Other info about itawes

Introduction / History
The Itawes are culturally and linguistically close to the Ibanag. The Ibanag language is the mother tongue of the Itawes. Itawes communities are mostly found in towns along the lower Chico and Matalag Rivers in Cagayan. In many of these towns, the Itawes live with the Ibanags and speak Ibanag. They go through the process of linguistic adaptation which made the Ibanag and Itawes language indistinguishable. The Itawes are known with various alternate names such as "Itawet", "Tawit", "Itawis", Malaueg" and "Rizal". Linguists classified "Malaueg" and "Rizal" as dialects of Itawes language.

Itawes mode of dressing is more colorful than the Ibanag; red is their dominant color.

In the Itawes life cycle such as pregnancy, childbirth, marriage and death, certain taboos or sacred prohibitions reflecting traditional animistic beliefs are observed. Wedding ceremonies are either civil ceremony performed by a "hues" or justice of the peace, or a church ceremony performed by a priest. A simple wedding feast usually follows. After the wedding the couple resides in the girl's household for at least one year before they establish their own household.

The average Itawes family favors education. A good number of their children are sent to school. Many aspects of the Itawes culture and architectural structures (old Catholic churches, ruins of a fortress, cathedrals) reflect Spanish influence.

Farming is the leading source of livelihood. Rice is the main staple and produced in commercial quantities. They also raise other agricultural products such as coffee, corn, peanuts and tobacco. In addition, they raise domesticated animals such as poultry, carabaos, hogs and cattle. Some are engaged in hunting, forestry, fishing and related occupation. A few work in cigar/cigarette factories and food processing firms.

The political system is the usual government structure of local government, the barangay system, which is administered by a set of elected officials headed by a barangay chairman.
What are their beliefs?
The old religion is animism. Spanish colonizers and missionaries came to the Itawes area in 1572 onwards. During the colonial rule, they attempted to convert the Itawes. Though the Itawes met the colonizers with resistance, the colonizers prevailed. These days, the Itawes are overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. They observe child baptism, confirmation, and confession as required by the church. The Itawes believe in saints, "santo" who supposedly serve as their guardians and intercessors. The "santo" occupy a revered altar in every home. Many religious practices and sacred prohibitions are associated with the "santo". These are in relation to sickness or epidemic, a long journey, graduation from school or poor and bountiful harvests. "Santo" are made of wood, ceramics, and plaster of Paris in different sizes and faces. These days, "santo" making is a thriving craft and considered a profitable industry. The Iglesia in Cristo and the Jehovah's Witnesses are also in the area and were able to convince/convert a few Itawes.
Prayer Points
* Itawes Catholics to come to a personal faith in Christ. Pray for their hearts to have a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus. Pray for "santo" worship to be replaced with true worship of the true God.
* Itawes believers/churches to be strong and be a witnessing church.
* Itawes communities where the gospel has never been proclaimed. Pray for gospel workers to come to these communities.
* Gospel workers on site for God's empowerment and enablement. Pray for protection as well.
* Ibanag believers who live nearest to the Itawes. They could reach out to these communities without requiring many adjustments.

Text source: Asia Missions (AMNET)

Itawes-Itawit-Tawit

Itawes are the early natives of Cagayan. Their mode of dress is colorful, red being the dominant color. Farming is a leading source of livelihood. The average Itawes families are education-conscious. They speak Ibanag and Ilocano. The contemporary Itawes are charming, friendly, and sociable. They are not very different from the rest of their countryman in their occupation, style of houses, and their religious affiliation.
Itawes inhabit the territory drained by the Chico and Matalos rivers as well as all of Southern Cagayan from Nasiping to the Village of Cavug, now the town of Enrile. Except for certain nuances in their language and the flair among-their womenfolk for ornamentation and colorful attire, nothing basically differentiates them from the Ibanags of whom they really are an ethnic subgroup. They got their name from the combination of the word "tawid" meaning across the river and prefix "i" meaning "people of".
Itawes have been called in various names such as "Itawit", "Itawiq","Tawish", "Itawi", "Itaves" and "Itabes". However, the early natives of Cagayan referred to one another by the group description of Ibanags, or the Y-Rita which means "those from the south". Occasionally, Y-Raya, meaning "the upstream people" was also used.The Itawes culture seems to be quite distinct from that of the lbanags. The Itawes mode of dressing appears to be likewise more colorful, red being a dominant color. The woman used to wear beads on their heads, a practice still found among those in the remote areas. Farming seems to be a leading source of livelihood. Almost three-fourths of the people of the province are engaged in agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, and related occupation.The average Itawes family seems to be education-conscious, this being shown by the good number of their children being sent to school.Based on the dialect the people appear to be the most versatile group in the province. They speak Ibanag and llocano, but because many Itawes live with the Ibanag, Ibanag has become a standard language. The Itawes dialect has other peculiar characteristics such as the frequent use of double consonants like cc, kk, w.
Contemporary Itawes are a charming, friendly, and sociable group whose daily mode of life is not markedly different from the rest of their countrymen, whether in the style of their houses, their occupation and religious affiliation, all of which are signs of the Itawes culture. Traditional customs are still practiced today. Death among the Itawes galvanizes not only the family but also the whole neighborhood or community into action such that the usual church rites for the wakes and burial are observed.