Ifugao is a province in the Cordillera Administrative Region widely known for the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines. It is described by UNESCO as “an outstanding example of an evolved, living cultural landscape that illustrates remarkable continuity and endurance.”

Aside from the rice terraces, a must-see when visiting the Ifugao province is their native houses. Built with absolutely no nails and bolts, these houses demonstrate the admirable Ifugao architecture and craftsmanship. More than that, the native houses are also a window to the Ifugao culture. Each feature of the house represent the people, their way of life, beliefs, history, knowledge systems and the Ifugaos’ rich cultural heritage.

One of the places where native Ifugao houses can be found is Tam-An Village in Banaue. Unfortunately, due to various factors, many of these houses are also facing deterioration and damage. This has affected not only the preservation of culture from generation to generation, but also lower economic benefits as the village also serves as a famous tourist attraction.

As part of Route +63’s commitment to our partners in Ifugao, we are currently raising funds to restore the native houses in Tam-An Village. On-going rehabilitation is being done through “badchang” an Ifugao term which means “bayanihan” in Filipino. Additional funds are needed to purchase materials which will be used for construction.

In the spirit of badchang, resources will be pooled together for the success of the restoration project. Route +63 will gather resources together with other organizations and local community groups to reach the target. Members of the local community are also actively involved in the project. The Mangili–Cuyapi Association, a group formed by the community members, currently manages the restoration project. Villagers have started clearing up the area, gathering resources, and making necessary house repairs.

Once rehabilitation is finished, Tam-an Village will serve as a venue for the Ifugaos to share their culture to visitors and fellow Filipinos. Ifugao songs, dances, sports, crafts, livelihoods, and practices will be showcased in the village.  Some of the houses will also be available for rental. As a token of appreciation to those who wish to contribute to the project, we will be giving out special products made in Ifugao such as rice wine, native house memorabilia, and wood-carved home decor crafted by local artisans (Check out the gallery for photos of  the rewards). Gift certificates for Route +63’s trips will also be given out for contributions worth Php5,000 and above. In addition to fundraising, Route +63 is also organizing a trip to Banaue on June 15-16 and July 20-21 for the restoration of the native houses. You can contribute to the project not only through monetary means but also through volunteering in the actual renovation. For more details, please visit www.route63travels.com/banaue.