Hudhud

Hudhud is the epic chant of the Ifugao people of the Cordillera region in northern Luzon, Philippines. It is a major form of oral literature traditionally performed during the harvest season as part of ritual and social life. The Hudhud comprises a sequence of sung narratives that recount the deeds and adventures of legendary heroes, notably Aliguyon and his wife Bugan, and the history of feuding clans, alliances, and eventual reconciliation. The poetry uses repetitive formulae, rich symbolism, and vivid imagery, and serves to transmit genealogies, laws, moral values, and cultural ideals across generations.

Performance typically lasts several days and is conducted in community settings, often led by elder narrators and ritual specialists. It is performed in the Ifugao language and may be accompanied by song and minimal instrumental elements, reinforcing social cohesion and identity among the Ifugao.

In recognition of its cultural significance, Hudhud was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. Contemporary efforts to preserve and document Hudhud include academic research, community recordings, and bilingual transcription projects, while communities balance living practice with modernization and language maintenance.