Rice Terraces as a Living Cultural Landscape

The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras are a living cultural landscape whose origins date back as far as two millennia, to the pre-colonial period in the Philippines. The inscribed terrace clusters are still cultivated and maintained using traditional methods. Those interested in the history of a place will therefore encounter not just a historic landscape, but a cultural landscape that is still carefully maintained today.

The Batad terrace cluster reveals a distinctive form: semicircular, amphitheater-like terraces surround a village at their base. Irrigation is also part of this cultural heritage. The Ifugao complex uses sophisticated systems that collect water from forests on the mountain peaks. The terraces and water supply thus tell different stories about how the landscape has been shaped.

Architecture and Urban History

The Philippines’ four Roman Catholic Baroque churches were built during the Spanish period, between the 16th and 18th centuries. Their architecture combines European church planning and construction techniques with local materials and decorative motifs. The churches are located in Manila, Santa Maria, Paoay and Miag-ao. At Paoay Church, the pyramid-shaped finials on the wall facades are particularly striking.

Vigan brings an entire historic cityscape into focus rather than individual buildings. Founded in the 16th century, the city is considered the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture combines cultural elements from the Philippines and China with those from Europe and Mexico. The traditional Hispanic grid plan opens onto Plaza Salcedo and Plaza Burgos; the historic city center includes 233 historic buildings along a grid of 25 streets.

Fort Santiago is also associated with a specific distinction: the National Museum of the Philippines declared it a National Cultural Treasure in 2014. The iMake History Fortress LEGO Education Center offers another way to explore history. It features LEGO models of lost landmarks in Intramuros as well as miniatures of other places of interest in the Philippines.

Biodiversity and Reefs

The Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary provides a habitat for threatened and endemic plant and animal species, including the Philippine eagle and the Philippine cockatoo. It is home to 1,380 species, 341 of which are endemic to the Philippines. The Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary is also the world’s only known habitat of the pitcher plant Nepenthes hamiguitanensis and the butterfly Delias magsadana.

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is located in the center of the Sulu Sea and encompasses the Tubbataha and Jessie Beazley Reefs. It lies within the Coral Triangle. The area is also an important nesting, resting and nursery ground for juvenile green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles. Here, the focus is on reefs and the habitats of two sea turtle species.

Experiences Between River, Forest and Museum

At Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, visitors can explore the underground river by outrigger boat and observe rock formations and wildlife along the way. Check the current boat tour options before making plans. Mt. Napulawan offers a different focus: it is known for challenging trails and views of moss-covered forests, varied landscapes and a sea of clouds.

After hiking through the rice terraces, visitors can relax in the warm, shallow water at Bogyah Hot Spring. Check local conditions before visiting. The Punnuk Festival on the Hapao River in Hungduan centers on a tug-of-war. In Kiangan, Ifugao, the Nagacadan Open-Air Museum showcases traditional Ifugao houses, artifacts and cultural displays.

Magat-Maris Wetlands Eco-Tourism Park, also known as Alfonso Lista Birdwatching Site, is a birdwatching area and an important stopover along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Together with the forests, reefs and cultural landscapes of the Philippines, it offers another distinct perspective on the country’s natural environment.

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Discover more destinations: Sorsogon, Manila, Malay, Davao City, Cebu, Angeles, Carmen, Lapu-Lapu City, Pasig, Makati City, Island Garden City Of Samal, Puerto Princesa, Mandaluyong City, Pasay, Metro Manila, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Cordillera, Western Visayas, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, Bicol Region, Ilocos, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Cagayan Valley, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao