Ethnic Groups in the Philippines and their lifestyles (Cebuano, Igorot, Ilocano, and Ivatan)
As we all know, Philippines has a scads of ethno-linguistic groups. Consequently, a lot of traditions, cultures, beliefs and lifestyles spread all over the country. The information and details in this blog that were gathered are all about the environment/location, foods, religion and the languages of these ethnic groups, specifically, the Cebuano, Igorot, Ilocano and, Ivatan.
Cebuano
Written by Bea Villanueva
Introduction
Cebuano also Called “Sugbuanons or Sugbuhanons” on the island of Cebu, Cebuanos are found in the provinces of Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Leyte, and Southern Leyte; across the island of Mindanao; and in small and good-sized communities countrywide. Now commonly known as Bisaya, Cebuano is the lingua franca of the Visayas and Mindanao.
Cebu City is known as the Queen City of the South and
often regarded as the cultural capital of the Cebuanos. The city served as the
gateway for Catholicism to the Philippines, so Cebuanos are said to be highly
Christianized. Spanish culture and indigenous Philippine traditions have
strongly influenced Cebuano culture
Language
Cebuanos
primarily speak Cebuano but are also able to converse well in English and
Tagalog. Cebuano, as a language, is part of the Visayan languages as one of its
subfamilies and as one of the most spoken in the Visayan region. It is
considered the most prominent language spoken in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental
and Occidental, Samar, and Masbate.
Like
Tagalog and Filipino, the Cebuano language is heavily influenced by the Spanish
language when the Philippines was under Spanish rule. The language originally
had three vowels but added another two as a result of the influence and changes
in the alphabet. Their language has two standards, the traditional Bisaya and
the modern Tamdanan.
The
Visaya (or as we informally call Bisaya) language is widely used all over the
country, even in the places we assume to be Tagalog-speaking. Bisaya is
translated into many dialects and is spoken directly depending on the place. In
Cebu, Bisaya is pronounced in a very distinct manner. Our accent is strong and
intense. We often get misunderstood and get in trouble because of it!
Cebuano
belong to the Austronesian language family and also classifies under the
Western or Indonesian subgroup and Central Philippine languages. The
Austronesian language is formerly known as the Malayo-Polynesian language
family.
Cebu Culture
Art & Grace
Art forms are diverse among Cebuanos. Before the coming of the conquestadores, Cebuanos used to paint themselves employing the nowadays popular tattoo art forms. Although this form of art somehow vanished on the island, painting and other art forms is flourishing in myriads of medium. Many famous Cebuanos became clothing designers, furniture design artists, painters, sculpture, among others.
Sinulog
Festival
Sinulog
is one of the most famous cultural events on the island. it is celebrated
annually by performing religious dances with music and drums. It is usually
performed by various participants in groups.
Surtido Cebuano Folk Dance
Surtido Cebuano is another kind of folk dance that was
inspired by spanish. It is a bisayan folk dance particularly in the province of
Bantayan, Cebu. Surtido Cebuano is a square dance that has Spanish, Mexican and
French Influence.
The dance is composed of dancers I pairs. The head pairs is called the cabeceras while the other pair of dancer is called the costados.
Surtido Cebuano is just one of the many dances in Cebu but like the others it also represented the rich cultures of Cebu and shows the influence of the race in Cebu.
Food
Pungko-pungko
This is named after how you squat (pungko in bisaya) as you eat. You basically sit on a low bench in front of a table and choose from a wide assortment of fried food placed inside a giant plastic container. Don’t expect any utensils when eating at a Pungko-pungko stand. You’re expected to eat with your hands. In fact, they give you a sheet of plastic to use as gloves.
Beliefs
Death
Another way to
look at the indigenous with religious aspects in Cebuano culture is by
observing how they respect the dead and the way the funeral ceremony is being
celebrated or solemnized.
Aside from Christian influences, native and indigenous beliefs are obvious in the way Cebuanos pray, wake, or bury their dead loved ones. Cebuanos believe that people should not sweep the floor when somebody dies for it might cause the death of other members of the family.
Marriage
All the preparations for the wedding are done at the
groom's house. Part of it is bought to the bride's house to be served to her
guests and relatives. The expenses for the party are shouldered by the groom.
After the
wedding ceremony, the newlyweds walk together to the bride's house. Two plates
filled with water and some leaves of the San Francisco plant are placed at the
foot of the stairs for the newlyweds to step on. An old woman who is a member
of the bride's family combs the hair of the newlyweds and offers some advice
for a happy life together. It is believed that by stepping on the plates and
combing the hair of the married couple, they will have an orderly, and
harmonious life.
