﻿ix. d, 2 Christie: Irrigation in Ilocos Norte 109 



owners, I know of at least one society in Ilocos Norte organized 

 to do irrigation work for hire. The society comprises about 

 thirty men, who are said to own little or no land themselves, 

 but who hire themselves out to propietors in return for a share 

 of the crop. I have been informed that this society conducts 

 the irrigation work for land that produces about 5,625 hecto- 

 liters of unhusked rice. The collection is effected at harvest time 

 by the secretary-treasurer of the society. These men have a 

 recognized chief (cabecilla) at the head of their affairs. I do 

 not know what advantage in compensation, if any, is enjoyed 

 by the officers of this society. 



It must not be supposed that the members of this society make 

 their entire livelihood by doing irrigation work. That work, as 

 conducted in Ilocos Norte, lasts only a few months of the year,- 

 sometimes only a few weeks. During the rest of the year the 

 members are free to work at anything they can. In irrigation 

 work, as in other matters, it is unusual in Ilocos Norte to see 

 specialization. 



All the irrigation societies with which I am acquainted hold 

 an annual feast at which they enjoy all the rice, meat, and 

 fermented sugar-cane juice that they can hold. The means to 

 do this come from the fines levied on sluggards; often they are 

 eked out by the results of the chase. From twenty to forty men 

 with nets and dogs can usually get a deer or two or a wild 

 pig in Ilocos Norte, and a few men are commonly told off before- 

 hand to catch fish. The drink — basi — can be easily obtained in 

 exchange for rice. In case means are still lacking, the chief 

 levies a contribution of a few centavos on each member. 



Most irrigation societies are placed under the patronage of 

 some particular saint, such as San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isidore, 

 the Ploughman or Farmer). But as the most opportune 

 time for holding the feast is at the conclusion of harvest, it 

 is not necessarily held on the day assigned to the patron saint 

 in the calendar. 



A feast is preceded by religious ceremonies. Money is paid 

 to a priest by the society to celebrate mass on the preceding 

 Sunday. If all or most of the members are adherents of the 

 Aglipayan organization (the Independent Filipino Church), the 

 money goes to the local representative of that body. I have 

 known of cases where the members have been divided in their 

 allegiance and money has been paid for a mass to the local 

 Roman Catholic priest and also to the local head of the Aglipayan 

 society. The mass, I was always informed, is applicable to 



