The Hanging Coffins of Sagada

Sagada, Mountain Province offers a fascinating glimpse to

ancient times through its world-famous hanging coffins.
Within the dark corners of the Lumiang Burial Cave lay a stack
of coffins which enclose some of the oldest Igorot ancestors. These
coffins are suspended from the limestone cliffs via ropes and strong
wires.
Local tourist guides assure visitors that the position of the
coffins signify how much loved ones cared for the deceased. In other
words, the higher the coffin, the more valued the deceased was. The coffins were made by hollowing
out logs that are apparently smaller than the actual size of the dead. As a result, the body would
assume a fetal positiona preferred technique believed by ancient Igorots as a way to bring peace
to the departeds soul.
Interesting facts about the Hanging Coffins of Sagada:
Igorot tradition only permitted those who died from natural causes to be placed inside the
hanging coffins. Those who either died as infants or from illnesses were believed to bring bad
luck if enclosed in the coffins.
The ancient Igorots hung the coffins first using difficult techniques that are left to our own
imagination. Once the coffins were properly suspended, the bodies wrapped in cloth would then
be placed inside them.

 The person who would get a drop of blood while the wrapped body of the deceased were being
passed towards the coffin was considered the luckiest. The blood symbolizes good fortune.

Banaue Rice
Terraces
This ancient, living cultural landscape beautifully
illustrates human harmony with nature and serves as an
example of sustainable agriculture with traditional techniques.
Banaue rice terraces has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. Carved
out of the hillside by Ifugao tribes people 2000 to 3000 years ago without the aid of
machinery to provide level steps where the natives plant rice. And they are still in use
today.
Banaue rice terraces stretch like stepping stones to the sky - some reaching
analtitude of 1500m (4920ft). It is considered as one of mankind's greatest engineering
feat. If the terraces were laid end to end, they would stretch half way around the world.
The structures' original builders used stone and mud walls to carefully carve and

construct terraces that could hold flooded pond fields for the cultivation of rice. They also
established a system to water these plots by harvesting water from mountaintop forests.
These incredible engineering feats were done by hand as was (and is) the farming itself.

Panagbenga Festival
(Baguio Flower Festival)
- celebrated in the city of Baguio every February. The festival

focuses on the city as the Flower Garden City of the North.

Adivay
Festival
- celebrated in
the province
of Benguet every
November.
"Adivay" means
"coming together of people to celebrate".

Ullalim Festival
-

celebrated

province

in

the

of Kalinga every

February 1316. The festival

celebrates the founding of
the

province,

showcasing

the cultural heritage and

way of life of the Kalingas. Highlights include exhibits of weaved
clothes (laga), coffee beans and other products of the province.

Lang-ay Festival
- celebrated in Mountain Province every April 7. This is a
week-long agro-industrial trade, tourism and cultural fair
with tribal dances and songs.

Matagoan Festival
-celebrated

in the city

of Tabuk every

June

16. The festival features

G-String

marathon

(runners wear G-String

only),

cultural

dances

and songs, and showcases the different products of Tabuk coming

from the different parts of Kalinga such as the aromatic Kalinga
coffee.