New Era University

College of Computer Studies

Department of Computer Science

BALATERO, Mikaela Louise

July 29, 2015

LIT1;MW;11:30-1:00

Prof. J.M. Diaz

ASSIGNMENT:

REGION 1 (The Ilocos Region)

I.

People
This Region has three (3) distinct groups: Ilocanos, Pangasinenses and Igorots. Ilocanos occupy the
coastal provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union and certain parts of Pangasinan. The
natives of Pangasinan are the Pangasinenses. There are also Tingguians who live in the secluded
mountains of Ilocos Sur.
The Ilocos province of Region 1 is the historical homeland of the Ilocanos as well as the famous
former president who holds the title of longest presidential term of twenty years, President Ferdinand
Marcos. The Ilocanos have the following percentage of the population inside the bracket in each
province: Pangasinan (43%), La Union (92%), Ilocos Norte (97%), and Ilocos Sur (93%).
Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the Pangasinenses. The population of Pangasinan
composes around 60% of the whole population of the region. The Pangasinenses presently constitute
around 50% of the population of the province. The province was not originally part of the Region 1. It
was only during the time of President Marcos, when Pangasinan was included in the province.
Minority groups include the Tingguian and Isneg communities that inhabit the foothills of the Cordillera
Mountains.

II.

Culture and Traditions

The population is predominantly Roman Catholic with strong adherents of Protestantism such as the
Aglipayan denomination further north of the country. There is also an undercurrent of traditional
animistic beliefs especially in rural areas. The small mercantile Chinese and Indian communities are
primarily Buddhists and Hindus, respectively.
Most customs and traditions of the Ilocanos are influenced by their frugality. From the cradle to the
grave, the Ilocano rituals reflect what they believe in. Death to the Ilocanos means great sorrow. If the
father dies, the wife dresses the deceased alone so that her husband's spirit can tell her any
messages or wish he was not able to convey when he was still alive.
The body is placed in a coffin in the middle of the house parallel to the slats of the floor. A piece of
atong wood is lit in front of the deceaseds house. It is kept burning until after the burial. The fire is
extinguished with white wine.

Ilocanos also have wedding traditions. The groom makes a panagpudno (formal announcement) to
the soon-to-be brides parents about his intention of marrying their daughter. His parents will then visit
the brides parents to set the wedding date. Usually, parents consult a planetario, which is like an
almanac that identifies lucky days.
III.

Economic Activities
Although the economy in the southern portion of the region, esp. Pangasinan, is anchored in agroindustrial and service industry, the economy in the northern portion of the region is anchored in the
agricultural sector. The economy in Pangasinan is driven by agro-industrial businesses, such as
milkfish (bangus) cultivation and processing, livestock raising, fish paste processing (bagoong), and
others. At the same time the importance of trading, financial services, and educational services in the
economy cannot be denied. Income in the northern portion mostly come from cultivating rice,
tobacco, corn, sugarcane, and fruits; raising livestock such as pigs, chicken, goats, and carabaos
(water buffalos).
The distribution of the economic activity in the region may be seen from the collection of tax revenue
of the national government. According to the data from the Statistical Coordination Board, the bulk of
the collections come from Pangasinan, which posted 61% of the total.
The service and light manufacturing industries are concentrated in the cities. Dagupan City is mostly
driven by its local entrepreneurs, which have started to expand its network up to the national level.
San Fernando City in La Union also has an active shipping port and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte has a
growing international airport.
The tourism industry focuses on the coastal beaches and on eco-tourism. There are fine sands
stretching along Bauang, La Union and the rest of the region. Opportunities to engage in other water
sports and activities abound. Eco-tourism takes advantage of the marine and forest resources in the
region and displays the natural beauty of the Ilocos.
The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery. Their burnay pottery is
well known for its dark colored clay.

IV.

