The Ilocos region or Region I (Ilokano: Rehion ti Ilocos, or Deppaar ti Ilocos ; Pangasinan: Rihiyon na Sagor na Baybay na Luzon) is a Region of the Philippines and is located in the northwest of Luzon. It borders to the east the regions of the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley and to the south the region of Central Luzon. To the west north is the South China Sea, otherwise known as the West Philippine Sea. The region is composed of four provinces, namely: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan. Its regional center is San Fernando City, La Union. Ilocano speakers compose 66% of the region, and Pangasinan speakers are 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.[1] The province of Pangasinan composes 58% of the region's population, 42% of its area and 61% of its economy.[2]

PhysicalRegion I occupies the narrow plain between the Cordillera Central mountain range and the South China Sea. It also occupies the northern portion of the Central Luzon plain, to the north-east of the Zambales Mountains. Lingayen Gulf is the most notable body of water in the region and it contains a number of islands, including the Hundred Islands National Park. To the north of the region is Luzon Strait. The Agno river runs through Pangasinan and empties into the Lingayen Gulf. The river flow into a broad delta in the vicinity of Lingayen and Dagupan City.

[edit] DemographicsThe Ilocos provinces of the Ilocos Region is the historical homeland of the Ilocanos including Former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. The Ilocanos compose 66% of the region, the Pangasinan people compose 27%, and the Tagalogs compose 3%.[1] Pangasinan is the historical homeland of the Pangasinenses including Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos. The population of Pangasinan comprises approximately 60% of the total population of the region. The Pangasinenses presently constitute around 50% of the population of the province.[1] The Ilocanos were not originally inhabitants of Pangasinan. They started migrating to Pangasinan in the 19th century.[3] Pangasinan was formerly a province of Region III (Central Luzon), but President Marcos signed Presidential Decree No. 1, 1972, incorporating it into Region I. Minority groups include the Tinggian and Isneg communities that inhabit the foothills of the Cordillera mountains. The population is predominantly Roman Catholic with strong adherents of Protestantism such as the Aglipayan denomination further north of the country. There are also adherents to other Christian denominations, such as Iglesia ni Cristo, Mormons, and the like. There is also an undercurrent of traditional animistic beliefs especially in rural areas. The small mercantile Chinese and Indian communities are primarily Buddhists, Taoists, and Hindus.[citation needed]

[edit] HistoryRegion 1 was first inhabited by the aboriginal Negritos before they were pushed by successive waves of Malay immigrants that penetrated the narrow coast. Tingguians in the interior, Ilocanos in the north, and Pangasinense in the south settled the region. From the data on the population distribution of Region 1, it is clear that not all the inhabitants are Ilocanos. Around one-third are non-Ilocanos and yet there is a popular misconception that all the

inhabitants are Ilocanos.[1] The use of the term Ilocos Region promotes the wrong notion that all the residents of Region 1 are Ilocanos. Before the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not a part of the region.[4] The Spanish arrived in the 16th century and established Christian missions and governmental institutions to control the native population and convert them to the Roman Catholic Church. Present-day Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province became the bishopric seat of Nueva Segovia. Ilocanos in the northern parts were less easily swayed, however, and remained an area filled with deep resentments against Spain. These resentments bubbled to the surface at various points in the Ilocos provinces' history as insurrections, most notably that of Andres Malong and Palaris of Pangasinan, Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang in 1764, and the Basi Revolt in the 19th century. However, it was the Pangasinenses in the south who were the last to be stand against the Spaniards.[5] In 1901, the region came under American colonial rule, and in 1941, under Japanese occupation. During 1945, the combined American and the Philippine Commonwealth troops including with the Ilocano and Pangasinese guerillas liberated the Ilocos Region from Japanese forces during the Second World War. Several modern presidents of the Republic of the Philippines hailed from the Region: Elpidio Quirino, Ferdinand Marcos, and Fidel V. Ramos. Before the formation of the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 1 also included the provinces of Abra, Mountain Province, and Benguet. Before Region 1 was modified by Ferdinand Marcos, Pangasinan was not part of the region.

[edit] EconomyAlthough the economy in the southern portion of the region, esp. Pangasinan, is anchored on agro-industrial 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 Ilocos provinces or 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. The bulk of the collections come from Pangasinan, which posted 61% of the total.[2] 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 an international airport. The tourism industry, driven by local airlines and land transportation firms in the area like Farinas Transit Company and Partas, 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 Region 1.[citation needed] The region is also rich in crafts, with renowned blanket-weaving and pottery.[citation needed] The Ilocanos' burnay pottery is well known for its dark colored clay.[citation needed]

[edit] Political Divisions

Political map of Ilocos Region Region I is composed of 4 provinces, 9 cities, 116 municipalities, and 3265 barangays.[6] Province Capital Population Area Pop. density (2007) (km) (per km) 547,284 632,255 3,399.3 151.3 2,579.6 230.3 1,493.1 440.7

Ilocos Norte Laoag City Ilocos Sur La Union Pangasinan Vigan City Lingayen

San Fernando City 720,972

2,645,395 5,368.2 453.4 149, 554 37.23 3,427

Dagupan City

[edit] Component Cities

Alaminos City, Pangasinan Batac City, Ilocos Norte Candon City, Ilocos Sur

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte San Carlos City, Pangasinan San Fernando City, La Union Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Vigan City, Ilocos Sur Dagupan City, Pangasinan

[edit] Independent Cities Dagupan City is an independent component city, figures are excluded from Pangasinan province.

