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ll be reburied in rites so laden with local beliefs that sneezing is forbidden. The remarkably intact mummified remains of Apo Anno, believed by villagers to be the son of a goddess, were taken in a wooden box from Manila's National Museum to Nabalicong village, where it was stolen in 1918. Residents of Nabalicong village in the northern Philippine province of Benguet have eagerly awaited this day when one of their most cherished cultural treasures is finally returned, decades after it was stolen from them. It has been a long journey home for Apo Anno, whose mummified remains were kept inside a coffin to endure a 10-hour drive from Manila to Benguet on Friday. Apo Anno has been preserved in a squatting position. The mummy is heavily tattooed from neck to foot, a symbol of his stature as a high priest, hunter and tribal leader. Apo Anno was stolen from its original burial cave in 1918. It was sold to a local antique collector who donated it to the National Museum in 1984. The museum agreed to return Apo Anno after Benguet officials agreed to install iron grills in the burial cave and provide funds for its upkeep. In a clearing near its original burial cave, the mummy was wrapped in a native cloth that exposed only Apo Anno's head, covered with dark, withered skin. Local tribesmen in charge of the burial ceremony slaughtered pigs, chicken and dogs to cleanse away the evil that occurred in the village. Many more animals will be killed in elaborate rites when Apo Anno is reburied on Sunday. Among the taboos during the burial are sneezing and other bodily noises, fighting, breaking glass, and using a camera flash. Villagers believe Apo Anno's return will lift a curse that brought earthquakes, pestilence and bad harvests after it was stolen. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We're very, very happy that somehow...somehow he has returned to this place and we feel that this is very significant in terms of return of the peace of mind of people and it is the belief of people that once their ancestors come back there will be prosperity. I am quite certain that after this event, many homes will be performing their own rituals so that they will be blessed by the return of Anno." SUPER CAPTION: Felix Cabading, tribal leader The Philippines is one of the few countries where mummification was practised on tribal royalty. Unlike in ancient Egypt, the internal organs of Benguet mummies were not removed. The mummification process took months and began with the feeding of a salty concoction to a dying person. The cadaver was then tied to a chair with a small fire underneath to draw out body fluids. Relatives blew tobacco smoke into the mouth to dry out the internal organs and prevent worm infestation. The practice of mummification ended in the 1500s after the arrival of Spanish colonisers, who introduced Christianity and the practice of underground burial. Hidden in natural caves or niches burrowed into mountain caves, the mummies were undisturbed for centuries until they were discovered in the 1900s by loggers in the jungles of Benguet. Vandalism and theft became widespread in the 1970s. Last year, the mummy caves were included in a list of the 100 most endangered historical sites by the World Monument Watch, which compiles the list for potential financial donors. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/701834dff73771a1b8b1b7fd1ea123c5