An ancient engineering marvel built by a hardy local community, teeming with green stalks of rice that turn golden brown during the harvest season. It is a majestic scene found in only a few places in the world.
I'm not referring to places in China, Vietnam, Indonesia or even Peru. I'm talking about the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras in the northern Philippines.
Before I visited these rice terraces in February 2017, I've only seen them in Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) textbooks during my elementary years as well as postcards and travel TV shows. Even then, I was already amazed by these engineering marvels made by ancient Filipinos. But seeing and walking through them is completely different albeit life-changing experience.
The trip to the rice terraces was sort of a flash in the pan. My sister had the idea of visiting the rice terraces and I simply tagged along. In fact, I've just gone straight from work when I met her and my brother-in-law at the Ohayami Transit bus terminal in Sampaloc, Manila. I wasn't prepared for a hike—I was wearing only my work sneakers, a polo short, a pair of shorts, and a jacket. Normally, when I hike, I would be in my trek pants, long sleeved shirt, all-terrain hiking shoes, a hat and even a trek pole.
We left Manila around 10 p.m. and the bus made its way to Ifugao via Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Nueva Vizcaya with three stops at San Miguel, Bulacan; Bayambang, Nueva Vizcaya; and Lagawe, Ifugao. After a scary, perilous journey through winding passes and cliffside roads, we reached Banaue at around 7 a.m. The nine-hour bus ride costs P540 one-way. The return trip to Manila leaves daily at 7 p.m. and costs the same.
We had breakfast at a local cafe called 7th Heaven Cafe and Lodge near the town center. It has a dining terrace that has a magnificent view overlooking the entire town as well as a portion of the Banaue Rice Terraces. The affordable but hearty breakfast made up of local rice, fried dried fish, fried egg, sweet pork, and black coffee costed less than P100.
Before I visited these rice terraces in February 2017, I've only seen them in Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) textbooks during my elementary years as well as postcards and travel TV shows. Even then, I was already amazed by these engineering marvels made by ancient Filipinos. But seeing and walking through them is completely different albeit life-changing experience.
The trip to the rice terraces was sort of a flash in the pan. My sister had the idea of visiting the rice terraces and I simply tagged along. In fact, I've just gone straight from work when I met her and my brother-in-law at the Ohayami Transit bus terminal in Sampaloc, Manila. I wasn't prepared for a hike—I was wearing only my work sneakers, a polo short, a pair of shorts, and a jacket. Normally, when I hike, I would be in my trek pants, long sleeved shirt, all-terrain hiking shoes, a hat and even a trek pole.
We had breakfast at a local cafe called 7th Heaven Cafe and Lodge near the town center. It has a dining terrace that has a magnificent view overlooking the entire town as well as a portion of the Banaue Rice Terraces. The affordable but hearty breakfast made up of local rice, fried dried fish, fried egg, sweet pork, and black coffee costed less than P100.
Since it was a sudden weekend trip, we didn't have any tours of the rice terraces booked with a local tour operator. Instead, we took advantage of the locals who were offering these at the bus terminal, which were discounted compared to when you book a travel company. We were able to negotiate a tour for the three of us for P3,000, which includes van transfer to and from the Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoint and to the Batad Rice Terraces drop-off point.
The Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoint was around 15 minutes from the cafe. From the viewdeck, we were able to get a wide view of how vast this ancient wonder is. Banaue Rice Terraces, along with other rice terraces in Batad, Hungduan, Mayaoyao, Nagacadan and Kiangan, were built by the local Ifugao people around 300 to 400 years ago when they migrated to the mountainous Cordilleras after the arrival of the Spanish colonizers.
The indigenous Ifugao people built the terraces initially as a means to plant taro, a staple root crop. Eventually, with the knowledge of rice planting passed to them through other indigenous peoples in the region, rice became the staple crop planted in the terraces.
The terraces or payao were designed so that it can allow water to flow from the topmost terrace down to the bottom during the rainy season. Made of compounded rock and clay, these terraces were strong enough to last for several centuries. It was only when the Americans arrived in Banaue that the existence of these terraces became known.
In 1995, the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras were declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It was the second place in the Philippines to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been the subject of extensive research and conservation efforts ever since.
From the Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoint, we made our way through steep winding roads for more than an hour to reach the jump-off point toward Batad village. For P500, we were able to secure a guide and some wooden trek poles. The hike to Batad village was characterized by a dirt trail lined with lush trees and grass and dotted with quaint local houses. It was a challenging hike amid the scorching, sweltering heat of the mid-morning sun. But the breathtaking landscape that awaited us in Batad village was worth all the sweat, cramps and swollen feet.
To watch more of my epic adventure at the Batad Rice Terraces, watch the video below:
Having been to a lot of different, scenic and historical places in the Philippines, I've learned that most of the places I've visited are always related to our colonial past.
As such, visiting the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras is a new and memorable experience that I would most definitely love to relive again. It gave a tremendous sense of pride about what my ancestors have built with crude tools and ingenuity. This is a destination that I enjoin all Filipinos to visit within their lifetime.
See you next time for more #EpicAdventures!
The Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoint was around 15 minutes from the cafe. From the viewdeck, we were able to get a wide view of how vast this ancient wonder is. Banaue Rice Terraces, along with other rice terraces in Batad, Hungduan, Mayaoyao, Nagacadan and Kiangan, were built by the local Ifugao people around 300 to 400 years ago when they migrated to the mountainous Cordilleras after the arrival of the Spanish colonizers.
The indigenous Ifugao people built the terraces initially as a means to plant taro, a staple root crop. Eventually, with the knowledge of rice planting passed to them through other indigenous peoples in the region, rice became the staple crop planted in the terraces.The terraces or payao were designed so that it can allow water to flow from the topmost terrace down to the bottom during the rainy season. Made of compounded rock and clay, these terraces were strong enough to last for several centuries. It was only when the Americans arrived in Banaue that the existence of these terraces became known.
In 1995, the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras were declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It was the second place in the Philippines to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been the subject of extensive research and conservation efforts ever since.
From the Banaue Rice Terraces Viewpoint, we made our way through steep winding roads for more than an hour to reach the jump-off point toward Batad village. For P500, we were able to secure a guide and some wooden trek poles. The hike to Batad village was characterized by a dirt trail lined with lush trees and grass and dotted with quaint local houses. It was a challenging hike amid the scorching, sweltering heat of the mid-morning sun. But the breathtaking landscape that awaited us in Batad village was worth all the sweat, cramps and swollen feet.
To watch more of my epic adventure at the Batad Rice Terraces, watch the video below:
Having been to a lot of different, scenic and historical places in the Philippines, I've learned that most of the places I've visited are always related to our colonial past.
As such, visiting the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras is a new and memorable experience that I would most definitely love to relive again. It gave a tremendous sense of pride about what my ancestors have built with crude tools and ingenuity. This is a destination that I enjoin all Filipinos to visit within their lifetime.
See you next time for more #EpicAdventures!
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