THE ILOCOS REGION AND THE ILOCANOS

About 1,453,000 hardworking estimated Ilocanos live in the provinces of

Abra. Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union in the northwestern coast of
Luzon of its 11,447.5 sq. km. area. Only a narrow strip of plain is fertile and
arable, with rice as its chief crop. Due to this limited area for agriculture,
foofstuffs are often insufficient.
The physical environment of Ilocandia has effected the Ilocano way of life.
Ilocanos are thrifty and used to difficulties and hardships. They work hard to
earn a living; thus to an Ilocano every centavo counts. A long provinces
makes agriculture in the area not profitable. As a result, the Ilocano families
engage in other occupations. Men as well as women, spin and dye yarns.
Women with their native crude hand looms weave blankets, towels, napkins,
table cloths, bags, and jackets. Aside from weaving, bagoong and tuba
making are two other industries of the Ilocanos.

The Ilocanos are adventurous and the most hardworking people. They
migrate to other provinces like Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Cagayan during
harvest time, to find work. After the harvest they go back home with their
earnings. Others go to faraway like Cotabato, Davao and Bukidnon and other
parts of Mindanao as settlers. Many Ilocanos are also working in Okinawa,
Guam, Hawaii, and Saudi Arabia, easily adapting themselves wherever they
go.
THE ILOKANOS CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.....

Ilocanos strive hard to make a living, difficulty is never a hindrance to their

success. To and Ilocano, hardships can easily be overcome. He believes in
the value of study, industry and patience; thus, every
Ilocano family encourages the children to go to school and learn skills to find
better paying jobs and consequently, have a better life.

Most customs and traditions of the Ilocanos are influence by their frugality.

From the cradle to the grave, the Ilocano rituals reflect what they believe in.

Death to the Ilocanos means great sorrow. If the father dies, the wife
dresses the deceased alone so that her husband's spirit can tell her any
messages or wish he was not able to convey when he was still alive.
The body is placed in a coffin in the middle of the house parallel to the slats
of the floor. A big log is is then lighted in front of the houses so that the
spirit of the dead will go to heaven with the smoke. As long as the dead
body is in the house, the log is kept burning to keep the evil spirit away.

During the wake, the members of the family keep vigil. The women wear
black clothes and a black manto (handkerchief) to cover the head and the
shoulders.

Before the coffin is carried out of the house all windows must be closed; No

part of the house must be touched by the coffin; otherwise the man's spirit
will stay behind and bring trouble to the family.

Family members shampoo their hair with gogo as soon as the funeral is over
to wash away the power of the dead man's spirit. Prayers are said every
night for the next nine nights. After each night's prayer, rice cakes and basi
are served to all guests. The period of mourning ends on the ninth day when
relatives and friends spend the day feasting and praying. The first death
anniversary will then be another occasion for feasting and praying.

The above customs and traditions are purely Catholic rituals and practices. It

does not includes the belief of some religion in the places.

ABOUT THE ART

The serious outlook of the Ilocano is reflected on his physical movement as

well as in his writings. He is not lyrics types; he is the epic type. An Ilocano
epic depicting this sobriety is Biag ni Lam-ang, a poetry piece that requires
sustained effort. Among the well known Ilocano writers are Salvador Lopez,
Loepoldo Yabes, Manuel Arguilla, and Consorcio Borje.

The ancient literature of the Ilocano consisted of songs for different

occasions. The Ilocano war song expressed the vigor and joys of the warriors
coming from battle; the dal-ot, popular among the peasants was sung
during a baptismal party, a wedding or a feast; the badeng or love song is a
serenade. Pamulinawen, a popular Ilocano love song expresses longong for a
loved one.

Like most Filipinos, the Ilocanos possess musical instrumentals. Examples

are the flute, kudyapi and kutibeng, which is a sort of guitar with fine
strings.

The Ilocano are proud of their dances. One of their favorites is the kinnotan,
or ants dance, in which a group of dances gesticulates toward a person
being attacked by ants and then makes motions of scratching the man. The
Kinnailongong is another Ilocano dance showing a man and a woman sings
and dances towards him, and then dances with him.

THE ILOCOS REGION AND THE ILOCANOS

About 1,453,000 hardworking estimated Ilocanos live in the provinces of

Abra. Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union in the northwestern coast of
Luzon of its 11,447.5 sq. km. area. Only a narrow strip of plain is fertile and
arable, with rice as its chief crop. Due to this limited area for agriculture,
foofstuffs are often insufficient.

The physical environment of Ilocandia has effected the Ilocano way of life.
Ilocanos are thrifty and used to difficulties and hardships. They work hard to
earn a living; thus to an Ilocano every centavo counts. A long provinces
makes agriculture in the area not profitable. As a result, the Ilocano families
engage in other occupations. Men as well as women, spin and dye yarns.
Women with their native crude hand looms weave blankets, towels, napkins,
table cloths, bags, and jackets. Aside from weaving, bagoong and tuba
making are two other industries of the Ilocanos.

The Ilocanos are adventurous and the most hardworking people. They
migrate to other provinces like Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Cagayan during
harvest time, to find work. After the harvest they go back home with their
earnings. Others go to faraway like Cotabato, Davao and Bukidnon and other
parts of Mindanao as settlers. Many Ilocanos are also working in Okinawa,
Guam, Hawaii, and Saudi Arabia, easily adapting themselves wherever they
go.