Filipinos have been making waves across the globe, but still have a long way to go to break the cultural barrier. Four individuals sought to raise awareness in their own community in Hawai'i - Calvin, AJ, Dean and Rowena - by utilizing their language and culture as a means of acceptance in today's society. In organizing a movement to celebrate the identity of today's global Filipino, more specifically for them in Ilokano, it gives them a platform to succeed in their own right.
Ilokano: The Movement was created to connect Ilokanos to their culture, and to other like-minded individuals around the world. As a Philippine language, Ilokano is one of 170+ that are underrepresented, and through this venture we hope to also uplift other languages to thrive in their own right.
Currently, we are striving to become recognized a non-profit organization. With your support, we can make it happen!
Link to our Kickstarter Campaign:
OUR STORY
WHO: ILOKANO: The Movement (iTM)
WHAT: iTM uses social media (content creation for Instagram, Facebook or blogs) and social action (public speaking and volunteerism) as a catalyst for promoting the Ilokano identity - be it language, culture or literature.
WHEN: It should stand the test of time, which is why it starts NOW.
WHERE: We want to spread the word far and wide, so that others can claim their identity outright.
WHY: iTM is not only about moving Ilokanos, or Filipinos for that matter, but successfully inspiring others to do what WE set out to do. We are fueled to break the minority barrier and keep what’s unique to us. We want our voices heard, and we need it to last.
The Ilocanos are the third largest ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines. The term “Ilocano” was derived from the words “i-“ (from) and “looc” (cove or bay), which when combined means “People of the bay”. They were also referred to as Samtoy, which is a contraction of the phrase sao mi ditoy (this is our language).
Basically, the Ilocanos are Austronesian-people / Austronesian-speaking people. The Ilocano dialect is related to the languages Indonesian, Malay, Fijian, Maori, Hawaiian, Malagasy, Samoan, Tahitian, Chamorro, Tetum and Paiwan. Today, the Ilocano dialect is the third most spoken language in the Philippines.
Among all the Filipino ethnic groups, the Ilocanos are the most migrant. In the 19th century, the mounting population pressure due to substantial population density has moved the Ilocanos to leave their homeland. More than 290,000 Ilocanos migrated to different provinces and regions in the Philippines in 1903.
Ilocanos move to places in search for better opportunities. Basically, the Ilocos region is a barren strip of land in the northwestern tip of Luzon. It is squeeze in between the inhospitable Cordillera mountain range to the east and the South China Sea to the west. It was a tough geographical location for the Ilocanos to live in. This is why Ilocanos are stereotyped with “survival-like” regional traits such as clannish, tenacious industry and frugality.
The Ilocanos can be found living in the Central Plain of Luzon (consisting of the provinces Pangasinan, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija) and in the Cagayan Valley. By the 20th century, many Ilocanos searched for greener pastures in Manila and other major cities in the country. Traces of Ilocanos settlement could also be found in the frontier lands of Mindanao particularly in the provinces Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato, and South Cotabato.
They became the first Filipino ethnic group to immigrate to North America (Manong Generation). In 1906, the Ilocanos started migrating to Hawaii, Washington, Alaska and California.
Today, they are considered the largest number of expatriates in the United States. They dominate about 85% of the Filipino population in Hawaii. A growing number of Ilocanos can also be found in the Middle East, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, Australia and Europe.
Ilokano History
21st-Century Ilokano
iTM Factbook
