ILOILO

PROVINCE

Although freight traffic dropped with the

physical handicaps because this might

construction

happen

of

artificial

ports

on

to

her

unborn

child.

Iloilo- province , eastern portion of the

Negros, passenger traffic has remained

island of Panay. It includes offshore

high. Thousands of migrant labourers

3. The mother-to-be is not allowed to

islands in the Visayas sea (eats) and

annually journey through Iloilo City,

eat foods with black color to avoid

Guimaras Island in Guimaras Strait. The

which is linked by rail with Roxas City,

having

province has an area of 2,056 sq. mi.

on the northern coast, to Negros sugar

complexioned.

(5,324 sq. km) and is mountainous. In

plantations. Iloilo City is also a major

the west and hilly in the northeast,

fishing port and it has a large airport.

where the Bulabog- Putian National

Park

lies

between

The

child

who

newly-born child

is

dark

should

be

rocked to and form so he will grow-up

and

San

The city has a compact urban core and

coastline

has

several plaza and market centers. It did

productive fisheries based on the port

not include a large rural area upon

5. The placenta should also be buried

of Estancia in the north. Drained by the

chartering and is thus more urbanized

together

Jalaud River, the central and coastal

than most Philippine cities. Building

arithmetic and readings so that the

region, constituting the Iloilo Basin, are

constructed after afire in 1899 show

child will be well versed in all these

level

areas

marked Spanish influence. Iloilo City is

subjects.

annually harvest two rice crops. Other

known for its old churches and for jusi

products include sugarcane, coconuts,

(raw silk) and pina (pineapple fiber)

6. The placenta should be placed inside

bananas, and corn. Forest products and

fabrics.

as earthen jar and buried with it. This

textile

Philippine

Enrique.

Its

and

Digle

4.

irregular

fertile,

and

many

manufacturing

are

also

important.

It

is

the

seat

University

of

Central

(1905),

south

highway),

Pototan

and

Santa Barbara ( freight depots of the

be

with

brave.

book

on

music

the

will curb the child's adventurous spirit.

University of San Agustine (1904), and

He will not go to far away places and

West Visayas State College 91924).

will surely return to his hometown in his

Cabatuan and Janluay (on the main

north

to

old
THE

ILONGOS

CUSTOMS

age.

AND

TRADITIONS....

Iloilo Railroad), and Barotac Nuevo are

important

trading

rice-milling

The Ilongos observed certain customs

centers. Other population centers in

and traditions about birth, baptism,

addition to Iloilo City, a chartered city

courtship

and

burial. Compare these customs and

Baptism is a catholic religious ritual

traditions with those of the Ilocanos,

observed by the catholic parents of a

Tagalogs,

new born child. The following are some

the

Mlagao,

and

provincial
Lambunao,

capital

include

Dumangas

and

Calinog.

and

marriage,

and

death

ABOUT

THE

and

Bicolanos.

practices
ILOILO CITY, a chartered city, capital of

ABOUT

THE

BAPTISM

BIRTH.........

the

connection

Ilongos

follow

with

in

baptism

Iloilo province, on the southern coast of

Panay. At the mouth of the Jaro River

The coming of a child in an Ilongo

1. The parents select the godparents

on the Iloilo Strait and sheltered by the

family is usually an important and

very carefully so that child will take

offshore

is

welcome event. Certain precautions are

after the good character traits of the

and

followed to insure the safe delivery of

godparents.

Guimaras

commercial
regional

center

center

of

Island.
of

It

Panay

sugar

exports.

the child. Among these are as follows;

2. The parents choose the priest or the

Pre- Spanish settlement was extensive,

1. The members of the family see to it

but the seaport remained small until

that all the wishes of an expectant

1855, when it was opened to foreign

mother are granted. They are careful

3. It is the parental privilege to give the

trade. The huge sugar exports of the

not to displace the mother for fear that

name

nearby

she

island

of

Negros

were

an

might

give

birth

minister

to

to

baptize

their

the

child.

child.

prematurely.

