In the past, when headtaking was still practiced by the Ifugao, hipag amulets were used by men. It was their belief that they will aid them in the headtaking raids. Hipag amulets are miniature wood carvings of animals such as dogs, pigs, chicken or duck. These images were carved from wood from the village’s forests. Amongst Ifugaos, amulets were sometimes also used as ritual paraphernalia and then kept in rice ritual boxes.
Text: Prof. Dr. Leah Abayao