Ilocos Region

The Ilocos Region (Ilocano: Rehion/Deppaar ti Ilocos; Pangasinan: Sagor na Baybay na Luzon) is
an administrative region of the Philippines, designated as Region I, occupying the northwestern section of Luzon.
It is bordered by the Cordillera Administrative Region to the east, the Cagayan Valley to the northeast and
southeast, and the Central Luzon to the south. To the west lies the South China Sea.
The region comprises four provinces: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional center
is San Fernando, La Union. The 2000 Census reported that the major languages spoken in the region
are Ilocano at 66.36% of the total population at that time, Pangasinan with 27.05%, and Tagalog with 3.21%.
History
Region 1 was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritoes before they were pushed by successive waves of
Malay/Austronesian immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in the north,
and Pangasinense in the south settled the region. Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan
was not a part of the region.
The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and established Christian missions and governmental institutions to
control the native population and convert them to Catholicism. Present-day Vigan in Ilocos Sur province became
the diocesan seat of Nueva Segovia. Ilocanos in the northern parts were less easily swayed, however, and
remained an area filled with deep resentments against Spain. These resentments bubbled to the surface at
various points in the Ilocos provinces' history as insurrections, most notably that of Andres Malong and Palaris of
Pangasinan, Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang in 1764, and the Basi Revolt in the 19th century. However,
it was the Pangasinenses in the south who were the last to be stand against the Spaniards.
In 1901, the region came under American colonial rule, and in 1941, under Japanese occupation.
During 1945, the combined American and the Philippine Commonwealth troops including with the Ilocano and
Pangasinese guerillas liberated the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces during the Second World War.
Several modern presidents of the Republic of the Philippines hailed from the Region: Elpidio Quirino, Ferdinand
Marcos, and Fidel V. Ramos.
Before the creation of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1 included the provinces of Abra, Mountain
Province, and Benguet.
Geography
The Ilocos Region occupies the narrow plain between the Cordillera Central mountain range and the South China
Sea, and the northern portion of the Central Luzon plain, to the north-east of the Zambales Mountains.
Lingayen Gulf is the most notable body of water in the region and it contains several islands, including
the Hundred Islands National Park. To the north of the region is Luzon Strait.
The Agno river runs through Pangasinan flowing into a broad delta at the vicinity of Lingayen and Dagupan before
emptying into the Lingayen Gulf.
Administrative divisions
The Ilocos Region comprises 4 provinces, 1 independent component city, 8 component cities, 116 municipalities,
and 3,265 barangays.
Province
Capital
Population (2015) Area
Density
Cities Muni. Bgy.
km2

sq mi

/km2

/sq
mi

Ilocos Norte Laoag

11.8% 593,081

3,467.89

1,338.96 170

440

21

557

Ilocos Sur

Vigan

13.7% 689,668

2,596.00

1,002.32 270

700

32

768

La Union

San Fernando 15.7% 786,653

1,497.70

578.27

530

1,400

19

576

2,104.65 540

1,400

44

1,364

5,026,128 13,012.60 5,024.19 390

1,000

116

3,265

Pangasinan Lingayen
Total

58.8% 2,956,726 5,451.01

Figures for Pangasinan include the independent component city of Dagupan.

[show]City Population (2015) Area Density City class Income class Province Coordinates
Economy
Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, esp. Pangasinan, is anchored on agro-industrial and
service industry, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the agricultural sector. The
economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial businesses , such as milkfish (bangus) cultivation and
processing, livestock raising, fish paste processing (bagoong), and others. Income in the Ilocos provinces or
northern portion mostly come from cultivating rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, and fruits; raising livestock such as
pigs, chicken, goats, and carabaos (water buffalos).

The distribution of the economic activity in the region may be seen from the collection of tax revenue of the
national government. The bulk of the collections come from Pangasinan, which posted 61% of the total.
The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan is mostly driven by its local
entrepreneurs, which have started to expand its network up to the national level. San Fernando in La Union also
has an international shipping port and the upgraded and soon to be developed San Fernando International
Airport. While Laoag in Ilocos Norte has an international airport.
The tourism industry, driven by local airlines and land transportation firms in the area like Farinas Transit
Company and Partas, focuses on the coastal beaches and on eco-tourism. There are fine sands stretching along
Bauang, La Union and the rest of the region.
The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery. The Ilocanos' burnay pottery is well
known for its dark colored clay.
Demographics
The Ilocos provinces are the historical homeland of the Ilocanos. In the 2000 Census, the Ilocanos comprised
66% of the region, Pangasinan people 27%, and the Tagalogs 3%.
Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the Pangasinenses. The population of Pangasinan comprises
approximately 60% of the total population of the region. The Ilocanos started migrating to Pangasinan in the 19th
century. Pangasinan was formerly a province of Region III (Central Luzon) before President Marcos
signed Presidential Decree No. 1, 1972, incorporating it into Region I. Minority groups include
the Tingguian andIsneg communities that inhabit the foothills of the Cordillera mountains.
The population is predominantly Roman Catholic with strong adherents of Protestantism such as
the Aglipayan denomination further north of the country. There are also adherents to other Christian
denominations, such as Iglesia ni Cristo, Mormons, and the like. There is also an undercurrent of traditional
animistic beliefs especially in rural areas. The small mercantile Chinese and Indian communities are primarily
Buddhists, Taoists, and Hindus.
The term Ilocano people refers to the dominant ethnic group from the northern part of the
Philippines and is considered the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.
Six former Philippine presidents were Ilocanos. Elpidio Quirino, the countrys sixth president and the
first from the Ilocos region, was a native of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. Quirino was a lawyer by profession
and a representative of his province before assuming the presidency. Ramon F. Magsaysay, the
countrys seventh president, was a pure Ilocano from Castillejos, Zambales. Magsaysay, however,
was not able to finish his term as he died in a plane crash four years into the presidency. His
successor, Carlos P. Garcia, was born in Bohol but has parents who trace their roots to Bangued,
Abra. Garcia was most known for being the proponent of the Filipino First policy which put a
premium on everything Filipino over that of any foreign entity.
Even the famously infamous former President Ferdinand Marcos, also had Ilocano blood. Marcos
was the countrys longest serving president he was in power for twenty-one years. He was
notorious for declaring the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated
regions on an emergency basis, more commonly known as Martial Law, in the country in September
1972. He lifted this temporary military rule nine years later in 1971. Marcos was ousted from office
via a People Power Revolution, the worlds first, in 1986.
Ironically, one of the personalities who helped oust Marcos, Fidel V. Ramos, became the successor
of Corazon Aquino, the housewife who toppled him out of the presidency. Ramos is also of Ilocano
descent. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the most recent ex-president of the country, also traces her
Ilocano heritage to her grandfather who hailed from the province of Ilocos Norte. Arroyo served as
vice-president for a term and after another successful People Power Revolution, assumed the
presidency for nine years.
Other Ilocano politicians are incumbents Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Rodolfo Biazon and
Party-list Representative Liza Maza. Other notable politicians are almost-presidents Gilbert Teodoro
who ran for the presidency in 2010 and Jose de Venecia, Jr. who lost to Joseph E. Estrada in the
1998 presidential elections, but eventually became Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ilocanos have not only made their mark in politics, but also in other fields like arts and culture as
well. Juan Luna, painter of the famed Spoliarium, was born in the town of Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Leona
Florentino, considered the Mother of Philippine Womens Literature, also hails from the Ilocos
region. Francisco Sionil Jose, more known as literary writer F. Sionil Jose, is one of the most widely
read Filipino writers in English. He was born and raised in Rosales, Pangasinan.

