ILOCOS NORTE PHILIPPNES, APRIL 2013
I LOVE ILOCOS NORTE
During summer when I was in grade school, we usually go up the hill at the back of our home and quell ourselves with the refreshing air and delectable "duhat" (Philippine black plum) and "siniguelas" (Spanish plum). While my father would heaped some woods we used for cooking, we would make ourselves busy climbing trees and eating while trying to fill our baskets with siniguelas and duhat. The most exciting part was, while resting before taking our path home, my father would tell us stories about world war II, these stories were told to him by his old folks and his simple yet inspiring childhood experiences. Can you imagine telling us those stories at the top of a hill where you can see green and blue ridges? What an alluring view right? The last time we went there, he ended up his story saying, "Our country is beautiful, everything is available here, if you have decent and stable job here it is better than going abroad. I've been to many countries around the world but this country is still the best, it's always good to be home. I'd rather choose to die here." After saying that, he told us to shout and listen to our echoes. That was a wonderful thing! (",)
That beautiful experience urged me to come up with 100 reasons why I always love to come home. This maybe the reasons why my dearest father had an incessant love and appreciation to our homeland.
These reasons I've written were based on experiences observations and practices.
Happy Reading! (",)
1. Heritage and historical sites e.g. churches and
houses Spanish structures.
2. Favorite snack is "kilab-ban" plus
kape/cold water or "wenno tay kuma coke" (say as kowk).
3. Postcard perfect view
4. The choice of what to use a fork and spoon or
you say "nagimas agkammeten."
5. Favorite green leafy vegetables are
"saluyot"
"marunggay" bulong ti paria" "apen" ken
"balangeg."
6. Sumptuous dish is bisukol or dinardaraan.
7. Eat with one of your legs propped up and
your elbow rested on top of it.
8. Personalized stuff say "Annak ti
Batac."
9. Every Ilocano is spendthrift; frugal... "Awan ti kwarta..."
10.
When meeting someone anywhere you hear the usual question
"naggapuam?"or "papanam anya?/ papanam aya?"
11. Century old sea bonsai along the coast of
Burgos
12.
When someone does something embarrasing or you respond by saying "alla
kababain."
13.
When you get upset you yell, "Anya kit din aya!"
14.
A quintessential phrase "ubet mo!" and usually the response:
"ubet mo met!" hehehe
15.
When you want something done fast or right away an Ilokano would yell out, darasem!! or
paspasam!!
16. All your elders are referred to as apo
e.g. "Daydi apo Marcos."
17.
Having relatives in the states of America especially Hawaii, Europe and other
Asian countries like Hong Kong,
Singapore, Japan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam even Africa… name the country, and you will find
an Ilocano
18. When you were young and hyperactive, your strict
grandfather always scolded you by saying
"Dikay-man agsal-salawasaw ubbing!"
19.
Favorite song is Dungdunguen Kanto or O Naraniag a Bulan.
20.
Read Bannawag.
21. Meet a fellow Ilocano and you say "Anya
ngay? or "Anya kumusta met ti biag?"
22.
"Maturog kayon!"is heard at least 5 times from both parents before
children actually go to bed.
23. Father or elder brother always scolds you
with, "Papispisan ka, ala!"
24. Finish a sentence with "ngarud" as
in "napintas ngarud!"
25. Always ask the vendor, "is that your
fixed price?" / "Awan tawar nan?"
26. True Ilokano lakay carries his cigarrillo
pack tucked in on top of his shoulder sleeve or rolled up in his arm sleeve.
27. Bagoong/buggoong Ilocos is more common in
your household than mustard.
28. Back/front yard has at least one tarong or
paria plant in it and fruit bearing trees like mango, coconut, chico guava, tamarind and marunggay tree
everywhere.
29. Vegetable dish is always a part of every
meal. My favorite dish is pinakbet. (nagimasen!)
30.
Like eating your guava/green mango/santol/ with sukang Iloco and pinch of salt.
