Igorots

Editor's Notes

• #5: To some of you that have not seen an igorot well you are looking at one right now.  When I say that “I am an Igorot” people seem to have heard a foreign word/language. Like saying “I am vampire’ , and there is this one time in cavite when I said that my family is an igorot, their reaction was like, “really? So you have a tail?” ( turn around and say does this cute butt have tail?)  The reason why I chose this as my speech is that I want everyone to understand and appreciate my culture and its heritage.
• #6: Igorots are ethnic people of the Philippines Igorot or igolot literally means mountain people. We are also known as very hardworking Filipinos, the igorots have long been admired worldwide for the work of art they have built in the mountains.  (picture of rice terraces) that have stood harsh times for thousands of years are still being built today by the Igorots because this is their source of livelihood. One of the unique characteristics of the Igorots is their skill in building stonewalled rice terraces. In their expertise with the craft, the rice terraces have stood earthquakes and typhoons without being eroded. Yes, there are some parts that have eroded but most of the rice terraces have not changed since they were built by the Igorot ancestors and they are still beautifully crafted around the mountains .
• #7: that have stood harsh times for thousands of years are still being built today by the Igorots because this is their source of livelihood. One of the unique characteristics of the Igorots is their skill in building stonewalled rice terraces. In their expertise with the craft, the rice terraces have stood earthquakes and typhoons without being eroded. Yes, there are some parts that have eroded but most of the rice terraces have not changed since they were built by the Igorot ancestors and they are still beautifully crafted around the mountains .
• #9:  The Bontoc thrive on the bank of the Chico River. Famous as headhunters in the past, they have since turned their backs on their cannibalistic ways. At present, a huge majority of the Bontochave embraced Christianity. They have seamlessly transitioned into a peaceful, agricultural people.
• #10: The Ibaloi too are an agrarian society. Mostly found in Southern Benguet, there are about 93,000 of them all over the Philippines. Their language is from the Austronesian family of languages.
• #11: The Ifugao, on the other hand, are known for their epics and their stories, such as the hudhudand the alim. Ifugao people have a total of four different dialects, and are sometimes called Amganad, Kiangan, or Mayoyao. The word Ifugao means "from the hill." 
• #12: The Isneg or Apayao can be found living near the banks of the Apayao River. Originally slash-and-burn farmers, they have since begun to practice more sustainable forms of farming. TheIsneg are also known as good fishers, and have a penchant for coffee.
• #13: The Kalinga tribes are perhaps the most diplomatic of all the Igorot. They put great importance on kinship and social ties, and are heralded for the peace pacts that have allowed their tribes to become strong. They are also known as the most heavily adorned of all the Igorot people.
• #14: Finally, the Kankana-ey are one of the few tribes who still practice a way of living more common in the old days, although is is fast disappearing as well. In the Kankana-ey, young men and women are divided by gender and then ushered into separate dormitories. Entry into a dormitory signifies a young person's readiness to enter the stages of courtship. Courtships are carried out in the ebgan, or the "girl house." 
• #15: Historian says that there is miimal record of filipino life during the pre-spanish era. Buts that’s not true. Learn fron the igorot culture, my heritage. We maneged to preserve our culture and history even under threat of foreign colonialism.