Ifuago
Located in the foot of the Cordillera Mountains is the small Province of Ifugao. It has a population of less than 165,000. It used to be part of the Mountain Province, but they became an independent Province in 1966. The Ifugao are famous for their rice terraces. It is truly amazing how the natives of this province built it without modern technology. They used natural resources that were in the surroundings. It is the home of the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, also known as the eighth wonder of the world. It's about a 6-hour road trip from Manila. Here you'll also find the Philippine War Memorial Shrine, commemorating the end of WWII. The pyramid shaped structure also resembles the Ifugao houses on a larger scale.
The Ifugao's rugged terrain is perfect for mountain biking. Because it's uphill, you will find it challenging, even for biking enthusiasts.
The main means of livelihood in Ifugao is agriculture. The primary product is rice and their most important commercial product is coffee. It is surrounded by 400 kilometers of terraced land. They have the most rice harvest in the country. The people of Ifugao live a simple life. They still practice ancient ways of living, just like their ancestors did thousands of years ago. They worship wood carved idols and they believe that it brings them more harvests when they do rituals. With modern amenities outside their villages, they maintain true to their beliefs.
The Ifugao huts are small and constructed only with their bare hands and without the used of nails or metals to hold the joints together. These houses are very sturdy. The Ifugao men are highly skilled craftsmen. Only bare necessities are found inside the huts.
Since Ifugao is in higher ground, the climate is cooler. The best months to visit are from November - February. March and April are the hottest months and the rest of the year is raining.
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