Literary Works
The serious outlook of the Ilocano is reflected on his physical movement as well as in his writings. He
is not the lyrics type; he is the epic type. An Ilocano epic depicting this sobriety is Biag ni Lam-ang, a
poetry piece that requires sustained effort. Among the well-known Ilocano writers are Salvador Lopez,
Loepoldo Yabes, Manuel Arguilla, and Consorcio Borje.
The ancient literature of the Ilocano consisted of songs for different occasions. The Ilocano war song
expressed the vigor and joys of the warriors coming from battle; the dal-ot, popular among the
peasants was sung during a baptismal party, a wedding or a feast; the badeng or love song is a
serenade. Pamulinawen, a popular Ilocano love song expresses longing for a loved one.
Pamulinawen (Rodolfo 1998, 81):
Pamulinawen, | Pamulinawen,
pusok indengan man | please listen to my heart
Toy umas-asog | Of this one who pleads,
agraryo ta sadiam | who delights in your beauty fresh
Panunotem man, | Do think about it

di ka pagintutulngan | and dont play deaf

Toy agayat, | This, your lover
agruknoy ta emmam | reveres your modesty
Isem ti diak kalipatan | Smile that I cant forget,
ta nasudi unay a nagan | name so exquisite
Uray sadin ti ayan, | Anywhere I may be,
disso sadino man | wherever the place
Aw-awagak a di agsarday, | I ceaselessly call out
ta nagan mo a kasam-itan | your name so sweet
No malagip ka, | When I remember you
pusok ti mabang-aran | My heart is refreshed.
Like most Filipinos, the Ilocanos possess musical instrumentals. Examples are the flute, kudyapi and
kutibeng, which is a sort of guitar with fine strings.
The Ilocano are proud of their dances. One of their favorites is the kinnotan, or ants dance, in which a
group of dances gesticulates toward a person being attacked by ants and then makes motions of
scratching the man. The Kinnailongong is another Ilocano dance showing a man and a woman sings
and dances towards him, and then dances with him.
V.

Spoken Languages
Ilokano, Pangasinan, and Bolinao
Ilocano is widely spoken in region 1 but Pangasinan has two other dialects which are Pangalatok
(also known as Pangasinense which is widely spoken in the whole province) and Bolinao which is
actually Zambal, a dialect spoken in the province of Zambales which is just next to Pangasinan. The
Bolinao or Zambal speakers are just a minority. They are spoken in the towns of Infanta which is the
last town of Pangasinan before the town of Sta. Cruz, which is a part of Zambales. Bolinao, where it is
widely spoken lies in the western part of Pangasinan, Bani, Agno and Anda. These last 4 towns are
close together. The reason why Bolinao or Zambal is spoken in these towns is because these towns
were once part of the province of Zambales including towns of Dasol, Burgos, Mabini, Alaminos City
and Sual.

REGION 2 (Cagayan Valley Region)

I.

People
Aside from the Ilokanos, there are several smaller ethnic groups that live in the province the
Ibanags, Itawits, Malawegs, and Agtas The Ibanags are the dominant ethnic group in the vicinity of
the provincial capital of Cagayan-Tuguegarao, now a city. The closely related Itawits inhabit the
Pinacanauan River valley as well as areas of Amulung and Tuao. The Malawegs are found mainly in
the municipality of Rizal. In the foothills and the mountains of the Sierra Madre Range, several
Negrito groups called the Agtas forage and hunt for food. The established lingua franca of the
province is Ibanag.
A significant number of the original settlers- the Ilongots, Igorots and a few Dumagats is still found
living along boundaries of the province or inhabiting the forests. The Ilongots were believed to have
descended from the Indonesians. They are quite good-looking and friendly.

II.

Culture and Traditions

The culture of Cagayan is showcased in museums, historical buildings and archeological sites spread
across the province. In Solana, the Neolithic archeological sites in Lanna have yielded stone tools
used as early as 20,000 years back. The Cabarruan jar burial site, also in the town, features ancient
Filipino traditions of taking care of their dead. The Cagayan Museum is a repository of the provinces
cultural heritage. Iron Age pottery, Chinese Ming and Sung dynasty porcelain pieces as well as
Church paraphernalia are on display together with Paleolithic fossils. The oldest bell in the country,
cast in 1592, still peals from the tower of the church in Camalaniugan. The old brick works in
Tuguegarao lie inside the city and speak of a time when bricks were extensively used to build the
beautiful churches of the Cagayan Valley.
In the Ilongot society, the man is an absolute king. The women cook and farm. The men fish and hunt,
bring firewood, build fences and take care of the kaingin. They can have as many as six wives as long
as they treat each one fairly and build a house for each wife.
Childbirth among the Ilongots is simple. The pregnant mother goes to a spot near a tree a bed of
ashes has been prepared. When the time to deliver comes, the pregnant woman holds on to the tree
trunk allowing the baby to fall on the bed of ashes. She cuts the umbilical cord with a sharp objects
washes herself in a nearby river, and gives the baby to the father. Having done these, she returns to
the field to continue working.
III.