Tourist attractions[edit] Ilocos Norte

Paoay Church, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Marcos Museum Sinking Belltower, Laoag City Paoay Lake Fort Ilocandia Hotel Paoay Golf Course Paoay Church Laoag Cathedral Aglipay Shrine Malacanang Of The North Patapat Bridge Ilocos Norte Capitol Cape Bojeador Lighthouse Bangui Windmills

Ilocos Norte Museum Juan Luna Shrine Ricarte Park and Shrine Badoc Church Sarrat Church Dap-ayan, Laoag, Ilocos Norte Food Court and Ilocos Norte Products La Paz Sandunes, Laoag, Ilocos Norte Fine Sandunes Robinsons Place Ilocos Norte Pamulinawen Hotel Plaza Maestro Complex, Batac City Everland Resort and Multi-Zipline, Batac City Hertiage City of Vigan Vigan Cathedral Sinait Church (Sanctuary of Santo Cristo Milagroso) Ilocos Sur Capitol Santa Maria Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) Pinsal Falls (Largest Waterfall of Region I - Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur) Bantay Church and Belltower (Sanctuary of Nuestra Senora de La Caridad) Quirino Bridge in Bantay Plaza Maestro Complex, Vigan City Tirad Pass Sundial in Tagudin Santiago Cove Paraiso ni Juan in Narvacan La Union Capitol Pindangan Ruins La Union Botanical Garden Wallace Air Station Thunderbird Resort and Casino La Union Surfing Capital (San Juan) Bauang Beach Poro Point (sea port)

[edit] Ilocos Sur

[edit] La Union

[edit] Pangasinan

Hundred Islands Pangasinan Capitol The Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag San Carlos City Plaza San Juan River in San Carlos City Bonuan Blue Beach in Dagupan City Antong Falls Cacupangan Cave Mount Balungao Manleluag Spring National Park Sanctuario de Senor Divino Tesoro Salasa Church Lingayen Gulf War Museum Bolinao Museum Oceanographic Marine Laboratory Red Arrow Marker of the WWII 32nd US Infantry Division Rock Garden Resort Umbrella Rocks Urduja House St. John Cathedral Garden Caves in Bolinao Boat ride in Pantal River Provincial Capitol Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center Hundred Islands Marine Sanctuary Tondol Beach Tambobong White Beach Blue Beach Pergola Plaza in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan

Literature: Biag ni Lam-ang

The Ilocano Biag ni Lam-ang is the oldest recorded Philippine folk epic and the only complete epic to come down from the Christian Filipino groups.Biag ni Lam-ang (English: The Life of Lam-ang) is an epic poem of the Ilokano people from the Ilocos region of the Philippines. Recited and written in its original Iloko, the poem is believed to be a composite work of various poets who passed it on through the generations, and was first transcribed around 1640 by a blind Ilokano bard named Pedro Bucaneg. Its earliest stages of composition occurred during the pre-Hispanic period of the Philippines, and it is one of the greatest pieces of Ilokano literature in the Philippines.

The narrative is a mix of adventure and romance with exciting and unpredictable plot turns. The epic poem details the customs, culture, traditions, and beliefs of the pre-Colonial Ilokano people. The story presents some of the qualities and values espoused by the ethno-linguistic group adventurous, hardy, and braveas personified by the hero, Lam-ang. The moral of the epic is that life is full of trials and problems; one must be strong and must accept this reality.

