
needs and have enough food for everybody. Thus, they had to device ways and means to meet their
needs. With every strength, they manually terraced the mountain side in order to maximize their
agricultural land. This engineering and architectural feat has overwhelmed the great minds of our
generation. This is compared to the Great Pyramids of Egypt. However, the distinction lies that, the
Pyramids were forcibly built by slaves whereas the terraces were built by the motivation and love of
ordinary men. No less than the UNESCO declared the Banaue Rice Terraces as a world heritage.
Contrary to popular opinion, the Banaue Rice Terraces is not composed of only one but rather four main
terraces in different locations. These are the Batad, Bangaan, View Point and Hapao rice terraces. They
are named after the barangays where they can be seen.


The most prominent of these is the Batad rice terraces. For those who havent been to Banaue, the rice
terraces were featured in the movie Mumbaki. The stairway to heaven features the ingenuity of the
first inhabitants as one can see the literal terrace from the top of the mountain until the floor of the
valley. Nestled in the center of the Batad rice terraces lies a village where the main source of living is
obviously farming. Aside from tilling the land, the villagers showcase their craftmanship through wood
carvings and weaving which is a major tourist destination. Going to Batad is not for the weak of knees.
After a bumpy two hour jitney ride from Poblacion to Batad junction, one has to brace another two
hours hiking before reaching the actual view. However, if one wants to see another attraction, one has
to hike an extra hour to see the fifty meter high Tappiya water falls. The water comes from the same
source which irrigates the whole mountain side. One cannot help but be amazed by the scenery.

When it comes to beauty and granduer, the Bangaan rice terraces is not left behind. Ten more minutes
of bumpy ride from the Batad junction, one can already view the actual terrace without having to hike.
Its not an accident that they named the placed as such because the terrace is shaped like a pot. Thus, in
our dialect, it is termed banga. Much like its neighboring terraces, it also plays a major role in
providing the basic needs of its surrounding village.
If one is not prepared for physical burden, then, the View Point rice terraces is the most appropriate
destination. This is located after a relaxing twenty-five minute ride from Poblacion. The actual rice
terraces can be seen along the highway which connects Bontoc and Banaue. Due to its accessibility, it is
the most frequently visited scenery. Souvenirs such as wood carvings, weaved wall decors, necklaces
and T-shirts printed with ethnic designs are found here.
Last but not the least is the Hapao rice terraces. Tourists, hikers and mountain climbers alike go there
because it offers a variety of attractions such as a hot spring and a scenic mountain aside from the
terrace. It is one and a half hour away from View Point.
Visiting these four magnificent rice terraces can be completed within two days. Most tourist guides
suggest going first to Hapao then going all the way to Batad and spending a night there. In the next day,
the route is from Batad to Bangaan then backtracking to Poblacion for lunch or snack, then lastly to View
Point for the souvenirs.
Ifugao Rice Culture


The terraces are vastly found in the province of Ifugao and the Ifugao people have been its caretakers.
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. Partaking of the bayah (rice beer), rice cakes, and betel nut constitutes
an indelible practice during the festivities and ritual activities.
The Ifugao people practice traditional farming spending most of their labor at their terraces and forest
lands while occasionally tending to root crop cultivation. The Ifugaos have also been known to culture
edible shells, fruit trees, and other vegetables which has been exhibited among Ifugaos for generations.
The building of the rice terraces, work of blanketing walls with stones and earth which is designed to
draw water from a main irrigation canal above the terrace clusters. Indigenous rice terracing
technologies have been identified with the Ifugaos rice terraces such as their knowledge of water
irrigation, stonework, earthwork and terrace maintenance. As their source of life and art, the rice
terraces have sustained and shaped the lives of the community members. Ifugao previously belong to
the Mountain Province as a municipality but on June 18, 1966 in effect of Republic Act No. 4695, Ifugao
became an independent province.