Perhaps the most notable among all the celebrated personalities with Ilocano descent is the
countrys own national hero, Jose Rizal. Rizal was a known polymath, patriot and the most famous
advocate of genuine reform during the Spanish era. Rizal spoke twenty-two languages, including
the native Ilocano dialect. He was a prolific poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent and novelist
whose famous works Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo inspired the Filipino people to revolt
against the Spaniards.
Ilocano people
The Ilokanos (Ilocano: Tattao a Iloko) or Iloko people are the third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group. There
are over 40 dialects of the Ilokano language and their speakers reside within the Ilocos region in the Philippines.
Etymology
The word Ilokano originates from Iloko (archaic form, Yloco), the conjugation of i- (meaning "of")
and look (meaning "bay), which means "from the bay" in Ilokano. Aside from being referred to as Ilokano, they are
also identified as Samtoy, a portmanteau of the Ilokano phrase sao mi ditoy meaning "our language here" ("sao
mi" = "our language;" "ditoy" - "here")
Ethnic Home Land
Ilocandia is the term given to the traditional homeland of the Ilokano people. From the original western strip of
Northern Luzon, Ilocandia has spread throughout the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and some
parts of Central Luzon.
Demographics
Ilokanos number about 9,136,000. A few Ilokanos living in the Cordilleras have some Cordillerano blood.
Language
Ilokanos speak Ilokano, which is part of the Northern Philippine subgroup of the Austronesian family of
languages. They also speak Cebuano (in Mindanao), Tagalog, and English as second languages.
Religion
Most Ilokanos are Roman Catholics, while a significant number belong to the Aglipayan Church, which
originated in Ilocos Norte.
Diaspora
Many Filipino Americans are of Ilokano descent. They make up 85% of the Filipino-American population in
Hawai'i
History
The Austronesian ancestors of the present-day Iloanos came to the Philippines through bilogs, or outrigger
boats during the Iron Age.
Spanish Era to the Philippine Republic
The Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo explored the northern regions of the Philippines in 1571, where he
traveled to the Ilocos region (among other places), pacifying the North, and establishing several Spanish
municipalities, including Villa Fernandina and Tagudin.
Present
The mounting population pressure due to the substantial population density during the mid-19th century caused
the migration of the Ilokanos out of their historic homeland. By 1903, more than 290,000 Ilokanos migrated
to Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, and Metro Manila. More than 180,000 moved to Pangasinan, Tarlac,
and Nueva Ecija. Almost 50,000 moved to Cagayan Valley; half of them resided in Isabela. Around 47,000 lived
in Zambales and the Sultan Kudarat more than 11,000
The Ilokano Diaspora continued in 1906 when Ilokanos started to migrate to Hawaii and California. Ilokanos
composed the largest number of expatriates in the United States, though most are bilingual with Tagalog. There is
a significant Ilokano community in Hawai'i, in which they make up more than 85% of the Filipino population there.
Later migrations brought Ilokanos to the Cordilleras, Mindoro, Palawan, and Mindanao provinces of Sultan
Kudarat, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato.
Pinakbet, one of the staples of the Ilokano diet.
Ilokanos boast of a somewhat healthy diet heavy in boiled or steamed vegetables and freshwater fish, but are
particularly fond of dishes flavored with [1]bagoong, fermented fish that is often used instead of salt. Ilokanos
often season boiled vegetables with bagoong monamon (fermented anchovy paste) to produce pinakbet. Local
specialties include the "abuos," soft white larvae of ants, and "jumping salad" or tiny, live shrimp
with kalamansi juice. Another food that is popular for many Ilokanos is the Moringa or "Malunggay". It is a good
condiment for meat soup(e.g. tinola) or it can be mixed with the famous "dinengdeng", a soup made of mainly
vegetables with prawns "alamang". Most households grow this tree in their backyards and usually offered free for
all the neighbors who may want them. Many Ilokanos from Hawai'i are fond of eating them.
Literature

One of the most well-known Ilokano literary works written in Iloco is the Biag ni Lam-ang (The Life of Lam-Ang),
an epic poem about the fantastic life and escapades of an Ilokano hero named Lam-ang. The Ilokano writer
Elizabeth Medina is probably the most remarkable living Ilokano writer in Spanish language.

