The Legend of the Banawe Rice Terraces

In the Philippines, one of the places that tourist visit most of the time is Baguio City. One of the beautiful spots there is the Banawe Rice Terraces (Hagdang-hagdang Palayan). It is known for it's uniqueness and the creativity of the Igorots in making it using their hands. The mountain was turned into a rice field by landscaping it's sides to form a stairs. Igorots helped hand in hand in building the terraces. It is believed that it was not just built. According to some legend, the Banawe Rice Terraces has it's beautiful past. Do you want to know it? Well, referring to a book I've read, it was a symbol of love of two people who fought their love till the end and proved to everybody that with love nothing is impossible to happen. It was also a love story of heaven and earth...
One of the mountains in Baguio City, there lived a tribe of Igorots. There king had a daughter named Ban-a. The princess was very beautiful and indeed have a kind heart. Everyone admires her.She was treated like a jewel and the king loves him very much more than his life.
One day, the princess was taking a bath in the river with some maidens. Awwe, a handsome and a brave man that belongs to the lower area of living, was hunting for foods when he saw a lovely lady in a river.While Awwe was watching her he saw a snake nearby.He rescue the princess and killed the snake. Everyone was amazed especially the princess.
Since that incident happen, the two of them became good friends. And a month later fell in love with each other. They met secretly for the sake of Awwe because Ban-a knew that her father will get angry and would kill someone for her.When the king knew about their relationship, he made a decision that if Awwe could turn the mountains into a rice field then he can have Ban-a as a prince. The king believed that his demand was impossible to happen.He also thought that Awwe will give up his love for the princess. But the king was wrong, with the help of other Igorots, Awwe turned the mountains into a rice field. The king was very shocked and died for his depression and loneliness thinking that he will be all alone. Ban-a who felt she was the reason of his father's death tied up her head on a tree near the mountain and killed herself. However, when Awwe knew about Ban-a's suicidal went to the same place where Ban-a killed herself and did the same. And that was the legend of Banawe Rice Terraces, one of the 8th wonders of the world.

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