Ibanag people
From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia
The Ibanag, with a population of 311,187 (in 1990), is a Filipino ethnolinguistic group concentrated in the provinces of Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Isabela. Considered as one of the Philippine ethnic minority groups, they are found residing along the banks of the Cagayan River, and often found in Tuguegarao, Abulug, Pamplona, Camalaniugan, Lal-lo, Amulong, Iguig, Peñablanca, and Aparri towns.
The word Ibanag derives from the prefix "I-" which may refer to "native, resident, or people of" and bannag which means "river".
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[edit] History
The Ibanags originated in the region around the mouth of the Cagayan River and is dispersed southward within the last 200 years, influencing groups like the Itawis, Isinay, and Gaddang.
They are also closely related to the Agta, Atta, Yogad, Isneg, and Malaweg.
[edit] Characteristics
The Ibanags are the most assimilable and adaptable among groups of Filipinos -- they are easily influenced by people around them, and is evident in their taste of food, clothing, and language.
The Ibanags are reputed to be the tallest of all the ethno-linguistic groups in the Philippines and often distinguish themselves by the color of their elbows (Kunnasi kangisi' na sikum, meaning "How dark is your elbow?"). Oftentimes it is joked upon by Ibanags that their elbows tend to be of darker complexion than the rest of the Filipinos. In addition to this, Ibanags tend to be taller in stock and have a peculiar height on the bridge of their noses.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Politics
The early Cagayanes lived in villages governed by an Urayan holding the executive powers, an ukom or judge and a kammaranan who made policies and regulations or the community.
[edit] Livelihood
The Ibanags are lowland farmers that used to inhabit the area along the Cagayan coast but migrated further inland. They conducted trade with neighboring areas using distinctive seacrafts, and their commercial interests made their language the medium of commerce throughout the region before the influx of Ilokano migrants. They are also excellent blacksmiths and continue to make good bolos. . are agricultural, and they engage in fishing and farming.
[edit] Marriage, community, and the family
The Ibanags are clanish: in a barrio, each one is a relative of someone.
Marriage customs, moreover, have been made simple to a certain degree. Wedding expenses are shouldered by both the bride and groom, unlike before that only the groom's parents take over all the expenses. Preparations need not be extravagant, but the umune-ca presents (dowry) and maginterga are still part of the traditions.
Another Ibanag custom is placing a great value on children which is considered a gift from God. Couples without children are deemed unlucky and are believed to be punished.In this relation, many beliefs and rituals of Ibanag are associated with conception. One is a ritual to free an expectant mother from sickness. It uses a lutung, a wooden container from a bark of a tree. A small piece is taken from it, pulverized, burned, and mixed with coffee. Then, this will be served to the woman on a full moon with chanting of prayers.
[edit] Language
Their language is also named Ibanag, which also serves as the lingua franca of other neighboring ethnic groups such as the Gaddang, Yogad, and a few Aeta. This is spoken by about 500,000 peoples in Isabela and Cagayan, especially in Tuguegarao, Solana, Cabagan, and Ilagan.
However, most of the Ibanags can also speak Ilocano, one of Northern Luzon's dialects.
[edit] Literature
Ibanag folk literature, like any other literature, is the expression of Cagayanos' emotions and have spread to some parts of Northern Luzon. In a span of around 500 years, the Ibanag literary, balladeer, and minstrel, and rural folks and countryside mystics have composed and handed down a great number of folk literature promoting love, peace, justice, honesty, unity, morality, reconciliation, and lifestyle improvement because of the divisiveness and vices everyday conflicts can bring to a person.
Their literature is didactic, moralistic, predominantly sentimental, romantic, socialistic, comic and spiritual.
Their poetry, on the other hand, is mostly sung, which explains how it was handed down to the present: by way of oral tradition. They are also fond of making proverbs (unoni) and riddles (palavvun).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- The CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art: Vol. 1. 1994, Cultural Center of the Philippines (Manila).
- National Commision on Indigenous Peoples. Ethno Group: Ibanag. Accessed 07 May 2009.
- Cagayan North. Accessed 07 May 2009.
[edit] External Links
[edit] Citation
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