Igorot
Written
by
Reyzyl Gomez & Patricia Dadula
Who
are the Igorots?
"Igorot" is the modern term to describe the indigenous people of the Cordillera Mountains located in the northern part of the Philippine island of Luzon. When first "discovered" by the Spaniards in the 16th century, they were called "Ygolotes" - later to be re-spelled "Igorrotes." The Spaniards used other names to describe Igorots based on where in the Cordilleras they were found.
The Igorot form two subgroups: the largest group lives in the south, central, and western areas. The Igorot people are categorized into six different ethno-linguistic groups: Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isneg (or Apayao), Kalinga, and Kankana-ey. They are very adept at rice-terrace farming; the other group lives in the east and north. The Igorots formerly practiced headhunting.
Location
In regards to the Igorot’s population there wasn’t any specific record (number) on how many Igorots are here in the Philippines as of this day. However, according the past census data in 2015 the number of populations in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the location of the Igorots, is 1 722 006. Moreover, with the use of the past census data the projected total population in CAR on July 01, 2021 is 1 822 719 with 50.9 % (927, 042) males and 49.1% (895, 677) females.
Language
Their languages belong to the northern Luzon subgroup of the Philippine languages, which belong to the Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) family. The Igorot peoples are Austronesians. They were known in earlier days for their wars and practice of headhunting.
Some of the Igorots know how to speak Tagalog. However, their mother tongue depends to which ethnic group they belong to.The Bontoc tribe
speaks the Bontoc language. The Ibaloi tribe speaks the Ibaloi language. The
Ibaloi language is closely related to the Pangasinan language, primarily spoken
in the province of Pangasinan, located southwest of Benguet. The Itneg or
Apayao tribe speaks the Isnag language. The Kalinga tribe speaks the Kalinga or
Limos language. The Kankaney tribe speaks the Kankaney language. Their tribe is
actually named after their language.
Clothing
The wanno or g-string is the traditional attire of male igorot or usually called Ifugaos. There are six types of wanno, which are used depending on the occasion or the man's social status.The primary purpose of the bahag is to cover the male's private parts. After covering the male organs, it is then wrapped around the waist to prevent it from falling off. That is why, it does not easily loose when an Igorot male joins traditional dances or perform with the gongs.
Ifugao women wear tapis, a wraparound skirt.
In contrast, the Igorot Costume for females features a large rectangular woven clothing that measures 3-4 feet long and 3-5 feet wide. Generally, it is called “tapis.” It is simply wrapped around the waist. Often, a threat is used to secure it from falling off.
Foods
Pinikpikan
Pinikpikan is a traditional Food commonly cook by people from the Mountain Province. It is prepared by beating a live chicken with a stick prior to cooking. The beating bruises the chicken's flesh, bringing blood to its surface, which is said to improve the flavor after cooking. This version taste-like nilaga, with some veggies and topped with cured-and-salted pork.
Tapuy
Tapuy, also spelled
tapuey or tapey, is a rice wine produced in the Philippines. It is a
traditional beverage originated from Banaue and the Mountain Province, where it
is used for important occasions such as weddings, rice harvesting ceremonies,
fiestas and cultural fairs.
Etag
Etag
is a traditional smoked or sun-dried salted pork from native pigs. Although
there are several claims as to its origin, many places in the Cordillera find
etag a delectable addition to the pinikpikan, another Igorot delicacy for
chicken or duck meat.
Ilocano
Written
by
Shane Paican & Patrick Bongay
Introduction
The inhabitants of
Ilocos (then called 'Samtoy') lived in large settlements in sheltered coves or
rivermouths when the Spanish first met them in 1572, and traded with the
Chinese and Japanese. While massive churches show Spanish-Ilocano cooperation
in a distinctive style, the colonial era was marked by numerous revolts.
The most prominent of
these was during the British occupation of Manila in 1762-63, led by Diego and
Gabriela Silang. In the nationalistic movement, Ilocanos were influential, and
many rose to high office in the central government. President Ferdinand Marcos,
who ruled from 1965 to 1986, was the biggest of these Ilocano "success
stories" (as far as it went).
Clothing
The blouse called
kimona, normally with a cowl neckline, is either pure white or pastel.