BIAG NI LAMANG PEDRO BUKANEG FULLSTORY ENGLISHListen then while I narrate at lengthThe life of Lam-angBecause his mother conceived him that month.She did not abstain from any edible fruit:Tamarind fruits tender and thin as bamboo strings,Kamias, daldaligan,Oranges and pomelos;Butcher fish, stripped bass, fishes of all sorts;Clams and bivalves big as plates,Maratangtang and sea urchins;Sea algae, aragan and arosip;Shucked oysters, crayfish caught with net;Blue crabs baited with salelem,Deer tracked down and killed, boar trapped.All of these she tasted on her eating binge.Until Namungan, the woman Unnayan,Wife of Don Juan Panganiban,Was done conceiving.And when they had made wholeA new soul,Her womb grew bigger. Listen, my husband Don Juan,Go check on our bamboo groves In the mountain of Capariaan.Then make me my reclining bed The bed I shall use Right after giving birth. Being God-given, my husband Don Juan,The custom cannot be gainsaid.So go cut me some mature bamboo shoots. He prepared to leave and once thereWent around the grove.Then he hailed the strong winds.As well as the torrential rainsAnd cavernous clouds.Lightning and thunder came in waves,Hitting the groves again and againTill it looked like the choicest shootsHad been cut down by a trained bamboo cutter. It is unseemly, such a shame For me to carry you, bamboos .They thus went ahead, Don Juan behind them.Having reached the home he came down from,In the town of Nalbuan,The bamboos arranged themselves in the yard. My husband Don Juan, Let my reclining bed be of hardwood:This part of molave and gastan;That part of dangla and guava,Whose barks have been skinned,Then buy me a pot, husband Don Juan, And a stove to heat my bath-water. And a one-man pot too For our childs umbilical cord. And having procured all these, he trekkedTo the blackest mountain, upstreamTo fight the Igorots there.And when her time cameTo deliver the blood made whole,There was not one who was not called:The masseuse-midwife, the fish-hooker, Alisot;The diver Marcos; Pasho the rich man.Since none of them could induce deliveryThey remembered the womanShrivelled with age,For she was known for her strong fingers.The baby started to talk as soon as theold woman delivered him. Namungan, my mother, Let my name be Lam-ang when youhave me baptized. And let old man Guibuan be my godfather. Mother, I must also ask you if I have a father;Whether or not I arose like water vapor. My son, Lam-ang; if its your father you speak of,You were still in my womb when he left, Left for the forest, the place of Igorot. Lam-ang then said: My mother Namungan, please let your son go, For I would seek Father whom I came from. Ah, son, brave-man Lam-ang, Please dont go. For your legs are like bamboo string. And your hands are like needles. And you were born, my son, Even before your ninth month inside me. All the more brave-man Lam-ang still persisted.He left for the forest, the place of Igorots.For he wanted to see the father he sprang from.For he had with him the stone of sagang,The stone of tangraban, of lao-laoigan,A wild carabaos amulet.When he passed by a grove of caa vernal,The shoots bent downFor he also had the amulet of the centipede.

And having reached the rivers ford,He spied the tallest tree around, a rancheria,A landmark of tattooed Igorot country.He cast his eyes aroundAnd saw this root shaped like a stoveAnd went to wash his

one-man pot.And placed his food inside it,The pot of mound-dwelling dwarves,That cannot suffice for more than one traveller.Having eaten his fill,The man Lam-ang gratefully rested,Amiable host to the food, the filling grace.He rested his shield against his body;Stuck his spear into the ground by his feet;Unsheathed his trustworthy campilan from its sheath;Then fell into a light sleep.Then came the ghost of his father, saying: My friends Lam-ang, go quickly instead; Right now, they feast around you fathers skull. Lam-ang was jolted out of his slumber And at once collected his weapons and started to go,Walking on and on.Upon reaching the blackest mountainAt Maculili and Dagman,He went directly to the assembled revelers.For he had seen his fathers skull facing the East,Caged in the woven end of a bamboo pole. Tattooed Igorots, just tell meWhat foul thing my father I came from did. It is only right that it be paid.Our friend Lam-ang, It is only right; too,That you go back to the houseYou stepped down from.Or else, Youll be the next (to die) After the man who was your father.You tattooed Igorots I cannot be satisfied (with your number),You Igorot captain,You Bumacas so-named,Communicate (thru a letter) with every single one, (The members of your tribe):At Dardarat and Padang,There in houses at Nueva, Dagodong and Topaan,There in Mamo-ocan and Caoayan, There in Tupinao and Baodan,Sumbanggue and Luya, Bacong and Sosoba.There in Tebteb and Caocaoayan. They came, having received these notes (fromBumacas),In a rush, the tattooed Igorots,From the neighboring towns nearby,Like chicken attracted to grains thrown to the ground.Oh, their number indeed was remarkableFor one cannot keep count of their number.He then caressed his stone of lao-laoigan,And jumped but once to an open field,The man Lam-ang.And the man Lam-ang made thunderclapsWith his armpits and thighsAs well as with both his arms.Soon they had crowded around himAs a moving river (of bobbing heads), so to speakThe man Lam-ang.And having completely surrounded him,They cut loose on him with all their arms,On the man Lam-ang.Like a torrential rain at dusk,The spears fell (thickly) on him,The man Lam-ang.He embraced these crisscrossing spearsAs one would acceptBetel nuts passed on to him.And when the tattooed Igorots had run outOf sharpened bamboo poles, spears, lances,But could not hit him even just once,The man Lam-ang said to them: Now comes my turn, I unsheath you, campilan, trustworthyweapon. He struck the ground with this.And the earth with stuck to the blade of the campilan,This he ate A stick of rice cakeSo long and large So their incantations would not affect him Tattooed Igorots, watch me closely now, He beckoned to the south windAnd with it lunged at once at them.As though felling down banana trunks,His bolo bit into flesh two ways, swung left or right,The man Lam-ang.They were mowed down in an instant.Only one tattooed Igorot was left unharmed,Whom he mocked at, then pinned down