Economic Activities
The province of Isabela and the city of Santiago are the richest province and city respectively in
Cagayan Valley. Isabela was the Top 10 Richest Province in the Philippines in 2011, being the only
province of Northern Luzon to be included in the list. The second biggest mall operator in the country,
Robinsons Land opened their first mall in the region which is the Robinsons Place Santiago in
Santiago City. The company is also set to construct their future malls in the valley which will be
located in the cities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan. Recently, the largest mall operator in the country,
SM Prime opened its first SM Supermall in the region, the SM City Cauayan.
Cagayan has much to offer visitors: beaches, swimming, snorkeling, skin-diving, and fishing in the
river and the sea, hiking in primeval forest, mountain-climbing, archaeological sites, the remarkable
collection of the provincial museum, the Callao Caves, and many fine churches. Even here there are
fortifications built to protect the inhabitants from raids by the Mara.
The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) is in Santa Ana, Cagayan.

IV.

Literary Works
Ybanag folk literature, like any other literature, is the expression of Cagayano's joys and sorrows,
hopes and fears, love and hatred, the very ingredients that whipped up all the literary genre handed
down to us.
In the span of some five hundred years, Ybanag folk literary, and Ybanag balladeer,
verzista, the Ybanag minstrel, rural folk and countryside mystics composed and handed
down volumes of folk literature advocating love, peace, justice, honesty, unity, morality,
reconciliation and betterment of life style.
Ybanag folk literature is didactic, moralistic, predominantly sentimental, romantic,
socialistic, comic and spiritual--all aimed at uniting the Cagayanos, brave like the kasi or

wild cock that challenges them to greatness at sunrise; mission-oriented like the Bannag
on whose banks their forebears were rooted; graceful as the bamboo that bends in the
winds of challenges; sturdy as the Manga in the typhoons of controversies.
Literary Work
[Poem]
Frustrated Wish
So happy and trusted
these people in love
for their sorrow they have
somebody to share.
My destiny that's so lonely
am i alone with this?
For i said i won't think twice
because suffering i am now.
If ever i fall in love to a man
there's nothing i could see
that i have my counterpart.
Time i shall forget when i was born
better in a thousand years
If at my birth i was gone.
I should have tried to explain
but tongue-tied i was
for i could clearly see
that i won't be lucky.
And it really pleases me much
that my love for you knows
So i swear and promise you,
that my life is just for you.
The poem Nalpay A Namnama of Leona Florentino was translated in Tagalog by Isagani Cruz and in
English by M. Foronda Jr.
V.

Spoken Languages
Ilokano, Ibanag, Irraya, Ivatan, Itawis, Gaddang, Yogad, Isinay, and Ilongot.
Due to the influx of Ilokano migrants in the last century, majority of the people of Cagayan speak Iloko
as their primary tongue.
REGION 3 (Central Luzon)

I.

People
The Kapampangan people originate from the central plains of Luzon, starting from Bataan up to
Nueva Ecija. The Kapampangan language is spoken by more than two million people, and has been
shown to be related to some Indonesian dialects. Most Kapampangans are Catholics.

In the Spanish colonial era, Pampanga was known to be a source of valiant soldiers. There was a
Kapampangan contingent in the colonial army who helped defend Manila against the Chinese Pirate
Limahon. They also helped in battles against the Netherlands/Dutch, the England/English and Muslim
raiders. Kapampangans, along with the Tagalogs, played a major role in the Philippine Revolution.
II.

