ILOCANO CULTURE

I am an Ilocano – the guardian of the North. I am a child of the verdant Sierra Madre, nourished by the
many rivers that spring forth from its bountiful bosom. I am a friend of the blue sea, which kisses the
white sandy shore. These waters, in turn, nourish my dreams – dreams that grow with every rice
seedling I lovingly plant in the paddies; dreams that take me beyond my own horizon of green fields,
blue seas and clear skies. I rise with the morning to watch these dreams grow, and not just watch, but as
I tend to my rice plants, I make them come true. My crop, of course, lies at the mercy of the seasons,
but I persevere. It is this same perseverance and industry that my brothers and I bring with us wherever
we go. And we’ve been to many places. Some of us led the first group of Filipinos, the sakadas, in
Hawaii. Some became domestic helpers, doctors, engineers, teachers, and nurses overseas. Even inn our
own country, my kind have travelled far and wide to seek their fate. But whether we have become
hacienderos in Mindanao or lawyers in Makati, we remain loyal to our Ilocano heritage.

I am an Ilocano – a man of talent and virtue. I raise my voice to sing in the Ragragsakan festival; a
humble voice filled with thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. It is the same voice that fisherfolk sing for a
good catch. In my neighborhood, mothers sing the duayya to lull their children to sleep, suitors sing
Pamulinawen, pledging their unending love. Elders chant the dallot to ensure the happy engagement
and marriage of young couples. Yes, I have inherited a vibrant culture, as colorful as the versatile abel
fabric woven with love by the people of Paoay.

I am an Ilocano, a brother to one and all. With a sweet smile and open arms, I welcome friends and
visitors into my humble abode. I serve them a hearty dish of pinakbet, cooked in the finest bagoong and
topped with crunchy bagnet; or longganisa with lots of garlic or dinengdeng with fried fish and only the
freshest vegetables. I invite them to share stories, and we talk over bowls of chichacorn or bottles of
basi or other native wines. The basi and the vinegar I make are known for their strong flavor – maingel
(brave). Indeed, bravery is in the Ilocano heart and soul. Diego and Gabriela Silang fought with it; Juan
Luna painted with it; Antonio Luna went to battle with it. With the same courageous spirit, the kailianes
of Piddig revolted against injustice, Josefa Llanes Escoda launched a humanitarian cause, and hundreds
of people, including Roque Ablan, fought the Japanese. And yes, it is with the same courage that
Ferdinand Marcos led the Philippines into a golden era.

But despite this rich history and culture, I lead a simple life. I am known for my frugality; in fact, I have
been branded as ‘kuripot,’ or miserly. This is because I only spend my hard-earned money on the
necessities of life; I save my financial resources for future use. I have shared this value to many a Filipino
brother, and I hope that they learn from me, for it is this prudent use of my resources that I have risen
above the adversities of life and nature. That, and my faith.

My deep faith in God has taught me how to live: with honesty and integrity. This is a faith enshrined in
the age-old churches built by the sweat of my ancestors. Thus, I do not steal things that aren’t mine.This
faith has also taught me to laugh, to smile with gladness even at the heart of trouble. Optimism
permeates my Ilocano soul. Fortified by nature, I am as strong as the burnay made by the potters of San
Nicolas. Made humble and sweet by God’s grace, I am as sweet as the molasses churned by the
dadapilan.

I am an Ilocano, proud of my heritage. I learned from the past – from the Chinese who traded in our
ports, the value of honesty and hard work; from the Spaniards, I learned how to value freedom and
equality. . . I am still learning, even imbibing modern ways of life as I, open minded and adaptive as I am,
continue to chart my history in the greater context of my being a citizen of my country and of the world.

Yet, in my heart I remain loyal to the virtues and traditions that define me: love for food, love for music,
love for nature, love for humanity, and love for God. This is the genuine Ilocano, and this I am.