The Ibanag language (also Ybanag) is spoken by about 500,000 speakers in two of the northeasternmost provinces of the Philippines, Isabela, and Cagayan. It is closely related to
Gaddang,
Itawis, Agta,
Atta,
Yogad,
Isneg, and
Malaweg.
(barangayanes'') from the
Cagayan River in
Northern Luzon (c.1917) It is spoken especially in
Tuguegarao and
Solana in
Cagayan, as well as in the municipalities of
Cabagan,
San Pablo,
Tumauini,
Santa Maria,
Santo Tomas,
Ilagan,
Gamu,
Naguilian, and
Reina Mercedes and
San Mariano in
Isabela. There are also several speakers of the Ibanag language in
Abulug,
Aparri,
Camalaniugan,
Lal-lo, and
Tuao in Cagayan. Minority Ibanag speakers can be found outside of their regional homeland, such as
Metro Manila,
Mindoro,
Palawan and
Mindanao, particularly in
Sulu Archipelago. Most of the speakers can speak Ilocano, the
lingua franca of
Northern Luzon, as well.
Displacement Ibanags speak the same language under the same name. However, due to several factors including the use of
Filipino as the national lingua franca and Ilocano as a regional one, the use of
Ibanag language has now diminished but remains strong with Ibanags living overseas. Thus while there may still be Ibanags around, the language is slowly being displaced. In addition to this, many if not most Ibanags speak
Ilocano, which has over the years, supplanted Ibanag as the more dominant language in the region. ==References==