Now comes your end. He slashed at his mouth, his eyes;Cut off his ears, arms and legs.He then let him loose, the tattooed Igorot,Who received no mercy at his hands.That your relatives and tribe may all see you. And you carabaos amulet (help me) For I now bind the lances and spears, My booty and trophy from the Igorot. And now I leave you battleground.The blood flowed from the dead IgorotsLike the Vigan river.He prepared to leave, the manLam-ang, and return,To his mother Namungan.And having reached the town of Nalbuan: Mother Namungan, if I may ask,What foulness he perpetrated,The father I sprang from? My son Lam-ang, If it is your father your speak of,We never quarrelled, not even once. Mother Namungan, strike the longganThat my younger sisters May all come to my aid,The maidens numbering twice nine, Nine times nine.That they may shampoo my curly locks At the Amburayan River. For it had become quite dusty, During the day-long battle yesterday. Mother Namungan, Do let us pay a visit To the old barn with molave posts, Floored with derraan and polished bellaang. And please ask them to sweep off the barnsdoor,The dead cockroaches, spiders, and their mess. For nine years have passed Since we last visited Our palay called samusam, Buan and laguingan, Lumanus and lampadan, Maratectec and macan, gaygaynet and balasang. And having looked over the barn.Young maidens, pull out the panicles From each name (of rice variety). And thresh these. And what grains one accumulates thus Is already hers to keep. And this was done.Young sisters, bind the straws. Get also the coconut shell tong And pick some embers with it. And younger sisters, please, Return the charcoal later, For it is of paticalang wood. At the Amburayan River we shall bathe. At the riverbank,He cast his eyes around and soon sawThe bubbles made by the crocodile. My young sisters burn the rice straw. Since the straw would not burn,Lam-ang beckoned to the strongest wind And the straw burst into flames.The people of San Juan were alarmedBy the sparks that reached them;The people of Bacnotan ranThinking there was a conflagration.And when they could not control the fire,He beckoned to the torrential rainAnd the cloud shaped like a precipice.Lightning and thunder came in wavesAnd only then was the fire extinguished. Younger sisters, please do not worry whilewaiting For Ill just swim awhile And play with the largest crocodile. Lam-ang dived into the river Unaware that the crocodileHad gone downstream,While he went upstream.And when he went downstream,The crocodile went upstream,They soon spotted each other And began to fight.Lam-ang became angry

And in one thrust subdued it.Then, he carried it on his back,And beached it,

Younger sisters, take its teeth for a necklace For they can be amulets when one travels;Younger sisters we must now returnTo the house we came down from. Mother Namungan please payThe wages of these, my younger sisters, A peso for each step, coming from and going back tothe house. And this having been done: Mother Namungan, please open the second room. And therefrom get my most valuable clothes. I must change my clothes Into my striped trousers, embroidered shirt And ornate handkerchief. This done: Please open also the third room And take from there the gold. Bulaoan of nine coils which breaksWhen exposed to the sunWhose heat is intense enough to sting onesheel. I am going to tie my white rooster,Yellow-legged hen, And my hairy dog. For I am going to play at CalanutianWhere Doa Ines Cannoyan lives As news has it A clean-living maidenWho can spin nine spools overnight. My son, brave-man Lam-ang, Please dont go yet For you dont look like oneWhom Doa Ines CannoyanCan fall in love with. For her suitors are many Including a number of Spaniards. Yet she has not favored any of themWith even just a glance.And look at you Can you be the one to win her love? Mother Namungan, I must go. I must enter the competition. At the town of Calanutian,Who knows, Doa Ines Cannoyan May look on me with favor, My son Lam-ang, if its a spouse you seek,This town is full of nubile maidens. And you can take your pick from them. This is what the man Lam-ang said in turn: Mother Namungan, of those you allude to, I cannot choose anyone, Not one of the maidens you speak of.So please dont detain me For I must, will go. My son Lam-ang, by God, Please tarry longer. For they may drench you.With foul-smelling urineSpare yourself the embarrassment. The white rooster then said,As well as the yellow-legged hen: Our mistress Namungan, we dreamt last night That Doa Ines CannoyanCannot help becoming your daughter-in-law. Mother, please take out the oil Just heated yesterdaySo I may anoint my yellow-legged hen And we may both look our best When we go to the town of Calanutian. Mother, please hand meThe nine coils of gold bulaoan. And having received the gold coils,He tied his white rooster And his hairy dog as well.And the task completed,He prepared to leave.He carried his cock, the yellow-leggedrooster. May God remain with you. My son Lam-ang, God go with you; Be careful, especially on your way thereWhich you know to be more dangerous,

