Ilocanos have a very strong family tie. Just like all Filipinos, they follow all the norm inside the house and within the family. Like the father being the head, the one who provides and the for the family to survive, the mother being the “light of the home”, the one who takes care of the children and manages all house finances. Plus, the Ilocanos have high respect to their parents, which is absolutely evident in their marriage traditions.
Before even planning for marriage, Ilocano youths seek first the approval of both sets of parents. The parents are to decide if they would agree to let their child marry or not. The young man,groom, asks for his parents’ consent. His parents will pay the dowry and finance the wedding.
Then, the young man formally announces (panagpudno) his intentions of marrying the young woman to her parents. The groom’s parents visit the bride’s parents, in which they set the date of the wedding. In setting the date, both parents go to a planetario (planetarium) to learn what dates are the good-luck days.
Another meeting is set for the wedding (palalian or ringpas) wherein the groom and his relatives to the bride’s house to finalize the wedding arrangements. The families set the choice of sponsors, the dowry, sagut (wedding dress and accessories which will be provided by the groom), and the parawad (cash that given by the groom to the bride’s mother as a reward for raising his bride).
Marriage among us is a sacred union, symbolizing fate and lasting until death.
