Marlon Martin explains that Ifugao ritual practice centers on two main categories: rituals for people and rituals for rice. He emphasizes that this structure emerged from the community’s long, continuous relationship with rice agriculture. Because rice became foundational to Ifugao life, the culture developed an extensive pantheon of rice deities—gods associated with origin stories, prosperity, and protection. Martin notes that these deities guide mortals, provide hope in times of uncertainty, and function as a form of social control, reinforcing the cultural and spiritual importance of rice within Ifugao society.