The Ilongos dowry system, known as the hukot is a departure from the “you-name-it-and-we’ll-pay-it-if-we-can-afford-to-but-we’ll-ask-for-a-reduction-if-we-cannot” method of the other ethnic groups is what makes the Ilongo courtship and marriage practices distinct.
The mechanics of the hukot starts with the offer of one peso, upping it every time with another peso–nothing more, nothing less–if this proved to be unacceptable, as it invariably does until the sum becomes sizeable enough to be acceptable. The acceptance terminates the negotiation.
In a dowry consisting of, say, five hundred pesos, it can just be imagined how lengthy, rigorous and time-consuming this process is. It should, however, be noted that they are not after conserving time, as they are not wanting in it what with their existence being rural and rustic.
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Source:
Anima, N. 1975. Courtship and Marriage Practices among Philippine Tribes. La Loma: Omar.
