Isinay

Hello. Great site! There should be more like it. I grew up in Dupax del Sur. My native dialect is Ilocano. As a kid, i spoke Ilocano with my parents but outside the house I spoke Isinay with my friends. After 15 years outside the Philippines, I come back to my beloved Dupax and found that all the kids were speaking Tagalog. Even my nephews were speaking Tagalog, in a town that I left 15 years prior, was barely able to speak any dialect other than Ilocano and Isinay. The Isinay dialect is literally taking its last breath. I am truly concerned with the extinction of the Isinay dialect. My rough estimate in Dupax del Sur alone, as there are no recent studies done, is probably less than 1,000 speakers, and they are mostly 30 y/o and above. Isinay is probably one of the purest dialects in the Philippines that have no Spanish barbarisms. The Isinay dialect is the identity of Dupax del Sur. Dupax del Sur is Isinay. There should be a move by the local government to preserve the Isinay dialect, otherwise Dupax del Sur will end up being just another regular town in Nueva Vizcaya. At the very least, the children should still be spoken to at home in Isinay. The children can learn their Tagalog in school, but the preservation starts at home.- from a concerned and proud Dupax native.
 

kamosta ayu sina!!!! I'm so glad to find this thread and looking at the church in Domang gives such a thrill at the same time makes me feel sad. Sad I guess because I'm missing our good old Dupax as it reminds me of my early childhood life. I completed all my primary and high school education there and at this very moment, I feel like going back for a visit as it has been long overdue. I still have some good old friends living there and would love to catch up with them with some local kangkanen or tupig, sampalok and mangga, andetay! deem podda di gosto a. I also have numerous close relatives and extended relatives as you know everyone seems to be a relative in Dupax. Upon reading the 1st message, I'm sadden to learn that 'Isinay' is no longer spoken as the main dialect amongst the locals. I strongly agree that by preserving some of the true identities of Dupax, Isinay should be encouraged to be spoken at home on a daily basis apart from speaking Tagalog which is part of the curriculum anyway. Isinay is such an important aspect of the culture in Dupax and families must instill in their children's mind about the importance of preserving the values and qualities that we hold dear in Dupax. Our Dupax has its own unique character with beautiful, ambitious, intelligent, gentle, caring, hospitable and cultured people; and it's a place that I would rather like to retreat than any other place in the Philippines. I can say this now because I haven't been living there but it seems you can only appreciate what you have had when you're apart from it. This doesn't mean on my part that I've never appreciated Dupax, in fact Dupax is so part of me. Yep, it is only that I'm too far away and have been away for over 20 years!! So, keep in mind my people, speak Isinay and educate the young ones about the importance of keeping an authentic, unique, and official dialect of Dupax, Isinay. Don't be ashame of Isinay!!! It is a good thing to know how to speak different languages or dialects apart from tagalog. When I was living there, I spoke fluently in Isinay and Ilocano and when I went to university, I learnt some Spanish as part of my curriculum and Pampangenia from classmates and I was proud of myself that I have accumulated different languages. In fact, my kids here abroad are very interested in learning different languages and I taught them the basics in counting, say hello, tired, hungry, toilet, and other meaningful expressions both in Isinay and Tagalog and they have been using them all the time. Apart from that they also learn Italian, French and Japanese at school. At least they identify me as a person who has not fogotten where I've come from. It's true life must go forward but we must look back at the inherited values that made up our upbringing.
from gemma with love
 

Hi... Greetings to all my fellow Isinays and fellow Dupax'ians !!! I am amazed at how beautiful St. Vincent Church is. Maserot podda. Having been away from Dupax for over 30 years, I hope to be able to visit soon. Reading the posting by "Anonymous said..." I agree with him/her. I hope the Isinays of Dupax will teach their children the Isinay dialect. Just to prove the point, my brothers and sisters are very far from Dupax but we converse in Isinay in a place where the major language is English. Man-Isinay tau lom-an.
Percy Latar email: latarp@aol.com
 

ISINAY PODDA!