BANAUE BOOK TACKLES RESTORATION OF ‘EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD’
“A Banaue Story: Restoring a World Heritage Treasure,” a coffee-table book on the restoration of the world-famous rice terraces of Ifugao province, was launched on Nov. 12 at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City.
The 265-page book is a testimony to the efforts of local farming communities in the province and the dedication of advocates in the preservation of the age-old architectural wonder.
Often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” it now faces alarming problems of degradation, neglect and abandonment.
Apart from contributions from prominent personalities in the academe like Dr. Jesus Peralta, Dr. Ricardo Jose and Dr. Bernadette Abrera, among others, the book—edited by former Inquirer editor Ester G. Dipasupil—is replete with spectacular photographs of the terraces.
A Unesco World Heritage Site, the rice terraces were shot from all angles by noted photographers Eduardo Masferre, John Chua, George Tapan, Alex Van Hagen, Albert Labrador, Joey de Leon, Pet Salvador and PJ Enriquez.
The book also includes documentation and on-site proce- dures on the current restoration efforts being undertaken by volunteers from the villages, as well as soldiers of the Philippine Army, with the support of businesswoman and cultural heritage stalwart Dr. Milagros O. How, president and chief execu- tive officer of Universal Harvester Inc.