additional spur to its growth, and for a

4. The child should be baptized after

time Iloilo city rivalled CEBU CITY as

2. The mother is cautioned not to make

the first week or not later than the third

the main port of the Visayan Islands.

fun nor look at people with certain

month after birth. If a child dies without

the benefit of baptism his soul will go to

the groom and his family. After the

eating a full meal so that the fruits will

purgatory. This is according to catholic

wedding, the married couple kiss the

become

belief.

hands of the elders to receive their

big

and

full.

blessings. The wedding ceremony is

2. They offer prayers to the saint to

5. Baptismal parties are held after the

later followed by the wedding party.

give them rain after the prayers, the

baptism to ensure the child's success in

The parents and visitors presents such

image is brought to the beach and

any

as

dipped

future

undertaking.

furniture,

utensils,

dishes,

and

in

the

water.

beddings to the newlyweds. During the

6. It is common practice by godparents

party, the bride and the bridegroom are

3. Before they harvest crops in the farm

to give a certain amount of money to

asked to dance on the mat. While

they

the child for his financial security. The

dancing, the guest throw money to the

money

in

bride and groom. The money the couple

BELIEFS

child's

picks up serves as additional fits. After

BUILDING.

must

business

or

either

be

invested

spent

for

the

welfare.

ABOUT

offer

foods

and

prayer.

RELATED

TO

HOUSE

the wedding, some parents allow the

THE

COURTSHIP......

newlyweds to stay with them until they

1. It is a bad luck for a house to have

are able to save and stand on their

13

post.

own.
2. Stairs of houses should face the east

The man court the girl of his choice by

ABOUT THE DEATH AND BURIAL.......

to

bring

in

good

luck.

letter. When the girl accepts the man.

The death and burial of a person is a

3.

they became engaged. Before their

community affair. Relatives and friends

Wednesday

marriage, the man has to observe the

offer help to the relatives of the dead

pabagbati

The

person in the form of money and

pabagti refers to required servitude of

service. Friends and relatives attend the

the man is the house of the girl while

wake and offer prayers for the dead

the

formal

man's soul. During the wake, the family

announcement by the parents of the

refrains from bathing and sweeping the

The Ilongos of Iloilo and some province

intention of their son to marry their

floor for fear that another person will

of West Visayas live in houses made of

daughter. On this occasion, the boy's

die. The family wears lack for one year

wood, nipa, cogon or coconut leaves.

parents bring food and drinks while

as a sign of mourning. The family and

Sawali or split bamboos is used for their

both parties are making arrangements

friends of the deceases accompany the

walls. The floors are made of inch-wide

for the coming wedding. If the man is

dead during the funeral. Some carry the

split bamboos

accepted by the girl's parents, a dowry

coffin

bamboos.

is

prepare

visiting her at home and sending love

and

the

paregalo

agreed

paregalo.

is

upon.

the

The

man

is

also

while

others

food.

stay

behind

to

Move

into

new

either

or

THE

on

Saturday.

ILONGOS............

nailed to bigger

cut

After the burial, the

required to stay in the girl's house prior

family invites those who joined the

Ilongos

to the wedding day. The behavior of the

funeral partake of foods then prepared.

always provide for their guest comfort

man

After the burial the family offers prayers

and ease at their own expenses. They

to the dead or a nine-day novena. The

also very gentle in their ways that their

host provided a big feast on the third

quarrels do not see like ones. Since

and ninth day of novena. This is a

time is not important to the Ilongos;

catholic

they

is

carefully

observed

while

rendering service to the girl's family.

ABOUT

The

THE

marriage

is

MARRIAGE......

solemnized

by

beliefs.

are

take

very

life

hospitable,

as

it

they

comes.

minister of the church or by the justice

SUPERSTITIOUS

BELIEFS.......

of the peace court. On the eve of the

The art of the Ilongos is depicted in

their lovely woven hablon materials and

wedding day, a dance is held at the

The Ilongos are also influenced by

embroidered designs on robes of priest

house of the bride-to-be. The expenses

many superstitious beliefs as follows;

and children's wear.

for the wedding dress, church rites and

wedding reception are shouldered by

1. Bananas should be planted after