The Philippines is not just rich in scenic beaches but also of monumental feats at par with any ancient wonders all over the world. Ancient Filipinos are skilled farmers and engineers as well.
With vision and skill they carved whole mountainsides to allow them to cultivate rice to feed their growing population 2000-6000 years ago. Without the aid of advanced engineering tools and equipment, the early people of Batad created their stairway to heaven rice paddies.
Ever wondered how it was done? Let’s take a look at the famous Banaue Rice Terraces that should always be included in your Philippine vacation package.
The creative minds of the indigenous people of Banaue several millennia ago were questioning how to best raise rice, a staple food for Filipinos ever since, in their mountainous villages. Banaue rises 5000 ft above sea level and the shortage for flat lands to best cultivate crops and rice is obvious.
In fact, the place is almost impossible to plant due to frequent land slides after heavy rains which are not uncommon in this part of the country. The thought of raising enough supply of food for all of them had always been a perennial question. Looking at their surrounding, what they see are competing peaks of the mountains that compose the Cordillera Mountain Range. Then someone had an interesting idea: build paddies on the mountainsides surrounding them.
I can only imagine how everyone could have agreed to do such daunting, if not totally impossible, feat. It would take all of them thousands of years to come up with the wonder that we so enjoy right now (well, that if you’ll go there and not content yourself with bland postcards). One has to go the place itself to feel the energy that permeates this amazing wonder.
The present terraces appear to be stepping stones that reached the clouds esp. during times when peaks are lost to fog. The entire length of this wonder if laid end to end would cover almost half around the world. No tourist will ever regret to spend some resources to feel and experience the awesome terraces. Actually, there are scattered similar terraces along the entire stretch of the Cordilleras but the most popular of them are the ones in Batad, Mayoyao, Hapao, and Kiangan.
These sites can be accessed by air-conditioned buses plying between Manila and Banaue. Accommodations vary from privately owned inns to the homes of the natives themselves. And do not forget to order that native delicacy called pinikpikan — broiled native chicken killed by striking it with tiny coconut leaf sticks. Yummy!
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