A Journey to the Cordilleras, Where Tradition Shapes the Earth

In the timeless embrace of the Cordilleras, where rice terraces stand as a testament to resilience and unity, tradition and craftsmanship merge seamlessly.

Carved into the Kupapey mountainside are the Maligcong rice terraces, a dramatic landscape forged over generations of Bontoc families. In a feat of engineering, they built stone walls and shaped rice paddies following the contour of the slopes, directing the flow of water downward to irrigate the entire network of terraces below. The rice terraces epitomize what Augusto F. Villalon describes in the book Philippines: An Archipelago of Exchange as “the total interconnection with nature, agriculture, architecture, engineering, cultural beliefs, all expressed together within the cultural landscape of rice.”

In the Cordilleras, every aspect of life flows with intention. The people’s relationship with their environment is deeply ritualized, maintaining a delicate balance between the human and spirit worlds. Their social order mirrors this harmony through a complex system of gendered roles that work in constant reciprocal interchange, discussed by Marian Pastor Roces in the same book: Men build the stone walls, women plant, chant, and harvest the rice, while the mumbaki (ritual specialists) conduct ceremonies to hundreds of deities throughout the agricultural cycle, from the sowing of seeds to the post-harvest thanksgiving. 

We witnessed this living heritage firsthand during our shoot in Bontoc. Villagers worked carefully, placing cut rocks to repair walls damaged by recent landslides. As they placed stone upon stone, the totality of the terraces emerged, not just in the beauty of their form but in the collective spirit of the community that sustains the landscape. Centuries of traditional stewardship and indigenous wisdom have prevented the overexploitation of the land, while nurturing the biodiversity of the ecosystem. 

Vogue Man journeyed to the Mountain Province to capture the quiet power of the ancient terraces. Cool winds sweep through these mountains, where soft tailoring and light layers blend effortlessly with the rugged terrain. Local weaves and artisanal jewelry evoke a refined simplicity that honors both craftsmanship and sustainability. Against a backdrop of weathered stone, dappled trees, and bracing waterfalls, Kevin “Kalye” Paguntalan, a Baguio local, and JV Brin, a model with Ayta heritage, infuse the narrative with soul, embodying the spirit of the highlands.

Here, where tradition shapes the earth and a sense of balance guides everyday life, we explore the reverence for land and nature, breathing in the energies that connect us to our past, and to one another. 

Photographs by BORGY ANGELES. Vogue Man Editor DANYL GENECIRAN. Fashion Director PAM QUIÑONES. Fashion Editor DAVID MILAN. Makeup: Booya. Hair: Mong Amado. Model: JV of The Audacity and Kalye Paguntalan. Art Director: Jann Pascua. Producer: Anz Hizon. Associate Producer: Julian Rodriguez. Photographer’s Assistant: Rojan Maguyon. Stylist’s Assistants: Gabriel Yap, Neil Anthonie de Guzman. Video: Lorenzo Corro. Special thanks to: Agetyeng Travel and Tours, Creative Baguio City Council, Ester Castro Kimayong, Local government unit of Baguio City, Marshall Cruz of Baguio Old Market, Mirador Heritage and Eco Park, Sacya-an Stone Homestay-Maligcong, The Country Place Baguio.