Sacrilege against Cordillera

Apay Ifugao? Why, my dearest Ifugao, did you allow the desecration of the sacred rice

terraces built by the bare hands of our beloved ancestors?

Apay   Ifugao? Have we lost our sense of what is sacred and holy we now believe in the wicked gospel that it’s more fun (or funny?) in the Philippines?

The mountains of the Cordillera are sacred; they have been kept hidden for thousands of years because soon the mystery of our people—the Filipino people—and the Philippines our country, will be revealed to the whole world.

The Cordillera is the “ikalawang bahagi ng Makabagong Herusalem” (second part of the New Jerusalem). The Igorot culture, the sacred rites and rituals, the customs and traditions of the Cordillera, are living treasures of a mysterious civilization still extant or alive after thousands of years. Three hundred seventy-one years ago, a powerful earthquake destroyed the Cordillera. Such an apocalyptic event may occur again after the wakeskating sacrilege committed in Banaue, which was followed days later by the so-called “Gong Festival” in Baguio City.

Our gongs are not for tourism or for festivals. They are part of the sacred rites and rituals of our ancestors. Unfortunately, we have forgotten the sacred things in life in exchange for fun and modern civilization. The Cordillera is part of the amazing story and mystery of Christianity. Amen.

—HECTOR “BENEDICT” A. REYES,

San Miguel Street, Caloocan City