About (Panggep)

Ilocano (i-lo-ka-no) or Ilokano - The Ilocano people are the third largest Filipino ethnic group. Aside from being referred to as Ilocanos, from “i” meaning from, and “looc” meaning bay, they also refer to themselves as Samtoy, from the Ilocano phrase “sao mi ditoy“, meaning ‘from our language’. The word “Ilocano” came from the word “Iloco” by the natives of the Upper part of the land known as “Cordillera.”  Ilocanos number about 9,136,000. The Ilocanos are primarily of Austronesian stock, the same as with the rest of the Filipinos. The Austronesian ancestors of the present-day Ilocanos came to the Philippines through bilogs, or outrigger boats during the Iron Age.In 1572, when the Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo conquered the Ilocanos, he described them as being more barbarous than the Tagalogs. During the Spanish Colonial Era, the Ilocanos were one of the first ethnic groups to revolt against the Spaniards. Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela Silang declared independence of Free Ilocos on 1762-1764 during the British occupation of Manila.

Notable Ilocanos

Elpidio Quirino, 6th President of the Philippines (1948–1953).
Ramon Magsaysay, 7th President of the Philippines (1953-1957).
Ferdinand Marcos, 10th President of the Philippines (1965–1986).
Leona Florentino, famous woman poet.
Jose Burgos, Filipino priest and martyr during Spanish times.
Gregorio Aglipay, founder of the Aglipayan Church.
Josefa Llanes Escoda, women’s rights activist, founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
Fabian Ver, former General and Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

Additional information: 

- Ilocanos are also known as kuripot, kirmet, imot.
- Founder of famous fraternities like SI (Samahang Ilocano founded by Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), UI (United Ilocandia).
- Fond of kilawen, home of the original pinapaitan (unlike sa mga tagalong, maasim ang pinapaitan nila na dapat ang tawag na e inasiman), pinikpekan, atbp.
- Ilocanos are also known to be composed but not the tribe you want to have war with. 

Ilocano-ak, atapang a tao, angisit a buto, aputol a ulo, adda pay latta ukel-ukel ko.