Ilocano Lowland Cultural Community

Posted on April 30, 2015

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BEN PACRIS

Collectively known as Ilocandia, the Ilocos Region is strategically located at the

northwestern tip of Luzon. Its coastline runs along the international sea lanes of the South
China Sea. It comprise the coastal provinces of La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

An impressive region of sharp geographical contrasts, the Ilocandia covers some 17,980
square kilometers of land, almost 17 times bigger than Hong Kong’s and 28 times larger
than Singapore’s. This accounts for roughly 5.9% of the total land area of the Philippines.
It is a blend of clear blue seas, high mountains, rolling terrain and fertile river plains.

Originally, the Ilocos region had only one province which was among the most thickly
populated areas in the country. A burgeoning population necessitated the creation of
different provinces – Pangasinan in 1611; Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in 1846; La Union
in 1854; Abra in 1846 and Benguet in 1966.

History

Prior to the coming of the Spaniards, the coastal plains in the northwestern extremity of
Luzon, stretching from Bangui (Ilocos Norte) in the North to Namacpacan (La Union) in
the South, were as a whole known as a progressive region rich in gold. This region,
hemmed in between the China Sea in the west and Northern Cordillera in the east, was
isolated from the rest of Luzon.

The inhabitants built their villages near small bays called looc in the dialect. The coastal
inhabitants were referred to as Ylocos, which literally meant “from the lowlands.” The
entire region was then called by the ancient name Samtoy, from “sao mi daytoy.” The
Spaniards later called the region as Ilocos and its people, Ilocanos.

Culture

Ilocandia has a rich culture reminiscent of colonial times. Vigan, the colonial metropolis
and considered as the “Intramuros of the North”, still retains the Castillan colonial
architecture of the times. Lined along its narrow and cobble-stoned streets are old
Spanish-type houses (commonly called Vigan house), most of which have been left
abandoned. These stately homes have huge, high-pitched roofs, large and rectangular
living rooms with life-sized mirrors, old, wooden furniture and ornate Vienna sets.
The churches of the Ilocos Region are the enduring symbol of the triumphant
transformation of the Ilocano from being practitioners of indigenous religions to
practitioners of theistic Christianity. Some of its most impressive churches are: the Vigan
Cathedral in Ilocos Sur with its massive hand-carved images of the via crucis; that of
Magsingal (also in Ilocos Sur) with its centuries-old wooden altar; the St. Augustine
Church in Paoay (Ilocos Norte) which takes the form of a baroque-type built with massive
buttresses; and Sta. Maria Church (Ilocos Sur), nestled atop a hill with a stone stairway
of 80 steps, are both listed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Dances were mainly a reflection of the gracious ways of the Ilocano. The dinaklisan (a
dance common to fisher folks), the agabel (a weaver’s dance) and the agdamdamili (a
pot dance) illustrate in simple steps the ways of the industrious Ilocano. Other popular
dances among the Ilocanos are Tadek, Habanera, Comintan, Saimita, Kinotan,
Kinnalogong.

The Land and its People

Historically, the people of the Ilocos Region are resourceful and industrious, their
resilience, probably, stemming from their geographical location and extreme weather
patterns. Their high inclination to save, misread by non-Ilocanos as characteristic of a
typical tightwad, is evident in the high average savings rate of the region throughout the
years. Ilocanos have an elaborate network of beliefs and practice which he applies when
he deals with the people around him.

Quick Facts

ILOCOS NORTE AND ILOCOS SUR, the twin hearts of Ilocano culture, are rugged and
rocky, its narrow plains hemmed in by the mountains and the sea.

Ilocos Norte, its capital being Laoag, is bounded by China Sea in the North; and Luzon
Sea in the West. Its population of 482,651 (as of 1995) speak generally in Ilocano and
English and has a land area of 3,399 square kilometers.

Ilocos Sur, its capital being Vigan, has a land area of 3,399 square kilometers and is
bounded by Ilocos Norte in the North; Benguet, Abra, Mt. Province in the East, La Union
in the South and China Sea in the West. Its 545,385 people (as of 1995) speak fluently in
Ilocano, English and Filipino.

LA UNION, its capital being San Fernando City, is bounded by Ilocos Sur in the North;
Benguet in the East; Pangasinan in the South and China Sea in the West, has a land
area of 1,493 square kilometer. It has a population of 597,442 (1995) and people speak
in Ilocano, Tagalog and English.

About the Author:

Ben Pacris is a multi-awarded writer/jounalist, radio/tv announcer, lecturer and public
servant. He writes a column for the “Ilocandia Today” and “Anaraar”, published in Ilocos
Norte and Ilocos Sur. He is the Information Center Manager of the Philippine
Information Agency in Ilocos Norte.