31. Incredibly good food: empanada, bagnet, miki,
longganisa, chichacorn, isaw, hi-bol ken kilawen a kalding nga adda papaitan na
plus exotic dishes like fried/adobong frog and fried "abuos" (edible
ants).
32.
Exploring majestic coastline plus the outdoor activity like water boarding.
33. Rough terrain plus an outdoor activity like
sand boarding in Sand Dunes.
34. Bucolic beaches, waves of Pagudpud and
Currimao
35. Bantay Abot Coast, Pagudpud Coastal View,
Burgos Coast
36. Bangui Windmill, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, Patapat Bridge, Dragon Fruit Farm, Sitio
Remedios
37. Freshly caught fish, tilapia, frog, bisukol,
dalag, rames
38. Schools that provide quality education in
Ilocos: ICA (Immaculate Conception Academy), MMSU (Mariano Marcos State
University), DWCL (Divine Word College of Laoag), HSAL (Holy Spirit Academy of
Laoag), NWU (NorthWestern University), NCC (Northern Christian College) and of
course we also have the public schools.
39. Flying a kite with nephews and nieces on All
Souls Day and All Saints Day.
40. Best place for running, biking and swimming
etc.
41. If you want to have a vacation and stay in a
resort, Ilocos offers some of the best.
42. Peaceful and fresh air… a haven away from the
capital's clamor and commotion.
43. The dialect- Ilocano, generally this is the
medium of communication we use, in case you are new to the place and you want
to ask for direction, you can speak to them in English or tagalog. Even old
folks can speak english better than tagalog.
44. Simplicity of life, contentment, family first
attitude, confidence and hardworking
people.
45. Celebration of the Lenten season. I like listening to the "pasyon" (
a song about the sufferings of Jesus Christ) and joining in the
"libot" (procession). During this time of the holy week, we are not
allowed to laugh, shout, talk loud etc. to show respect ..
"tiyempo ti pinagngilin"
46.
Smell of garlic fried rice every morning with left over viand last night.
47.
Batac supermarket is the best place where you can buy everything from fresh
vegetables and fruits to freshly caught seafoods, chicken, pork, beef, dried
fish, seaweeds and pasalubong like bagnet, longganisa, chichacorn and miki.
48.
Experience the real spirit of christmas, when you meet people around they
always greet you with the famous line, "Naimbag a paskua!" sabay
"tay paskua kon a."
49.
The smell and the taste of newly harvest palay.
50.
Carolers on christmas you will hear them sing Ilocano christmas songs.
51.
Smell of dried leaves tobacco hanging around every farmer's house.
52.
When a member of a family dies, most of your relatives usually come to
your house and extend their help.
53.
Nothing can beat the tempting taste of "inartem" a papaya, balayang,
singkamas ken karmay.
54. The huge bear in front of the Imelda
cultural center that greets everyone happy valentines, happy holidays etc.
55. Prefer the Ilocos garlic because of its
pungency, aromatic odor and tangy taste.
56. Ilocos vinegar is use as condiment and for
medicinal purposes (disinfectant, can cure headache and fever, I grew up with
this way of self-medicating myself, guess what? It's effective!)
57. The bayanihan way of the Ilocanos when it is
harvesting time. (palay)
58.
Most of the Ilocanos raise different kinds of animals like carabao, cow, cats,
dogs, chicken, pig, etc.
59. The road to Ilocos is a long journey as well as a history.
60. Most of the Ilocanos are simple, friendly,
happy, hospitable, accommodating, polite and ready to help.
61. Ilocanos can be easily recognized by their
complexion mostly dark (let's make it yummy, dark choco! hehehe) but you know,
we also have tisay and tisoy in Ilocos.
62.
Mostly, "Nangisit ti siko ni manong wenno ni manang ne!"( sabay
tingin, heheheh)
63.