Having heard out the advice,Lam-ang went his wayTo Calanutian, the town of Doa Ines Cannoyan.He walked untiringlyAnd midway to his destination,Encountered the man Sumarang.Whose eyes were big as platesAnd whose nose was wide as two wheels.This is what he

at once said: My friend, brave-man Lam-ang,Where are you headed for?Which forest do you intend to trap in?Which mountain do you intend to hunt in? My friend Lam-ang? Replied Lam-ang: My friend Sumarang, may I also ask Where you came from The town, the locality you visited? Said Sumarang: Since you ask me, I came from the north,The town of Calanutian. I went there to compete For the hand of Doa Ines Cannoyan. Lam-ang said: Where you came fromThere I also intend to go,With the same purpose, my friend Sumarang. And he added: My friend Sumarang,We must now go our separate ways For I must go now to Calanutian tocompete Who knows, I may be chosen by Doa InesCannoyan.You need not continue on your wayYou cannot be, with your looks,One Doa Ines Cannoyan can possiblychoose.So many rich men and Spaniards are therealready And Doa Ines Cannoyan has yet To look out her window for anyone. I say it again: it is futile For you to continue your journey.Sumarang (suddenly added): Prepare your end And try defending yourself From my spear It will be too bad if you cant catch My hooked spear. Said Lam-ang then: Do what you will, I await your move. Sumarang threw his spear At his friend, Lam-angLam-ang caught itWith his little and ring finger As though it were betel nutProferred by a maiden.ThenHe twirled it nine timesAround his neck and body. My friend Sumarang I will return to you your spear For I dont want to be in your debt.What you handed to me is too hot Though its handle is cold The handle of your spear. My friend Sumarang Now wait for its coming. If you dont beware,Your corpse will be littered hereabout By this weapon which now comes, By your leave. The brave-man Lam-ang,He waved at the seawinds.Then, simultaneously,He let go of his spear.The man Sumarang was flown by the spear Across nine hills. Thats how bad manners end up. Friend Sumarang, now must I depart From this, our battleground. He carried his white rooster And prepared to leave.He had walked a long way

When he came across the houseOf the maiden Saridandan. She said: Older brother, do stop by. Please hurry up And let me embrace you.

For so long has she pined for youThe woman Saridandan.Her eyes have grown tiredKeeping watch from this front windowFor your appearance.The betel leaves have since dried At the tray which held them In anticipation of your coming. This is what Saridandan said. Ah, woman Saridandan,Try not to detain me any longer. It would be futile. I must go to the town of Calanutian And try to meet Doa Ines Cannoyan. Saridandan said: How could you do that older brother?Why cant you accede to my request? He prepared to go, the man Lam-angAnd soon, he approached the townOf Calanutian.So many were the competitionThat one can easily lose sightOf ones companionOne can easily walk on the headsOf the suitorsWithout missing a stepIt would be easy to plant palayIn the holes made by the spears on the groundOne can even transplant rice thereSince the sputum of the suitors were so thick Lam-ang said (aloud to himself) What should I do to approachThe erected outhouseWhere Doa Ines Cannoyan is wont To take a walk? He opted to go between the legsOf the massed suitorsAnd the man Lam-ang finallyReached the middle of the yard.He set down his chicken, the white rooster.It flapped its wings onceAnd the outhouse fell into shambles,Prodding Doa Ines Cannoyan to look Out her window.His hairy dog then howledAnd the outhouse was restored:Worn parts became new;What was already torn was restored. Her parents then said: Our daughter Cannoyan, wear your best dress For your older brother Lam-ang is here. Dressed up, Doa Ines Cannoyan stepped downAnd walked to the outhouse towards Lam-ang.The Spaniards and the rich IlocanosWere shamefaced when they saw her thus Cannoyan said: Sir Lam-ang, walk faster, give me your hands. And let us embrace. For the woman Ines Cannoyan Has long pined for you. And sir, let us go to your houseWith the bamboo roof,Which, being of the thin and delicatevariety,Can break beneath the hot sun And therefore need the shadeOf the biggest tree in the yard. Having gone up the hut: Father, to whom I owe my life, Please bring out the golden chair Plated with bulaoan gold Made by people from the north. And everyone having taken a seat: Mother Unnayan, to whom I owe my life, Please cook some riceOn the pot for one.

A pot of ground-dwelling dwarvesWhich can allow for others on their wayTo share of its inexhaustible bounty For it is only right That we prepare food For brave-man Don Lam-ang Father to whom I owe my life Please catch the caponed rooster Fattened for my older brother Lam-ang.

