Ilocanos and Igorots, being regionally close to each other, have a lot in common. They share commonalities on their language hence they can understand each other. They also share the same attitude towards animals. They don’t discriminate dogs, from goats, pigs, cows, cats, chicken, carabao, etc. They treat them all the same and equal.
This is true when visiting Baguio most especially in the 1980s to 1990s. When Igorots go to the lowlands to visit relatives or friends, the nice smell of a goat will add to the warmth hospitality and interaction of the Ilocano host and the Igorot guests. The same thing when an Ilocano visits an Igorot friend or relative in Baguio, most especially during the cold seasons, the Igorot host will make sure there’s a warming experience for his Ilocano guest. This is by bringing the guests to visit dogs at Sagada Lunch.
Either way, both appreciate each other’s hospitality. They don’t discriminate each other, instead they will be equally appreciative to each other. In fact, everytime they visit each other, they are both happy seeing any of their pets, be it a dog, cats, pigs, goats, etc.
However, todays rhetorics have changed everything. Ilocanos and Igorots were taught by strangers and foreigners to treat dogs as man’s best friend, cats as something with 9 lives, etc. Civilisation taught Igorots and Ilocanos how to be discriminatory towards animals.
Additionally, Philippine History shows no serious tribal war between Ilocano and Igorots. They can jokingly mock each other but not the point of causing fatal injury to each other. Even the spoiled brat members of Samahang Ilocano and Igorot Wakad gangs in schools in the old days, they both behave like big dangerous gangs but they are actually nothing but just the same pulutan boys.
Take note: Please read this article with a little bit of art, and not too serious. The intention was to make you smile. No animals were hurt in making this article.
THE CORDILLERA CONNECTION 