HUNGDUAN, Ifugao, Philippines — The Hungduan community in Ifugao province joyfully celebrated the Punnuk Festival 2026, the traditional post-harvest thanksgiving at the Nunhipukana River marking the end of the agricultural cycle with the iconic tug-of-war at the river, on August 22.

Communities from the Barangays of Hapao, Baang, and Nunggulunan gathered, wearing their traditional Hungduan ethnic attire or following a red-and-white color motif at the Nunhipukana River, where the Hapao River and its tributary meet.

Through their indigenous games called Guyyudan (Tug-of-War), participating barangays use pakid (wooden tools with hooks) to pull the kina-ag (a human-like figure made of rice stalks) in a fierce tug of war through the water.

Not only do men show off their strength in tug of war, but women also participate in the fun game amidst the strong current of the river.

This custom of the Hungduan people is traditionally practiced as a thank you for their abundant harvest, where most of their crops are organic rice and it is also the end of their agricultural cycle, as a rest and preparation for the next farming season.