IFUGAO HYMN

Tuwali Version

Ha-oy ya tagud Ifugao
A-apo’ di Alim ya Hudhud
Athittu pe'y nitaguwa’ te hi Maknongan.
Ha-oy ya tagud Ifugao
Hantuh puhu’ namhod un abu
I-ngunua’ di kipkiphodan hantun boble.
Ifugao, maid di nipaddungan tun nabanong an payo
Hagiyyo, matagu aya, kumadangyan hantun boble.

Tagalog Version

Ako'y tunay na Ifugao
Ang awit ko'y Alim at Hudhud
Binigay ni Maknongan ang pagkalahi ko.

Ako'y tunay na ifugao
Sa puso ko at kaluluwa
Tupdin ko ang paglilingkod sa bayan sinta.
Ifugao tahanan ng tanyag na teradong palayan
Mabuhay bayan kong mahal,
Ibandila't dakilain.

English Version

I am a brother /(truly an) Ifugao
I sing the songs Alim and Hudhud
Maknongan made me a part of the Malayan race.
I am a brother/ (truly an) Ifugao
In heart and soul I will always be
Duty bound to serve my people, home, and fatherland.
Ifugao, there can be no place like the famous rice terraces
I hail thee, may your banners fly and your name ring from shore to shore.

Ifugao Hymn Composed by the late Mr. Peter Balajo Morado Sr.

Cordillera Hymn

Cradled by majestic mountains

Blest with nature's flowing fountains

Blooming flow'rs and verdant hills

Is a region of murmuring rills

Refrain:

Cordillera, Region of wonder hail

Beloved landyour name we shall not fail

Honor and fame to you we'll strive to bring

Your glory won, we shall forever sing.

Here dwell freedom loving people

Strong our band its hard to topple

For our freedom we rise and fight

Our priceless ancestral birth right.

(repeat refrain)

Neath the sky the rains may gather

Angry clouds may craz'ly wander

But the sun shines forever fair

As we climb up the golden stair.

(repeat refrain)

Dreams of peace and oneness and progress

Cherished goals our region presses

Striving to build a brighter dawn,

For our children to call their own.

BULUL

Bulul is a wooden carved image of a man and a woman either seated or mounted which is originally found in the northern part of Luzon particularly Region CAR. In Ifugao (and maybe other provinces of Region CAR), it acts a very important role in rice production. It involved  customary actions done by the Mumbaki  (native priest) from planting rice up to the protection and bountiful harvest in the rice fields. Having been surrounded by old folks in the province, I saw how they performed the ritual that include the "baya" (rice wine), the killing of pig while the Mumbaki murmured or chanted words (like he was doing speaking tongue) to stir its power. The bulul got its power from the dead ancestors spirits who dwell in it. It must be regarded with care and respect otherwise outbreak indication of diseases will be evident.

The Rice God and GoddessThese were carved by ama. He used an old Nara wood which used to be our old native house post. The wood is even older than me so does it means these bulul are considered antiques? :) Not than I am also an antique. I found these in our dirty kitchen when I went back home for a vacation. Wondering why they differ in color? It is because the male just came out from the chimney. :)

male bulul

One of my folks once told me that the Bulul represents wealth, happiness and well-being and then he related stories about it. Among those stories which lingers to my mind up to now is the story about a native old man who went to the forest to look for firewood. As the man walked and searched for woods, he noticed an old wood prodded in the soil almost covered by damp withered leaves. He curiously picked it and was so surprised upon recognizing it was a bulul. He examined it and was very sure it was an antique and thought it was once belonged to some ancestors. He secretly kept it as he  didn't want his neighbors to know about it. 

One day, there was an American tourist who was looking for antiques to buy. The old man invited the tourist to his house and showed the antique. Even if he knew it was forbidden, he still happily sold the bulul for a few thousands only thinking it was a huge amount of money. The foreigner brought the bulul to his country and after a few days, the native old man got sick for several days. He asked for the Mumbaki to cure him by performing baki in his house. After the baki, he was advised to return something he took from the forest or else it would cost him his life. The man admitted what he did. He died several months after. 

female bulul

All the villages became aware of it so when another tourist came to buy for antiques, they did not sell anything to him. 


Now, there are a lot of souvenir items displayed and sold in the north especially in Ifugao. They’re nice decorations and good souvenirs too except if they're antique. :)