The Treasures of Ilocos

Saint Louis University

Baguio City, Philippines

School of Accountancy and Business Management

ILOCOS

ITS CULTURE, BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND PROMINENT FIGURES Presented By:

DAQUIOAG, SHAIKE HARVIN V.

OVERVIEW

Ilocos collectively refers to two provinces in the Philippines: Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Inhabitants are called Ilocanos and they speak the language Iloko. Ilocandia is a fortress of heritage preservation in the Philippines, where visitors can enjoy Vigan, a well-preserved Spanish-Filipino village, and a true showcase for Spanish influence in the islands. Other attractions include the ancestral homes, now museums, of the colorful characters of Philippine history. The body of the region’s most infamous son, former president Ferdinand Marcos, lies preserved in a glass case in the Marcos Museum in Batac, Ilocos Norte. Ilocandia is a haven for century-old churches like Paoay Church and breathtaking beaches like Pagudpud Beach. Distinct features of a true-blooded Ilocano who came from Ilocos are their dark to light brown color and dark elbows, but with good looks and charm. Authentic local cuisine consists mainly of vegetable and poultry from small farms, daily catch from traditional fishing methods, and local pork delicacies like bagnet (dried pork belly) and longganiza (ground pork sausage). The Ilocano cuisine – ranges from the exotic "abu-os" (ant eggs) to vegetable broth "dinengdeng" or “inabraw” the sticky "tinubong" to the "puki-puki" (eggplant salad). A famous regional dish is pinakbet, a mixture of vegetables such as squash, okra, eggplant, ampalaya, and string beans cooked with bagoong or shrimp sauce. Ilocano dishes are usually salty or bitter and eaten with rice. A popular snack from Ilocos is the empanada—a deep-fried pie made from an orange-colored dough, stuffed with egg and bits of pork. It is eaten with sukang Iloko or sugar cane vinegar.

ILOCANDIA’S CULTURE: ITS BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND CEREMONIES

A. BELIEFS  People of Ilocos...