Traditional Philippine game named 'intangible heritage' by UNESCO

MANILA, Philippines - Punnuk or the tugging ritual of the Philippines practiced in Ifugao province was inscribed on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The folk game was labeled as a tradition that strengthens humanity during the 10th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in Namibia, alongside other traditional tugging rituals in Viet Nam, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea.

According to their website, tugging rituals and games, which are prevalent among rice-farming cultures, "promote social solidarity, provide entertainment and mark the start of a new agricultural cycle." 

The game is usually played by two teams, attempting to tug the rope from the other. While the game often emphasizes competition, the game is intended to show the importance of cooperation.

According to a Department of Foreign Affairs statement, "The successful inscription is the culmination of a long process of collaboration between the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and cultural institutions in the Republic of Korea, Cambodia and Viet Nam." 

It is the first multinational inscription of the Philippines but the the third element of the Philippines on the prestigious list, the other two being the Hudhud chants and the Darangen epic.