QUEZON City, Philippines (January 12) – The Banaue Rice Terraces – every elementary school child knows about it and has seen it in photographs and in textbooks.
It is one of the most well-known landmark of the Philippines and that’s the reason why NET 25’s travel and history show, Landmarks, decided to delve into the rich cultural heritage of the eighth wonder of the world.
And it is truly wonderful!
Just imagine, the Banaue Rice Terraces were built 2, 000 years ago, by hand, using simple tools. Try to wrap your head around that awesome feat.
High up, breathing in the refreshingly cool mountain air, it is nice to bask in the richness of a community that is lost in time.
With the iconic rice terraces as the backdrop, the Ifugao truly managed to adapt to the modern times while at the same time preserving their unique traditions and outlook. A welcome change compared to us city-dwellers, majority of whom do not even struggle as foreign culture and influence dominate our lives.
Maybe it’s the isolation but truth to be told, it is also the determination of the people to not lose their cultural identity. Just imagine, the Banaue Rice Terraces have stood for 2, 000 years. And I think that the people living there have what it takes to last for another millennium or two.
As we continue to move towards the future, let’s take a pause and reflect at the lessons offered by the Ifugao and their magnum opus, the Banaue Rice Terraces.
(written by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz, photos by Lovely Manabat)
