The Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) are 2,000-yearold 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".[1][2][3] It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal
equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 metres (5000 ft) above
sea level. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is
said that if the steps were put end to end, it would encircle half the globe.[4]
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 terraces[citation needed]. 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.[5]
Contents
[hide]

1 Ifugao rice culture

o 1.1 Organic farming
2 Tourism
3 As a National Cultural Treasure
4 Other notable rice terraces in Ifugao
5 Gallery
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

Ifugao rice culture[edit]

A pre-Hispanic indigenousIfugao village.

The terraces are found in the province of Ifugao and the Ifugao people have been its caretakers.
Ifugao culture revolves[6]around rice and the culture displays an elaborate array of celebrations linked
with agricultural rites from rice cultivation to rice consumption. The harvest season generally calls for
thanksgiving feasts, while the concluding harvest rites called tango or tungul (a day of rest) entails a

strict taboo on any agricultural work. Partaking of the bayah (rice beer), rice cakes, and betel
nut constitutes an indelible practise during the festivities.
The Ifugao people practise traditional farming spending most of their labour 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 have been exhibited among Ifugaos for
generations. The building of the rice terraces consists of blanketing walls with stones and earth
which are 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.

Organic farming[edit]
In March 2009 the Ifugao rice terraces were declared[7] free from genetically modified organisms
(GMO). An event was organised in Dianara Viewpoint for this announcement where it was graced by
Gov. Teodoro Baguilat, Mayor Lino Madchiw, Greenpeace campaigner for Southeast Asia Daniel
Ocampo, and Cathy Untalan who was executive director of the Miss Earth Foundation. Before the
announcement ceremonies, three mumbaki (traditional priest) performed an Alim, a ritual to ask for
blessings where an animal is offered to the gods.

Tourism[edit]

Panoramic view of the Banaue Rice Terraces.

Another thriving economy in the Banaue Rice Terraces is tourism.[8] 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. A Mumbaki[9] (traditional Ifugao witch
doctor) is also recommended[10] to visitors, these doctors can perform spiritual healing rituals.[citation
needed]

Domestic tourism however has gone down[11] over the past few years. A contributing factor to

this is the treatment of domestic tourists by the local guides in the area where it has been reported
that local guides are more willing to entertain foreign visitors.[citation needed] The Batad Environmental Tour

Guides Association (BETGA) in association with the Batad Baranguay authorities are currently
laying a concrete track down from the Batad Saddle to the village proper.

As a National Cultural Treasure

The Banaue Rice Terraces.

The Banaue Rice Terraces refer to the cluster close to the Banaue poblacion as seen from the
viewpoint. Contrary to popular belief perpetrated by its inclusion on the twenty peso banknote, the
Banaue Rice Terraces are not a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They were not included in the
UNESCO inscription Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras due to the presence of numerous
modern structures, making it score low in the integrity criterion of UNESCO.[12]
The five clusters inscribed as part of the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are Batad,
Bangaan, Hungduan, Mayoyao Central and Nagacadan.[13] Batad and Bangaan are under the
jurisdiction of the Municipality of Banaue but are not referred to as the Banaue Rice Terraces.
The Banaue Rice Terraces are however declared by the Philippine government as a National
Cultural Treasure under Ifugao Rice Terraces by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 260 in 1973.[14]

Other notable rice terraces in Ifugao[edit]

Aside from the Banaue Rice terraces there are 4 other similar terraces,[15][16] the Batad Rice Terraces,
Mayoyao Rice Terraces in Mayoyao, Hapao Rice Terraces and Kiangan Rice Terraces. The Batad
Rice Terraces are located in Barangay Batad in Banaue, these terraces shaped resembles an
amphitheatre. The Mayoyao Rice Terraces are for a rice variety called "tinawon",[17] a rare type of
organic rice which are grown in red and white variety in these terraces. The Hapao Rice Terraces
are located in Hungduan, these terraces are stone-walled and date back to 650 AD.[18] The Kiangan
Rice Terraces is similarly located in Banaue, here they grow the rice varieties of nagacadan and
julungan.