04/05/2026
The Flag Raising Ceremony today features a reflection on spirituality and faith rooted in cultural heritage as we commemorate National Heritage Month this May.
Our landscapes embody the way our people coexisted harmoniously with nature, which is why it is referred to as a Living Cultural Landscape. This connection illustrates the intertwining of spirituality, faith, and empathy.
Farming represents a lifestyle deeply ingrained in our spirituality. We often encounter widespread misconceptions regarding the spiritual practices of the ancient Ifugaos. Beyond the physical artifacts and intangible rituals linked to Ifugao religious beliefs, such as the “bulul” and “baki,” we possess a profound understanding of spirituality and faith. Each phase of the agricultural cycle—from the “lukat” (the ritual for opening the land) to the harvest—serves as a prayer. They engage in a “faith of seasons.” They plant not merely because they have seeds, but due to their belief that by honoring the spirits of the water and the mountains, the mountains will yield their bounty. This imparts a crucial lesson: cultural heritage endures only when we believe that our traditions merit the arduous effort required to preserve or conserve them.
Faith links them to the Supreme Being, while empathy illustrates their relationships with one another. The Bible instructs us to be stewards of God’s creation. Our ancestors nurtured nature by taking only what was necessary and allowing the soil and other living beings to flourish and regenerate.
The elements of kinship and community relations are responsibilities, alongside respect for elders and participation in communal activities, such as feasts, work, and wakes, which form our community support system.
As civil servants, let us remember that we possess a rich tradition of spirituality, faith, and empathy. May these be reinforced by the ten biblical commandments and guide our interactions with one another and our way of life.
Office responsibilities mirror our spirituality. We must ask ourselves why we go to work. Beyond providing for our needs, it serves as our means to serve our people and God.
Let us reflect on how we understand spirituality and its manifestation in our everyday lives. May we continue to safeguard the Ifugao Rice Terraces, a testament of our spirituality, faith and empathy.
