Mythologies of the Isnag Tribe

The Isnag tribe (also referred to as 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 Ilocano. Three major sub-groups among the ISNAG are known: the YMANDAYA mostly concentrated in the municipality of Calanasan in the Province of Apayao and the municipality of Carasi in the Province of Ilocos Norte; the IMALLOD, with populations distributed among the other towns of the province of Apayao and the IAPAYAO/EAPAYAO, with populations distributed among the towns of Adams , Dumalneg in the province of Ilocos Norte and Sta. Praxedez in the Province of Cagayan. Various names have been used to differentiate the Isnag. The Spaniards referred to them as los Apayaos (referring to the river along which they live) and los Mandayas (taken from the Isnag term meaning “upstream”). In 1923, they were the last ethnic group to be conquered by the American colonialists. Before, they had no collective name. Instead, they referred to themselves based on their residence or whether they lived: upstream (Imandaya) or downstream (Imallod). At present, they are commonly known as Isnegs, which came from an Ilocano word itneg that means Inhabitants of the Tineg River. Some of them, however, still call themselves as Apayaos. The Isnegs are native in Apayao province, which was formerly a sub-province of Mountain Province, but are also found in portions of Cagayan and Ilocos Norte. Apayao has an area of 397,720 hectares and is typographically divided into two parts: the Upper Apayao that is mountainous, and the Lower Apayao that is generally flat with rolling mountains and plateaus. Today, there are about 40,000 Isnegs living in Apayao. Isnag populations can also be found in the Eastern part of the Province of Ilocos Norte, specifically the municipalities of Adams, Carasi, Dumalneg and Solsona; and in the Northwestern part of the Province of Cagayan, specifically the municipalities of Sta. Praxedes, Claveria and Sanchez Mira. The majority of them live along the Apayao River-Abulog River, Matalag River, and the small rivers on the hillsides of Ilocos Norte and Abra.

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. They were also called “los Mandayas,” a reference to an Isneg word meaning “upstream.” The term “Apayao” has been used interchangeably with “Isneg,” after the name of the geographical territory that these people have inhabited for ages. The province of Apayao, however, is not exclusively peopled by the Isneg. There has been a large influx of Ilocano over the years. From Cagayan, the Itawit have entered and occupied the eastern regions. The Aeta inhabit the northern and northeastern parts of the province. And then there are the Kalinga, a major group in the province south of Apayao. 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. To the northwest of the province, occupying mostly parts of the mountainous eastern border of Ilocos Norte, live the Yapayao. The Yapayao are descended from the Apayao group that fled Spanish colonialism and settled at the source of the Bolo River, deep in the mountains of Kalinga and Apayao. This group eventually split into two: the Isneg, who moved downstream, and the Apayao, who remained by the Bolo River source. The Yapayao is a subgroup of the upstream Apayao who later moved to Ilocos Norte, specifically to the two towns of Dumalneg and Adams.

The Isneg people, also known as Isnag or Apayao, have a rich culture and unique traditions that reflect their heritage and lifestyle in the northwestern region of Northern Luzon, specifically in the Cordillera province of Apayao. The name “Isneg” derives from their indigenous language, meaning “people who have gone into the interior.” The Isneg people have a fascinating history, with their settlements strategically located on hills along the rivers in Apayao. These settlements have been an integral part of their identity and played a significant role in shaping their traditions and practices over time. The Isneg people have a fascinating history, and their settlements, strategically located on hills alongside the rivers in Apayao, serve as a testament to their resilient and enduring culture. The Isneg, also known as Isnag or Apayao, have inhabited the northwestern region of Northern Luzon in the Cordillera province of Apayao for centuries. The name “Isneg” derives from their indigenous language, meaning “people who have gone into the interior.” The Isneg settlements, characterized by their elevated positions, reflect the Isneg’s historical practices and the need for protection and defense. These settlements, built on hills overlooking the rivers, provided them with natural barriers and a vantage point to monitor their surroundings. The Isneg people’s ability to adapt to their environment and establish sustainable communities is a testament to their resourcefulness and ingenuity.

The earliest residents of Apayao Province (Cordillera Administrative Region) and one of the remaining tribes in Luzon, the Isneg are a small ethnoliguistic group inhabiting the wide mountains of the area. They are concentrated mainly in the municipalities of Kabugao, Conner, Luna, and Pudtol. Various names have been used to differentiate the Isneg. The Spaniards referred to them as los Apayaos (referring to the river along which they live) and los Mandayas (taken from the Isneg term meaning “upstream”). Isnag, the Isneg language, is spoken by around 300,000 people. They also speak Ilocano. The Isneg settlements are mostly along the river, but they do farming up the hills at certain times of year. Their villages are small and houses, close together, for security and companionship. The traditional house sits on four large wooden posts and has colourful adornments. There are two important rituals that bind the Isneg. Say-am is a feast celebrated by an affluent Isneg family, usually accompanied by wining, eating, and dancing. In contrast, pildap is celebrated by the poorer members of the tribe when a family transfers to another place or when someone seeks healing.

Isnag (also called Isneg) is a language spoken by around 40,000 Isnag people of Apayao Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the northern Philippines. Around 85% of Isnag are capable of reading the Isnag language. Many Isnag speakers also speak Ilocano. Alternate names for Isnag include Apayao, Dibagat-Kabugao-Isneg, Isneg, and Maragat. Isnag is spoken in the northern two thirds of Apayao Province, Cagayan Province (Claveria and Santa Praxedes municipalities), Abra, and Ilocos Norte Province, and scattered areas along the Apayao western border. The closely related Adasen (Addasen, Addasen Tinguian, Itneg Adasen) language, which consists of western and eastern dialects, is spoken in northeastern Abra and into western Apayao Province. There are 4,000 speakers.

Spirituality among the Isnags is very evident even today. Just like other Igorots, the Isnags of Apayao are spirit-filled for they believe in spiritual powers of all sorts. The Isnags’ spirituality is manifested in their belief that God, referred as to Alawagan and other spirits all around, are factors in their abundant environmental resources. The spirits are acknowledged through a series of rituals performed at the appropriate time. Symbolic materials are used so that rituals will be effective and binding. Rituals are performed for their healing effect - be it physical, spiritual, or psychological. Of the many rituals among the Isnags, the most significant are the series related to their strong belief in the existence of spirits in the environment, which controls their way of life. Specifically, in terms of the features and significance of the Isnag rituals, a comprehensive interview with a tribal leader referred as mengal was conducted on April 25-26, 2008. Interviewed was Sabina Abgao from Kumao, Kabugao, Apayao. The write-up was later presented for comments to the former Director of Agrarian Reform, Director Henry Aliten, who is a native of Calanasan, Apayao. A focus group discussion on Apayao was conducted for purposes of validation. It also validated the article, “Apayao: Home of the Isnag Tribe” by Miguel Vasquez, published in the Baguio Midland Courier on April 27, 2008. Part of the article discussed about Isnag rituals was specifically on Say-am and Pildap. In this presentation, the series of five rituals in an agricultural ceremony are detailed for their features and significance. These five short individual rituals are performed before clearing the grassland for rice planting, before rice planting, before harvesting, before starting to eat the new harvested crop, and for abundance before a festivity. The procedures are described and prayers quoted for their significance. As a general guideline, after the performance of rituals related to agriculture and the environment, signs are always observed for the message they convey. For example, if after the ritual they observe that a colored bird crosses from left to right, it is a sign of good fortune; if the bird crosses from right to left, the probability is for the rice farm to be infested by rats.