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THE ILOCANO WAY OF SAVING |
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 by: Rodel J. Ramos
The Ilocanos, sometimes called the solid north because of their united vote
during elections are worth studying for their colorful history, character and
survival techniques which we can copy not only during hard times but as a way of
life in order to avoid the humps and turns of life. Generally, Ilocanos are
known as hard working, loyal workers frugal or prudent savers, responsible
family men and visionaries.
Great Ilocanos
Of all regions, the Ilocano Regions produced the most presidents - Elpidio
Quirino of Ilocos Sur, Ramon Magsaysay of Zambales, Ferdinand Marcos of Batac,
Ilocos Norte, Corazon Cojuangco Aquino of Concepcion, Tarlac, and Fidel Ramos of
Asingan, Pangasinan. Ramos roots is Ilocos Norte.
Other Ilocanos who gained prominence in our history are: Rev. Gregorio Aglipay,
of the Philippine Independence Church, Rev.
Santiago Funacier, heir of Aglipay, Nieva Ecija. Former U.N. president Carlos P.
Romulo of Tarlac, Ex-Senator Raul Manglapus, of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Cipriano
and Tito Primicias, Camilo Osias of Pangasinan, Juan Ponce Enrile of Cagayan,
Genero Magsaysay, Teodoro Yangco a Philanthropist, Supreme Court Justice Alejo
Labrador of Zambales, Quintin Paredes, and Prospero Sanidad, Danding and Peping
Cojuangco of Tarlac.
In arts, we have Juan Luna who gained prominence in Europe for winning the most
prestigious international arts award, Prix de Rome with his entry Spoliarium.
This is the same award that Picazzo won at a later date. He became the rallying
point of the Propaganda Movement that Filipinos are equal to Europeans in
talents. Antonio Quirino, Leon Pechay and Maximo Ramos excelled in literature.
Ilocanos are also known for their bravery. Gen. Antonio Luna was the most
brilliant General during the Filipino-Spanish and
Filipino-American wars. Diego Silang led the rebellion in Ilocos against Spain.
When he died, his wife, Gabriela Silang continued the fight. Gabriela became the
symbol of the Feminist movement in the Philippines. Princess Urduja of
Pangasinan was a well known warrior and leader. She is credited with a
progressive province during her era.
Andres Bonifacio’s mother was from Zambales. Apolinario Mabini, the great
paralitic brain of the revolution was from Cuyapo, Nieva Ecija, Gen. Artemio
Ricarte of Ilocos Norte refused to pay allegiance to the United States,
continued the fight after Gen. Aguinaldo was captured and was exiled. Ferdinand
Marcos claimed to be the most decorated soldier during World War II but his
records were questioned by Americans in his last years in office. Ramon
Magsaysay headed the Zambales Guerrilla movement. The Igorots of the Mountain
Province were never conquered by the Spaniards and kept the location of their
gold mines secret from the invaders.
Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Former Executive Secretary and Ex-Congressman Ruben
Torres, Governor Orbos of Pangasinan, Senator
Richard Gordon, Congressman Jose de Venecia are rising stars of the North and
perhaps one of them will be president in the future.
Ilocano nearly became our National Language during a deliberation, losing only
by one vote to Tagalog.
Adventurers
Ilocanos are sea fearers and adventurers. Almost all the barrios along the
seashore of Zambales and Pangasinan are inhabited by Ilocanos. They were the
first Filipino migrants in Hawaii. They came as pineapple pickers and sugarcane
workers. Today, there is even an Ilocano radio station there.
When Pres. Ramon Magsaysay issued the Land for the Landless decree offering
homestead in Mindanao, thousands of Ilocanos took the opportunity and settled
there. If only the Philippine Government allowed Filipinos to work in Sabah when
the British colony was recruiting workers, perhaps the Ilocanos would have
settled there too.
Great savers
Early in life, Ilocanos are taught to work hard and save for the rainy days.
They are noted for being frugal, spending money
wisely. Some call them kuripot (stingy) but they are not.
Life in the North is hard. There is an average of 30 typhoons battering Northern
Luzon every year. And there are times when there is no catch for the fishermen
because of these unfavorable weather conditions. Farmers plant rice once a year
during rainy season or twice if there is an irrigation system in their area.
After which they wait for four to five months before harvest. If they are hit by
a heavy typhoon, they suffer the losses for that year.
Even if most people are self sufficient (they grow their own vegetables, fruits,
poultry and some have fishponds), money is hard to make in these provinces. And
so they were taught to remember the hard times and save in their piggy bank or
bamboo tube for the rainy days. Some cut a hole in the bamboo post of their
houses and start their savings there. Others bury their wealth, afraid of the
banking system.
Western lifestyle
Because most of us believed that North America is a heaven where manna flows
continuously, protected by welfare, health care, free education up to high
school, pension plans and many other safety nets, some of us have forgotten the
wisdom of our elders who warned us that there will always be times of hardship,
rainy days or winters in one’s life, and some days you get sick and surely will
grow old and weak. The cutbacks, downsizing, and layoffs of Government and
private companies, globalization, outsourcing and modern technology are shaking
all these basic protection, and many are finding themselves without anything to
fall back to.
