Summit of Conscience for the Climate: Ifugao tribe ceremony

To celebrate International Day for Disaster Reduction, Asian Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction Senator Loren Legarda and Jerry Velasquez from UNISDR will invite representatives of the Ifugao tribe to receive a certificate recognizing them as Champions for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Ifugoa tribe has been particularly active in protecting the 2,000-year-old Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, a UNESCO world heritage site. The preservation of the Rice Terraces, the irrigation system and the cultural practices that go with them are important demonstrations of harmony between man and nature despite the negative impacts of climate change and unsustainable development practices.

The ceremony will take place during the Summit of Conscience for the Climate, held at the Senate of the Philippines on Friday 9 October 2015 from 9:00 am to noon.

Ifugao Governor Denis Habawel, Dr. Serafin Ngohayon of Ifugao State University, Marlon Martin from the Save the Rice Terraces Movement and Ifugao Congressman Teddy Baguilat will receive the certificate on behalf of the Ifugao community.

The event will be followed by a Hudhud chant. The Hudhud is chanted among the Ifugao only during four occasions: the harvesting and weeding of rice, funeral wakes, and bone-washing (bogwa) rituals.