The Igorots of Northern Philippines

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On TV or in films an Igorot is usually depicted as a primitive man in bare feet, clad in bahag (G-string), and viewed as a dog-eater and headhunter.  Dog-eating, however, is also practiced by other people in this archipelago.  Head-hunting—this was in the olden days, not today, and therefore, a thing of the past.

Today’s Igorots, especially the educated young ones, are seldom seen wearing G-strings except on special occasions like anniversaries or commemorations.  They would rather wear jeans and shirts just like their counterparts in central flat lands of Luzon.

But there’s a man who is not even a natural-born Filipino who is proud of being an Igorot and wearing bahag, whatever he does, all the time. 

Dutchman Johanne Schorsch, a theology and psychology graduate of a Dutch university, arrived in the Philippines in 1978 to settle here for good; he acquired citizenship in 2006.

His determination to preserve Igorot culture and tradition spurred him to build a spiritual retreat house and support foundation for Igorot youths. But some Igorots themselves criticized him as one advocating a return to backwardness.  Perhaps they don’t know that this Dutchman has found comfort, freedom, and peace of mind, not only in wearing G-strings but also in imbibing their rich cultural past.  For all we know, the Igorots of Northern Luzon built, two thousand years ago, the famous Banaue Rice Terraces which is considered the 8th wonder of the world.