Ivatan people

Infobox Ethnic group
group = Ivatan people


caption = Old Ivatan Woman·
population =
regions = flagcountry|Philippines smaller|(Batanes Islands)

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languages = Ivatan, Ilocano, Tagalog, English
religions = Predominantly Roman Catholic, minority, Ancestral worship
related =

The Ivatans are a Filipino ethnolinguistic group predominant in the Batanes Islands of the Philippines. The origins of the Ivatans remained untraced among scholars, although evidences suggest that they are Christians who lived in the islands between northern Luzon and Taiwan. Ivatans was long free before they were colonized by the Spaniards.

The culture of the Ivatans is partly influenced by the environmental condition of Batanes. Unlike the old-type nipa huts common in the Philippines, Ivatans have adopted their now-famous stone houses made of limestone, designed to protect against the hostile climate.

Origins

Documents do not show much about the history of the Ivatans and at present, scholars who study their origins are still unsure as to their exact origin. They question whether the pre-historic Ivatans came from the northern part of Luzon or southern portions of China and Taiwan. There is evidence that they might be a surviving group of Christianized people that once resided on the islands that are between Luzon and Taiwan.cite web |url=http://www.ncip.gov.ph/resources/ethno_detail.php?ethnoid=60|title=Ethnic Profile: The Ivatan |work=National Commission on Indigenous Peoples |accessdate=2008-04-07] However, they have considered the close racial resemblance of the Ivatans to the Malays and the structure of their language could mean they came from other parts of the Philippines. Tracing their roots through Batanes' folklores, genetic studies of Omoto, a Japanese anthropologist, of the Yami of Orchid Island ("Lanyu") show closer genetic affinity of the Yami to the Tagalog and Visayan and linguistically to the Basiic sub-branch of the Malayo-Polynesian branch.Cite web |last=Datar |first=Francisco A. |title=The Batanes Islands |url=http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/comarticles.php?artcl_Id=226 |work=National Commission for Culture and the Arts |accessdate=2008-04-06]

Early settlement

Ivatans already existed in Batanes before the Spaniards set foot on the Philippine shores. They were free natives long after Spaniards arrived in the country in the 16th century. That ended on June 26, 1783 after the annexation of Batanes by the Spanish Colonial State in the Philippines. However, it did not mark as the Spaniards' conquest, whose capital was established in Manila, as it was just the beginning of the process of eventual colonization. In 1686, Ivatans were "forced" to settle in the lowlands of Batanes so that they could easily be administered.cite book |last=Rowthorn |first=Chris |title=Philippines |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=3XUy3bUTNQsC&pg=PA203&dq=Ivatan+in+Batanes&sig=nc_B11_BqneELDUhNfK6y3StgUA |year=2003 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=1740592107 |pages=203 |accessdate=2008-04-06] The Ivatans were under Spain for 115 years, and was gained its independence back on September 18, 1898. Ironically, June 6 is celebrated in Batanes as its founding day.

Physical attributes

One of the earliest accounts of the Ivatan is that of the British buccaneer William Dampier in 1687. Dampier described them as "short, squat people; hazel eyes, small yet bigger than Chinese; low foreheads; thick eyebrows; short low noses; white teeth; black thick hair; and very dark, copper-colored skin." They also have strong mixture of the short type of the Mongols, and there are some individuals who seem to have some physical characteristics peculiar to the Ainus of Japan.

Demographics

In 1990, population of the Ivatans was 15,026, an increase of 24% over the 1980 population of 12,091. These were distributed to the six municipalities, with 38% residing in Basco, 23% in Itbayat, 12% in Sabtang, 11% in Mahatao and 8% for Uyugan and Ivana. In the 2000 census, 15,834 Ivatans comprised of the 16,421 population in Batanes. [Cite web |title=Population in Batanes Showed an Upward Swing |url=http://www.census.gov.ph/data/pressrelease/2002/pr0285tx.html |work=Philippine National Statistics Office |accessdate=2008-04-17]

The mother tongue of the Ivatans is the "Chirin nu Ibatán", but is commonly known as Ivatan. A distinct Austronesian language, the Ivatan has two dialects including the "Basco", the "Ibayáten" [cite book |last=Galvez Rubino |first=Carl R. |title=Ilocano Dictionary and Grammar |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qG-zAa_rjoMC |publisher=University of Hawaii |date=2000 |pages=213 |isbn=0824820886 |accessdate=2008-04-06] and possibly the Yami. The Ivatans widely speak and understand Tagalog and English languages.

