The head of tourism gets wet feet promoting Ifugao

UNIQUE CULTURE Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat (second from left) joins a tug of war in the Hapao River that she was visiting as a manager of agriculture. -EV ESPIRITU

HUNGDUAN, Ifugao – On Saturday, tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat jumped into the Hapao River to participate in the annual water shooting game, called "guyyudan", which highlighted a ritual of rice harvest. 19659003] Puyat first visited the village of Hapao when she served as assistant agricultural secretary to familiarize herself with the post-harvest ritual, "punnuk."

She also took note of the efforts of the community to support the rice-growing traditions of Ifugao terraces, which were collectively listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational Organization. , science and culture.

Different Agenda

But Puyat said his second visit, this time on the establishment of regulations to reduce the impact of tourism on the annual event. Puyat also said that she wanted to focus on the potential of terraces for agricultural tourism.

She discussed these issues with Baguio-based filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, who helped revive the punnuk tradition with her friend, sculptor Hapao Lopez Nauyac. Punnuk is officially declared here, bans against the consumption of fish caught in the river, or vegetables grown from terraces or local gardens, are finally lifted.

Boys and girls then walk towards the river accompanied by adults for traditional games. On Saturday, their procession carried the "kina" ag, a humanoid figure made of rice stalks, and a sacred plant called "dongla", features of the games.

Models [19659003] Puyat said that she joined the 19th staging of punnuk but lost the guyyudan.

This time, his team of tourism officials and guests defeated the women of Hapao. "It was a wonderful experience and that's why I have to come back next year," she said.

Ms. Puyat said that her 12 years of work at the Ministry of Agriculture and Culture was a great success. Agriculture had convinced them that rice terraces should be marketed as a model of agricultural tourism. "Some rice terraces were run down, but new generations of Ifugaos have abandoned their family farms in pursuit of the professions.

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The Ifugao World Heritage Site is composed of the terraces of Hungduan, the terraces of Nagacadan in the city of Kiangan, the terraces of the central city of Mayoyao and the terraces Batad and Bangaan of the city of Banaue

their consent to experiential tourism and help the government to develop regulations that would reduce the impact, such as establishing the carrying capacity of each A group of terraces.

When participating in rituals such as punnuk, P uyat said that visitors should learn what they can and can not do. "A lot of people want to do it, but we must also preserve, not harm culture or tradition," she said. – With a report from Ev Espiritu

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