Ilokano Proverbs in The Modern Age: Students' Awareness and Practical Application.

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Title: Ilokano Proverbs in The Modern Age: Students' Awareness and Practical Application.
Authors: Cariňo, Cynthia M.1 cynthiamongas@yahoo.com, Casillan, Delia R.1 op@ispsc.edu.ph
Source: International Journal of Special Education. 2026 Special Issue, Vol. 41, p870-881. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Psychology of students, *Traditional knowledge, *Cultural maintenance, Proverbs, Values (Ethics), Mental work, Social contact, Pragmatics
Abstract: In Ilokano culture, proverbs, or pagsasao, teach history, morals, and how to behave in society. Yet their continued resonance among contemporary learners has seldom been empirically gauged. This study examined the modern salience of Ilokano proverbs (pagsasao) among tertiary students and explored how these aphorisms inform both interpersonal conduct and academic behavior. Using a survey of 50 respondents, the researchers first measured familiarity with ten widely cited proverbs, then asked participants to describe concrete situations in which they draw upon these sayings. Results reveal that a large majority are "highly familiar" with proverbs foregrounding social identity, diligence, and prudence—most notably, Ibagam sinno ti gagayyem mo ta ibagak met nu siasino ka ("Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are") and Ti banag a daras pannaka ala na, daras to met pannaka pukaw na ("What comes easily can disappear just as quickly"). By contrast, maxims that emphasize generosity or long term moral consequences register lower recall, suggesting an uneven transmission of cultural values. Thematic analysis shows two dominant spheres of application: (1) guiding social interactions—friendships, family relations, and community etiquette; and (2) fostering academic perseverance, discipline, and hard work. Students thus rely on proverbs more for directing relationships than for motivating study, pointing to a stronger linkage between traditional wisdom and interpersonal norms. These results show that Ilokano proverbs are still useful moral and practical guides that teach important virtues like loyalty, humility, responsibility, and perseverance. They also underscore the need for deliberate cultural preservation. The study suggests (a) using creative school events and integrating lesser-known proverbs into the curriculum to make them more well-known; (b) encouraging storytelling between generations to keep cultural continuity strong; and (c) using digital media to present proverbs in ways that appeal to today's students. When used together, these tactics can help students learn more about ethics while also protecting an important part of Ilokano culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Special Education is the property of International Journal of Special Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Ilokano Proverbs in The Modern Age: Students' Awareness and Practical Application.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cariňo%2C+Cynthia+M%2E%22">Cariňo, Cynthia M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> cynthiamongas@yahoo.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Casillan%2C+Delia+R%2E%22">Casillan, Delia R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> op@ispsc.edu.ph</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Special+Education%22">International Journal of Special Education</searchLink>. 2026 Special Issue, Vol. 41, p870-881. 12p.
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  Label: Abstract
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  Data: In Ilokano culture, proverbs, or pagsasao, teach history, morals, and how to behave in society. Yet their continued resonance among contemporary learners has seldom been empirically gauged. This study examined the modern salience of Ilokano proverbs (pagsasao) among tertiary students and explored how these aphorisms inform both interpersonal conduct and academic behavior. Using a survey of 50 respondents, the researchers first measured familiarity with ten widely cited proverbs, then asked participants to describe concrete situations in which they draw upon these sayings. Results reveal that a large majority are "highly familiar" with proverbs foregrounding social identity, diligence, and prudence—most notably, Ibagam sinno ti gagayyem mo ta ibagak met nu siasino ka ("Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are") and Ti banag a daras pannaka ala na, daras to met pannaka pukaw na ("What comes easily can disappear just as quickly"). By contrast, maxims that emphasize generosity or long term moral consequences register lower recall, suggesting an uneven transmission of cultural values. Thematic analysis shows two dominant spheres of application: (1) guiding social interactions—friendships, family relations, and community etiquette; and (2) fostering academic perseverance, discipline, and hard work. Students thus rely on proverbs more for directing relationships than for motivating study, pointing to a stronger linkage between traditional wisdom and interpersonal norms. These results show that Ilokano proverbs are still useful moral and practical guides that teach important virtues like loyalty, humility, responsibility, and perseverance. They also underscore the need for deliberate cultural preservation. The study suggests (a) using creative school events and integrating lesser-known proverbs into the curriculum to make them more well-known; (b) encouraging storytelling between generations to keep cultural continuity strong; and (c) using digital media to present proverbs in ways that appeal to today's students. When used together, these tactics can help students learn more about ethics while also protecting an important part of Ilokano culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Special Education is the property of International Journal of Special Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 870
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Traditional knowledge
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural maintenance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Proverbs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Values (Ethics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental work
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social contact
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pragmatics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Ilokano Proverbs in The Modern Age: Students' Awareness and Practical Application.
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            NameFull: Cariňo, Cynthia M.
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              M: 01
              Text: 2026 Special Issue
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              Y: 2026
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