Our Northern Brothers, The Ifugaos

The Ifugaos of Northern Luzon have no or little similarity to the other ethnic groups
of Mountain Province. Their ways of living customs and traditions are peculiarly their own.
The ifugaos inhabit about 2,525 square miles of the heart of Cordillera mountains.
They live in villages of twenty or thirty houses along hillsides and valleys. The people are
related by blood or marriage. Their grouping together for protection and assistance
continued.
The Ifugaos are tall, brawny and brown. They have black eyes, straight hair and thin
lips. They are industrious people, growing rice on their hillsides. For generations they have
woven on looms and carved works of art from blocks of wood.
The Ifugaos claim direct descent from the gods of Kabunyan. A long time ago, a great
flood came upon the earth. No living creature was spared. The flood receded and the earth
became green again. But no creature walked the land. Wigan looked down the earth.
“What a pity to waste such fertile land! I shall let my own children inhabit the land.
So he dropped down his own son and daughter. The Ifugaos traced their lineage with
Wigan’s own children.
Among the Ifugaos, there are no formal greetings of farewell. When friends meet,
they chew betel nut or lime. Asking for a betel nut or lime is a friendly greeting.
Thank you does not exist in the Ifugao vocabulary. But it does not mean they are
ungrateful. When they want to express gratitude they smile or nod their heads. They show
gratitude in other forms like giving health in time of need.
Ifugaos are generous, hospitable and chivalrous. But they are proud. They would
rather starve than beg for foods in the streets they prefer to be murderers than thieves.
Their religiosity is seen in their awe and reverence for the spirit of the dead.

1. What is the selection about?

a. The province of Northern Luzon
b. Customs, traditions, and way of life of Ifugaos.
c. Different tribes in Northern Luzon
d. Social amenities among the Ifugaos
2. The Ifugaos claim direct descent from the gods of Kabunyan. A long time ago, a great
flood came upon the earth. No living creature was spared. The flood receded and the
earth became green again. But no creature walked the land. Wigan looked down the
earth.
“What a pity to waste such fertile land! I shall let my own children inhabit the land.
So he dropped down his own son and daughter. The Ifugaos traced their lineage with
Wigan’s own children.

What is the paragraph about?

a. The gods of Kabunyan
b. The greatest food that came upon the earth.
c. The Ifugao claim of direct descent upon the earth
d. How Wigan’s children came to earth.
3. Which is the key sentence in the paragraph?
a. The Ifugaos claim a direct descent from the gods of Kabunyan
b. They are industrious people growing rice for substinence
 c. A long time ago, a great flood came upon the earth.
d. No living creature was spared.
4. Write on the blanks the details that tell why the Ifugaos claim direct descent from the
gods of Kabunyan.
a. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________________________
5. Which sentence does not belong to the paragraph?
a. The Ifugaos claim a direct descent from the gods of Kabunyan
b. They are an industrious people growing rice for substinence.
c. A long time ago, a great flood came upon the earth.
d. The Ifugaos traced their lineage ith Wigan’s own children.