Ivatan people
Encyclopedia
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 were 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.
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. 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.
Ivatans already lived in Batanes before the Spaniards
set foot on the Philippine shores. They were a free people 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. After the annexation, the 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. 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.
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.
, 23% in Itbayat
, 12% in Sabtang
, 11% in Mahatao
and 8% for Uyugan
and Ivana
. In the 2000 census, 15,834 Ivatans were among the 16,421 population in Batanes.
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 and possibly the Yami. The Ivatans widely speak and understand the 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 anito
s. However, there are growing Christian denominations specially in the capital town of Batanes.
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. 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. 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. 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, 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.
One of the endemic clothing of the Ivatans is the vakul. A vakul is a headgear 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. The kalusan on the other hand is sung during work. The Ivatan also have legends that are called kabbata. They also have the rawod, chants that chronicle the adventures of the Ivatan's forefathers as they escape a disaster.
Ethnic groups in the Philippines
The Philippine islands are inhabited by number of different ethnic groups. The majority of the population is composed of ethnolinguistic groups whose languages are Austronesian in origin. Many of these groups converted to Christianity, and adopted many foreign elements of culture...
predominant in the Batanes Islands
Batanes
The Province of Batanes , also called the Batanes Islands, is a Philippine province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait between the islands of Luzon and Taiwan...
of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The origins of the Ivatans remained untraced among scholars, although evidences suggest that they are Christians who lived in the islands between northern Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Ivatans were free before they were colonized by the Spaniards
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
.
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
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, 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 LuzonLuzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
or southern portions of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. 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. 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
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
anthropologist, of the Yami of Orchid Island (Lanyu) show closer genetic affinity of the Yami
Tao people
The Tao , originally recognized as Yami , are a Taiwanese aboriginal people, native to tiny outlying Orchid Island in Taiwan. The Tao are an Austronesian people linguistically and culturally closer to the Ivatan people of the Batanes islands in the Philippines than to other aboriginal peoples on...
to the Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
and Visayan
Visayan languages
The Visayan languages of the Philippines, along with Tagalog and Bikol, are part of the Central Philippine languages...
and linguistically to the Basiic sub-branch of the Malayo-Polynesian
Malayo-Polynesian languages
The Malayo-Polynesian languages are a subgroup of the Austronesian languages, with approximately 385.5 million speakers. These are widely dispersed throughout the island nations of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean, with a smaller number in continental Asia...
branch.
Early settlement
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
set foot on the Philippine shores. They were a free people 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. After the annexation, the capital was established in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, 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. 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 BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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 BascoBasco, Batanes
Basco is a 5th class municipality in the Batanes Province, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Batanes...
, 23% in Itbayat
Itbayat, Batanes
Itbayat is a 5th class municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 3,069 people in 719 households....
, 12% in Sabtang
Sabtang, Batanes
Sabtang is a 6th class municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 1,465 people in 353 households.-Barangays:Sabtang is politically subdivided into 6 barangays.* Chavayan...
, 11% in Mahatao
Mahatao, Batanes
Mahatao is a 6th class municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 1,707 people in 188 households.-Barangays:Mahatao is politically subdivided into 4 barangays.* Hanib* Kaumbakan...
and 8% for Uyugan
Uyugan, Batanes
Uyugan is a 6th class municipality in the Batanes province, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 1,203 people in 277 households.-Barangays:Uyugan is politically subdivided into 4 barangays.* Kayvaluganan * Imnajbu...
and Ivana
Ivana, Batanes
Ivana is a 6th class municipality in the province of Batanes, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 1,181 people in 283 households.-Barangays:...
. In the 2000 census, 15,834 Ivatans were among the 16,421 population in Batanes.
The mother tongue of the Ivatans is the Chirin nu Ibatán, but is commonly known as Ivatan
Ivatan language
The Ivatan language, also known as Ibatan or Chirin nu Ibatan , is an Austronesian language spoken exclusively in the Batanes Islands...
. A distinct Austronesian language, the Ivatan has two dialects including the Basco, the Ibayáten and possibly the Yami. The Ivatans widely speak and understand the 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 anito
Anito
Anito is the collective name for Pre-Hispanic belief system that exists in the Philippines. It is also the name for spirits, which may include deceased ancestors and nature-spirits or diwatas. Native Filipinos usually keep statues to represent these spirits and to ask guidance and even magical...
s. However, there are growing Christian denominations specially in the capital town of Batanes.
Culture
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
walls, the type of their infrastructures are designed against the harsh Batanes environment, 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.
One of the endemic clothing of the Ivatans is the vakul. A vakul is a headgear designed to protect the wearer from sun and rain. It is made from abaca fiber of the vuyavuy
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
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. The kalusan on the other hand is sung during work. The Ivatan also have legends that are called kabbata. They also have the rawod, chants that chronicle the adventures of the Ivatan's forefathers as they escape a disaster.