A Glimpse of Cordillera Games
A Glimpse of the Cordillera, the photo exhibition of Dave Leprozo, Jr. at the SM City Sunset Terrace area in September 2022.
A Glimpse of Cordillera Games
By: Nonnette C. Bennett
Baguio City’s Charter Day on September 1, 2022, coincided with its recognition as a UNESCO Creative City for Folk Arts and Crafts—an opportune moment to showcase Cordillera-inspired photo exhibits. As the cultural melting pot of six provinces in this mountainous region, Baguio entices visitors to explore traditional games that remain vibrant in its neighboring communities.
Ewik, an Ibaloy Bendiyan game, that requires catching free range black pigs for the feast.
Photojournalist Dave Leprozo Jr.’s exhibit, A Glimpse of the Cordillera, presented at the SM Sunset Terraces, offered 30 striking images that captured the lifeways, games, and festivities of the region. His lens revealed not only landscapes and faces but also the playful spirit of indigenous traditions.
Games Rooted in Tradition
At the Bendiyan Festival in Kabayan, Benguet, Leprozo documented the excitement as men from different villages chased a pig destined for ancestral offering. This ritual, unique to Kabayan, celebrates bountiful harvests and brings together residents and tourists in a day-long festivity of dances, games, and communal feasting.
In Sabangan, Mountain Province, the Gagayam Festival highlighted handmade wooden tops crafted for youth competitions. Unlike machine-made toys, these tops vary in weight and size, requiring skillful wrapping of strings and mastery of balance. The thrill lies in spinning them for the longest time—a playful yet scientific display of precision and tradition.
Gagayam Festival of Mountain Province has youngsters in competition spinning their handcrafter tops during the ethnic games events.
The Imbayah Festival in Ifugao offered a twist on tug-of-war. Children played the game along riverbanks, anchoring themselves against the current as they pulled ropes in opposite directions. This playful adaptation showcased both strength and ingenuity.
Ginuyodan is the native version of the tug-of-war in the riverside during the Punnok thanksgiving feast in Hapao, Hungduan, Ifugao.
Dances and Engineering Feats
Leprozo’s photographs also captured the War Dance, where children dramatized ancient battles with spears and shields. Suspended mid-air, they simulated encounters that recalled the defense of village sovereignty in times past.
War Dance performed during the Gagayam Festival at Sabangan, Mt. Province.
Equally captivating was the wooden cart race of the Imbayah Festival. Each cart, uniquely designed by its owner, sped downhill powered only by gravity and the rider’s weight. The race rewarded speed and creativity, reflecting the amateur engineering skills honed by locals over generations.
Wooden scooter and cart race are games played in Banaue, Ifugao during the Imbayah Festival.
Preserving Living Traditions
Beyond games and rituals, the exhibit featured portraits of Cordillera people and destinations, inviting wanderers to join summer festivals across the region. More importantly, it underscored the resilience of traditional games—many of which have disappeared elsewhere due to technology but remain integral to indigenous communities.
Leprozo’s A Glimpse of the Cordillera was more than a photo exhibit; it was a celebration of heritage, creativity, and the enduring spirit of play that continues to bind communities together.
