On the Imbayah's festive days, the people don their full native regalia; fun games and sports that test strength and prowess are played; the epics are chanted; native songs mingle with the air of merry-making; and at the beating of the ancient gongs, dancing becomes – for the people, soulful communion. Ushering in the communal feast are nine consecutive days "nabah", during which the community gathers together in the evenings to dance, sing and listen to stories.
Far more than the display of personal wealth and power, the performance of the Imbayah, bestows upon the clan and community as much honor and blessings reaped by the Bumayah. It is this symbolic acceptance of community with other families and in valuing one's own customs and traditions that the household of the Ifugao deemed noble.
In these contemporary times, the Imbayah was transformed into a traditional community festival showcasing the colorful, the noble, and the best in Banaue's cultural heritage. It highlights the continuing revival of the Ifugao Culture. Events during this feast include traditional arts and craft presentations, dance and music competitions, and ethnic games dating back to the time of the forefathers of the Ifugao people. Other sports with the variations of arm, leg and body wrestling are also played.
Imbayah is being held to promote the Preservation of the Ifugao Cultural Identity and Heritage. Incidentally, Banaue was conferred "A WORLD HERITAGE SITE" by UNESCO in 1995. It also aims to foster exchange between and among the If ugaos, its lowland brothers and foreign as well as domestic tourists. It projects the true character and spirit of the Ifugao as reflected in his arts, songs, dances, and games and hopefully results in greater appreciation and recognition of an exotic and great people. It also promotes tourism development and draws attention to the socio-economic needs in the area and of the populace.
During the Imbayah celebrations, the village people put on their traditional wear. Bright colored "tapis" (skirt) jewelry and accessories adorn the ladies. The chieftains wear their traditional G-string with their headgear and other paraphernalia. Chewing betel nut is common as a form of socialization especially on big gatherings like the Imbayah. Meat and wine are shared during the festivities.
Imbayah Festival was the brainchild of the late award-winning advertising photographer John K. Chua who spent decades documenting Ifugao since 1970. The first Imbayah Festival in 1979 was a three-day affair where the ancient games were revived and played at the town plaza in Poblacion. Delegations from each village paraded in their ethnic attire and performed traditional dances, before competing in bultong, “guyyuchan” (tug-of-war), “tulhi” (finger wrestling), “kak-kaet” (a game which literally means human rooster), and “bangngunan” (leg wrestling). The festival has since been held every three years until 2014.
In 2015, the Municipal Government in cooperation with other national line agencies and other Non-Government Organizations in the municipality decided to celebrate Imbayah every April of the year as a symbol of Banaue, Ifugao's unparalleled cultural identity and propagate its rich heritage and traditions through parades, reenactment of rites and rituals and ethnic games.
Like most Philippine festivals and mass events around the world, the Imbayah celebration was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2022. This April 15-30, 2023, the Ifugao's most spectacular festival is set to stage a comeback as the Municipality of Banaue reopens it's world renowned rice terraces and ancient foot trails to visitors with the new tourism campaign "Your Stairway to Great Wonders".
This 17th Imbayah Festival theme is "Cultural Festival: A Key to Reviving Tourism" hopes to draw the largest number of local and foreign tourists to Banaue for the privilege to re-live the glory of crossing the path to Ifugao nobility.
