Mexico gov't office posts wrong photo of Ifugao rice terraces; dismisses Filipino researcher who corrects it
A government office in Mexico posted the wrong photo of what it claimed as the Ifugao Rice Terraces but was actually from China—even as it dismissed a Filipino researcher who corrected the page.
In a now-deleted Facebook post on July 14 but was screenshot by Lokalpedia's John Sherwin Felix, Archivo General del Estado de Mexico shared a photo of rice terraces from Ifugao as part of its "Philippines Day."
"[M]ore than a system agricultural, they are the legacy of traditions, ancestral wisdom, and a deep harmony between humanity and the earth," it added, with a couple of hashtags, including #TerrazasDeArroz, #Ifugao, and #Filipinas.
Felix, however, commented that it wasn't the rice terraces from the Philippines, but rather a "cropped photo of Longsheng rice terraces of China."
The page stood its ground and dismissed Felix's comment.
"[T]he pictures are from Ancient Ifugao Rice Terraces at Batad, Northern Luzon, Philippines," it wrote. "[These] photos were taken by 'Rodrigo Lab' and uploaded to Dreamsite [where they were] available [at] a cost. Both sites are extremely similar. But we thank you for sharing your concern."
Felix did a reverse search and shared screenshots of it, showing that the Archivo's posted photo is the Longsheng rice terraces, which can be found on the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat website and Wikipedia.
"A simple Google search will show you that this is not the Batad Rice Terraces," Felix said in the caption of his post. "Batad Rice Terraces is known for its amphitheater-like design. No, they are not 'extremely similar.'"
"That kind of assumption often comes from an outsider’s lens, where the terraces of the Philippines, Vietnam, and China are lumped together—even though each has a distinct design and cultural context," he continued. "You are using iStock images, not firsthand photos. These stock images are often mislabeled or mislocated and should not be treated as reliable proof."
Felix reminded Archivo that its institution "needs to take responsibility and learn how to correct misinformation."
"Instead of listening to actual locals, you choose to dismiss the evidence," he added. "If you’re going to make a post that represents or celebrates our culture, at least do it right—otherwise, it comes across as insincere."
Archivo on July 15 made a new post with the correct photos found on the UNESCO website. In the comments section, Felix noted the distinct design of the Batad rice terraces.
"Thank you for helping us share your country's wonderful landscapes properly," Archivo replied. "We regret the error."
As UNESCO notes on its website, the Batad rice terraces were among five clusters of terraces alongside the ones in Bangaan, Mayoyao, Hungduan, and Nagacadan.
The Batad terrace cluster is "nestled in amphitheatre-like semi-circular terraces with a village at its base."
Built 2,000 years ago, the Ifugao Rice Terraces or the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras "epitomize the absolute blending of the physical, socio-cultural, economic, religious, and political environment," making it a "living cultural landscape of unparalleled beauty," according to UNESCO.
