Skip to main content »
Igorotage

Headhunting in the Cordilleras

The truth behind the infamous Igorot headhunting practice in the Cordilleras.

 |  2 min read

The truth about the Igorot headhunting practice in the Cordilleras
The truth about the Igorot headhunting practice in the Cordilleras

Warning: This article contains material that you may find disturbing, offensive, or repulsive.

The headhunting in the Cordilleras was not done by the Igorot ancestors randomly, for various reasons, a broken peace agreement, a serious personal slight, a dispute involving rape, murder, or theft caused by a visitor or rivals from other tribes. A vendetta is declared and retribution becomes a matter of honor to the tribe and the individual.

Other factors include the desire for a bountiful harvest of cultivated products, the desire for greatness in the minds of the descendants, to increase wealth, to ensure the abundance of wild game and fish, to ensure the general health and favor in the hands of women, and to promote fertility in women.

Igorot holding his trophy (1909)
Igorot holding his trophy (1909)

Usually, practice is a ritual or test of manhood. For example, in an ethnolinguistic group, men could only marry after they had beheaded a man. But they did not just cut off anyone's head, instead, they did it in a contest. Beheading a competitor means they are "graduates" from childhood and are skilled enough to protect a wife and family.

Bontoc Igorot with
Bontoc Igorot with "Chaklag" (chest Tattoo)

In Igorot's headhunting practice, most of their enemies' heads were cut off by a battle-ax even before the wounded man dies.

If a fighter in the scene never gets a chance to behead someone, he will be permitted to cut off the head from a deceased body and thus be eligible for a unique headtaker tattoo called "Chaklag".

Igorot headhunting axe
Igorot headhunting axe

However, the possession of a freshly cut head should be "activated" by proper ceremony and ritual before it can "unleash" its spiritual and magical powers.

To try to stop the practice of headhunting, the Americans began to organize sporting events in the Cordilleras. You'll find lots of tug-of-war photos, relay races, and baseball games going on - an attempt to stop the ongoing killings taking place across the region.

Igorot boy burrows for coins in a pan of flour. Bontoc 1908
Igorot boy burrows for coins in a pan of flour. Bontoc 1908

The Igorots stopped practicing headhunting and there was no concrete evidence of cannibalism in the region.



Sharing is caring, kailian!

We do hope you find something great in this story. If you find this helpful, please do share it with the people you care about.


Igorotage is a social networking site — all contents are user-generated. The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of Igorotage.

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Comments (3)

Sign in to share your thoughts. No account yet?

PCPT John Paul Balliyao Agod: Igorot tops SAF Basic Airborne Course

PCPT John Paul Balliyao Agod, Igorot from Kalinga, tops Special Action Force (SAF) Basic Airborne Course.

Apr 22, 2021 · 2 min read
Lydia Langpawen: Igorot Weaver wins World Competition of Excellent Crafts

Lydia Langpawen, an Igorot weaver from Mountain Province, wins World Crafts Council Asia-Pacific Region Competition of Excellent Crafts.

Apr 30, 2021 · 3 min read
Meg Daupan: First Filipino to Earn an NRaE Master's Degree from the University of Michigan

Meg Daupan, an Igorot woman, is the first Filipino to earn a master's degree in Natural Resources and Environment from the University of Michigan.

Rob in People
Mar 28, 2021 · 3 min read
3 Igorot Commando Among the SAF Team Who Championed the Panthers Challenge 2022

3 Igorot SAF from Sadanga, Mt. Prov. and Itogon, Benguet are among the member of SAF-Seaborne who championed the Panthers Competition Challenge 2022.

Dec 8, 2022 · 2 min read
Igorot - The Father of Indigenous Peoples Right?

The act of an Igorot (Ibaloi) gives birth to the backbone of all laws pertaining to Indigenous rights and ancestral land the Carino Doctrine.

Oct 14, 2022 · 3 min read
Igorots Took the Spotlight During the 12th Int'l Warrior Competition

Three out of five member of Team Philippines who won 1st place in the Int'l Warrior Competition - Full Monte category are Igorots.

Jul 25, 2022 · 3 min read
Australia returns stolen Igorot axe to the Philippines

The Australian government has returned a recovered mid-20th century Igorot axe to the Philippines.

Nov 23, 2021 · 1 min read
Honest Igorot Restaurant Helper returns P171,000 to Owner

An honest Igorot restaurant helper and his uncle returned a found wallet containing PHP 171,000 to its rightful owner.

Aug 30, 2021 · 1 min read
American Judge Paid Lifelong Tribute to the Igorots' Bravery during World War II

The retired US Judge believes that the Igorots' selfless performance was crucial to the success of the campaign against the Japanese.

Jul 21, 2021 · 3 min read
An Igorot Displacement Story: Busting the Claim that the Ibalois Sold Baguio

Baguio was and will always be an Igorot heritage

Jun 11, 2021 · 4 min read
What to learn next?

You might also like to read more related articles filed under History — or jump to a random article!

History Surprise me