Kurti (Tannery)

San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, a town of proverbially industrious Ilocanos, is known as a center of pottery, although there were other cottage industries including leather tanning which was once a major industry producing leather crafted goods. The tanneries were situated in the outskirts of the town where there were wide open spaces for sun drying and to keep the foul odor emanated during the tanning process away from the populated areas.The main source of leather, locally called LALAT, is the rawhide which is the by-product of the meat industry – mostly cow, carabaos and horses. Skins of small animals such as goats, cats, monkeys, lizards, and snakes are also sources of good leather. Leather is crafted into various articles such as footwear, belts, luggage, upholstery, and many more.



Leather tanning is a simple process but requires patience and endurance. After the rawhide is stripped from the butchered animal, it is thoroughly washed and prepared for tanning. It is heavily sprinkled with lime and soaked in lime and water solution for two weeks. Then it is drained and soaked in a solution of extracts from the bark of the DAMORTIS tree (Pithecellobium dulce) and water of two weeks. It will be flipped over and kneaded continuously to get it evenly saturated. This will give it the reddish color. When this is completed the hide is stretched flat and staked to the ground and left to dry. The tanned leather is then ready for market.

Panagpanday (Blacksmithing)

The people of Ilocos Norte are very well familiar with the products of the Panagpanday industry as they are predominantly utilized all year round by the farmers of the province. However, so little has been told or portrayed in the public about the processes involved in making the simple kumpay to the more intricate arado. The basic processes involved in the production of the different pinanday products beginning with the rigorous road-to-road calling to buy scrap metals called landok, to winnowing and lighting up the coal called agyubuyob, hammering the heated metal or panagpitpit, simultaneous with panagsebseb using damped tiger weeds tied up to a stick of wood, to finishing the product with the use of carabao horn.

PAMULINAWEN, pusok indengam man!

PAMULINAWEN, that's what they call the festival of Laoag City

Pamulinawen had been a beautiful stone, “Dalumpinas” by the name, which had been oval in its form, as the size of a human heart. It had been solid, smooth and unbreakable, compared by a LOVER to a beautiful lady possessing a good and sterling character, that had never been engaged, never been loved, never been kissed and never been disgraced.

Pamulinawen is popularized by the Philippine Constabulary Band, conducted by Col. Loving and asserted by Capt. Pedro B. Navarro in the Panama Exposition held in the US in 1915. The lyrics of the immortal song were written by Isidro Castro and set to music by Julian Dacuycuy Sales. Navarro, Castro and Sales were all Bacarreños.

Truly, not only in material products Ylocanos are good at, they are also creative in terms of Dances and Song. Watch this video and you'll know why it's worth watching for.

Basi (Ilocano Fermented Wine)

 

Basi is the local beverage of the Ilocanos. The basi is produced by first crushing sugarcane and extracting the juice. The juice is boiled in vats and then stored in earthen jars. Once the juice has cooled, flavorings made of ground glutinous rice and duhat (java plum) bark or other fruits or barks is added. The jars are then sealed with banana leaves and allowed to ferment for several years. The resulting drink is pale red in color. If fermented longer, it turns into suka or vinegar. This is a favorite beverage among townsfolk during celebrations and gatherings.

Abel Iloco

History records that cotton-loom woven textiles called inabel were rooted traditions at the time the Spanish colonized Ilocos Norte in 1572. China, Japan and Southeast Asia were already trading their gold, ceramics, jars, iron and beads with inabel in the natural harbors along the coasts. The Spaniards began to take interest in the inabel known for its strength and durability and endorsed it as excellent sails for galleons in the same way it was utilized locally in boats, barangays and other sea-going vessels. For centuries inabel has also been used to make blankets.


The quality pure cotton fabrics of Ilocos Norte became known far and wide and the demand for the raw and spun cotton as well as textile products of Ilocos by European, Chinese, Japanese and Indian traders, intensified. Because of its astonishing beauty the inabel has caught the attention of international couturiers who started working with Ilocano weavers in developing new designs. Its versatility is limited only to the imagination as local weavers continue developing new designs and techniques.






Traditional Steps of Weaving
1. Pinagbukag ti kapas – picking of cotton balls.
2. Panagladdit ti kapas – removing the seeds with the use of a cotton gin.
3. Panangbatbat ti kapas – pounding or beating with the use of the lagundi sticks.
4. Panangsunay / Panangtibbi ti kapas (Twisting) – twisting the cotton using the spindle.
5. Panagilabay ti sagot (Skeining) – winding the cotton yarn into the skeiner.
6. Panagtagud iti nailabay nga sagot (Combing) – brushing the skeined yarn to make it durable and glossy.
7. Panagpulipol ti sagot (Spooling) –winding the skeined yarn to the bamboo spool.
8. Panaggan-ay ti sagot (Warping) – winding the spool yarn into the warping reel or tool for warping.
9. Pananglukot ti sagot (Beaming) – winding the warp yarn into the warp beam rod.
10. Pinagisubo iti Gur-on (Heddling) – inserting the warp yarn through the heddle eye with the use of the weaver’s hook.
11. Pinagisubo iti Sugod (Sleying) – inserting the warp yarn through the dents or spaces of the reed with the use of the weaver’s hook.
12. Pinagipakat diay Pagablan (Tie-up / tying- in) – dressing the loom to tie the heddles behind the beater.
13. Agabel (Weaving) – the interlocking of vertical yarn (warp) known as gan-ay and the horizontal yarns (weft) as pakan.

Agdamdamili kami

Ilocanos have also very creative hands which they use in Panagdamili or in making pots. Damili is a term for making pots made up of clays (especially the red clays). In other words, these are earthenware products. With the very delicate hands and imaginative minds of ilocanos, they can produce vases, pots, dalikans, bangas, malabis, burnais, and many other crafts. They use the potter's wheel also in performing the panagdamili. Expert agdamdamilis are found in San Nicolas. The process includes five major steps: Panagkali (digging of clay), Panaglali (kneading), Panagbibir and Panagpitpit (molding and shaping), Panaggebba (burning and drying), and Panaglako (selling).

Empanada! Empanada!

Think of it as the best treat for anyone as hungry as a wolf and for anyone as meek as kitten. Batac empanada caters to the taste of everyone. 

Although popular fast-food chains were introduced recently, more people opt to settle for empanada. Aside from being more affordable, it also offers one square meal. It's crust is made up of an orange flour called bella-ay, while it's fillings are grated papayas, mongos, chopped ilocano longganisas, and egg. It is deep fried. Famous makers of empanadas are Batacenos.