Leandro Elahe is regarded as one of the most experienced guides in Mayoyao, known for his extensive knowledge of Ifugao rice culture, as well as the area’s diverse landscapes. He is pictured alongside a black-and-white photograph taken in the early 1900s by an American photographer. This image, which depicts an Ifugao girl, is permanently displayed in the tourism office of the local municipal hall. The girl in the photo is his grandmother, and her neckwear, resembling a set of mother-of-pearl shells, is traditionally worn by only a select few.

#ProjectLarawan. Profiles of the Filipino. One portrait at a time.

Project Larawan is an initiative of Gabriel “Gabby” Malvar, a documentary filmmaker, writer and photographer, whose narratives are nuanced with unique, inventive perspectives to provoke an inquisitive look at his favorite subject, the Philippines. Become a part of Filipino identity every other Saturday on the DAILY TRIBUNE.