The existence of Robinsons mall, SM Hypermarket, National Bookstore at least we
have places to hang-out with our friends and look forward to during summer.
64.
Ilocanos prioritize the importance of education; parents believe that it is the
best treasure they can give their children.
65. swapping tales of old folks. You will hear them talked about hardships
they experienced during world war II and even their childhood memories...they
always start by saying "Idi dakami ti ubbing.... Idi tiyempo ti
hapon..."
66.
Smell of burning dried leaves early in the morning..
67. In every Ilocano house you will see a hill
or a pile of sacks of palay.
68.
The crown and glory of every Ilocano plate, K-B-L (kamatis, buggoong, lasona)
you can add ginger to make it more aromatic.
69. Collecting stones from the different beaches
I’ve been to in Ilocos.
70. The ghost stories of my father back when he
was a kid.
71. Igado, dinardaraan, apritada, pancit and
menudo are the "menu stars" during “padaya” (celebration)
72.
Catching the light every morning especially on Christmas season.
73.
Hills of thrills…during summer we’d love to go up the hill and be amazed with
its grandeur thrills.
74.
Antiques in San Nicolas, most of the Ilocano homes preserve old stuff/vintage,
narra made furnitures and old lacasa.
75.
Mostly buses in going to Ilocos are air-conditioned, seats offer comfort and
relief plus driver and conductor are courteous and polite.
76.
Means of transportation are the following: airplane, bus, tricycle, jeepney, calesa,
motorbike, bicycle. Take note: no taxi and mrt/lrt in Ilocos
77.
Baranggay fiestas and festivals like
Pamulinawen, Empanada, Farmers etc.
78. Call “manang” or “manong”, “tata” or
“nanang”, “ankel” or “anti” “lakay”,
“baket” to older people and “ading” for
younger people, it can be
“basang” (girl) “balong” (boy).
79. “Lumabasak pay manong or manang” when you pass by a group of people and your neighborhood.
80. Mostly kids at an early age train to do farm
work and domesticate animals.
81. Nothing can beat the Ilocano songs,
"Uso kad pay lang ti Bukros Songs kakabsat?"
82. The dance with me, “pasala” the night before
the wedding, mostly Ilocano songs are at tune, "Irugi tayon ket rumabiin... music maestro…"
83. So many rituals and practices when somebody
passed away in the family like you can’t take a bath in your own home, you have
to go to your neighborhood, you can’t wash nor sweep the floor or even comb
your hair. Etcetera...
84. When you want to eat fresh “duhat”, you just
go up the hill and you will have the
‘burp’ of your day.
85. Whenever I hear people around saying
“Agyamankami apo.”
86. “Dayo” they have the best kilawen ken
singkutsar .. “pagday wan” is along the national highway Batac open only on
Sundays.
87. Hospitals, most of the doctors and nurses are
the best produce of MMSU, (known as the
the UP of the north) or those who go and study as far as Manila and
Baguio and choose to be back to serve
their native land.
88. The
lighthouse, Cape Bojeador
89. “Karingking” one of the best place for picnic
90. Zipline, oh zipline! I will see you again!
91. Gerry’s grill, Johnny moon, Samtoy bookstore
92. Grilled sili, okra, eggplant chopped with
tomatoes and lasona, ensalada nga rabong wenno nagisar.
93. ‘Bamboo bank’ Ilocos version of piggy bank
94. Flavorful ice candy during summer…ayskrim
singko pesos laeng…well if u have enough money try the famous Sharetea now open
in San nicolas..
95. Untiring stories, laughter and life’s lessons
and experiences shared with good and trusted friends.
96. Quiaoit river, Ricarte park, Museo Iloco,
hotels and restaurants, Riverside Empanada, Monte Cristo, etc.
97. My puppies – Sixees, Kadhapi and Sadam, my garden
and my sanctuary
98. Home sweet Home
99. My birthplace where I grew up
100.
Ilocos is where my heart is (“,)
What do you love about Ilocos? (",)
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