By: JOEL B.

NGOJO JR/ RHIA MAQUILING

INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE
WRITTEN
REPORT
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INTRODUCTION
This written report is all about the heritage, beliefs, and traditions of the
indigenous Isinay and Isnag peoples of the Philippines. This informs you to their
unique cultural practices, which may impede your ability to gain cultural
knowledge and an understanding of their presence.

ISANAY
Definition: The Isinay are a single ethnic group who live in the municipalities of
Aritao, Bambang, and Dupax del Sur in Nueva Vizcaya. The term "dupax" is
derived from the Isinay dopah, which means "to rest after a long day's work in
the jungle."

History: The Isinay’s reception of the Spaniards was a pattern of tactical

surrender and defensive warfare. At the threshold of Tuy Valley, the Spaniards
built a cross on a tree. The first village that they entered was also named Tuy,
where they exchanged a few trinkets with the Isinay—the Spaniards giving
pieces of cloth, garments, beads, hawk’s bells, and combs; the Isinay, carnelian
beads and some pieces of impure gold. Don Luis extracted a promise from the
village chief that the people would pay the Spaniards tribute starting the
following year. The chiefs having given their promise with an egg ceremony,
Don Luis then summoned three village chiefs of the nearby area of Aritao and
demanded the same promise from them.

LOCATION:
Isinai is a small indigenous group whose members trace their origins only
in Nueva Vizcaya, specifically the towns of Dupax del Sur, Bambang and Aritao.
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CHARACTERISTICS:
The Isinai language in Dupax del Sur dialects is used. Physically, Isinais are
predominantly displays a Malay blend but with a high percentage of short
people, fair complexioned, with rounded big eyes, natural hair, high cheek
bones, well shaped nose, and widened lips. Women are physically more
buxom than men.

PRACTICES:

The indigenous farming systems of the Isinay were both wet agriculture, with
the use of an irrigation system and kaingin (slash-and-burn or swidden)
cultivation. In Dupax del Sur, the Isinay planted seeds in individually owned
seedbeds. They used a sharpened stick to make holes into which the rice
seedlings were transplanted manually. After transplanting, they built tan-nang
(paddy dikes). Fields were flooded with water for four to five months. To guard
their plants from tulin (brown rice birds) and dama (black rice birds), they put
up scarecrows called tinahutahu. 
TRADITIONS:

Isinay had elaborate procedures for a marriage. The first stage was the
patayav, in which the man sent a letter to the lady’s parents expressing his
intent to marry their daughter. This patayav was wrapped in a white
embroidered handkerchief together with betel nut chew, cigarettes, tobacco,
and wine. It was delivered by a couple chosen for their persuasive skills and
for their willingness to accept the responsibility of advising the couple to be
married.
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BELIEFS:
In the girl’s house, the patayav was opened and read as those present partook
of the wine, the cigarettes or tobacco, and the betel nut chew. The girl’s
parents discussed between them and their relatives whether or not to accept
the proposal. If they accepted, matters concerning the laar, the ritual
formalizing the marriage proposal, were decided, such as the food to be
served to the guests, the albasyadores (go-betweens) of the two parties, and
the date of the laar. The laar was always done at night to ensure the
availability of the guests.

LANGUAGE: Isinai (also spelled Isinay) is a Northern Luzon language primarily

spoken in Nueva Vizcaya province in the northern Philippines. By linguistic
classification, it is more divergent from other Central Cordilleran languages,
such as Kalinga, Itneg or Ifugao and Kankanaey.

ISNAG
DEFINITIONS:
The Isneg, also Isnag or Apayao, live at the northwesterly end of northern
Luzon, in the upper half of the Cordillera province of Apayao. The term “Isneg”
derives from a combination of is, meaning “recede,” and uneg or “interior.”
Thus, it means “people who have gone into the interior.” In Spanish missionary
accounts, they, together with the Kalinga and other ethnic groups between the
northern end of the Cagayan Valley and the northeastern part of the Ilocos,
were referred to as “los Apayaos,” an allusion to the river whose banks and
nearby rugged terrain were inhabited by the people.
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History:
The Isneg have always built their settlements on the small hills that lie along the
large rivers of the province. This whole territory used to be two sub-provinces,
Kalinga and Apayao, when the whole of the Cordillera region was still a single
political subdivision. The Kalinga group occupies the southern half of the
consolidated province. With the former capitol located in Tabuk, Kalinga, much
of the economic and political activity in the province was concentrated in this
southern half. Sharing the same territory with the Isneg are the Aggay, about
whom little has been written.

LOCATION:
The Isneg, also Isnag or Apayao, live at the northwesterly end of northern
Luzon, in the upper half of the Cordillera province of Apayao. The term “Isneg”
derives from a combination of is, meaning “recede,” and uneg or “interior.” Thus,
it means “people who have gone intotheinterior.”

LANGUAGE:
The Isnag people (also referred to as the Isneg and Apayao) are an
Austronesian ethnic group native to Apayao Province in the Philippines '
Cordillera Administrative Region. Their native language is Isneg (also called
Isnag), although most Isnag also speak Ilokano.

TRADITION:
A tradition called tani, no longer practiced today, was the betrothal of children
between six and eight years old. This was done by parental arrangement. The
first step in the process is the danun or kalkalimusta, when the future groom and
his parents, accompanied by the village panglakayen (head elder), call on the
future bride and her parents. A series of ritual negotiations takes place, with the
panglakayen speaking as the intermediary for the boy’s family. The priceless
manding (agate beads) and the less valuable uldot and manggila beads are
offered by the boy’s family as ba-ag (tokens) of affection to the future bride.
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CULTURE:
Isneg, or Isnag, kinship is bilateral, meaning children are equally related to both
the mother and the father. Households consist of interrelated families living
close to each other, and extended families of three generations living together in
their balay. The family is the key element in society, the larger the better,
headed by the husband. No other society structure exists, though brave men,
mengals, lead in hunting and fishing. The bravest, Kamenglan, is the overall
leader. A young man entered their ranks after the first headhunting expedition. A
mengal carries a red kerchief on the head and has tattoos on his arms and
shoulders. They are animistic and practice polygamy.

BELIEFS:
The Supreme Being is Bagatulayan, who lives and rules the celestial realm,
directing its activities. Kadaklan is a deity subordinate to Bagatulayan. He is a
friendly spirit who teaches the Tinguian how to pray, harvest their crops, ward
off evil spirits, and overcome bad omens and cure sicknesses. In this respect,
he is also known as Kaboniyan. Kadaklan’s wife is Agemem, who is the mother
of their two sons, Adam and Baliyan. His dog Kimat, is the lightning, which might
bite a tree or strike a field or house as a reminder to the owner to celebrate the
padiam ceremony in his honor.
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CONCLUSION

The indigenous Isinay and Isnag peoples of the Philippines have a rich cultural
heritage that has been preserved and passed down through generations.
Despite obstacles such as displacement and loss of property,
They have managed to preserve their distinctive lifestyle and continue to
celebrate their customs and traditions in their native lands. It is critical that we
respect and dignity the Philippines' diversity, including its indigenous
communities, and work to preserve their cultures and traditions for future
generations.