Ilocanos are agricultural people of Northern Luzon in the Philippines.
Ilocano are exemplary people who cross the ocean of prosperity by virtue of love for their land and countrymen. They grasped an abundance of exceptional acknowledgements for their valor, resilience in both mind and soul, and fruitful success in different sorts may it be in nobility, literature, leadership, and for their long-existing cultural activities that bind them as a whole.
Being the third largest Filipino ethno-linguistic group in the Philippines, Ilocano settle on the Ilocos Region or the Region of the Northwest Coast of Luzon which is situated between the Cordillera mountain ranges and the West Philippine Sea. Their land is most often referred to as Ilocandia, globally popular for its magnificent tourist spots, heritage sites, and well-preserved tradition and culture that are implanted to its people’s lifestyle up to the present period of time.
Moreover, Ilocos Region has an expansive agricultural land which means Ilocano are engaged in farming, producing food crops such as rice, corn, vegetable, root crops, and fruits. Considering the fact they are located on the northwestern part of our country, another main source of income of the people is fishing.
These two are strenuous activities which prove that Ilocano are hard working and it is in their culture to be productive in their everyday lives by working at their best for their family. Therefore, frugality and determination is ingrained to their minds and being executed through their behaviors which is centered on alleging a better life. In summary, Ilocano value money as a reward for their hardships; they spend it in the wisest way possible. This makes being thrifty a prevalent characteristic of the whole region.
Ilocano people do have a tangled and complex set of beliefs that are far and more different than other ethnic groups in the Philippines and even in the whole world. Their beliefs are unquestionably part of their lives due to the fact that they apply them to any affairs and operations they come across may they be in their homeland or situated in other corners of the world.
Beliefs are the foundation of everyone’s personal outcomes.
It can often be identified by finding a problem situation the person has unsuccessfully tried to change using his/her own variety of methods (Dilts, Hallbom, and Smith, 2012). With regards to the Ilocano, their beliefs play a huge counterpart to their culture whereas Taylor (2014) defined culture as the complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, arts, morals, law, customs, and many other capabilities and habits acquired by the members of the society.
This is where Ilocano people are also known; their culture was developed and nurtured by their ancestors and already functions to be their guide for multiple generations in different stages of life such as pregnancy and childbirth, infancy, adolescence, courtship, marriage, and death and burial. These are different types of beliefs in different areas but it is the superstitions that the said ethno linguistic group has. They perform countless superstitious beliefs that are believed to help people with day-to-day events and it is also considered as a crucial element in making decisions.
Superstitious beliefs are the things that one accepts and believes as true or real. These beliefs depend on trust in magic and faith. They are left behind by the ancient civilizations to us but by means of the beginning of modernization in Europe, it quickly spread out around the world through the centuries which caused the slowly vanishing of the said beliefs in other societies.
On the other hand, Ilocanos’ cherished beliefs, including superstitions and practices of the previous generations are still observed in the era of high and modern technology. Some may be manipulating advanced devices and machineries but many of them still have the superstitious beliefs at the backs of their minds – things that they adopted from their ancestors and observed from their surroundings. Growing up the Ilocano way means to be attached to their beliefs in all forms of occurrences and circumstances even without acknowledging whether they are real or not.
In terms of livelihood, Ilocanos are primarily engaged with farming and fishing. When the Chinese became dominant traders in 12th and 13th century, they arrived in the Philippines in 12th century and displaced the Arab traders. Chinese merchants regularly sailed from Asia to barter goods with Filipino natives. In 16th century, the Ilocanos who lived in port towns of Ilocos started to trade with the Chinese until they have shared their knowledge in business to the Ilocanos. In the previous centuries, Chinese community has been an essential backbone of the Philippines. Along with the Spanish and American cultures, Chinese culture has greatly influenced Filipinos in various ways most especially in business, be it in food, textile, fashion, furniture, banking, etc. Filipino and Chinese culture is integrating gradually. It is not assimilation but integration (Miranda, 2018).
Nowadays, Ilocos Region fills in a long list of tourist destinations and attractions. It covers a wide range of places, foods, accommodations, adventures, and the people who are recognized to be hospitable. It is the reason why people all over the world visit the region. Due to that fact, numbers of businesses gradually grows.
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Good morning! I am an Ilocano and I'm from Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines! It is nice writing about our people and our culture. I hope you like this article! Thank you so much!
Comment down your suggestions on what article of yours should I read too! :)
Good morning! You are right. Writing about Ilocano people and culture is indeed very nice.