THE ILOKO STEREOTYPE

There are stereotypes that Ilocanos can hardly break away from.

First, Ilocanos are dark people. We cannot change this genetic trait, although certain dermatologists would strive just for that. I believe that black is beautiful though, but this is not popular opinion here. We are, put candidly, a chocolate race... and I just happen to be white chocolate.

Second, Ilocanos have the most rigid speech in the country. We pronounce the letter r as if there were no other letters of the alphabet. It is again a national joke: jeans in Ilocano is wrranglerrr, traffic is bumperrr-to-bumperrr, and so on.

However---we are also, for stereotype number 3, a region very devoted to education--- so some of our children can easily outspeak those from the other regions when it comes to Tagalog or English. These children are usually lucky enough to grow up in mansions sprouting from the rice fields, cared for by family members who alternate in working abroad, and I mean the USA, Canada, UK, Norway, and so on.

Pardon for my lack of well-researched info, but many Philippine Presidents are/were children of the North. The most popular Northerner leader undoubtedly is Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., although I am personally not proud of his tainted regime. Other Northeners (although not really Iloco) include Fidel Ramos and Gloria Arroyo.

Fourth, Ilocanos are stingy. Guilty as charged, but this does not mean though that we are also selfish. Frugality is essential in our lifestyle. The irony of it is that we have our own windmills, but we still pay the most expensive energy rate in the entire country! Our natural resources are abundant, but most of their yields are enjoyed by non-Ilocanos through export or because of unbelievably high prices. Do you ever wonder which region in the country has the most expensive gas? Of course, the provinces at the tip of the map, that would be Ilocandia and Cagayan. Everything transported to our area costs much higher than in the grand metropolis called Manila. So, if you ever ask why we scowl at the cost of coffee in Starbucks, this is the answer you should keep in mind.

Lastly, we are non-confrontational people. Many speculate that Ilocanos hardly celebrate anything related to People Power because of our affinity to Marcos, who was of course the target of the revolution. The truth is that we could not care less about People Power--- it is history, it is done. In fact, I do not even see any Marcos loyalist here anymore. We also do not condemn the family that threw out Marcoses, i.e., the Aquinos. Pun not intended, but I do see a lot of Kris Aquino fans here in Ilocos!

The last thing we want is a situation to complicate our lives. Everybody is our friend--- everybody is welcome to Ilocandias, Visayans, Moslems, American Mormons, Taiwanese and Korean tourists who fly in nonstop, even the communist New People's Army. Ilocanos do not like war.

But beware, Northerners are valiant fighters. Chavit Singson and Bingbong Crisologo could break into outrage over their respective issues anytime provoked. Abra, based on its political history, has a blood-stained reputation which Ilocos Norte seems to sadly be following already.

So, we just might be breaking the fourth stereotype in a decade... and if we all get rich from our own efforts including that of claiming full rights to the windmills and other resources, Ilocanos might start spending some dough a little bit more. Surely, when we have more speech tutors or chances to visit other nations, our stubborn tongues could also improve... and if the climates in those other countries could help, our skin tone might also lighten up.

And our struggle to keep education our priority? Knowing Ilocanos, this will be the most probable stereotype left standing.