The Sakada
An inside joke among the Filipino community in Hawaii has been passed down from generation to generation. It goes
something like this: the luna (overseer) in one of the sugar plantations asked a new worker whether he was a Filipino. The
worker replies, No, Im Ilokano. Obviously, this joke unmasks the reality of the massive migration of the Ilocanos to Hawaii
and to the United States.
An inside joke among the Filipino community in Hawaii has been passed down from generation to generation. It goes
something like this: the luna (overseer) in one of the sugar plantations asked a new worker whether he was a Filipino. The
worker replies, No, Im Ilokano. Obviously, this joke unmasks the reality of the massive migration of the Ilocanos to Hawaii
and to the United States.
The Ilocano people are the third largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. This ethic group is also the most migrant of
all Filipino groups. You can find an Ilocano in every region of the country as well as in the United States. In fact, puns are
thrown at Hawaii for being the lost or extension of the Ilocos province.

Migration of the Ilocanos

Due to the harsh environment and geographic location of the Ilocos Region, the Ilocanos have found their way out of their
hometown in search of greener pastures. The narrow plain situated in between the Cordillera Mountain Ranges and South
China Sea is not enough to feed the growing population of the Ilocanos. In the mid-19 th century, this ethnic group has moved
from the Ilocandia to the Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila and to Mindanao.
The Ilocanos started migrating to the United States particularly in Hawaii and California in the hopes of better quality of living.
They became the first overseas contract workers in a predominantly sugar and pineapple plantation.
In 1906 to 1919, roughly around 29,800 Filipinos migrated to Hawaii. The second wave was from 1920 to 1929 wherein there
were 73,996 Filipinos migrates. In spite the limitations set by the US government as stated in the Tidings-McDuffee
(Philippine Independence) Act, around 14,760 Filipinos. The fourth wave was in 1946 right after World War II wherein 7,361
moved to the US. Majority of these migrates were of Ilocano ancestry.
In Hawaii, the Ilocanos make up the 85% of the Filipino community. In fact, there were so many Ilocanos and they were
rather influential that they were able to make Benjamin Jerome Ben Cayetano (a full blood Ilocano) the fifth Governor of
Hawaii.

Sakada of 1946
Due to the casualties in the Second World War, many of the plantation workers of Hawaii were made to do defense work.
Thus, it caused a shortage of labor production in the Hawaiian plantations. To keep the operation afloat, the US granted
Hawaiis request for an exemption to the immigration law (as stated in the Tidings McDuffee Act). They have imported
thousands of Filipino labor before the granting of the Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946.
This batch of migrates were called Sakada 46. It was the last organized Filipino migration to the US, in which the majority is
of Ilocano decent. Around 6000 men, 446 women, and 915 children were migrated to Hawaii. It was a different group
compared to the earlier groups of migrant Filipinos because they were more educated since they were products of the
American colonial education in the Philippines.
The Filipinos lived and worked under harsh conditions in Hawaii. They had to deal with prejudicial attitudes from the
Americans. Although the Filipinos were spared of beatings and physical abuse, they suffered a psychological damage. It
strengthened their sense of inferiority and weakened their self-esteem. This was something Filipino overseas workers have
struggled to deal with, change and overcome.
In the 1920s, the Hawaii Sugar Plantation Association (HSPA) ceased the recruitment of Filipinos as plantation laborers. But
in spite that, Filipinos, particularly Ilocanos, continued to arrive in Hawaii for better living opportunities.

Ilocano Culture
The Ilocanos are known for being hardworking, appreciative, simple and determined. However, they are also known as stingy
or kuripot. Of course, the Ilocanos being called stingy and cheap is just treated as a joke or pun among Filipinos and not as
a negative regional stereotype. It is a regional characteristic that their Filipino brethren have grown to understand.

The term Ilocano people refers to the dominant ethnic group from the northern part of the Philippines and is considered the
third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.
Six former Philippine presidents were Ilocanos. Elpidio Quirino, the countrys sixth president and the first from the Ilocos
region, was a native of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. Quirino was a lawyer by profession and a representative of his province before
assuming the presidency. Ramon F. Magsaysay, the countrys seventh president, was a pure Ilocano from Castillejos,
Zambales. Magsaysay, however, was not able to finish his term as he died in a plane crash four years into the presidency.
His successor, Carlos P. Garcia, was born in Bohol but has parents who trace their roots to Bangued, Abra. Garcia was most
known for being the proponent of the Filipino First policy which put a premium on everything Filipino over that of any foreign
entity.
Even the famously infamous former President Ferdinand Marcos, also had Ilocano blood. Marcos was the countrys longest
serving president he was in power for twenty-one years. He was notorious for declaring the imposition of military rule by
military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis, more commonly known as Martial Law, in the country in
September 1972. He lifted this temporary military rule nine years later in 1971. Marcos was ousted from office via a People
Power Revolution, the worlds first, in 1986.
Ironically, one of the personalities who helped oust Marcos, Fidel V. Ramos, became the successor of Corazon Aquino, the
housewife who toppled him out of the presidency. Ramos is also of Ilcoano descent. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the most
recent ex-president of the country, also traces her Ilocano heritage to her grandfather who hailed from the province of Ilocos
Norte. Arroyo served as vice-president for a term and after another successful People Power Revolution, assumed the
presidency for nine years.
Other Ilocano politicians are incumbents Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Rodolfo Biazon and Party-list Representative
Liza Maza. Other notable politicians are almost-presidents Gilbert Teodoro who ran for the presidency in 2010 and Jose de
Venecia, Jr. who lost to Joseph E. Estrada in the 1998 presidential elections, but eventually became Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Ilocanos have not only made their mark in politics, but also in other fields like arts and culture as well. Juan Luna, painter of
the famed Spoliarium, was born in the town of Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Leona Florentino, considered the Mother of Philippine
Womens Literature, also hails from the Ilocos region. Francisco Sionil Jose, more known as literary writer F. Sionil Jose, is
one of the most widely read Filipino writers in English. He was born and raised in Rosales, Pangasinan.
Perhaps the most notable among all the celebrated personalities with Ilocano descent is the countrys own national hero,
Jose Rizal. Rizal was a known polymath, patriot and the most famous advocate of genuine reform during the Spanish era.
Rizal spoke twenty-two languages, including the native Ilocano dialect. He was a prolific poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent
and novelist whose famous works Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo inspired the Filipino people to revolt against the
Spaniards.