Long Description
The rice terraces of the Philippines Cordilleras are living cultural landscapes devoted to the
production of one of the world's most important staple crops, rice. They preserve traditional
techniques and forms dating back many centuries, still viable today. At the same time they
illustrate a remarkable degree of harmony between humankind and the natural environment of
great aesthetic appeal, as well as demonstrating sustainable farming systems in mountainous
terrain, based on a careful use of natural resources.
They are the only monuments in the Philippines that show no evidence of having been
influenced by colonial cultures. Owing to the difficult terrain, the Cordillera tribes are among the
few peoples of the Philippines who have successfully resisted foreign domination and preserved
their authentic tribal culture. The history of the terraces is intertwined with that of its people,
their culture, and their traditional practices.
The terraces are the only form of stone construction from the pre-colonial period. The
Philippines alone among south-east Asian cultures is a wholly wood-based one: unlike
Cambodia, Indonesia, or Thailand, in the Philippines both domestic buildings and ritual
structures such as temples and shrines were built from wood, a tradition that has survived in the
terrace hamlets. Terracing began in the Cordilleras some 2,000 years ago, although scholars
disagree about its original purpose. It is evidence of a high level of knowledge of structural and
hydraulic engineering on the part of those who built the terraces. The knowledges and practices,
supported by rituals, involved in maintaining the terraces are transferred orally from generation
to generation, without written records. Taro was the first crop when they began to be used for
agriculture, later to be replaced by rice, which is the predominant crop today.
Historical Description
The rice terraces of the Cordilleras are the only monuments in the Philippines that show no
evidence of having been influenced by colonial cultures. Owing to the difficult terrain, the
Cordillera tribes are among the few peoples of the Philippines who have successfully resisted
any foreign domination and have preserved their authentic tribal culture. The history of the
terraces is intertwined with that of its people, their culture, and their traditional practices.
The terraces, which spread over five present-day provinces, are the only form of stone
construction from the pre-colonial period. The Philippines alone among south-east Asian cultures
is a wholly wood-based one: unlike Cambodia, Indonesia, or Thailand, for example, in the
Philippines both domestic buildings and ritual structures such as temples and shrines were all
built in wood, a tradition that has survived in the terrace hamlets.
It is believed that terracing began in the Cordilleras some two thousand years ago, though
scholars are not in agreement about the original purpose for which it was employed. It is
evidence of a high level of knowledge of structural and hydraulic engineering on the part of
those who built the terraces. The knowledge and practices, supported by rituals, involved in
maintaining the terraces are transferred orally from generation to generation, without written
records. Taro was the first crop when they began to be used for agriculture, later to be replaced
by rice, which is the predominant crop today.






MT. MAKILING
Mount Makiling

Mount Makiling in Laguna is a legendary mountain that has inspired numerous tales, poems and
legends owing to its mystical dweller and protector - Maria Makiling. The contour of the
mountain is said to be the sleeping/reclining profile of Maria Makiling. Our national hero, the
great Jose Rizal himself, published an article in La Solidaridad about Maria Makiling:

"According to eyewitness, she was a young woman, tall and graceful with big black eyes and
long and abundant hair. Her color was a clear pure brown, the kayumangging kaligatan, as the
Tagalogs say. Her hands and feet were small and delicate and the expression of her countenance
always grave and serious. She was a fantastic creature, half nymph, half sylph, born under the
moonbeams of Filipinas, in the mystery of its ancient woods, to the murmur of the waves on the
neighboring shore. According to general belief, and contrary to the reputation imputed to the
nymphs and goddesses, Mariang Makiling always remained pure, simple, and mysterious as the
genius of the mountain. An old maid servant we had, an Amazon who defended her house
against the outlaws and once killed one of them with a lance thrust, assured me that she had in
her childhood seen her passing in the distance over the reed grass so lightly and airily that she
did not even make the flexible blades bend." ("Maria Makiling" by Dr. Jose Rizal published in
La solidaridad, Dec 31, 1890.)