The food cooked, they sat downTo eat at the dining tableLam-ang and Ines Cannoyan ateFrom the same plate with their fingers.Where Cannoyan pinched her foodThere also did Lam-ang.And where Lam-ang sipped his soup,There also did Cannoyan.The luncheon over, Cannoyan said: Mother Unnayan, Please pick some fine betel leavesWhich smile when approached So we may offer a chewTo older brother Lam-ang. Mother, please roll, too,Some tabarcan tobacco Planted east of Cagayan .This over, her parents spoke thus: Our son Lam-ang, please tell us nowWhy you came;What you wish, what you desire. The white rooster replied thus: We have come to compete for the devotionOf your daughter, Ines Cannoyan. Respected elders,Subject to your judgment,We come to unite our families. This is what it said, the yellow-legged rooster.And the old man and woman replied thus:Our son Lam-ang If you can fulfill All that we assign to youYou can marry our Cannoyan; If your means allow youTo match the wealthWe shall enumerate for you. The yellow-legged hen said: If whats what you say, respected elders, Lam-ang is prepared to meet All your desires and requirements. My son Lam-ang, Look around you. Let the footpath be of gold At the middle of the yard;The butchering blocks, too. And my son Lam-ang,Look at the entiretyOf the front yard;There are two carved roosters;Four carved hens, two shrimps.Swimming upstream, as it were.Let these be all of gold. Now, my son Lam-ang,Cast your gaze nowAnd imagine two pomelosAlso of pure bulaoan gold These are Cannoyans playthings.And also these spinning paraphernalia,The tectec and the gagan-ayan,And the gong, the longgangan, too,And all the clotheslines Let these all beOf bulaoan gold. Cannoyans mother then added: Our son Lam-ang, do marry Cannoyan, If you can match all that we have told you. Lam-ang in turn said: Mother Unnayan,What you have told me to matchCannot exhaust my inheritance; Not even just the stocks in my fishponds If sold wholesale. And I have in mind Only the fishpond Other than those I expropriated From the Igorots I conquered. It is not even a ninth part Of my inheritance

From my great grandfathersBoth paternal and maternal.But should the man Lam-ang still fall short,I still have two boats of bulaoan goldThat periodically ferry chinawareDirect from China.For the king of Puan-puan,of China,Is my relative and friend,Right now, one of my boats, a sampan,I believe is on its way back With its chinaware cargo.This is what they then said: Our son Lam-ang, it is only right,That you go back nowTo the house you stepped down from At the town of NalbuanSo you may inform your mother. Lam-ang then answered: Respected benefactor And you (gracious) Unnayan,When I return, you shall hear The cannon I shall fire At Sabangan. Lam-ang than bade them wellAnd walked briskly to his town, Nalbuan,The man Lam-ang.The woman Cannoyan then said: Father to whom I owe my life And mother Unnayan, Do let us decorate the streets pleaseTill Sabangan Just as we do during Corpus Christi. Then they said to Cannoyan,Both her father and mother : Daughter Cannoyan, all your wishes shall be done. Soon, Lam-ang arrived at his hometown, Nalbuan. My mother Namungan How are you at my arrival? I am back from Calanutian. My son Lamang, God is merciful indeed And this cannot be repaid.Your mother is hale and strong. Now must I ask about your trip What came of it. The yellow-legged rooster said: Cannoyan is nowYour daughter-in-law. Then said Lam-ang : Please strike the longgangan, the gong To summon all our townmates.That they may ride our two boats And fill it, too, with bowls and plates; Big and small pans. And drinking glassesWhich can double as mirrors. When his townmates had assembled, Lam-ang made an announcement. Townmates, please come to my wedding feast;We will all ride in my two boats. And when the needed things had been loaded: My townmates, please go on board one by one.When each one had boarded the boat, Each of his townmates,Then spoke Lam-ang again: Namungan, my mother, Please take with you all Those that Cannoyan shall wear:The slippers embroidered with bulaoan As well as her mounted ring.Take also the two combs And her two bracelets. His mother took all theseAnd wrapped them for Cannoyan,He daughter-in-law, to wear. Mother, let us go now on board One of the ships.

