The Igorot People and their Way of Life

The Igorot Tribe is a cultural minority group of people who live in the mountainous provinces in the northern part of the Philippines. Once known as headhunters in the primitive times, they are still discriminated up to now in this computer age. I belong to the Igorot tribe. And to tell you the truth I am educated since childhood and I am able to finish a degree in education. Most of my town mates are degree holders of all types of courses; from law to accounting to engineering, medical courses and many more. Yet, when you say, “I am anIgorot.” People seem to have heard a foreign word. It is like saying, “I am a vampire.” Or “I am a criminal.” I don’t know how they feel about us being Igorots.

The Igorots are found in many places in the mountainous areas in the northern part of the Philippines. Most people in Baguio City are Igorots. Baguio City is the Summer Capital of the Philippines. This is a tourist spot frequented by tourists from all parts of the world all year round. During summer because of its cool temperature and the strawberries and other fruits that it offers to visitors, many people from the lowlands in the Philippines go up to Baguio to taste a different environment. Aside from that, Baguio City also boasts of its fresh vegetables. The place is cool and it is very convenient for planting vegetables such as cabbage, radish, carrots, tomatoes, green peas, string beans, onions, bell pepper, cauliflower and broccoli.

The rice terraces are also attractions in the Igorot places. Igorots are hard-working people. It is not a surprise if they had built mountains and mountains of rice terraces. Since there are no flat lands to plant rice, the igorots terraced the mountains where they planted rice- their staple food. The rice terraces had been built by the igorots thousands of years ago but up to this day, Igorots are still building rice terraces where they could conveniently plant rice, vegetables and other root crops for a living.

While most of the young generations are now out in the cities and other countries living a different lifestyle from their old folks, the old men and women and those who do not want to leave their place are still enjoying the not-so modernized life in the mountains.

You can read more articles about the Igorots as I update you with their culture. They are interesting people who have their own way of doing things.