Banaue, a fourth class municipality in the province of Ifugao, Philippines, has a population of 20,563 people in 3,952 households according

to the 2000 census. The Ifugao Rice Terraces, which follow the natural contours of the mountains, only enhance the regions rugged natural beauty. They also epitomize a harmonic, sustainable relationship between humans and their environment. These fields, and the knowledge to farm and sustain them, have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries.

One of Philippines pride is the beautiful Banaue Rice Terraces. These manmade rice paddies were constructed about 2,000 years ago. The original Ifugaos used their bare hands to build the stone walled mountain, one stone at a time. This magnificent landscape is the main tourist attraction in Banaue.

They have a lot of tourists who go out there to go trekking too. Its perfect for hiking because of the slopes and the narrow rugged trails.

Ifugao refers to the people, their dialect and the province they live in the mountainous northern part of the Philippines. Known as an independent, agricultural society, they speak various Ifugao dialects, such as Tuwali and Ayangan. They speak Filipino vernacular dialects like Ilokano and Tagalog as well. Many Ifugaos, especially in Lagawe, Kiangan, Mayoyao, Aguinaldo, and Banaue, speak English fluently as well.

They prefer the name Ifugaos as opposed to the more generic and less accurate Igorot term that includes all the peoples of the Cordillera Region, which specifically refers to some of the inhabitants of Benguet.

The Bulol or rice god is a carved human figurine into which a certain class of spirit that's said to incorporate itself when worshipped. Bulols are kept in the house or granary, and are usually made in pairs.

They are carved of narra wood, which represents wealth, happiness, and wellbeing. Every step in their production requires a ceremony, from tree selection to arrival at the owner's house; a consecrated bulol has been bathed in pig's blood, had myths recited to it, and received offerings of wine, ritual boxes, and rice cakes.

Batad is one of the idyllic villages in the province of Ifugao. The surrounding terraces of the village look, as some say, as a 'tribune in a amphitheater'.

The mountain people still maintain the terraces and the walls of stones and loam, often 6 to 7 meters high, with their hands. Every part of the steep slopes is used. Sometimes the surface of a rice-field on a terrace is only 10 square meters.