Famous Ilocanos
The term Ilocano people refers to the dominant ethnic group from the northern part of the Philippines and is considered the
third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.
Six former Philippine presidents were Ilocanos Elpidio Quirino, the countrys sixth president and the first from the Ilocos
region, was a native of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.
The term Ilocano people refers to the dominant ethnic group from the northern part of the Philippines and is considered the
third largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.
Six former Philippine presidents were Ilocanos. Elpidio Quirino, the countrys sixth president and the first from the Ilocos
region, was a native of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. Quirino was a lawyer by profession and a representative of his province before
assuming the presidency. Ramon F. Magsaysay, the countrys seventh president, was a pure Ilocano from Castillejos,
Zambales. Magsaysay, however, was not able to finish his term as he died in a plane crash four years into the presidency.
His successor, Carlos P. Garcia, was born in Bohol but has parents who trace their roots to Bangued, Abra. Garcia was most
known for being the proponent of the Filipino First policy which put a premium on everything Filipino over that of any foreign
entity.
Even the famously infamous former President Ferdinand Marcos, also had Ilocano blood. Marcos was the countrys longest
serving president he was in power for twenty-one years. He was notorious for declaring the imposition of military rule by
military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis, more commonly known as Martial Law, in the country in
September 1972. He lifted this temporary military rule nine years later in 1971. Marcos was ousted from office via a People
Power Revolution, the worlds first, in 1986.

Ironically, one of the personalities who helped oust Marcos, Fidel V. Ramos, became the successor of Corazon Aquino, the
housewife who toppled him out of the presidency. Ramos is also of Ilcoano descent. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the most
recent ex-president of the country, also traces her Ilocano heritage to her grandfather who hailed from the province of Ilocos
Norte. Arroyo served as vice-president for a term and after another successful People Power Revolution, assumed the
presidency for nine years.
Other Ilocano politicians are incumbents Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Rodolfo Biazon and Party-list Representative
Liza Maza. Other notable politicians are almost-presidents Gilbert Teodoro who ran for the presidency in 2010 and Jose de
Venecia, Jr. who lost to Joseph E. Estrada in the 1998 presidential elections, but eventually became Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Ilocanos have not only made their mark in politics, but also in other fields like arts and culture as well. Juan Luna, painter of
the famed Spoliarium, was born in the town of Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Leona Florentino, considered the Mother of Philippine
Womens Literature, also hails from the Ilocos region. Francisco Sionil Jose, more known as literary writer F. Sionil Jose, is
one of the most widely read Filipino writers in English. He was born and raised in Rosales, Pangasinan.
Perhaps the most notable among all the celebrated personalities with Ilocano descent is the countrys own national hero,
Jose Rizal. Rizal was a known polymath, patriot and the most famous advocate of genuine reform during the Spanish era.
Rizal spoke twenty-two languages, including the native Ilocano dialect. He was a prolific poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent
and novelist whose famous works Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo inspired the Filipino people to revolt against the
Spaniards.

History of Ilocanos
The Ilocanos are the 3rd largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. The term Ilocano was derived from the words i-
(from) and looc (cove or bay), which when combined means People of the bay. They were also referred to as Samtoy,
which is a contraction of the phrase sao mi ditoy (this is our language).
Basically, the Ilocanos are Austronesian-people/Austronesian-speaking people. The Ilocano dialect is related to the
languages Indonesian, Malay, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Malagasy, Samoan, Tahitian, Chamorro, Tetum and Paiwan. Today,
the Ilocano dialect is the third most spoken language in the Philippines.
The Ilocanos are the third largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. The term Ilocano was derived from the words i-
(from) and looc (cove or bay), which when combined means People of the bay. They were also referred to as Samtoy,
which is a contraction of the phrase sao mi ditoy (this is our language).

Basically, the Ilocanos are Austronesian-people / Austronesian-speaking people. The Ilocano dialect is related to the
languages Indonesian, Malay, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Malagasy, Samoan, Tahitian, Chamorro, Tetum and Paiwan. Today,
the Ilocano dialect is the third most spoken language in the Philippines.

Spanish era

Prior to the Spanish colonial regime, a humble civilization already resides in the Ilocos Region (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La
Union and Abra). The region stretched from Cape Bojeador at the northwestern tip of Luzon down to the Gulf of Lingayen.

The Ilocos region was primarily famous for their gold mines. The first Ilocos inhabitants were living in large villages at
sheltered coves or rivermouths. Traders from China and Japan often come here to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk.

Spanish conquistadors headed by Juan de Salcedo arrived in Vigan in 1572. After landing in Vigan, the conquistadors
headed to Laoag, Currimao and to Badoc. Theyve named the region Ylocos and its people Ylocanos.

The Spaniards werent particularly lucky with their conquest of Ilocos. The Ilocanos were the first ethnic group to revolt
against Spanish officials. It was in January 1661 when the Ilocanos proclaimed their illustrious leader, Don Pedro Almazan,
as their King. He was executed by the Spaniards after the kingdom was dissolved.

One of the Philippines most notable uprisings was lead by the Ilocano Diego Silang, which was continued by his wife
Gabriela Silang. The Silangs revolt was fueled by the grievances stemming from Spanish taxation and abuses.

The Ilocanos were prominent in the nationalist movement. Many Ilocanos have risen to high office in the central government.
The most famed and controversial of all is the late former president Ferdinand Marcos.

Ilocanos today

Among all the Filipino ethnic groups, the Ilocanos are the most migrant. In the 19 th century, the mounting population pressure
due to substantial population density has moved the Ilocanos to leave their homeland. More than 290,000 Ilocanos migrated
to different provinces and regions in the Philippines in 1903.

Ilocanos move to places in search for better opportunities. Basically, the Ilocos region is a barren strip of land in the
northwestern tip of Luzon. It is squeeze in between the inhospitable Cordillera mountain range to the east and the South
China Sea to the west. It was a tough geographical location for the Ilocanos to live in. This is why Ilocanos are stereotyped
with survival-like regional traits such as clannish, tenacious industry and frugality.
The Ilocanos can be found living in the Central Plain of Luzon (consisting of the provinces Pangasinan, Tarlac and Nueva
Ecija) and in the Cagayan Valley. By the 20th century, many Ilocanos searched for greener pastures in Manila and other major
cities in the country. Traces of Ilocanos settlement could also be found in the frontier lands of Mindanao particularly in the
provinces Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato.

