CONTEMPORARY ART

IN
ILOCOS REGION
ILOCOS REGION
VISUAL
ARTS
 TRADITIONAL
ILOCANO
HANDICRAFTS

WEAVING AND POTTERY

 INABEL WEAVING

“Abel” or “inabel” is a fabric customarily

made of cotton fiber turned into spools
of beeswax-brushed yarn & woven in a
handloom. From it comes out beautiful
blankets, pillowcases, tablemats, sweaters
& shawls. Traditional designs include the
geometric “binakol” or “inuritan”, the
spiral “kusikos” & the flower called
“sinan-sabong”.
Weaving the inabel requires mathematical precision. Each strand
of thread is meticulously counted & arranged according to color
before it is tensioned into the loom. And ininabel
Weaving the a rhythmic pattern, the
requires mathematical
steps of the wooden pedals & the knots of each
precision. crisscrossing
Each strand of thread is weft
have to move seamlessly or everythingmeticulously
goes in a messy
counted & arranged tangle.

All these spectacles of skill can only be achieved by master “agab

according to color before it is tensioned
into the loom. And in a rhythmic pattern,
abel” or abel weavers through long years of training & passion.
the steps of the wooden pedals & the
knots of each crisscrossing weft have to
The women of Ilocos, particularly in the townsor everything
move seamlessly of Paoay, goes in a Vigan &
Pinili have been weaving since pre-Hispanic time.
messy tangle. And as early as

17th century, inabel & some other traditional Ilocano

All these spectacles handicrafts
of skill can only be

already made its way to the West through the “agab

achieved by master Galleon Trade.
abel” or abel

But sadly today, the weavers of Ilocos like Lola Milagros &
weavers through long years of training &
passion.
Magdalena Gamayo, a National Living Treasure, cry on their
handiworks that are losing to machine-made inabel, inferior
thread quality & the younger generation unwilling to learn.
 BURNAY POTTERY

Pottery is an ancient art form & in Ilocos

this tradition of molding unglazed earthen
jars is called “burnay”. It was originally
used to age vinegar, wine & “bagoong” or
fish paste.
In Vigan, the clay is kneaded by a carabao
before it goes to the potter’s wheel that is
today still spun by foot. It is then shaped
into jars, dried & fired in a kiln. These
fragile pieces of art combine the elements
of earth, water, wind & fire that only
expert “agdamdamili” or potter can only
achieve.
 BURNAY POTTERY
 Pottery had existed long before Spain came to Ilocos. But it was only
in the late 1920s when Chinese migrants like the forefathers of Fidel Go
commercially produced it. Today, there are only a few “pagburnayan” or
pottery barns left because there’s lesser demand for traditionally made
jars.
 Despite his accolades being a National Living Treasure, Fidel Go
thrives meagerly on selling souvenir pieces to tourists, supplying salt beds
& ornamental jars to landscapers. Although he keeps potter apprentices in
his wings, still, many do not want to get their hands dirty.
MUSIC
 MUSIC
IN THE
ILOCOS REGION
 PAMULINAWEN

Pamulinawen is a Filipino folk song (in the

Ilocano language) that tells about courting a girl
with a heart of stone. Pamulinawen is her name.

Marfer Bengero is the composer of

pamulinawen.
 MANANG BIDAY

This is a ILOCANO SONG,

means a man who's COURTING
a girl that OLDER than him.
 NARANIAG A BULAN

This is one of the Ilocano’s folk

song about how moon shines so
bright.
DANCE
 DANCE
IN THE
ILOCOS REGION
 KUTSARA PASUQUINA

 it is a dance during birthday parties and festivities

 SABUNGANAY

 it symbolizes a young lady who is still too young to be

courted.
 VINTANERA

 it is a dance performed by one or two couples in social

gatherings like baptismal, wedding, birthday, or thanksgiving
parties.
LITERATURE
LITERATURE
IN THE
ILOCOS REGION
 ILOKANISM

 The other story of the Ilokano People are best seen in their
literature. It is best heard in songs, poems, and stories. Their other
history is best drawn from their narratives - their sarsarita (root work
of pakasaritaan). Pakasaritaan and sarita, history and story, narrative
and unfolding of life – all these weld reveal who the people are and
what kind of future they want to have.
 BIAG NI LAM-ANG

 BIAG NI LAM-ANG (Life of Lam-ang) is pre-Hispanic epic

poem of the Ilocano people of the Philippines. The story was handed
down orally for generations before it was written down around 1640
assumedly by a blind Ilokano bard named Pedro Bucaneg.
BIAG NI LAM-ANG
 DAGITI DIOS KEN DIYOSA

 Cabalangegan was formerly a jungle at the edge of the river Abra. On the far side of the river were mountains
high and steep. On these mountains lived an old man named Abra, the father of Caburayan. The old man lived
and controlled the weather. It is said that the river Abra was a gathering of water vapor, shaded, and the days were
always bright with sunlight.

At that time Anianihan, God of Harvests, was in love with Anianihan, Goddess of Healing. Her mother, Lady
Makiling knew about their mutual understanding, but Abra did not know it for the three were afraid to tell him
since he might punish them as he disapproved of Anianihan. Abra wanted his daughter to marry either Saguday,
God of the Wind, or Revenador, God of Thunder and Lightning. This being so, Anianihan took Anianihan from
her home. Abra wept a great deal. He sent Lady Makiling away after beating her.

 When Abra was alone, he wept day and night till Bulan, God of Peace and Calm, came. But though Bulan
was there to brighten Abra's spirits, Abra did not stop weeping. He could not express his anger. He begged the
other gods to bring back his daughter.
 One day the sun, eye of Amman, shone so bright that the water of the river
Abra was excessively heated. Smoke rose from the river. Soon, thick, black clouds
began to darken the sky. Then Saguday sent the strongest wind until the crowns of
the trees brushed the ground. The god Revenador sent down the largest strings of
fire. The heaviest of rains fell. All these frightful events lasted seven days. The river
Abra then rose and covered the trees. There rose a vast body of water and the
highest pan of the mountain could be seen. It looked like the back of a turtle from
a distance. At this spot Abra lived.
 On the seventh day, Abra heard a cry. He also heard a most sorrowful song. Abra
dried his tears and looked around, but he saw no one. He determined to find Maria
Makiling, his grandchild. He did not find her for the cries of the baby had stopped.

The search for the baby lasted three full moons, but to no avail and the poor old man
returned to his home very sad. He lost all hope. His wits were gone. At that time Maria
Makiling was under the care of the fierce dog Lobo, that was under a god of the
Underworld. He had been punished by the other gods and that is why he looked like a
fierce dog. He was sent down to do charity.
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE
IN THE
ILOCOS REGION
VIGAN
 Vigan is a city in the Philippines, on the west coast of Luzon
island. It's known for its preserved Spanish colonial and Asian
architecture. Calle Crisologo dominates the Mestizo district, with its
cobblestone streets, malecón, horse-drawn carriages and rustic
mansions. Near the white baroque Vigan Cathedral are Plaza
Salcedo, offering fountain light shows, and Plaza Burgos, known
for its street-food stalls.
BANGUI WIND FARM
 The Northwind Bangui Bay Project is located at the
municipality of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Located at
the north-west tip of Luzon island, the wind turbines face the
sea from where the wind blows towards the land. Its location
along the shore is optimal in removing windbreaks and has a
terrain roughness of 0.
S A I N T V I N C E N T F E R R E R S TAT U E
The 50.23-meter high Saint Vincent Ferrer
statue here is the newest Guinness World
Record holder for the tallest bamboo
sculpture.
Agyamanak
!!! 