Once on board the boat

The sails were at once unfurled.Since there was no wind, the ships refused to budge.Lam-ang gave the rear of each a slapAnd at once,Both ships were launched. Near Sabangan,Lam-ang fired a salvoTo let Doa Ines CannoyanKnow of their arrival. Cannoyan at once said: Father to whom I owe my life And my mother Unnayan, My older brother, the man Lam-ang, hascome I heard his signal fired from Sabangan. Let us now hasten to meet the braveman Lam-ang. They hastenedTo the cheeks of Sabangan bay.And by the time they arrived there,The brave-man LamangWas already there waiting. Hurry up, now, give me your hands . For the woman Cannoyan Missed you so much. Let all your relatives and townmates Disembark at once And wear the clothes I prepared for them What one wears, she may keep, Announced CannoyanTo Lam-angs townmates.The two mothers-in-law metAnd Namungan deferredTo the other thus:My sister, Madam Unnayan, It is only proper that we returnTo the house you came down from; At your town, Calanutian. They left for the houseThey came down from.And their arrival marked the endOf Lam-angs formal wooingOf Cannoyan.Came Monday morningAnd Ines donned her best clothes:Her embroidered slippers;Her mounted ring;Her five combs and two bracelets.So also did Lam-ang wear his best:Embroidered trousers,Dyed shirt and serrated handkerchief.And as they stepped down the stairsThe band played.The joyous ringing of the bells A mingling of low and high notes Signalled their journey to the church.The parish priest met them at the churchyard.And soon, the ceremonies of coin and veilsWere done.The mass over,They stood up and went out,The man Lam-ang and woman Cannoyan. Sister, my friend, Let us commence the procession .A gun barked with every step of Ines.The gun of Lam-ang createdA shade of smoke.And when the wedding party reached home,A multitude trooped as on a fieldTo the feast of Lam-ang.The Calanutian folksSoon, all were dancing,Together with the townmates of Lam-ang.Soon, everyone was dancingFandango and sagamantica.Soon, the refreshmentsWere exhausted.The cooks, by then, were readyAnd laid out the buffet tables: All of you, townmates,Come and partakeOf the grace all laid out for you. And the townmates of Lam-ang and CannoyanAte on the same tables. Listen to what I say One may keep his plate. Even wrap up food to take home. The meal over,The townspeople doubled back to the dancefloor

My friend Lam-ang. May I see you walk again; How you carry yourself.Should you be less than perfect, I have the mind To give you back to your mother. Let us repair To the newly constructed outhouse And there show me how you walk. The woman Cannoyan,When they had gone upstairs,Again teased him. Respected Lam-ang May I see how you walk; How you carry yourself. If your manner of walking fails to impressme, I shall certainly return youTo the care of your mother. He took five stepsAnd Cannoyan then said: Respected Lam-ang, How ungainly you look Your trousers threaten to fall And your bowlegs Make you sluggish. Madam Ines Cannoyan, it is the deportment Of rich men of Nalbuan you see One I am accustomed to affect With its air of wealth. And now Madam Ines Cannoyan, Let me see how you walk;The way you look When you walk. She took five steps, too.Then this is what he said,The man Lam-ang. Madam, Doa Ines Cannoyan, I also dont like your deportment:Your feet go every which way And your bottom thrusts out too far in front. Then came the two mothers-in-law.Saying to each other. I would like to know If her habits are sensible,Your child, my daughter-in-law.Unnayan said: Expect her when the moon is new If she goes out at full moon. When she fetches water from the river.She mistakes every drifting leaf for crayfish And turns every stone by the river.Unnayan asked in turn: May I also ask about your son,The man Lam-ang, my son-in-law.Speaking of Lam-ang, my sister, my friend, If he leaves when the moon is new, He returns when the moon is full. If he goes to the forest, He places cloth beneath every bamboo grove And there sleeps. And then, Unnayan said: My sister, my friend, Its time to go to your home .The townmates of Lam-ang and CannoyanAll went to SabanganTo board the two ships.All aboard and the sails set,The boats refused to moveTill Lam-ang slapped their sterns.Back in Nalbuan,Everyone disembarkedAnd went to the house of Namungan.The townspeople of bride and groomDance again.Then, they honored Ines CannoyanAnd the man Lam-angA danceAll to themselves.Then they all danced anewThe fandango, waltz and curcha,As well as the sagamantica of Pangasinan.They soon dispersedAnd Doa Ines Cannoyan stayed behindFor her mother left without her.And when Cannoyans townfolk had gone,The incumbent captainPaid the new couple a visit.My friend Lam-ang,your turn has comeTo dive for shellfish called rarang.

When the Captain had left,This is what the brave-man Lam-angSaid with a sigh:

My wife Cannoyan I have been chosenTo dive for shellfish called rarang. I have dreamt That I shall doubtless be eaten By the shark tioan-tioan. I shall give you a sign;The stairs shall dance;The kitchen shall collapse;The stove shall break to pieces .When morning came,Lam-ang prepared to leave.Reaching an ideal spot,He undressed and swamTo where the rarang abounds.He looked through the crystal watersThen dived for the shellfishBut failed in his first try.Surfacing, he tried once more to locate themAnd having seen someDived once more Right into the mouthOf the fish,A big tioan-tioan shark,And the signs came to pass:The stairs danced;The kitchen collapsed;The stove broke to pieces.The woman CannoyanThe wept. My husband Don Lam-ang,Where can you be now.There is none I can hireTo look for you. The woman Cannoyan then sought helpAnd found Marcos, the diver.She then tied the white rooster,The yellow-legged hen,The woman Cannoyan.She also leashed the hairy dogWith the curly locksThen cradled the white rooster.She left and soon reached the spotWhere his clothes were.There at the spot where Lam-ang was,Cannoyan cried,Overwhelmed by sorrow.The cock comforted her thus: Mistress, dont you worry. Master Lam-ang certainly shall live If they can locate his bones .The diver, old man Marcos,Dived then.But he failed to find the bones.The second time he dived,He found the bonesWhere the shark had expelled them.The cock said: Sir, take all the bones and beach them: None should be missing. And when no more bones could be found,The cock examined the bones closely.He found nothing missing.The bones of Lam-angHaving been completed,This is what he said: I shall turn my back While you cover the bonesWith your skirt. The yellow-legged hen crowed;The rooster shook its wings.And the bones started to move.The dog with the curly locksHowled twiceThen clawed the groundAs though to bury the bones of Lam-ang.Then the man Lam-angGot-up at once. How soundly I slept, my wife Canoyan. Its been seven nightsSince we last slept together.Your sleep, you say,When the shark only expelled your bones. And all the signs you told me about Were cause for my weeping For I couldnt bear it,Couldnt bear losing you

