The Isinays are located in the three towns of Dupax, Bambang, Aritao in the province of Nueva Vizcaya. They speak the same dialect with the same minor differences like the intonation, pronunciation of the final consonants and some verbal terms.
Physically, Isinays are predominantly a Malay blend but with a high percentage of short people, fair complexioned, with rounded eyes, natural hair, high cheek bones, well shaped nose and widened lips. Women are physically more buxom than man.
Isinays are known to be religious people. Often they are religious leader in the community, observing the daily oracion and pasyon during the holy week. Many of the Isinays social customs are quite distinctive. They are markedly conservative and adhere to the old and practices. An evidence of this is their stern disapproval of inter-marriages between members of their tribe and neighboring folk (especially the Ilocanos). With regards to the custom on pregnancy and childbirth, meticulous care is taken to insure the welfare of a women during the period of pregnancy, pansisipe. A lot of do's and don'ts are strictly followed especially after giving birth. For example, the woman is advised not to take a bath for ten days and carefully selects the food she will eat lest the young born child will be affected.
With regards to the Isinays socio-economic activities, 80% of their sustenance is derived from agriculture. They harvest twice a year and plant vegetables in between seasons. 5% are fishermen who just rely on fishing in the river. They use their old way of catching fish like tabuu (using net), panipit (using bamboos and manual ways of catching fish. 5% are carpenters and laborers, 5% are raising animals like pigs and broiler chickens. As for the middle class Isinays, they manage their own ranches and raise their carabaos for market.
Source:
Personal Interview with the old folks of Aritao,
Cefirino A. Abordo/Eufronio, P. Larosa
From Mount Malusog by Edgar L. Daniel
