Banaue destination featured in ‘Infinity War’ closed for ritual cleansing

BAGUIO, Philippines – Tappia Falls in Batad, Banaue, Ifugao, which was featured in the recent international blockbuster movie Avengers: Infinity War was closed on May 31, Thursday, to allow for the indigenous cleansing ritual.

The barangay officials of Batad closed Tappia Falls for the ngilin after a young boy drowned at the Tappia River last May 28.

The Banaue police said the closure will only be for May 31.

According to the police report, at about 1 pm on May 28, a group of children from Batad went to the Tappia waterfalls to swim there. Eight-year-old Freddie Amehna reportedly swam towards the side of the falls and was dragged down by the downrushing waters. His companions tried to help him to no avail.

At about 3 pm, residents of the area was able to retrieve his body. 

The pupil of the Batad Elementary School was brought to his residence at Sitio Balluhah. 

Ngilin is usually abstaining from going to certain spaces for certain days to allow the spirits to passage through undisturbed.

Batad’s Amphitheatre terraces and Tappia Falls were feaured in the last scene of the Avengers movie, which caused an influx of tourists there. – Rappler.com