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Ifugao, officially the Province of Ifugao, is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Lagawe, and it shares its borders with Benguet to the west, Mountain Province to the north, Isabela to the east, and Nueva Vizcaya to the south. The Ifugao area is marked by rolling hills and towering mountains covered with green plants. These mountains are crossed by winding rivers and streams, adding to the picturesque scenery. The fertile valleys and dense forests are home to a variety of plants and animals, making it a great spot for nature lovers.
SOURCE: John Tewell
The history of the Ifugao people is woven from ancient origins, early settlements, and the enduring impact of Spanish colonization.
According to Henry Otley Beyer, the Ifugao people traced their roots back to southern China around 2,000 years ago, embarking on a journey that led them to the Agno and Kayapa river valleys before settling in the Ifugao valleys.
Felix Keesing's theory, however, suggests a later arrival in the Magat area, potentially shaping the relatively young Banaue Rice Terraces.
Manuel Dulawan's proposition links the Ifugao people to the western Mountain Province, drawing from shared cultural elements. Despite the rugged terrain, the Ifugao demonstrated remarkable resilience against Spanish colonization, strategically resettling in the Cordillera Mountains to resist conquest. This resistance fostered the development of their political and economic resources, facilitating the adoption of wet-rice agriculture and the construction of extensive rice terraces, which served both as subsistence agriculture and ritual spaces.
These historical dynamics, alongside the contributions of Beyer, Keesing, and Dulawan, offer invaluable insights into the Ifugao heritage, shedding light on their enduring cultural practices and traditions
The Ifugao live in small hamlets of 5 to 10 houses scattered among the rice terraces. Early Spanish missionaries were impressed with the construction of the Ifugao houses—achieved without saws or other such tools—and with the decorative carvings adorning the beams and moldings of each house.
Ifugao social organization is based almost exclusively on kinship. Each individual is the centre of a “kinship circle” which extends to the third cousin, and these units were all-important in the feuds and headhunting activities that formerly prevailed.
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