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The story begins at the dawn of December with two officemates Philip
Latak also known as “Ip-pig”, an Ifugao from the Mountain Province who is
presently working in the big city of Manila and Sam Cristie, an American
who in a few days will return to Boston for that leave which he had not had
pass on to him his share of the famous rice terraces, Philip still chose to
The two are on the bus to Baguio because Sam wants to buy an
Ifugao god as a souvenir; on the other hand, Philip was to help him find an
Phlip is a Christian and a self- declared city boy who gradually becomes
less sentimental with his cultural identity, and customs. He no longer has
respect or affection for the Ifugao culture and has clearly forgotten the
importance and the value of his beliefs. Regardless of his attitude, his
grandfather, pleased and happy to see him, still decides to throw a party in
On the day of the party, Sam and Philip discoverthat no Ifugao is willing to
sell his god. Philip offers to steal his grandfather’s god as a last resort. He
giving him a rise at work. A day after, his grandfather dies owing to the fact
that his god was stolen. Sam finds out that Philip will no longer be going
back to Manila. Because of his curiosity, he looks for Philip and finds him
Philip expresses his guilt and his reason for settling to stay on the
mountains."I could forgive myself for having stolen it. But the old man- he
had always been wise, Sam. He knew that it was I who did it from the very
- and neither can I. I killed him, Sam. I killed him because I wanted to be
free from these. These cursed terraces. Because I wanted to be grateful. I
take the place of the old one which Sam will take to America, as a
souvenir.