They became the first Filipino ethnic group to immigrate to North America (Manong Generation). In 1906, the Ilocanos started
migrating to Hawaii, Washington, Alaska and California.

Today, they are considered the largest number of expatriates in the United States. They dominate about 85% of the Filipino
population in Hawaii. A growing number of Ilocanos can also be found in the Middle East, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea,
Singapore, Canada, Australia and Europe.

Ilocano Culture
The Ilocanos are known for being hardworking, appreciative, simple and determined. However, they are also known as
stingy or kuripot. Of course, the Ilocanos being called stingy and cheap is just treated as a joke or pun among Filipinos and
not as a negative regional stereotype. It is a regional characteristic that their Filipino brethren have grown to understand.

The Ilocanos being thrifty

The Ilocos Region is situated in between the barren lands of the Cordillera mountain ranges and the South China Sea.
Although their rich land is blessed with agricultural benefits, making a living in Ilocos is very difficult.
With a growing population, the Ilocandia is absolutely not enough to provide for every resident. This harsh environment has
made the Ilocano become a fighter and a survivor. His attitudes and behavior are focused towards living a better life.

Unlike the Manileos, it is harder for Ilocanos to make money since they are very far from the center of trade and industry. It
would take long travel hours (by land) to send their products (mostly fruits and vegetables) in Manila. By the time it arrives,
these fruits and vegetables are no longer fresh.
The Ilocanos value money so much that most people see them as stingy when in fact they are just pennywise. They want to
spend their earnings wisely.

Ilocano marriage
Like all Filipinos, the Ilocanos have a strong family tie. They follow the Filipino norm when it comes to family structure
wherein the father is the head of the family. The mother, on the other hand, is the light of the home who disciplines the
children and manages the house finances. The Ilocanos have high respects to their parents, which is very evident in their
marriage traditions.
Before even planning for marriage, Ilocano children seek first the approval of both sets of parents. The parents are to decide
if they would agree to let their child marry or not. The young man (groom) asks for his parents consent. His parents will pay
the dowry and finance the wedding.
Then, the young man formally announces (panagpudno) his intentions of marrying the young woman to her parents. The
grooms parents visit the brides parents, in which they set the date of the wedding. In setting the date, both parents go to a
planetario to learn what dates are the good-luck days.
Another meeting is set for the wedding (palalian or ringpas) wherein the groom and his relatives to the brides house to
finalize the wedding arrangements. The families set the choice of sponsors, the dowry, sagut (wedding dress and
accessories which will be provided by the groom), and the parawad (cash that given by the groom to the brides mother as a
reward for raising his bride).

Ilocanos value for education

The Ilocanos are not only industrious in the fields but also in schools. Most Ilocanos are literate (can read and can right).
Parents are very passionate in giving their children proper education and will give it to them at all cost.
By having formal education, the Ilocanos believe that their children will have better opportunities aside from farming. The
Ilocano parents want to ensure that their kids will have better future and live a better way of life.

History of Ilocano
The Ilocanos are the third largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. The term Ilocano was derived from the words i-
(from) and looc (cove or bay), which when combined means People of the bay. They were also referred to as Samtoy,
which is a contraction of the phrase sao mi ditoy (this is our language).

Basically, the Ilocanos are Austronesian-people / Austronesian-speaking people. The Ilocano dialect is related to the
languages Indonesian, Malay, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Malagasy, Samoan, Tahitian, Chamorro, Tetum and Paiwan. Today,
the Ilocano dialect is the third most spoken language in the Philippines.

Spanish era

Prior to the Spanish colonial regime, a humble civilization already resides in the Ilocos Region (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La
Union and Abra). The region stretched from Cape Bojeador at the northwestern tip of Luzon down to the Gulf of Lingayen.

The Ilocos region was primarily famous for their gold mines. The first Ilocos inhabitants were living in large villages at
sheltered coves or rivermouths. Traders from China and Japan often come here to trade gold with beads, ceramics and silk.

Spanish conquistadors headed by Juan de Salcedo arrived in Vigan in 1572. After landing in Vigan, the conquistadors
headed to Laoag, Currimao and to Badoc. Theyve named the region Ylocos and its people Ylocanos.

The Spaniards werent particularly lucky with their conquest of Ilocos. The Ilocanos were the first ethnic group to revolt
against Spanish officials. It was in January 1661 when the Ilocanos proclaimed their illustrious leader, Don Pedro Almazan,
as their King. He was executed by the Spaniards after the kingdom was dissolved.

One of the Philippines most notable uprisings was lead by the Ilocano Diego Silang, which was continued by his wife
Gabriela Silang. The Silangs revolt was fueled by the grievances stemming from Spanish taxation and abuses.

The Ilocanos were prominent in the nationalist movement. Many Ilocanos have risen to high office in the central government.
The most famed and controversial of all is the late former president Ferdinand Marcos.

Ilocanos today

Among all the Filipino ethnic groups, the Ilocanos are the most migrant. In the 19 th century, the mounting population pressure
due to substantial population density has moved the Ilocanos to leave their homeland. More than 290,000 Ilocanos migrated
to different provinces and regions in the Philippines in 1903.

Ilocanos move to places in search for better opportunities. Basically, the Ilocos region is a barren strip of land in the
northwestern tip of Luzon. It is squeeze in between the inhospitable Cordillera mountain range to the east and the South
China Sea to the west. It was a tough geographical location for the Ilocanos to live in. This is why Ilocanos are stereotyped
with survival-like regional traits such as clannish, tenacious industry and frugality.
The Ilocanos can be found living in the Central Plain of Luzon (consisting of the provinces Pangasinan, Tarlac and Nueva
Ecija) and in the Cagayan Valley. By the 20th century, many Ilocanos searched for greener pastures in Manila and other major
cities in the country. Traces of Ilocanos settlement could also be found in the frontier lands of Mindanao particularly in the
provinces Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato.

They became the first Filipino ethnic group to immigrate to North America (Manong Generation). In 1906, the Ilocanos started
migrating to Hawaii, Washington, Alaska and California.

Today, they are considered the largest number of expatriates in the United States. They dominate about 85% of the Filipino
population in Hawaii. A growing number of Ilocanos can also be found in the Middle East, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea,
Singapore, Canada, Australia and Europe.

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.

RELIGION:Roman Catholicism; Philippine Independent Church; Iglesia ni Kristo (Church of Christ);

Protestantism; Islam;animism
1 INTRODUCTION
When the Spanish first encountered them in 1572, the inhabitants of Ilocos (then called "Samtoy") were living in
large villages at sheltered coves or rivermouths and were trading with the Chinese and Japanese. Although
massive churches in a distinctive style give evidence of Spanish-Ilocano collaboration, the colonial period was
marked by frequent revolts; the most famous of these was that led by Diego and Gabriela Silang during the British
occupation of Manila in 176263.
Ilocanos were prominent in the nationalist movement, and many rose to high office in the central government. The
greatest of these Ilocano "success stories" (as far as it went) was President Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled from
1965 to 1986.
2 LOCATION
The four provinces of the Ilocano homeland (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and landlocked Abra) stretch from
Cape Bojeador at the northwestern tip of Luzon down to the Gulf of Lingayen. Most of the population is
concentrated along a narrow coastal plain that has only a few good harbors. This environment is harsh, forcing
Ilocanos to be hard-working and thrifty. Many Ilocanos have left their homeland to seek employment elsewhere.
The population of the four provinces is about 1.8 million. Ilocano speakers, however, numbered 11 percent of the
national population of 66 million, or 7.26 million people. Among all Filipino groups, the Ilocanos are the most
famed as migrants, settling since the nineteenth century in sparsely populated expanses of the northern Central
Plain of Luzon (provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac, andNueva Ecija) and of the Cagayan Valley in the northeast. In
addition, many Ilocanos have established themselves in Manila and other major cities of the country, as well as in
frontier lands on Mindanao. Ilocano men left to find work as migrant laborers on sugar plantations in Hawaii and
on farms in California in the first decades of the twentieth century. They were the first Filipinos to immigrate to the
United States. In the Philippines, every Ilocano town has a number of men known as "Hawaiianos," returned
migrants from the United States. These migrants courted their future wives in their home country by letter.
3 LANGUAGE
The Ilocanos speak a Western Austronesian language of the Northern Philippine group, whose closest relatives
are the languages of neighboring mountain peoples. Ilocano has become the lingua franca of northern Luzon, as
Ilocano traders provide highland peoples with their primary link to the commerce of the outside world.
4 FOLKLORE
According to one Ilocano origin myth, a giant named Aran built the sky and hung the sun, moon, and stars in it.
Under their light, Aran's companion, the giant Angalo, could see the land, which he then molded into mountains
and valleys. The giants found the world they had created windswept and desolate. Angalo spat on the earth, and
from his spit emerged the first man and woman. He placed them in a bamboo tube that he tossed into the sea.
The bamboo washed up on the shore of the Ilocos region, and from this couple came the Ilocano people.
Like other Filipinos, Ilocanos recognize an array of supernatural beings, such as thekatawtaw-an(the spirits of
infants, who died unbaptized who in turn victimize newborns). Thekarkarma,the souls of living persons, leave the
body at death but linger in the house until after the post-funerary offerings of food are made to the deceased; in

the form of the scent of perfume, the odor of a burning candle, or a strange draft of wind, they are believed to visit
relatives who have failed to come to the sickbed of the deceased. Theal-alia,the spirit doubles of humans, appear
at their human doubles' death as the groaning of the dying, the cracking of glass, the rattling of beds, and the
banging of doors, or in the form (at night) of a grunting pig, howling dog, or a crowing chicken. These signs
remind the living to pray to God for the forgiveness of the deceased's sins (otherwise, the al-alia may visit
misfortunes upon them).
5 RELIGION
Filipinos were converted to Roman Catholicism by Spanish colonial settlers. Catholicism in the Philippines
combines belief in patron saints with belief in supernatural forces. Many people consult faith healers for herbal
treatments of physical ailments.
6 MAJOR HOLIDAYS
Ilocanos celebrate national and religious holidays.
7 RITES OF PASSAGE
Although free to choose their own marriage partners, young people seek the approval of both sets of parents.
When a couple decides they'd like to marry, the first step is for the young man to ask for the consent of his own
parents. His parents will pay the dowry and finance the wedding. Next, the future groom makes a formal
announcement(panagpudno)to the young woman's parents of his intention to marry their daughter. The groom's
parents then visit the future bride's parents, to set the date for the wedding. For this, the parents consult
aplanetario,an almanac identifying auspicious (good-luck) days. At a further meeting(palalianorringpas),the young
man and his relatives come to the young woman's house to finalize the wedding arrangements; each party
employs a spokesperson who negotiates for his or her side in formal language. The families set the choice of
wedding sponsors (an equal number, ranging from ten to fifty people for each side), the dowry (land for the
couple, or the money to buy such land), thesagut(the wedding dress, jewelry, and accessories that the groom is to
provide for the bride), and theparawad(cash that the groom gives the bride's mother as a reward for raising his
bride).
The wedding feast follows the church ceremony. At the feast, the bride and groom go through an entertaining
ritual. First, the groom offers the bride a plate of mung beans (symbolizing fertility). The bride refuses the dish
several times before finally accepting it. Then the bride offers the beans to the groom who in turn refuses the dish
until an old man calls an end to the ritual. (The pleadings and feigned refusals greatly amuse the onlookers.)
Another highlight is thebitor:guests contribute cash to the newlyweds either by dropping money onto plates held
by two men seated on a mat (representing the bride and groom, respectively) or by pinning bills to the couple's
clothing while the two dance. After the wedding, offerings of rice cakes are made to the spirits of departed family
members.
To announce a death formally, a piece of wood(atong)is lit in front of the deceased's house and is kept burning
until after burial, at which time it is extinguished with rice wine. The corpse is kept in the house. It is dressed in its
best clothes and a kerchief is tied around the jaw; a basin of water mixed with vinegar is placed under the bed to
remove the odor of death. Money is placed in the coffin to pay the "ferry man" who takes the soul to the other
world. In the days before burial, relatives keep vigil over the body, wailing and recounting the deceased's good
deeds (sometimes, professional mourners perform the lamentation(dung-aw).
Before the funeral itself, each of the relatives pays their last respects by kissing the deceased's hand or raising it
to his or her forehead. Extreme care is taken in transporting the body from the house to the church; any mishap
could cause premature death for the attendants. After the church ceremony, the relatives pose as a group for
souvenir photos with the coffin. Everyone in the procession to the cemetery must return to the deceased's home
by a different route from the one taken there. Upon arrival, they must wash their faces and hands in order to
remove the power of death.
8 RELATIONSHIPS
Ilocanos share the same basic values as other Filipinos, such asbain,which corresponds tohiyaoramor
propio("face" or sense of shame). The fear of gossip and the desire to avoid the envy of others serve as strong
pressures for conformity. Before pushing through with his or her own plans, a person feelsalumiim,the need to
figure out how others will react first in order to avoid embarrassment. It is essential to showpanagdayaw,proper
respect for the sensitivities of others. This requires that individuals speak about themselves only in the humblest
of terms. Although Ilocanos are group-oriented, they also value a certainindividualism(agwayas): one should not
reveal his or her inner intentions to others, since it is unwise to be too trusting.
A person is expected to overcome life's challenges through his or her own hard work, limiting his or her
dependence on others to obtaining aid from close kin. However, Ilocanos do formsavings associations(including
as many as fifty women in a neighborhood), mutual-aid associations (financing members' major celebrations),
and labor-exchange arrangements.

Life-passage parties and fiestas provide teenagers their main opportunity to chat and joke. For a young man to
initiate a courtship is a serious matter, since the only proper end is marriage. On his first visit to the house of a
young woman, the young man takes one or two companions with him so that he can get their opinion. During the
second visit, the companions excuse themselves to allow the young man to confess his feelings to the young
woman. Love notes are an important means of courtship.
9 LIVING CONDITIONS
Raised two to three feet (0.6 meters to1 meter) off the ground, houses have beams of wood, walls of bamboo,
and roofs of rice straw orcogongrass. Sometimes, newly married children may live in roofed extensions. On
thebangsal,a landing on the staircase, guests wait before being admitted, and wash or wipe their feet before
entering the receiving room. Curtains or bamboo partitions separate the living room from the bedroom areas
(most have beds but prefer sleeping mats). A separate storage room also serves for a place to change clothes.
Outhouses provide toilet facilities.
10 FAMILY LIFE
The structure of the Ilocano family (average size, six to seven persons) conforms to the general Filipino pattern.
The father is the formal head of family, backing up the mother who disciplines the children and manages the
house finances. The eldest child divides the chores equally among siblings. Grandparents tend to be
moreindulgentof grandchildren than the parents themselves.
11 CLOTHING
Dress inappropriate for one's age or perceived wealth or status attracts gossip such asmabiag ti ruar ngem matay
ti uneg(outwardly alive, but inwardly dying);uray napintas no inutang(even if it is nice, it is acquired through
credit). Still one should dress well for special celebrations. Everyday wear, especially at home, consists of short
pants for boys, and dusters, loose skirts, shirts, and short pants for girls. Those working in the fields wear longsleeved shirts, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats as protection against the sun and mud.
During the rainy season, people wear a headress oflabigleaves extending well down the back. Older women wear
their hair long and knotted in a bun, while men keep it short and apply pomade on special occasions.
12 FOOD
Ilocano food essentially resembles that elsewhere in the country, but Ilocanos are especially fond ofbagoong(a
salty shrimp or fish paste). One regional specialty that has entered national cuisine ispinakbeteggplant, bitter
melon, okra, and green beans cooked with bagoong, tomatoes, and a little water (dried or broiled fish, meat, or
shrimps can be added to improve the taste).
Other favorites aredinardaraancooked pig's blood (dinuguanin Tagalog-Pilipino); andkilawenthe lean meat
and intestines of water buffalo, cow, sheep, or goat, eaten raw or partially cooked with a sauce of vinegar, salt,
hot pepper, and pig's bile.
Eating with their hands, family members squat around the food laid out on the floor or take food and eat in
different parts of the main room. As food is regarded as a symbol of God's grace, there should be no noise,
laughing, singing, or harsh words (including parents scolding children) while eating is going on. One should not
drop food on the table or floor, or the food "will be angered and leave the household." Similarly, no one should
leave the house while someone is still eating, for God's grace will go with him or her, out of the home.
13 EDUCATION
Iloconas are almost all literate (can read or write).
14 CULTURAL HERITAGE
The Ilocanos have an epic, theBiag ni Lamang(Life of Lam-ang), which, however, exists only in the form of a
highly Hispanicizedmetrical romancecomposed in the nineteenth century. Ilocos is also the only place in the
country where the Spanishzarzuela(operetta) is still performed.
15 EMPLOYMENT
Almost all farmers (the major occupation) own the land they till, except for those who are tenants of farms owned
by urban professionals. The staple crop is rice, though poorer people must mix cheaper maize (corn) with their
rice. Root crops are also grown both as a supplement to the diet and for sale. Watered by wet-season rains or
irrigation, wet-rice fields range from small plots that can only be worked with a hoe or dibble stick to those large
enough for a water-buffalodrawn plow. Dry-rice agriculture is also practiced in the hilly areas between the
flatlands. Crops grown for market include tobacco and garlic (both Ilocos specialties), as well as onions, and
vegetables. Petty traders may travel as far as Manila to sell such products.
Farmers fish during the lull between planting and harvesting, usually in nearby offshore waters, rivers, or fish
ponds. An important part of the catch areipon,small fish forbagoong(fish paste).
Cottage industries include salt-making;basiwine-making(from molasses); pottery-making (twenty different types
are produced in San Nicolas); weaving (at one time using locally grown cotton; a goddess is said to have

