Ifugao Values, Ancestral Wisdom, and the Impact of Assimilation and Nation Building on Ifugao Identity
Marlon Martin discusses the values at the center of Ifugao culture, especially community-centered thinking vs. individual action. He explains the difference between preserving material culture and strengthening intangible values, including belief systems; and emphasizes the value of understanding ancestral beliefs even if one does not return to past religious practices. Martin introduces the concept of togon—ancestral wisdom that guides family life, relationships, and society. He also addresses the impact of assimilation and nation-building on Ifugao identity, noting concerns about cultural loss within a dominant national culture. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing Ifugao heritage as a distinct contribution to the broader Filipino identity.
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Rice granary guardian male and female figures (bululs)
Attributed to the carver Taguiling
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PERSON

Marlon
Martin
Executive Director of Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement
Co-director of Ifugao Archaeological Project
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THEMES
