ISNEG"

ISNEG ORAL TRADITIONS is RICH with FOLK RIDDLES. many of these are STRUCTURALLY SIMPLE but ELEGANT:

Here some EXAMPLES of RHYMING RIDDLES:

Municipalities occupied by the ISNEG include PUDOL,KABUGAO KALANASAN, and CONNER.

• " there are many following another, and each one carries the nest"

In 1998, the ISNEG population was estimated at around 4,500.

• "Someone is weeding all the time without any reason"

• "A basketfull of pipes, one smells bad"

answer: AETA

• " Half bamboo, it can be seen from afar"

answer: the person rowing boat

• "A small rooster going to America and coming back at the same day"

answer: the mayor

• " We cannot say it except at the time of havest"

answer: the rainbow

answer: telephone or airplane

answer: riddle

TWO LINES with few SYLLABLES and RHYMES in the END, presenting ENIGMA that must be GUESSED.

Like most FOLK RIDDLES, those ISNEGS COMPASS the PRACTICALLY every ASPECT of HUMAN EXPERIENCE: MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, THE HUMAN BODY, AILMENTS and DEFECTS, ACTIONS, FOOD and DRINKS, DRESS and TEMPERAMENTS, ANIMALS,PLANTS the NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, and NATURAL PHENOMENA

"ISNEG"

1610, the SPANIARDS put up 3 MISSIONS but this is ABANDONED in 1670

Is derived from combination of "IS" meaning "RECEDE"

"UNEG" meaning "INTERIOR"

Two major River System:

• The ABULOG AND APAYAO

Run through ISNEG country, which until recent times has been described as a region of "DARK TROPICAL FOREST" and endowed with other NATURAL RESOURCES

They lived in the northwesterly end of nothern Luzon, in the upper half Cordillera Province known as Kalinga-apayao

The name ascribed to the ISNEG seem to reflect their PROBABLE HISTORY

ISNEG described as:

THE JUDGE and THE FLY

• SLENDER and GRACEFUL STRUCTURE

• KIND, HOSPITABLE & GENEROUS

• Possessed with SPIRIT of SELF RELIANCE and COURAGE and clearly ARTISTIC in their TEMPERAMENT

ISNEG'S ANCESTORS were BELIEVE to have been the PROTO-AUSTRONIANS who came in SOUTH CHINA THOUSAND years AGO

RICE is their MAIN STAPLE FOOD, TRADITIONALLY produced in ABUNDANCE

this is RAISED through SLASH-AND-BURN AGRCULTURE.

They also contact with the CHINESE TRADERS PLYING the SEAS SOUTH of the ASIAN MAINLAND

They came in contact with groups PRACTICING JAR BURIAL from which they ADOPT the CUSTOM

it also include CORN, TARO, SWEET POTATO,SUGAR CANE,BANANAS YAMS and others TUBER.

they BOUGHT the PORCELAIN PIECES and GLASS BEADS ( ISNEG'SPRICELESS HEIRLOOMS)

all PRECEDED BY APPROPIATE RITUALS and CEREMONIES

ACCORDING to ISNEG TRADITIONAL VIEW, the OWNERSHIP of LAND is ABSOLUTE and is GOVERNED by UNWRITTEN LAW of PROPERTY RELATIONS

The LAND is OWNED through FIRST USE

• PIONEER PRINCIPLE
• ACTUAL POSSESSION
• OCCUPATION & INHERITANCE

ISNEG have been KNOWN to be a HEADHUNTING SOCIETY since RECORDED HISTORY

the COLONIAL REGIME of the SPANIARDS sought to CURB this PRACTICE and to FULLY CHRISTIANIZE the MOUNTAIN PEOPLE

the ISNEG WOMEN TRADITIONALLY GIVE BIRTH AT KNEELING POSITION

the FORMATION of the ISNEG FAMILY begins with the RIGHT COURTSHIP

The LAW is RESPECTED and RECOGNIZED, ENFORCED and DEPENDED

the SPIRITUAL WORLD of the ISNEG is POPULATED by more than 300 ANITOS

(SPIRITS)