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Stairways to Heaven, the rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.

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The Cordillera Mountains are located on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

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The mountains are over 2,000 meters above sea level

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and are the backdrop for a local myth passed down from generation to generation.

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Ugan and Wigan were the first Ifugao.

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God gave them rice and something that enabled them to grow rice in the harsh mountains,

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the rice terraces.

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This is the Ifugao village of Bangan.

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The Ifugao tribe have cultivated and protected these 20,000 hectares of rice terraces

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for over 2,000 years, preserving traditions described in their local myth.

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The people of the Ifugao live in stilt houses.

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Harvested rice is stored in the attic.

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The smoke rises from below and keeps mice away.

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Bulul is the god protecting the rice.

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These beautiful rice terraces, often referred to as stairways to heaven,

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were inscribed on the list of world heritage in 1995.

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Indigenous chants sung during the planting and harvesting are called hut-hut.

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The hut-hut's 40 epic tales were proclaimed a masterpiece

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of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

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In the 16th century, the Philippines became a Spanish colony.

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The Ifugao refused to convert to Catholicism and kept their tribal pride.

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However, the impact of modernization is now affecting this village.

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In the village, many young people moved to the city

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and 30% of the rice terraces are abandoned and left fallow.

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Given the situation, the site was inscribed in the world heritage in danger list.

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Some young people have stayed in the village to try and protect the rice terraces

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handed down from their ancestors.

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This young Ifugao man is one of them.

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He is helping elders without successors to repair the collapsed rice terrace walls.

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It is hoped that these rice terraces, given by God and valued as world heritage,

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will be passed on to future generations.

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Chants calling for the people who left the village echo in the stairways to heaven.

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Chants calling for the people who left the village echo in the stairways to heaven.