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Bobby Wong Jr. | profile | all galleries >> My Travels >> An Ifugao Adventure >> The Story of Upland Rice tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The Story of Upland Rice


Rice is the reason why the Igorots built these grand staircases 2,000 years ago.
Scroll thru my photo-essay and read all about how they do what they do...

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They carved these staircases to plant rice...
They carved these staircases to plant rice...
...watered them from mountain springs...
...watered them from mountain springs...
...and toiled to plant them full...
...and toiled to plant them full...
...in neat little rows along neat little steps...
...in neat little rows along neat little steps...
...until harvest time comes around...
...until harvest time comes around...
...and with it the promise of another bountiful year.
...and with it the promise of another bountiful year.
Then everyone comes together...
Then everyone comes together...
...to collect the pregnant sheaths of gold...
...to collect the pregnant sheaths of gold...
...separating each sheath from its stalk...
...separating each sheath from its stalk...
(By the way, this is how it's done!)
(By the way, this is how it's done!)
...carefully tying them in a bunch...
...carefully tying them in a bunch...
...for the long journey down the steps...
...for the long journey down the steps...
...where they are dried by the road...
...where they are dried by the road...
...or atop their homes where roads are scarce...
...or atop their homes where roads are scarce...
...diligently watched until they're dry...
...diligently watched until they're dry...
...and finally put away...
...and finally put away...
...to feed a hungry populace for another year...
...to feed a hungry populace for another year...
...until the next one rolls around.
...until the next one rolls around.
The Igorots, they are a simple and peaceful people...
The Igorots, they are a simple and peaceful people...
...they don't see too many nosey photographers poking around...
...they don't see too many nosey photographers poking around...
...who point their cameras one way...
...who point their cameras one way...
...and then the other...
...and then the other...
...hauling stuff until they are pooped...
...hauling stuff until they are pooped...
...and yet they dare return to shoot another day!
...and yet they dare return to shoot another day!
So what are you waiting for, dude?!!! A terrace adventure awaits!
So what are you waiting for, dude?!!! A terrace adventure awaits!

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jacob 14-Apr-2012 10:15
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j 14-Apr-2012 10:15
jg
cherrry miranda 17-Aug-2010 14:09
wow what a nice story!!!!!!!!!!!!!hope here in the philippines are they with the same igorots behavior..........
BIDYA 01-Jun-2009 08:03
thanks! from ur photos i got new light for my research. EXCELLENT AND HATS OFF TO YOU!!!!
carolynn 27-Jun-2008 20:12
I just returned from China (for the 8th time!) and I never tire of looking at the beauty of the land and stand amazed at the terraces planted with crops! Absolutely fantastic!!
carolynn 27-Jun-2008 20:12
I just returned from China (for the 8th time!) and I never tire of looking at the beauty of the land and stand amazed at the terraces planted with crops! Absolutely fantastic!!
Guest 25-May-2008 02:26
hi bobby!nice photos dude!hope you can add more photos of the mountain province beautiful sceneries,thanks.
Guest 25-May-2008 02:22
hi bobby!nice photos.hope you can add some of the photos of maligcong rice terraces too.and other wonders of the mountain province.keep up the good shots.
vester-singapore 23-Feb-2008 05:35
great photos. makes an ifugao like me prouder of my origin but also homesick of my old hometown Banaue.
one correction please.... your photos are all taken in Ifugao specifically banaue and hungduan so it would be most appropriate to put in your photo-essay the word IFUGAOS rather than IGOROTS for it might be mistaken as shots taken from the MT. PROVINCE. (mt. province and ifugao province are two distinct province in the cordilleras)
thank you.
Lawrence of Banawe 14-Feb-2008 08:43
Hi BOB!!!!
Bravo for not only the great shoots but with the interesting story being told. It makes me smile, really!!!
Thanks a lot and see you this March for a new shoot on a different agricultural stage of our rice production.
Guest 09-Jan-2008 03:36
story told beautifully...awesome pictures to boot
Guest 07-Dec-2007 10:47
can you translate it in filipino?pls.. I need it tomorrow 12/08/07
Aloha Diao Lavina22-May-2007 03:23
Hi Bobby, Thanks for the lyrical story. It inspires a fresh and insightful look into the Ifugao way of life. Beautiful photographs!
Guest 13-Nov-2006 17:30
Very good documentary Bobby.
wig tysmans 14-Sep-2006 07:48

Hi Bobby,
Great photos! Makes me really wanna go back to Ifugao specially at harvest time. I love the rich greens and yellows... The story is funny too. You should make childres books, maybe even change a lot of the outdated imagery in our textbooks! You owe it to our children!
Thanks again for sharing.
Cheers,
wig



Guest 10-Sep-2006 15:53
Hey Bobby. This is my first chance to really get stuck into one of your galleries. These are excellent. I mean, the photographic quality is of course very good (beautiful landscapes, fantastic portraits) but the way it's pulled together is something I enjoyed thoroughly. Rather than a random collection of images (which still would have been great), these tell a wonderful story that might otherwise have been lost in vast landscapes. V impressed. Voted
Guest 10-Sep-2006 04:11
Wonderful story. Great photos. Beautiful site.
Thanks for sharing!
Manuel Libres Librodo Jr.09-Sep-2006 07:56
These are good shots Bobby. Thanks for showcasing the beauty of the place.
Guest 08-Sep-2006 14:23
Hi Bob,
These are terrific pictures. When we were their the first time we has some of the rice and it was the best I have ever tasted. The second time we went back we got the cheap stuff and no restaurant had the good stuff for sale.
Best,
Bailis
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