Tagalog/Eng/Nat Up in the mountains of Benguet in the northern Philippines, townsfolk are busy preparing for a homecoming. The mummified remains of a past leader will be returned to them next month, an event highly anticipated by his descendants. The art of mummification -- practised by the Ibaloi tribe in the 10th century to preserve royalty -- ended with the arrival of the Spanish in the 15th century. The mountainous province of Benguet, in the northern Philippines. Tucked inside its caves are rare treasures in which the people of Benguet, particularly the Ibaloi tribe take great pride. It is in these caverns that the remains of their forefathers are kept within wooden caskets. Mummified, they survive through the centuries protected by the rock walls. The mummies were discovered early this century by loggers who were clearing the mountains from timber and pinewood. It is believed the Ibaloi tribe, known to have settled here since the 10th century, practiced mummification as part of a pagan ritual. Only bodies of royalty or tribal leaders were preserved. Immediately after death, the body was placed on a high chair in a sitting position. Family members blew tobacco smoke through the mouth to preserve the internal organs. Then, while it was being rubbed with herbs, the body was exposed to a low flame in order to extract its oils. When finished, it was sun-dried and placed in the coffin. Anthropologists say the process took months. The practice went on until the Spanish introduced Christianity in the 15th century and mummification was replaced by underground burial. Anthropologists who have studied the mummies are amazed at what they have found. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Philippine mummies are quite unique in the sense that, first, we know already the Egyptian technique of mummification, that everything is removed, the internal organs, the brain is being removed during the process before it is treated with some chemicals, so all the internal organs are removed. But our mummy is different because everything is intact, not even a single tooth, or single hair is removed. SUPER CAPTION: Engineer Orlando Abinion, Curator for Conservation, National Museum The Kabayan mummy cave is one of two sites in the Philippines that was included in the list of 100 Most Endangered Sites for 1998 and 1999, compiled by World Monuments Watch. Since the National Museum took over the welfare of the caves in 1973, they have documented 28 mummies, all mostly in tact. Abinion says there could have been more, but unfortunately some were stolen and others were vandalised. Coffins in this cave tell the sorry tale of graffiti. Even the skulls were not spared by the vandals. SOUNDBITE: (Tagalog) "Some people buy these as antiques, and so some people steal the finger nails, teeth and even skin of these mummies." SUPER CAPTION: Musi Malsino, National Museum Security Staff, Timbac Mummy Caves These mummified remains are particularly venerated. They are of Apo Annu and were believed to have been stolen in the 1920's but in 1984, they were donated to the National Museum. The provincial board approved a resolution last year seeking for the return of all stolen mummies, especially Apo Annu, who was of high birth. Now, his descendants in Benguet look forward to his homecoming. SOUNDBITE: (English) "When mummy Annu was lost, the place where it was stolen was punished. Punished in a sense that productions of their agricultural produce reduced. Some mountains were destroyed. If it (Apo Annu) will be returned, (it will bring back) a lot of graces." SUPER CAPTION: Sario Copas, Benguet Provincial Board Member You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7b21dce238a254a9996453db638731fc Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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