Igorot tribesmen racing their wooden scooters in the Philippine town of Banaue yesterday. The competition was held as the northern mountainous town celebrated the traditional Imbayah festival, a thanksgiving fete for its bountiful rice harvests.

Colourful parades and the environmentally friendly scooter race are among the highlights of the three-day festival. Igorot tribesmen are known for their woodcarving skills.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on April 17, 2008.