Today, most Ivatans are Catholics, like the rest of the country, although some have not converted practice ancestral worship to their "anitos". However, there are growing Christian denominations specially in the capital town of Batanes.

Culture

The Ivatan's culture have been largely influenced by the climate of Batanes. Exposed to high risks of disruption to their agriculture, Ivatans have adopted strategies in order to live. Traditionally, because of the frequent typhoons and drought, they plant root crops able to cope with the environment. These crops include yam, sweet potato, taro, garlic, ginger and onion, as they ensure higher chances of survival during awry climate conditions. [cite book |last=Bankoff |first=Greg |title=Cultures of Disaster: Society and Natural Hazards in the Philippines |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5O8qU49LIzQC&pg=PA165&dq=Ivatan+in+Batanes&lr=&sig=8Rgyweq_laVasqJUjeeaWGQ9BYg |year=2002 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0700717617 |pages=165 |accessdate=2008-04-06] The Ivatan study the behavior of animals, sky color, wind and clouds to predict the weather. The Ivatans usually gather their animals and stay in their houses when they see that the cows take shelter from the "payaman" (communal pasture) and birds taking refuge in houses or in the ground. A pink sky with an orange hue also heralds a storm. [cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080629-145400/Ivatan-of-Batanes-share-secrets-of-survival-in-typhoon-belt|title=Ivatan of Batanes share secrets of survival in typhoon belt|last=Trinidad-Echavez|first=Andrea|date=2008-06-29|publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=2008-07-01] The sea is vital to the Ivatan's way of life. Although abundant only in the month of March to May, they depend on the flying fish (dibang) and dolphinfish (arayu) present on the shores of Batanes. They have a native delicacy called "uvod" (the pith of the banana stalk) which is served, along with the wine "palek", on festive occasions such as weddings.

Before Spaniards arrived at the Philippines, Ivatans built their houses largely from cogon grass, small and well situated, designed to protect against strong winds of the place. The Spaniards introduced large-scale production of lime for the construction of their now-famous stone houses. With meter-thick limestone walls, the type of their infrastructures are designed against the harsh Batanes environment, [cite book |last=Brown |first=Jessica, et. Al. |title=The Protected Landscape Approach: Linking Nature, Culture and Community |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=By2ynKov1LYC&pg=PA103&dq=Ivatan+in+Batanes&sig=6pNAD7zgrxkyAiMftwhn1emCP1c#PPA103,M1 |year=2005 |publisher=The World ConservationUnion |isbn=2831707978 |pages=103 |accessdate=2008-04-06] which is known as a terminal passage of typhoons in the Philippines. The basic cogon grass is still preserved as roofs of their houses, thickly constructed to withstand strong winds. These houses are comparable to the white houses in New Zealand, Ireland and Scottish Highlands. [Cite news |last=Calubiran |first=Maricar |title=Ivatan joins Dinagyang to promote Batanes tourism |url=http://www.thenewstoday.info/2008/01/16/ivatan.joins.dinagyang.to.promote.batanes.tourism.html |work=The News Today |accessdate=2008-04-17]

One of the endemic clothing of the Ivatans is the "vakul". A "vakul" is a head gear designed to protect the wearer from sun and rain. It is made from abaca fiber of the "vuyavuy" palm.

The Ivatan have three different folk songs: the "laji", the "kanta" and the "kalusan". The "laji" are ancient lyrical songs that are supposed to be sung when they are merry or just finished work. [cite web |last=Quindoza-Santiago |first=Lilia |url=http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/ebook_subcont.php?subcont_Id=23|title=Early Philippine Literature |work=National Commission for Culture and the Arts |date=2002 |accessdate=2008-04-07] The "kalusan" on the other hand is sung during work. The Ivatan also have legends that are called "kabbata". [cite web |url=http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about_cultarts/ebook_subcont.php?subcont_Id=23|title=Ivatan/Itbayat|publisher=National Commission for Culture and the Arts |date=2002 |accessdate=2008-04-07] They also have the "rawod", chants that chronicle the adventures of the Ivatan's forefathers as they escape a disaster. [cite news |last=Espiritu |first=EV |url=http://blogs.inquirer.net/beingfilipino/2007/09/26/tatayak-making-keeps-ivatan-seafarers-alive/|title=‘Tatayak’ making keeps Ivatan seafarers alive |work=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=2007-09-06 |accessdate=2008-04-07]

ee also

*Ivatan language
*Tao people

References