Abra, the Itnegs’ territory, lies in between the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Apayao. Their economic activities include swidden farming, fishing, and hunting; their staple crop is rice (planted using both dry and wet methods). Itneg villages are usually composed of around 50 households, all of whom are related to each other.
The Masadiit Itneg reside in Sallapadan, Bucloc, and Boliney. The Masadiits are probably among earliest inhabitants of Abra. The Masadiit Itneg language has a 70% lexical similarity with Guinaang Kalinga, and has words in common with the Besao and Sagada of Mountain Province.
Sources:
Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/
Cole, Fay-Cooper. 1922. The Tinguian: Social, Religious and Economic Life of a Philippine Tribe. Chicago: Field Museum of Natural History.
Dumagat, Fay. 1996. Itneg (Tinggian) Justice & Conflict Resolution. Quezon City: New Day Publishers.