The temptation to buy is everywhere. We are bombarded by promotions every
minute. There is the easy access to credit cards where you can buy with plastic
money. Then also, we want to show off to our friends and relatives here and back
home that we have made it. We buy and spend more than what we can afford,
sometimes buying things we don’t really need and just dump it in our storage
rooms. In many Filipino homes you will see an expensive glass dining cabinet
full of classy chinaware on display, used only when we have rich visitors,
basically displayed to impress. Expensive Philcraft cookware worth thousands of
dollars are found in the kitchen and dining rooms of even new arrivals and
contract workers, so are expensive jewelry and designer clothes.
Others follow the Joneses. Whatever his friend or neighbor has, he/she must have
it too. If his friend has a luxury car and house, he must have the same or
better. Out of peer pressure, many of us succumb to these temptations. Sikat ka,
kilala kang mayaman, maiinggit sa iyo ang mga tao. Walang makakaalam na butas
ang bulsa mo at baon ka sa utang. These are some of the things people want to
hear specially those low in self-steem.
Most Ilocanos were taught that it is better to have a lot of money in the bank
than to show off. They tend to save as much to pay off the mortgage before they
engage in any luxury or expensive vacation. This way, nobody would be jealous,
would even think of borrowing money from them, or will be offended when they
deny help. Of course they are sometimes subjected to redicule and are laugh at,
but the last laugh is theirs. And they never experience hardship in life. Many
times they can take advantage of bargain offers and make more money.
Of course there are some stories of going overboard to being stingy like a
friend of an office mate in Montreal many years ago. These Ilocanos bought a
house but stayed in the basement and rented the main house. Because during those
times, internal organs and heads of pigs were given away, they subsisted on
these and refrained from buying unnecessary things. My friend was laughing at
their lifestyle but one day he was surprised that they already paid up the first
home, bought another one but still live in the basement while my friend was
still renting an apartment.
Another Ilocano friend refrained from attending parties in the community.
Everybody called him snob and killjoy but he did not mind. He and his wife just
worked and took care of their young kids. Today, they go out and accompany their
kids every weekend. Their house is paid and they have lots of investments in
stocks and bonds.
And there is that Ilocano filling up his rusty, dilapidated car in a gas
station. Another Filipino with a sports car approached him and boastfully said,
“Pare, palitan mo na iyan, nakakahiya, paka matitano ka pa.” To which he
retorted, “Pare, bayad iyan.” knowing that the sports car was just purchased on
credit.
Suggestions
Live as simple as possible. In housing, we can save more if we live together
with other members of the family and share expenses. Some of us can‘t live
together because we try to control or dominate the lives of other members of our
family and friends imposing our values and morals. Some are over sensitive. Give
privacy to others. They have their own lives.
Some of us buy and eat too much food which is bad for our health. Some becomes
gluttons. We go to so many parties almost every week and suffer so many deseases
- high blood pressure, heart attack, cancer, etc. Some say that if you go to
parties almost every week, you spend from $3,000 to $5,000 a year. And this
excludes gas, car depreciation, clothes and jewelries. Then we go on expensive
fitness programs to shed off the fat. We can save more by eating moderately and
avoiding too many parties.
Still others buy so many things they don’t really need and end up with so many
junks; they have to get more and more space. They end up buying a large house
they don’t really need. And they spend more on maintenance, utilities and taxes,
to satisfy their ego and built a good image.
Read helpful books
It is worthwhile reading books that advise you how to handle your finances. One
is The Richest Man in Babylon. The book tells of a young man who met the richest
man in the wealthiest city of the ancient world and asked him to impart his
secret to wealth. The rich man advised him that “Wealth is like a tree. The
first dollar that you save is the seed. The earlier you plant the seed, and
nurture it with more savings, the earlier you will retire in its shade.”
The book suggests that we “Save at least 10% of our income.” No matter how small
our paycheque, we must live within our means. The more you save, the earlier you
will retire. It said that a compounded interest on your savings alone will make
you a millionaire in your life time.
“Do not spend the interest from your savings.” Let it accumulate and multiply.
Invest in safe and fast earning interest or profit. Let it be your slave, not
you slaving it out all your life. He said, “Do not eat the children of your
slave.”
Then also, “Do not intrust your savings or investment with people who have no
previous experience in what they are doing.” A carpenter can’t be a jeweler
without studying the kinds of stones, the real and the fakes, and the secrets of
the trade. The chances of him making mistakes are greater.
“In your old age, do not forget sharing your money with the poor and intrusting
your wealth to those who helped you accumulate them. Do not just throw them to
the swine.”
It seems that this book endorses the Ilocano way of saving and lifestyle.
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Posted on Thursday, March 17 @ 13:59:30 CST by don |
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