The punnuk ritual is a tug-of-war game using two sturdy branches bound together, or a pakid, instead of a rope, and held in a river that flows through the rice terraces. With water so essential to their floodplain crop, various figurines are offered to the river in thanksgiving, and the ritual is believed to cleanse the souls and spirits of the Ifugao.

Would you like to know when new stories are published here?

All I need is your name and email. Don't worry, I wont share your info with anyone.