Hudhud is a traditional narrative song from the Ifugao region of the northern Philippine island of Luzon. There are terraced rice fields in the mountains of Ifugao, and hudhud is a part of traditional burial rituals in the region. Originally written in the seventh century, the hudhud has over 200 stories containing 40 episodes. A full recitation of the hudhud takes a few days to finish.
A study by a scholar of the hudhud indicates that there might have been chanting of the alim and the hudhud prior to the construction of the rice terraces. The Ifugao state that both have been chanted since time immemorial, without any words to specify whether this is in the hundreds or thousands of years.
Generally, Hudhud is chanted only four times: when rice is harvested, weeded, at a funeral wake, or when bones are washed. Hudhud ni Aliguyon falls under the category of Hudhud di Page or Hudhud di Ani, which means Hudhud for Harvesting in the Fields. The chant is usually sung by a female group, led by a soloist, who may have volunteered to lead. A chorus of 10 to 12 women follow the soloist. The chorus need not memorize the entire chant. After declaring the chant, the lead singer (the munhaw-e) simply lists the cue words, which include names of characters, villages, topography, and family relationships.
Values are the beliefs, ideas, and ideals that matter to people, motivating their behavior and attitudes. They are the basis of choices, decisions, and reactions. The DECS Values Education Framework pronounced that ‘Values help individuals realize themselves as human beings and take responsibility for their own growth as well as the growth of their fellow human beings and society. As reflected in their songs, narratives, chants, and folktales, the Ifugao literature reflects the values of the Ifugao people. Taking a look at the core values of the Ifugaos, you are likely to find that they are socially responsible in many aspects. This social responsibility connotes love, respect, fidelity, responsible parenthood, concern for others, as well as social justice. The main theme of the Hudhud stories is exemplifying the romantic ideals of love, marriage, and wealth.
In 2006, the Hudhud Perpetual Award was launched. It is a celebration of the tradition of chanting the stories during harvests, wakes, and bone washing (bogwa) in the participating municipalities. The award's purpose is to encourage the participation of the community and to ensure a continuous practice of the hudhud in its social-cultural context.
References
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudhud_ni_Aliguyon) (https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudhud)