Ilocano History

The present Ilocanos are descendants of mixed race predominantly of the Austronesian (Malay) race. Chinese, Indian and Spanish bloods are significantly mixed. The early Austronesian ancestors of the Ilocanos arrived in the Philippines through barangays (boats) and settled the coastal side of northwestern Luzon. When the Spanish conquered the Philippines, an exploration led by Juan de Salcedo led him to the coastal towns of now Vigan, Currimao and Laoag. He find the people living in coves and described them as more barbarous than the Tagalogs in Manila. When he conquered this place he established a province called ILOCOS which originally comprises the now provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and parts of Abra and La Union (shown on map). During the Spanish colonial era especially in 1800s, migrations were initiated to other parts of Luzon due to some reasons aside from increasing population. Others who look for more fertile land went eastward to the wider plains of Cagayan Valley and down to Central Luzon. One of the more significant reason of the migration was that Ilocanos were chosen by the Spaniards to help them colonize the other parts of Luzon and evangelize the people. Later migration was during the American period. When the Americans penetrated the Cordillera, Ilocanos were asked for help and were encouraged to settle just like the establishment of the city of Baguio. It was also during this era that migration in Hawaii and later in California was opened because of the needed Filipino labor in these American territories. After the World War II, governement sponsored migration invited the Ilocanos to migrate in Mindanao especially in Cotabato, Davao, Sultan Kudarat and Zamboanga. Other migration led the Ilocanos in Mindoro, Babuyan Island and Palawan. Today, the Ilocano diaspora has reached the whole face of the globe.

History of Ilocanos

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.

Culture
They are characterized as being 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.

[edit] Food

Pinakbet, one of the staples of the Ilocano diet.

Ilocanos 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. Ilocanos 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.

[edit] Literature
One of the most well-known Ilocano 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 Ilocano hero named Lam-ang. The ilocano write Elizabeth Medina is probably the most remarkable living ilocano writer in spanish language. Ilocanos are also known for their beautiful folk songs