History

Ancient huge walls in the vicinity of Potia in eastern Ifugao, dated to be some four thousand years old, point to early human settlement in the province. Ifugao culture is reputedly 3,000 years old. The rice terraces are estimated to have taken 2,000 years to build, to cover the present day 400 square kilometers of terraced land although anthropologists are divided on pegging the exact age of the terraces.

During much of the Spanish period, Dominican friars tried to convert the Ifugaos to Christianity. Except for a few conversions, the enterprise failed and the Ifugaos remained largely outside the pale of Spanish dominion. Ifugaos continually harrassed the Christian settlements in present-day Nueva Vizcaya until increased Spanish military forays established a presence in Ifugao in the 1830s. A permanent station was established in Ifugao in 1841 with the inauguration of the comandancia politico-militar of Kiangan, which was abandoned and reestablished in 1889.

It was under the American regime that colonial rule was eventually extended to Ifugao. Roads, schools and hospitals were established and tribal conflicts where brought to an end. During the Japanese occupation, a station was established in Kiangan in 1942. The Japanese forces under General Tomoyuki Yamashita established a stronghold in the vicinity of Hungduan where they held out against the continuous assault of a combined American and Filipino guerrilla force in 1945. Finally, on September 3, 1945, General Yamashita and his 16,000 strong holdover forces surrendered to the Americans at Kiangan.

The Spaniards administered the comandancia of Kiangan as part of the province of Nueva Vizcaya. The Americans incorporated Ifugao into the Mountain Province in 1908. On June 18, 1966, the province of Ifugao was created from out of the Mountain Province by virtue of Republic Act No. 4695.

People, Culture and the Arts

The Ifugaos are sometimes referred to as the "people of the skylands". They are the builders of the gigantic rice terraces, which are sometimes called 'stairways to the skies'. The Ifugaos carved the terraces from the mountainside using the barest of tools and this marvel of human engineering is popularly referred to as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'. It took the Ifugaos centuries to build the terraces and work continues until today, making the rice terraces the longest agricultural project in history.

Together with the technical and engineering know-how, Ifugao culture is strongly rooted in its culture of rice. The irrigation system for the rice paddies was built and maintained by the entire community and an elaborate social system supports the entire enterprise of planting paddy rice. Taboos accompany the ritual of preparing the terrace, planting the rice and harvesting the grains. Planting season starts in February and only the womenfolk are assigned the job of planting the seedlings. The men work on erecting the terraces, maintaining walls and irrigation canals as well as hauling the harvests from the field. These observances are strictly followed.

The village chief, who is also the high priest, is tasked to perform the first harvest at the start of the harvest season. Sacrificial animals are butchered before planting but the most colorful and expensive holidays are celebrated after the harvests. For two consecutive days, a village celebrates by butchering chickens, pigs and even water buffaloes. The feasts are sponsored by the richest men of the village and is a means to affirm their social status.

The Ifugaos are known for their weaving crafts and basketry. These are exclusive tasks of women. Traditionally, weaving is done for the family's needs, but it is also done for commercial purposes. The menfolk are skilled wood carvers and metal workers and the products of Ifugao craftsmanship are highly-esteemed.

Trade and Investments

Ifugao's basic strategy for development is agro-industrialization. The province's soil is suitable for a variety of agricultural crops and the use of terracing and sloping land agriculture enables Ifugao to make use of 20 up to 30% of its land area for agriculture. Rice is the main product of the land and coffee is the most important commercial produce. Metallic and non-metallic deposits such as gold, copper, silica, limestone and clay abound in the province. The province has a labor force of 67,000, which adequately answers the needs of the province's primary industries.

Ifugao is approximately six hours from either Manila or Baguio City. The main highway links the capital with Solano, Nueva Vizcaya and Bontoc, Mountain Province while secondary roads link all but one municipality. There are functional telecommunications facilities in eight municipalities, power is available in all but one town and wells and communal water systems provide potable water to most households. Three banks provide a full range of financing facilities.

The provincial development strategy of Ifugao hopes to make full use of the economic potential of each of the province's municipalities and complement these activities for growth. Agriculture is still the bedrock on which the province's economy rests. Increasing productivity and encouraging the cultivation high-value crops are top priorities. The province is encouraging investments in mulberry farming, silkworm raising and cutflower cultivation as well as coffee and vegetable production. Cattle raising is another a profitable venture. The province is building a Provincial Industrial Center in Lamut, which serves as the base for investments in light industries such as ceramics manufacture, garments, toys, handicrafts and food processing. The industries can make ready use of available raw materials and indigenous craftsmanship and know how. Tourism also remains a viable investment area. The rice terraces continue to draw local and foreign tourists. Tourist arrivals continue to grow by an average of 18% every year and accommodations, services and support industries are necessary to meet with increasing tourist arrivals. The province can also continue to expand its tourist industry by tapping its eco-tourism, cultural tourism and adventure sports potential. The province not only holds magnificent terraces but also breathtaking views of peaks, natural pools, waterfalls, and challenging terrain.

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