By Lawrence Casiraya
(UPDATE) BANAUE, IFUGAO PROVINCE -- Webber Chuccar wants visitors to Batad
village to experience something more than just standing in awe of its
magnificent rice terraces.
Batad is a quaint yet charming village famous for its postcard-perfect
terraces. It is generally acknowledged as the most beautiful among
clusters of rice terraces that are declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites
-- the others located in Bangaan (also a village in Banaue) and the
municipalities of Hungduan, Kiangan, Mayoyao.
But these two-hundred-centuries-old* natural wonders are threatened by climate
change and other forces of nature. From afar, you can see a brown patch
running through upper portion of the terraces in Batad -- the effects of
soil erosion aggravated by strong typhoons.
Webber, who hails from Batad and works as a tourism officer for the
provincial government, helps organize “badchang” tours in Batad, ideal
for groups of 10 or more.
Badchang, in the local Ifugao dialect, means bayanihan or the Filipino custom of coming together to perform a certain task.
Badchang, meanwhile, is specific to how generations of Ifugaos have
managed to build the rice terraces -- by helping each other tend to
their respective rice paddies. Locals in Batad are also applying the
badchang to the task of restoring damaged portions of the terraces.
By joining badchang tours, visitors can have a first-hand experience of
how the Ifugaos built the rice terraces -- by pounding medium-sized
boulders on moistened soil, one on top of the other.
A slow and tedious task, alright -- by which you can appreciate the
effort put by their ancestors in carving these rice terraces out of
mountains. A village elder usually supervises and guides visitors during
the badchang.
“We can set aside a specific area for visitors who want to do the
badchang. Three to four hours is enough. Afterwards, we can set up a
picnic right there in the middle of the rice terraces,” Webber tells me
as we make our way through the rice terraces, pointing to me the damaged
portions.
Imagine indulging in a meal of pinikpikan (a native Ifugao chicken dish)
or adobo while having a great view of the rice terraces underneath your
feet. Or making your way down to the rice terraces beyond simply
admiring the view from the window at your inn.
Those who have taken part in these badchang tours usually do it on
weekends. A Facebook group called the Batad Weekend Warriors also helps
mobilize interested groups in coordination with locals like Webber.
More than the breath-taking view, expect to work out a sweat for a
worthwhile cause. Webber believes all Filipinos -- not just the Ifugao
people -- should take pride in what has been referred to as the “eighth
wonder of the world.”
“We are grateful for all the help we can get from people (visiting
Batad). Through the badchang, we hope they are able to appreciate even
more the ‘eighth wonder of the world.’ More important, it’s our way of
sharing with fellow Filipinos our Ifugao heritage.”
How to get to Batad:
From Manila, take the Ohayami Bus (terminal is at Lacson Street near
Espana Boulevard) going to Banaue. Buses leave daily from 9pm to 10pm.
From Banaue, take the jeepney going to the Batad Saddle every 3pm daily.
Or, you can hire a jeepney or tricycle to take you to the Saddle.
*Corrections have been made. Our apologies.
***
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