In fact, Mount Makiling is an inactive volcano that rises to approximately 1,109 meters above
sea level and stands at about 3576 feet. It is a forest reserve undedr the official stewardship of the
University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB). You can explore Mt Makiling through the
UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources. The mountain is ideal for hiking, camping,
trekking, mountain biking, and bird watching. Approximately 2,048 species of plants can also be
found here.

Mt Makiling hosts man-made attractions such as the Makiling Botanical Garden and The
National Arts Center; its natural attractions include the mountain's highest peak (the Peak II), the
Flat Rocks, and the Mud Springs. Day tourists/trekkers usually explore the relatively easy trail of
flat rocks and mud springs; hikers and experienced mountain climbers ascend the Peak II and
stay there overnight. However, the forest mangaement recently banned staying overnight at Peak
II for safety and security reasons. You can only stay there until afternoon and you must descend
before nightfall (day hikes only).This site provides very useful information if you want to climb
Peak II: http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2007/09/mt-makiling-1090.html.

I went to Mud Springs and Flat rocks for the first time when I was in second year high school.
We were required by our Biology Class to document these natural wonders. Flat Rocks is
basically a river bed where numerous and huge "flat rocks" can be found. Although the water
was inviting, we were not allowed to swim there. But of course, some of our naughty and
stubborn classmated deliberately disobeyed the teachers and they surreptitiously immeresed
themselves in the river. Bad move, because there were lots of leeches/blood suckers (limatik in
Tagalog) there. My stubborn classmates were infested by the leeches but fortunately, these blood
suckers don't do much harm to the body. Based on personal experience, rock salt may be used to
remove leeches from your body. Just sprinke rock salt on the leech and watch it wriggle away
from your body.
For other useful information on how to deal with leeches when you go hiking, see this site:
http://www.pinoymountaineer.com/2008/01/limatik-blood-leeches-overview.html.

The Mud Springs has been popularly but erroneously known as the crater of Mt Makiling. The
Mud Springs site is actually one of the mud pots left in the mountain. "A mud pot is a type of hot
spring that is formed when due to volcanic heat, sulfuric acid breaks down surrounding rocks
into clay. The clay mixes with water to form mud that is very hot (80 C), sulfurous (50mg/L),
very acidic (2ph) and varying in consistency and color."

These boiling pots of mud produce a very strong and distinctive/offensive sulfuric smell
(warning to those with asthma or other respiratory diseases). You can also see thick smoke
coming out from the sulfuric vents. Don't get too close to these as the boiling mud can burn your
skin. Camping is also not allowed on this site and beware of the dangerous and restricted area; do
not go beyond the fenced area. Just be content in gazing at this mystical sight.

How to Get to Mount Makiling
By public transportation: Ride a bus from Cubao or Buendia going to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. If
coming from Alabang, ride a bus going to Calamba and then take a jeepney to Los Baos. Get
off at Los Baos Crossing, walk towards 'El Danda' street (beside Robinson's Mall); ride the
jeepney going to UPLB Forestry. For more convenience, you may rent a jeepney (from El
DAnda) that will take you directly to UPLB Forestry all the way to the get-off point/entry point
of Flat Rocks and Mud Springs. Be prepared to pay extra, maybe more than 100 pesos for a one-
way ride.




Laguna Mount Makiling
Laguna Islands Philippines

Mount Makiling, also known as Mount Maquiling, is located in the province of Laguna on the
island of Luzon, Philippines. It is an inactive volcano, which rises to 1,090 m above sea level.
Legends surround the mountain, many of which relate to Maria Makiling, said to be the 'guardian
fairy' of the mountain. The contour of the mountain is said to be that of her in a reclining
position.

Mt. Makiling is a popular hiking destination. The two major trails begin at the UPLB College of
Forestry and Brgy. San Miguel, Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The UPLB trail is more commonly used,
taking 4-5 hours to reach the summit (Peak 2). The other trail from Sto. Tomas passes by other
peaks, is more difficult, and requires 6-7 hours to reach the summit. Both trails are generally
established and safe.