bequeathed the art to the people of Paoay town); basket-and mat-weaving; woodworking; and silversmithing
(recycling old Spanish or Mexican coins).
16 SPORTS
One uniquely Ilocano game iskukudisi. A stick (thean-anak) is placed on a baseline scratched into the ground.
One player makes the stick jump in the air; the other player tries to catch it before it hits the ground. If the latter
cannot do so, a second, longer stick (thein-ina) is laid across the baseline; the player then tries to hit it with the
an-anak. The next two phases of the game involve competing to see who can hit the an-anak (which has been
tossed in the air and stuck into the baseline, respectively) with the in-ina the farthest.
17 RECREATION
Children enjoy such games asbalay-balay(playing house), hide-and-seek, team-tag, jumping "hurdles" (sticks or
outstretched arms or legs), jacks, and chess.
18 CRAFTS AND HOBBIES
Ilocanos engage in the same hobbies as all Filipinos. These include weaving, wood-carving, and playing chess.
19 SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Ilocanos, like all Filipinos, feel their government is corrupt. Wealthy citizens frequently bribe officials to get the
verdict they want.

Ilocano People
The Ilocano or Ilokano people are the third largest Filipino ethnic group. Aside from being referred to as Ilocanos, from "i"-from,
and "looc"-bay, they also refer to themselves as Samtoy, from the Ilocano phrase "sao mi ditoy", meaning 'from our language'. The
word "Ilocano" came from the word "Iloco" by the natives of the Upper part of the land known as "Cordillera."

Area
Originally indigenous to the narrow coastal strip of northwestern Luzon, the migration of Ilocanos has been great. To this day, the
Ilocanos are the dominant ethnic group in Northern Luzon, and their language, the lingu franc of the region. The Ilocanos are
the majority in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union,Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino,
and Tarlac, and form a significant proportion of the populations of the provinces of Pangasinan, Nueva
Ecija, Aurora,Zambales, Benguet, Batanes, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province. Further government-sponsored migrations
have led to the resettlement of Ilocanos to Mindanao, particularly to the provinces of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. There are
also an important Ilocano communities in Manila, and the world over.

Demographics
Ilocanos number about 9,136,000. The Ilocanos are primarily of Austronesian stock, the same as with the rest of the Filipinos.
Some are fair-skinned and have almond eyes, owing to Chinese admixtures. Their homeland is the closest region in the Philippines
to China. Few Ilocanos living in the Cordilleras also do have someCordillerano blood. Ilocanos speak the Ilokano language (also
called Iloko language), which is part of the Northern Philippine subgroup of the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages. Most
Ilocanos are Roman Catholics, while a significant number belong to the Aglipayan Church (which originated in Ilocos Norte).

History
The Austronesian ancestors of the present-day Ilocanos came to the Philippines through bilogs, or outrigger boats during the Iron
Age.

Spanish Era
In 1572, when the Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo conquered the Ilocanos, he described them as being more barbarous
than the Tagalogs. During the Spanish Colonial Era, the Ilocanos were one of the first ethnic groups to revolt against the Spaniards.
The first Ilocano revolt occurred during 1661, when the Ilocanos proclaimedPedro Almazan as their king. Almazan was executed by
the Spaniards after the kingdom was dissolved. Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang declared independence of Free Ilocos on
1762-1764 during the British occupation of Manila. The said republic was dissolved on September 20, 1763 through the execution
of Silang and his Ilocano associates. During the American Colonial Period and up to the Independence Years, leaders encouraged
the Ilocanos to resettle in Mindanao. On 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was the second Ilocano to be elected president of the Philippines.
Under his presidency, thousands of Ilocanos benefited from his land reforms.

Present
The mounting population pressure due to the substantial population density during the mid-1800s caused the migration of the
Ilocanos out of their historic homeland. By 1903, more than 290,000 Ilocanos migrated to Central Luzon, Cagayan
Valley and Manila. More than 180,000 moved to Pangasinan, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. Almost 50,000 moved to Cagayan Valley;
half of them resided in Isabela. Around 47,000 lived in Zambales.

The Ilocano Diaspora continued in 1906 when Ilocanos started to migrate to Hawaii and California. Ilocanos composed the largest
number of expatriates in the United States, though most are bilingual with Tagalog. There is a significant Ilocano community in
Hawaii, in which they make up more than 85% of the Filipino population.
Later migrations brought Ilocanos to the Cordilleras, Aurora, Mindoro, Palawan, and Mindanao provinces of Sultan Kudarat, North
Cotabato, and South Cotabato.

Culture
They are characterized as being humble, hardworking and frugal, and they engage primarily in farming and fishing. The Ilocano
culture represents very simple, sometimes spartan day-to-day living, focusing mostly on work and productivity, spending only on
necessities and not on so much on ostentatious material possessions. Ilocanos also exemplify a great degree of respect and
humility in their everyday dealings, much similar to their Tagalog counterparts.

Food
Ilocanos boast of a somewhat healthy diet heavy in boiled or steamed vegetables and freshwater fish, but are particularly fond of
dishes flavored with bagoong, fermented fish that is often used instead of salt. Ilocanos often season boiled vegetables
with bagoong monamon (fermented anchovy paste) to produce pinakbet. Local specialities include the soft white larvae of ants, and
"jumping salad" of tiny, live shrimp.

Literature
The greatest Ilokano literary work written in Iloko is the Biag ni Lam-ang (the Life of Lam-Ang), an epic about the fantastic life and
escapades of an Ilokano hero named Lam-ang.
Aside from 'Lam-Ang', the Ilocanos rank only second to Tagalog when it comes to literature. Ilocanos are also known for their
beautiful folk songs, which until now is better preserved than that of the Tagalogs'.

Famous Ilocanos

Elpidio Quirino- 6th President of the Philippines (19481953)

Ferdinand Marcos- 10th President of the Philippines (19651986)

Jose Burgos - Filipino priest during Spanish times, hero and martyr

Gregorio Aglipay- Founder of the Aglipayan Church

Josefa Llanes Escoda- Women's rights activist, founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines

Fabian Ver- former General and Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines