
This episode explores the complex story of the bulul, the iconic carved wooden figures of the Ifugao people. We trace its journey from a sacred ancestral guardian, consecrated with ritual to protect the all-important rice harvest, to its modern status as a celebrated and highly-priced art piece in global auction houses. What happens when a living spiritual vessel is transformed into a collector's commodity? And what does this object reveal about indigenous resilience, colonialism, and the very concept of authenticity? Join us as we offer answers to these questions in episode of our series, Bagay-Bagay: Objects of Philippine Life.