Ifugao Rice Terraces

Sometimes called by locals as the "Eighth Wonder of the World", the Ifugao Rice Terraces begin at the base of the mountain range and extend several thousand feet upwards. Two of the terrace clusters in Banaue, namely Bangaan and Batad, are part of the UNESCO World Heritage inscription. It is said that their length, if put end to end, would encircle half of the globe. Built 2,000 years ago, the rice terraces manifest the engineering skill and ingenuity of the sturdy Ifugaos. They are irrigated by means of mountain streams and springs that have been tapped and channeled into canals that run downhill through the rice terraces.

Banaue Rice Terraces

The rice terraces once stretched northeast to Cagayan and as far south as Quezon. However they are now slowly being abandoned and showing signs of deterioration. A severe 1990 earthquake damaged some of the terraces' irrigation systems, while El Niño triggered droughts that led giant earthworms to erode the terraces' soil. Furthermore, the rice variety most suited to the area's cool climate is not a high-yielding crop; because it takes so long to mature, some Ifugao families have abandoned their land in the rice terraces in favor of land that reaps faster rewards.

Rice terrace in the background

Poinsettia tree

Rice terraces

Sister England as a "native"

Sister England with an 85 year-old man

Rice terrace

Clem "wall-walking" on the rice terrace

Rice terrace

Rice terrace and owner's hut

Clem on the terrace 

Straight down!

Dry terrace

Rice in lower picture is in its growth phase.  It turns
yellow when ripe.

Naner, naner - I don't like to have my picture taken!

Active terraces: some irrigated, some growing

Preparing the terrace for planting.

Bright green rice is growing.

Terrace with flowers

Cleaning out the terrace.  The plastic bag is hung to
blow in the wind and keep the birds away.

Terraces

The amazing thing about these rice terraces, which took 2,000 years to complete, is they were made with wooden shovels and no other equipment!  The terrace was started at the top of the mountain, working downward.  The terrace was leveled, a layer of rocks, sand and clay added so the water wouldn't seep.  Next came the berm if the soil wouldn't support the terrace.  These were made of more rock walls at the edge.  The terraces are large, but individual families owned a section.  All helped to build and maintain them.  The terraces are irrigated, moving from terrace to terrace from top to bottom.  They are able to divert the water if it isn't needed for any reason.  Pretty ingenious!  Our impression: amazing hand-work; tradition which keeps the terraces going; these Filipinos are different from the city folk, I guess like some Americans.  Life is simple here and they love it!