Culture and Traditions

Culture here is number one and there are incredible fiestas that reflect each towns distinct culture,
from the Giant Lantern Parade in San Fernando, Pampanga, to the Fertility Rites in Obando,
Bulacan.
Kapampangan cuisine is widely thought to be among the most evolved and refined of Philippine cuisines.
Some of the menus that are said to have been originated from Pampanga are kare-kare, sisig, and kilawin.

Eighty percent of the population of Central Luzon is Roman Catholic. Other religions represented are
Protestants (including Evangelicals), Islam, and Iglesia Ni Cristo. In this region also where the
Members Church of God International (also known by many as Ang Dating Daan) headquarters is
located in Apalit, Pampanga where most members are. There are also other denominations such as
Jesus Is Lord, Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ, Jesus Miracle Crusade, United Methodist
Church and others.
III.

Economic Activities
Aurora is heavily forested, and the cleared land is used mostly for farming; there seems to be no
industry. The province is exposed to Pacific typhoons, and is hit by an average of four per year, some
of devastating severity. On the other hand it is a fine place for surfing, as well as scuba-diving and
snorkeling, though local support services are not readily found. It also has dramatic scenery on the
side of the mountains. The principal products are copra, rice, banana, coffee, pepper, and citrus, plus
various wood products and fish. There is some cottage weaving, and the provincial government is
trying to develop food-processing and wood-processing industry.
Bulacan has a mixed economy, agricultural and industrial. The principal crops are rice, sugar cane,
maize, melons, vegetables, and bamboo. Industries include food processing, leather tanning, textiles,
shoemaking, ceramics, chemicals, metals and machinery production. Handicrafts are also practiced,
and there is much fishing, both fresh-water and salt-water.
Before the Spanish arrived the Kampampangans practiced irrigation, grew rice and sugar cane and
fruit trees and fiber and ornamental plants and spices, wove useful and attractive fabrics, smelted
metals and made tools and jewelry, wrote their language with a syllabary, and had a written code of
laws. Farming and fishing are the main economic activities; Pampanga still grows rice and sugar
cane, also maize, fruits, vegetables, melons, and root crops. The Pampanga River and commercial
fishponds yield carp, crabs, and shrimp. Pampanga Agricultural College is located in Magalang.
Woodcarving, furniture-making, lantern-making, ceramics, and other crafts are also widely practiced.

IV.

Literary Works
Zambales, Pampanga and some parts of Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan are outstanding in the field of
oral literature like bugtong (riddle), proverbs, native songs, short stories and poems.
I Sing
by Imelda Morales Aznar

I sing because of your heart-shaped hands, I sing

Because of the folds in your skin. They catch
My kisses the way leaves drink sunshine and I sing
Because youre fragrant as a dream
Of cotton and wisps of foggy air
At dawn. Because it feels as if
Im holding a cloud when I put your foot
On my palm, I sing.
If I put my cheek near your little lips Im kissed
By the gentlest, sweetest breath. I sing
Because your laughter is a song whose chords
Play in my heart. Your smile, pure miracle
Blossoming before me, makes me sing.
And Im warmed to my soul by your gentle eyes
Whose depths cradle sparks of sweet days coming,
And I sing for the perfectness of things.
V.

Spoken Languages
Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Sambal.
Ilocano is spoken by half of the population followed by Kapampangan spoken by 41%. Everybody
understands the Tagalog language.
Aurora - The province speaks predominantly Tagalog, and in some parts, Ilocano. The working
population is fluent in both the English and Filipino languages
Bataan - Tagalog is the main language and is widely used, followed by Pampango and Ilocano.
English is used mostly as the medium of transaction in business.
Bulacan - The language used in the province is predominantly Tagalog. Other dialects used by the
townfolks are Waray, Ilocano, Bicolano, and Kapampangan.
Nueva Ecija - Tagalog is predominantly spoken by the Novo Ecijanos, comprising 67.7%, followed by
the Ilocano dialect at 29.93%. Other dialects are Pampango, Pangasinan, Bicol, and Ilonggo.
Pampanga - Kapampangan, English, and Tagalog are spoken and understood anywhere in the
province.
Tarlac - Ilocano is spoken by half of the population followed by Pampango spoken by 41%. Everybody
understands the Tagalog language.
Zambales - Tagalog is the predominant dialect followed by Ilocano and Zambal. English is widely
spoken.