Dear Husband Don Lam-ang Give me your hand:The woman Cannoyan missed you so much,The wife whom you left.They fainted together, Like trees fallen With excessive longing,Even Don Lam-ang,For he missed his Cannoyan so much.The man Lam-ang then expressed joyAt seeing once more his cock And his hairy dog, kissing them both.Their longing sated,They prepared to leave. That we may reach the houseWe came down from

Once there, Lam-ang said: It is only right to repayThe old man, the diver. My wife Cannoyan,Give him a pile of coins taller than he is. This is how it ended, the life of Lam-ang. Now, let me greet all of you presentIn this (recounting) of the life of Lam-ang.

Leona FlorentinoFirst Poetess of the PhilippinesShe was to the Philippines as Sappho was to Greece, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz to Mexico, Elizabeth Barret Browning to England, and George Sand to France. Her exquisite poems in Spanish and in Iloko were exhibited in the Exposicion General de Filipinas in Madrid (1887) and in the International Exposicion in Paris (1889), where they attracted wide attention and won fame for her country and her self. In recognition of her literary ability, she was included in the Encyclopedia Internationale des Oeuvres des Femmes (International Encyclopedia of Womens Works) which was edited by Madame Andzia Wolkska in 1889. Leona Florentino was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on April 19, 1849, of rich Ilocano family. Her father, Don Marcelino Florentino, was one of the richest men in Ilocos; her mother, Donya Isabel Florentino, was an educated and civic-minded lady. Since early childhood, Leona showed remarkable intelligence and imagination. She learned her first alphabet from her mother and rudiments of Spanish and religion from private tutors. At the age of ten, Leona could write poetry in Iloko and speak in Spanish. She was brightest child in the family. She could not enter any university because the portals of higher education were closed to all women during the Spanish regime. During her time, it was the prevailing belief that a woman place was either the home or nunnery. Without benefit of the university education, Leona improved her mind by voracious reading of books. A learned Ilokano priest, Father Evaristo Abaya, curate of Vigan, taught her advanced Spanish and encouraged her to write poetry. When Leona bloomed to womanhood, she married Elias de los Reyes, who at one time served as alcalde mayor of the province. Five children born to them, the eldest of whom was Isabelo de los Reyes, who later become distinguished man of- letters, civic leaders, and senator. Evidently Don Belong, as senator Isabelo de los Reyes came to called, inherited his literary talent from his great mother. Despite the heavy burden of her household work and the delicacy of her health, Donya Leona spent much time and energy in writing poems and dramas in both Spanish and Iloko languages. Among her known poems were Rucrunoy (Dedication), Naangaway a Cablaw (Good Greetings), Nalpay a Namnama (Vanishing Hope), Benigna, Para ken Carmen(For Carmen) Panagpacada (Farewell), Emilia, Leon XIII (dedicated to pope Leo XIII ), and castora, Unfortunately, many of her literary works had been lost. The few that have been preserved may still be found in the national libraries in Madrid, London, and Paris. Her poetical works were given international recognition at the expositions of Madrid (1887) and Paris (1889).

The poems of Leona were characterized by their originality of thought and elegance of expression. In limpid, lyrical verses, she sang the customs and tradition of their race, the thoughts and ideals of her people, the glory of Filipino womanhood, and the romanticism of her nation. Her mastery of Spanish and Iloko was unsurpassed by any other woman writer of her time. Because she was a devout catholic, there was in her poems a vibrant spiritual undertone which blended harmoniously with their melodious overtones. Her poetry proves that art and religion can mix well to express the glories of God, beauty and fatherland. Leonas melodious poems in the Iloko Language were widely quoted by the Filipinos of Ilokandia. In the words of one of her biographers: Passages from her works were quoted profusely in the theatres, in daily conversation and by suitors seeking the favors of their fair ladies. Leona died in Vigan, on October 4, 1884, at the age of 35. Her dedicate health broke down because of strain of her household chores and literary labors. Though she died rather young, her fame as a poetess was already established in the Philippines and in Europe. She was really the first Filipino poetess to win international recognition. Her memory is now preserved by a monument and a street in Vigan, and immortalized by the pens of historians and biographers.