Banaue Rice

Terraces

The Banaue Rice Terraces (Filipino:

Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) are
terraces that were carved into the
mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by
the ancestors of the indigenous people.
The terraces are occasionally called the
"Eighth Wonder of the World".[1][2][3] It is
commonly thought that the terraces were
built with minimal equipment, largely by
hand.[4] The terraces are located
approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 feet)
above sea level. These 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 of the globe.[5]
 Banaue Rice Terraces

The Banaue Rice Terraces of Ifugao, Philippines

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Location Ifugao, Philippines

Coordinates 16°54′N 121°3′E

Locals up to this day still plant rice and
vegetables on the terraces, although more
and more younger Ifugaos do not find
farming appealing,[6] often opting for the
more lucrative hospitality industry
generated by the terraces.[7] The result is
the gradual erosion of the characteristic
"steps", which require constant
reconstruction and care. In 2010, a further
problem encountered was drought, with
the terraces drying up completely in March
of that year.[8]

Anthropologist Otley Beyer has estimated

that the terraces are over 2000 years old,
but several researchers dispute this and
contend that they were built much
later.[9][10] There are also giant earthworms
("olang" in Ifugao) of the genus Pheretima
or Polypheretima elongata which are
supposed to destroy the terraces,[11] as
well as rodents of the genus Chrotomis
mindorensis, and snails.[12]

Cultural significance
Ifugao rice culture

The Bulol, an Ifugao rice god.

The terraces are found in the province of
Ifugao and the Ifugao people have been its
caretakers. Ifugao culture revolves[13]
around rice, and the culture engenders 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) entail a
strict taboo on any agricultural work.
Partaking of the bayah rice wine), rice
cakes, and betel nut constitutes an
indelible practice during the festivities.
The Ifugao people practice 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 entails
constructing retaining walls with stones
and rammed 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 Ifugao’s 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.

Organic farming

In March 2009 the Ifugao rice terraces

were declared[14] free from genetically
modified organisms (GMO). An event
declaring this achievement was organized
in Dianara Viewpoint in collaboration with
local and municipal government,
Greenpeace, and the Miss Earth
Foundation.
Official heritage designation

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.[15]
The five clusters inscribed as part of the
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
are Batad, Bangaan, Hungduan, Mayoyao
Central and Nagacadan.[16] Batad and
Bangaan are under the jurisdiction of the
Municipality of Banaue but are not called
the Banaue Rice Terraces.

The Banaue Rice Terraces were declared

by the Philippine government as a National
Cultural Treasure under Ifugao Rice
Terraces by virtue of Presidential Decree
No. 260 in 1973.[17]
 Panoramic view of the Banaue Rice Terraces.

Tourism

A tourist taking a photograph of the rice terraces.

Another thriving economy in the Banaue

Rice Terraces is tourism.[18] The Tourism
industry has developed a number of
activities for visitors which may include
traditional sightseeing of the terraces and
visits to the tribes at the foot of the
terraces. A Mumbaki[19] (traditional Ifugao
witch doctor) is also recommended[20] to
visitors: these doctors can perform
spiritual healing rituals.[21] Domestic
tourism however has gone down[22] 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. 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.

The park is featured on the reverse side of

the 1985 series of the Philippine one
thousand peso note as well as the reverse
side of the 2010 series of the Philippine
twenty peso note.

Other notable rice terraces in

Ifugao
Aside from the Banaue Rice terraces there
are 4 other similar terraces:[23][24] the
Batad Rice Terraces, Mayoyao Rice
Terraces, Hapao Rice Terraces, and
Kiangan Rice Terraces. Soil types in this
mountainous province are similar to that
used to fabricate clay pots or clay jars
(also used in construction by firing clay).
The Batad Rice Terraces are located in
Barangay Batad in Banaue, these terraces
resemble an amphitheatre. The Mayoyao
Rice Terraces are for a rice variety called
"tinawon",[25] a rare type of organic rice
which is grown in red and white varieties in
these terraces. The Hapao Rice Terraces
are located in Hungduan and are stone-
walled from Sagada rock formation and
date back to 650 AD.[26] The Kiangan Rice
Terraces are in Banaue, on which are
grown the rice varieties of nagacadan and
julungan.

In popular culture
Film

In the ending scene of the movie

Avengers: Infinity War, the film’s main
villain Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) is
seen walking out of a small hut to watch
the sunset on a vista of mountains and
rice paddies. Bangkok-based Indochina
Productions who had provided the
image for the film production confirmed
that the image is of the Banaue Rice
Terraces.[27][28]