Above are the pictures of the actual Bulol necklaces we have at Sala. These bulol necklaces are from Banaue, Philippines and carved from Ipil wood. The tie is made of nylon string and adjustable between 16 to 18 inches in length.

Bulol is the image of the Cordilleran rice god. Cordillera is a mountain range in the Philippines' Norther Luzon region. These mountains are home to six indigenous Filipino tribes namely theIbaloy, Kankanay, Kalinga, Apayao, Bontoc and Ifugao. Having created the breathtaking Rice Terraces - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - these highlanders' culture, traditions and everyday lives are very much linked with rice. The bulols usually stand guard at Cordilleran rice granaries to scare away rice thiefs and pestilence.

The Cordillerans of old probably never imagined that the bulols they painstakingly carved out of native wood such as narra and ipil would one day adorn the necks of lowlanders and highlanders alike. When you happen to wear one around your neck, please pay homage to the culture, tradition and peoples that inform the making of these bulol necklaces.

Here is a video of the actual rice terraces taken during Mel's trip to Banaue in April this year (2007). The ladies in the traditional clothing are in fact locals of Banaue who proudly share their culture with visitors. Shown in the video are Mel's brother Kuya Lito, his wife Ate Baby, and their daughter Joy. The boy is Carl, Kathy's (not in the video) nephew.