[Photographs by Romeo Mariano for Mata: Asia Press Photo]

Villagers express their gratitude for bountiful harvests and celebrate their unity and community spirit during the Punnuk Festival on July 20, 2024.

The Punnuk Festival is an annual celebration in Hungduan, Ifugao, in the Northern Philippines. It is the last cultural agricultural cycle thanksgiving dedicated to the life-giving water sources deities.

A highlight of the festival is the traditional tug-of-war competition known as punnuk, which takes place across the Nanhipukanan River. Residents, including women and children, from three adjacent barangays Hapao, Ba-ang and Nungulunan participate in this event, symbolizing strength, unity, cooperation and love of the water, soil and natural resources conservation among the community.