PANDILING, her full-length skirt, is cone-shaped with a string across the
waist. This is made from hand-woven textiles that she has carefully woven and
sewn by hand herself. The weave's patterns are influenced by objects such as
crystals, milkyway, shells and stripes or checkered in nature. Over a full slip
called kamison, when the dress is worn.
Foods
Family members squat around the food spread out on the floor or take food to feed in various areas of the main room while feeding with their paws. As food is considered a sign of the grace of God, when feeding, there should be no noise, laughter, singing, or rough words (which include parents scolding children). One does not spill food on the table or floor, or "will be angered and leave the household." Similarly, no one should leave the house while another is already feeding, otherwise the goodness of God will go out of the house with him or her.
Location
Language
The Ilocanos speak the Western Austronesian language of the Northern Philippine group, the languages of neighboring mountain peoples being their closest relatives. Ilocano has become Northern Luzon's lingua franca, as Ilocano traders provide the inhabitants of the highlands with their primary connection to foreign trade.
Ivatan
Written
by
Kiara Aparece
Introduction
Batanes (Provinsiya nu Batanes) is an archipelagic province in the Philippines situated in the Cagayan Valley region.
It is the northernmost province in the country and also the smallest, both in population and land area. It is nicknamed as the “Scotland of the East” and “Home of the winds” for its calm and windy weather.
Inhabiting the Batanes are the Ivatans. The word Ivatan is derived from the Filipino word “marunong” and Ivatan word “chapatah” which literally means “someone who knows” and were then compounded to form the word mapatak.
The Ivatan people are known as the “True Insulares” and “People of the Northernmost Isles”. They study the behavior of animals, sky color, wind, and clouds to predict the weather.
Anyone who had come to Batanes always returns with comments
that the Ivatans are cheerful, kind, and honest. But at the same time, they are
also self-sufficient, industrious, typically shy and calm.
Clothing
The Ivatans has 3 endemic clothings which are equally made from a plant called Voyavoy.
Ivatan women traditionally wear a headdress called Vakul which
is worn by farmers on the field to protect their heads from the heat of the sun
and the rain.
While women traditionally wear vakul, men wear vests known as Kanayi
and Talugong, a traditional wide-brimmed farmer’s hat.
Vakul-Kanayi Festival
Vakul-Kanayi festival is celebrated as a symbol of taking pride on the quintessential Ivatan handicraft. However, it also rejoices its many other cultural values unique to their northern islander identity. It is barely new in the festival scene for it was only launched back in 2016. This festival takes place on the Sabtang island, an island popular for time-honored crafts like voyavoy weaving and cinematic sceneries.
Foods
Luñis and Turmeric rice
Ivatan Platter
Ivatan Platter is also the bestselling Ivatan cuisine consisting of kinilaw, kaliente (beef skin), inihaw na liempo, lobsters, coconut crab, fern salad, grilled flying fish, tuna, uvod (banana trunk), venes (gabi stalk), and beef tapa.
Language
Ivatan share a pre-historic cultural and linguistic commonalities with the Babuyan on Babuyan Island and the Tao people of Orchid Island.
Although the
Batanes Islands are closer to Taiwan than in Luzon, the Ivatan language is not
one of the Formosan languages.
The Itbayat
language, Itbayaten, also known generically as Ibatan is an
Austronesian language spoken on the islands of Batan and Sabtang, but is
primarily spoken on the island of Itbayat.
From college level down to elementary level, the language is widely spoken. It is also a language spoken by 30,000 people not just in Batanes islands but also in North of Luzon island and South of
Environment
The culture of
Ivatans is partly influenced by the environmental condition of Batanes. Batanes
is classified as having a Type A climate, a pleasant
semi-temperature climate.
The Ivatan
recognize two seasons:
• Rayun (summer) – lasts from March to May.
• Amian (winter) – lasts from November to February.
Even up to this day, the Ivatans still use salt to preserve meat
that lasts for months or years. Even without electricity, they can still fry
their delicious luñis.
Moreover, most of them have backyard gardens or a
small herd of cattle.
Over the centuries, the indigenous Ivatan people have adapted to this harsh environment. These leads them to build the Sinadumparan houses.
Sinadumparan
Houses are made of metre-thick limestone and coral walls as well as cogon grass
roofs. Natives built their dwellings to withstand fundamental issues such as
earthquakes, hot humid summer months, strong typhoons, and continuous monsoon
rains.
The low houses
with their heavy stone walls and thick grass roofs are not found anywhere else
in the country aside from Batanes.
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