The Igorot people of the Philippines are known for their terraced rice cultivation and were once headhunters. They are classified into six different ethno-linguistic groups: Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg, Kalinga, and Kankana-ey, each with their own unique characteristics and traditions.
The Igorot are an ethnic people of the Philippines, grouped in the Cordillera region of Luzon. They are famous for terraced rice cultivation and some of them have been known to be headhunters in the past.
Igorot, or Igolot, literally means mountain people. As can be inferred, they are a highland breed and are well adapted to life at high altitudes. To ensure a constant supply of crop, they have even devised a way to carve terraces into the mountain sides, which they plant with various grains. The Igorot are classified into six different ethno-linguistic groups: Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg (or Apayao), Kalinga and Kankana-ey.
Bontocs thrive on the banks of the Chico River. Famous as headhunters in the past, they have since turned away from their former ways. Currently, the vast majority of Bontocs have embraced Christianity. They seamlessly transformed into a peaceful and agricultural people.
The Ibaloi are also an agrarian society. They are mostly found in southern Benguet, there are around 93,000 throughout the Philippines. Their language belongs to the Austronesian language family.
The Ifugao, on the other hand, are known for their epic poems and stories, such as the hudhud and alim. Ifugao have a total of four different dialects and are sometimes called Amganad, Kiangan or Mayoyao. The word Ifugao means “from the hill”.
The Isneg or Apayao is located near the banks of the Apayao River. Originally slash-and-burn farmers, they have since begun practicing more sustainable forms of agriculture. The Isnegs are also known as good fishermen and have a penchant for coffee.
The Kalinga tribes are perhaps the most diplomatic of all the Igorots. They attach great importance to kinship and social ties, and are heralded for the peace pacts that have allowed their tribes to become strong. They are also known as the most adorned of all the Igorots.
Finally, the Kankana-ey are one of the few tribes who still practice a way of life more common in the old days, even if it is rapidly disappearing. In Kankana-ey, young men and women are separated by gender and then ushered into separate dormitories. Entering a dormitory signifies a young man’s willingness to enter the stages of courtship. Courtships are carried out in the ebgan, or “girls’ house”.
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