Cordillera 101 | The Igorot People

Summary

This video explores the rich history and enduring culture of the Igorot people in the Cordillera Administrative Region of the northern Philippines. Despite over 300 years of Spanish colonization, the Igorots maintained their independence, traditions, and social structures, resisting foreign rule through strategic use of their mountainous terrain and warrior culture. The documentary traces their ancestry, cultural preservation, and adaptation under American influence, highlighting traditional attire, values like inayan (respect and morality) and badang (community cooperation), and the resilience of their ethnolinguistic groups. It celebrates the Igorots’ vibrant heritage, showing how their identity, practices, and values have survived and continue to thrive today.

Takeaways

• 🌄 The Cordillera Administrative Region in northern Philippines resisted Spanish colonization for over 300 years due to the strong independence of its people.
• 🛡️ The indigenous Igorot people used their mountainous terrain to successfully defend against Spanish expeditions.
• 🗡️ The Igorots practiced headhunting and village-based warfare prior to Spanish arrival, rewarding warriors with tattoos for their achievements.
• 🌐 DNA studies suggest that the Cordillerans, called the Urut, are ancestors of many Filipino, Malayan, Indonesian, and Oceanian peoples.
• 🎶 Despite colonization, the Cordillera region preserved its culture, language, traditions, and values, unlike many lowland areas.
• 🇺🇸 During American rule, a more diplomatic approach of education, religion, and cultural exchange helped integrate the Igorots without force.
• 👖 Modern Igorot culture blends traditional practices with Western influences, such as clothing, music, and cowboy-style lifestyles introduced by Americans.
• 👘 Traditional attire in the six provinces varies in design, color, and style, with specific garments for men (loincloths) and women (wraparound skirts).
• 🤝 Core Igorot values include Inayan, emphasizing respect and moral behavior, and Badang, promoting communal labor and mutual support.
• 🏞️ The six provinces of the Cordillera region are Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, home to at least 15 ethnolinguistic groups.
• 🎨 Cultural practices, patterns, and designs in clothing and art remain vivid, reflecting centuries-old traditions passed down through generations.

Q & A

Who are the Igorot people and where are they located?

The Igorot are the indigenous people of the Cordillera Administrative Region in northern Philippines. They have preserved their culture, traditions, and values despite centuries of colonization.

Why were the Spanish unable to fully subjugate the Cordillera region?

The mountainous terrain gave the Igorot a strategic advantage. They resisted Spanish expeditions, using both their knowledge of the mountains and warrior skills to defend their land.

What does the term 'Igulu' mean?

Igulu comes from the old Talug word 'gulut,' meaning mountains, and the Austronesian suffix '-e,' which denotes people. Together, it translates to 'people of the mountains.'

How did the Spaniards perceive the Igorot?

The Spaniards branded the Igorot as lawbreakers, uncivilized, and unchristian because they resisted colonization and maintained their independence.

What was the impact of American colonization on the Cordillera region?

Unlike the Spaniards, Americans used education, religion, and cultural exchange instead of force. Igorot leaders embraced American schools and practices, blending them with their own culture.

What are some traditional clothing items of the Igorot people?

Men wear g-strings, whose names vary by tribe, while women wear wraparound woven skirts. Designs differ by province, featuring distinct colors and patterns like blue and white, red and yellow, or flaming red designs.

What are the core values of the Igorot people?

Two key values are 'Inayan,' which emphasizes moral conduct, respect, and preventing harm, and 'Badang,' which promotes community labor, cooperation, and mutual support.

How did tribal organization work before the arrival of the Spaniards?

Igorot communities were organized by villages rather than tribes. Warriors would engage in local wars to protect their lands and take heads of outsiders, which earned them tattoos to signify their achievements.

What is the significance of headhunting among early Igorot warriors?

Headhunting was a way to defend their territory, demonstrate bravery, and earn social recognition within their communities, reflected through tattoos and warrior status.

What are some ethnolinguistic groups in the Cordillera region today?

The region hosts at least 15 ethnolinguistic groups, including Appl, Balanga, Bonto, Gadang, Ialo, Euga, Tali, Mayoa, Aangan, Isneg, Orag, Iwak, Kalanguya, Kalinga, and Kankan Caro.

How did the Igorot maintain their cultural identity over centuries?

Despite colonization and modernization, they preserved their language, rituals, clothing, dances, and community values, standing firm in their independence and adapting selectively to outside influences.

What does DNA research reveal about the Igorot people?

Studies indicate that the Igorot (Urut) are ancestors of all Filipino peoples as well as related to Malaysians, Indonesians, and Oceanians. They are considered to have one of the earliest and most preserved cultures in the Philippines.