Central to Ilokano belief systems is a deep respect for ancestral spirits, who are believed to offer protection, guidance, and blessings to the living. These ancestors are viewed as the keepers of family wisdom and guardians of the community, and their spiritual presence is honored through rituals, prayers, and symbolic offerings. The connection between the living and the departed is held sacred—an unbroken bond that transcends time. For many Ilokanos, these ancestral spirits serve as intermediaries between the earthly world and the divine, reminding them of the value of heritage, kinship, and spiritual continuity.

TALADO

Talado is a traditional Ilokano method of diagnosing illness using a newly laid native chicken egg. It is believed that when the egg stands upright in response to questions asked about the sickness, the spirits are giving a positive answer. Conversely, if the egg falls, it is taken as a negative response from the spirits. Native Yogads who practice this ritual firmly believe in its efficacy and spiritual significance, continuing to use it as a sacred part of their healing traditions.

ATANG

An atang is a traditional food offering for the Ilocanos to ward off evil spirits. The most common atang to ward off sickness is a rice cake or ofen called sinukat or sinuman for Ilocanos. Atang may also be a harvest offering. And usually Atang for Ilocanos are offered for their relatives who passed away, in order to comemorate and show that they are still important and are still in our heart even if they are already gone.

Some beliefs relating to prenatal care and child rearing are still observed, though they are waning. These include discouraging the woman from eating dark-skinned fruits lest the child is born dark; and discouraging her from sitting at the top of the stairs so that their labor pains will not be prolonged. Sitting on a mat or rug minimizes the pain of childbirth. Sleeping at daytime will cause her baby to have ebbal (edema), bloated face and feet. A woman who does not tie her long hair back whenever she goes out will cause her to deliver a snake with her baby. She takes some salt with her to keep evil spirits from snatching her unborn child. There are taboos as well for friends and relatives of the mother-to-be. Anyone standing on the threshold of her home will cause her a difficult delivery. When the woman is in labor, visitors must be kept away lest any one of them might be carrying a sungat, which brings bad luck. As soon as his wife’s labor starts, the husband conducts the anglem, which is a simple ritual of burning a pile of old rags in a bak-ka (clay jar) underneath the house to keep evil spirits away. He also jumps over his wife three times for good fortune

They also observe certain beliefs in their everyday life. For example, when a utensil accidentally falls to the ground, it is believed to signal the arrival of a visitor—a fork suggests a male guest, while a spoon indicates a female one. Another common belief is that clearing the table while someone is still eating, especially if the person is single, may doom them to a life of loneliness. Additionally, sweeping or cleaning the house at night is discouraged, as it is thought to sweep away blessings and good fortune.