A Knowledge of my own Hometown

In my recent posts, I mentioned that I am an Igorot but then we live in Cervantes, which is within the Ilocos Region. I am a pure Igorot but then maybe you are asking why then am I in Ilocos? My father's family lives there while my lola (mother side) is also from a barangay of Cervantes, namely Aluling. My lolo (mother side) is from Tadian, Mt. Province. Some roots of my father came also from Aluling and Abatan Bauko, Mt. Province. I'm not really sure where is our ancestors came from but that's what I know. Why am I telling you these? it is to give you an overview why are we in Ilocos. It is because, as I heard from the stories, Aluling before was owned by Mountain Province, which is mainly an Igorot province, but agreements we're made and it was said that Aluling is still within the borders of Cervantes and that's how, at present, that Aluling is within the Ilocos Region.

To know more about the history of my beloved hometown, click the link History of Cervantes
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Border line of Cervantes, where you can see how far Tadian, Mt. Province from the Municipality.

(Source: https://goo.gl/sGxG0B)

First Set of Words translated in my Native language

Since it's holiday today maybe I could share one statement that we usually tell people whenever we meet or text them

English: How are you? -Filipino: Kumusta ka na? -Ilocano: Kumusta ka ngay? -Kankana-ey: Kumusta ka pay?

I am not actually sure if my translations in Ilocano and Kankana-ey is correct but that's what I know. And maybe because in my generation different langauges are already mixed with other languages when we make our statement, and maybe it is one effect of modernization in our culture or tradition.

Another statement that we use, especially the teenagers of todayof, whenever we text someone aside from asking them " How are you?", we ask them 

English: What are you doing? -Filipino: Anong ginagawa mo? -Ilocano: Anya (ti) araramidem?/Anya (ti) ububraem? -Kankana-ey: Sinon amamagem?

As you can notice I gave two translations in Ilocano that is because in our Region or province different versions or words are used but with the same meaning and one more thing is the word "ti" is in a parentheses because in some circumstances there is no need of saying or including it in the statement because either way it only conveys one thought and that the speaker will surely understand even without it. This is just another example of our Cultural Diversity.

Since we we're talking about text messages, I remember about reading a book, wherein,  it says that Philippines has the highest number of text messages sent everyday. Can you believe it? What can you say? 

Born with a Culture, Learning the Culture

I know that with my early age I still may not know yet how diverse Filipino cultures are, but then one thing is for sure that despite these differences we are still one as a citizen of the Philippines. I grew up in the Municipality of Cervantes which is, presently, under the Ilocos Region. With that I also grew up using the Ilocano language though both my parents' mother tongue is Kankana-ey, a specific  group of Igorots. But in growing up, I still manage to learn how to speak Kankana-ey and understand it too. I may not be a good speaker of our native language but at least in my own little ways, I , gradually, is trying to learn more deep words because I am a proud Igorot. 

The little town plaza of Cervantes
(Source: http://www.motorcyclephilippines.com/forums/showthread.php?251007-A-Ride-of-The-Four-Horsemen-to-Ma-Ba-Ba-Su-Cer-Ta-nila/page2)