NCCA Publishes Two Children’s Books on Ifugao Hudhud Epic

NCCA Publishes Two Children’s Books on Ifugao Hudhud Epic

Two new children's books have been published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to teach children about the Ifugao epic, hudhud.

Pumbakhayon and Halikpon are retellings of two episodes from the epic which is usually chanted by the Ifugao people in Cordillera while harvesting rice. Both books are written by Mae Astrid Tobias, with illustrations by Jose Miguel Tejido, and translated into Ifugao by Maribelle Bimohya.

Pumbakhayon is the story of how the mythical figure Pumbakhayon passed on the different epics to the Ifugao people. Halikpon, on the other hand, is the love story of Bugan and Aliguyon.

“This book on tales of the Ifugao Chant, Hudhud, is designed for the child so that he will grow into the adult person that is envisioned to be steeped in the culture of his people, the Ifugao,” says anthropologist Dr. Jesus Peralta in his foreword. Dr. Peralta is the Project Director of Safeguarding and Transmission of the Hudhud Chants of Ifugao, a three-year project of the NCCA to promote awareness and appreciation of Ifugao heritage.

NCCA will distribute free copies of the books to selected school libraries in Ifugao and cultural institutions. The books will soon be available on line (visit: www.ncca.gov.ph).

For more information, please contact Cecil or Min, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), 633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila. Tel. No. 528-4434 or 527-2192 local 307.