Igorot Shared Ways of Ethnic Identity Self Identification in Facebook Groups

Abstract

This paper looks at how the Igorots of Northern Luzon, Philippines sustain their ethnic self-identification through shared ways of speaking in Facebook groups. The author conducted a case study to analyze the communicative acts of posting by the Igorots, using Trimble’s Ethnic Self-Identification Measurement Domains Model. Specific to this paper are cultural concepts that characterize the collective identity of the Igorots: ili - the hometown and gag-ay - sharing of stories during community gatherings. The author posits that the Facebook groups studied are the virtual ilis of the Igorots; interactions in these Facebook groups make for the online gag-ay. The results show that there are nine shared ways of speaking across the three Facebook groups. These are (1) the use of the word Igorot in the Facebook group names; (2) the use of Igorot artifacts in the Facebook group cover photos; (3) references to Igorot culture in the Facebook group descriptions; (4) the use of speech community’s language in their Facebook pages; (5) featuring Igorot towns and places in their Facebook pages; (6) focus on Igorot personalities/events; (7) focus on Igorot-related topics in articles posted; (8) sharing of Igorot music videos/self-made videos in the group page; and (9) memes in the local language. Through the shared ways of communicating ethnic identity, the Igorots engage in storytelling (pan-iistorya) and discussions of ideas, views, and feelings (pantatabtavel), thereby preserving gag-ay in the virtual ilis forms of social interaction that remain central to the Igorot culture.